Can the Arizona Cardinals (2-3) keep their season from going completely in the tank? They’ll have to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2) Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium to do it.
The game starts our Sunday evening slate on your local FOX station at 4:05 p.m.
The Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals (+1.5)
O/U: 45.5
The History
The Buccaneers and Cardinals have faced off 19 times since 1977. Arizona leads the all time series 10-9.
Last season the Cardinals beat Tampa Bay 40-7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Carson Palmer was 17 of 30 in that game for 304 yards and three touchdowns. David Johnson rushed for 45 yards and caught three passes for 98 yards. Winston was 27 of 52 for 243 yards, one touchdown and four picks.
From October, 1963 to September, 1988 the Cardinals beat the Buccaneers five games in a row. Tampa Bay’s longest win streak got to three games from November, 1989 to December, 1992.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-2)
The Bucs had a solid 10 days to stew on how they screwed up a sure win over the New England Patriots. Nick Folk missed three kicks and Cameron Brate dropped half the passes thrown to him. If either of those stats changed, Tampa Bay pocketed a signature win. Instead, the Buccaneers showed they still have some work to do before they’re taken seriously.
They made a solid step in that direction by cutting kicker Nick Folk after his bed shitting performance. They signed Patrick Murray to replace him after a preseason with the New Orleans Saints.
Against the Patriots, Jameis Winston completed 26 of 46 for 334 yards and a touchdown. DeSean Jackson led the receivers with five catches for 106 yards. Doug Martin made his return to the backfield with a solid performance, carrying the ball 13 times for 74 yards and a score. Martin will be facing off against one of the better run defenses in the league in Arizona so similar numbers Sunday would be more than adequate.
The good news for the Bucs defense is that Lavonte David should be back on the field. He’s officially listed as questionable, but he practiced all week and is expected to play. Kwon Alexander too should suit up and with those two guys at the second level, Tampa Bay’s defense is an entirely different problem.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-3)
After a couple of weeks of respectable losses, the Cardinals finally bent over and took it like a champ in a 34-7 beat down at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. The defense let Carson Wentz throw all over them, with the second year quarterback completing 21 of 30 passes for 304 yards, four touchdowns and a pick. What the Cardinals couldn’t cover in the passing game, they made up for it by not tackling any running back. LeGarrette Blount gashed them for 74 yards on just 14 carries.
Carson Palmer again put up more useless stats. He was 28 of 44 for 291 yards and a touchdown. Speedster J.J. Nelson was his most productive target, catching four passes for 80 yards. Arizona got absolutely nothing out of the running game, gaining a total of 31 yards. For that reason they traded for Adrian Peterson this week and he’ll likely see plenty of action in this game, even though he’s only had the playbook a couple of days.
Not only did the defense let Wentz abuse them last week, they managed just one sack, but did get six tackles for a loss. When teams go down, sometimes good players tank as well for whatever reason. Patrick Peterson was barely on the stat sheet with one tackle. Tyrann Mathieu was’t much better with just three tackles.
The Cardinals should have their full roster on the field, for whatever good it will do. Only back up defensive lineman Olsen Pierre is listed as out. Everybody else practiced this week.
The Pick
The Cardinals are making a long, slow trip down the drain and Tampa Bay will be happy to break out the plunger to help them along. Buccaneers 27, Cardinals 16
This week
Straight up: 0-1
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 6-8
Against the spread: 6-8
Season
Straight up: 43-34
Against the spread: 38-39
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