Arkansas Bengal Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Five reasons the Cardinals beat the Bengals Josh Weinfuss, ESPN Staff Writer TEMPE, Ariz. -- If there’s a game that means more to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer this season than Sunday’s, good luck finding it. If Palmer can lead the Cardinals past his old team, the Cincinnati Bengals, he will have knocked off one of the league’s top three teams. A win Sunday night on national TV will allow Arizona to make a strong case to be a favorite to win the NFC. A dominating performance could solidify the Cardinals as a bona fide Super Bowl contender. Here are five reasons the Cardinals and Palmer can beat Cincinnati: Chris Johnson and the run game: There’s one area of the Bengals’ defense Arizona could exploit over and over throughout Sunday night’s game. Cincinnati has had trouble stopping the run on a per-play basis. The Bengals are allowing 4.7 yards per carry. The Cardinals are averaging 4.37 as a team, and leading rusher Chris Johnson is averaging 4.42 yards. If the Cardinals can pound out runs of three, four or five yards consistently, then the likelihood of either Johnson or Andre Ellington breaking a big run increases significantly. The Cardinals’ two lowest rushing totals this season came in both of their losses. Offensive efficiency: The Cardinals are ranked third in offensive efficiency this season, according to the ESPN Power Index. The Bengals are ranked eighth in defensive efficiency. But the Bengals could be haunted by their penchant for allowing long drives. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Bengals are allowing 5.79 plays per drive -- only five teams allow more. By comparison, the Cardinals are allowing 5.11 plays per drive, second fewest in the league. But what’s impressive is Arizona’s ability to score on drives. They’re averaging 2.5 points per drive (second most in the NFL) and just 5.38 plays per drive (22nd). Carson Palmer’s ego: Palmer has been saying all the right things this week. He doesn’t want to rehash the past, specifically his departure from Cincinnati. He did admit that Sunday is not just another game. He’s taking the high road. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Palmer wants to beat the Bengals badly Sunday night in front of a national TV audience, especially since both teams are good. And sometimes, especially when a quarterback is involved, desire and will can outweigh skill. Home sweet home: The Cardinals have one major advantage Sunday night: They’re playing at home. Under coach Bruce Arians, Arizona is 16-4 at University of Phoenix Stadium. Only three teams have better home records in that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information, one being the Bengals. Since 2013, Cincinnati is 12-8 on the road. Honey Badger doesn’t care who he’s covering: While Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson will be matched up on the Bengals’ top receiver, A.J. Green, safety Tyrann Mathieu draws the assignment of tight end Tyler Eifert. If Peterson continues to play at the level he has, Green shouldn’t be much of a factor. Peterson has allowed just 17 receptions this year on 35 targets. Mathieu has allowed 32 catches on 56 targets for six touchdowns and three interceptions. If Mathieu can neutralize Eifert, the Bengals won’t have much of a passing game left. http://espn.go.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/17578/five-reasons-the-cardinals-beat-the-benga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philhos Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Bengals are allowing 5.79 plays per drive -- only five teams allow more. By comparison, the Cardinals are allowing 5.11 plays per drive, second fewest in the league.Sooooooooooooooooooooooo, the Bengals are 27th in the league at 5.79 while the Cardinals are 2nd in the league at 5.11? Sounds like this stat is basically inconsequential and worthless and should not be brought up at all. I know why the author does it, still doesn't make it a relevant enough statistic to site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Scary article with stuff you don't really want to think about...Add prime time on the road and after a short week ... Monday was wretched all the way around (because never into it mentally, imho) but darned if it does not bring back the ghost of The Not Ready for Prime Time Bengals.As for their running game... I am going to have nightmares about Peko the Dancing Bear, the Human Bowling Pin for the rest of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dautcom08 Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 The run defense has been completely different with Vontaze back. Josh WeinPuss doesn't do them justice without a before/after stat in that category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothD Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 I'd love to see Honey Badger on Eifert all game. 6' 6" vs 5' 9". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interceptor Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 #6. Cardinals outscore the Bengals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooky Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 I'd love to see Honey Badger on Eifert all game. 6' 6" vs 5' 9". And who has Marvin Jones then? Does he get man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scharm Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 A couple things I think favor the Bengals. AJ Hawk and Rey. What? Are you fucking nuts? Probably.Cardinals are a downhill straight forward running team. Most times they are going to run right behind Gresh and a lot of times they'll have two TEs to same side and run behind. The Cardinal back will press the A gaps then bounce and try to find room off tackle and behind the TEs. AJ and Rey are horrible in pursuit and space but do a great job against downhill teams.In addition, the TE routes are basically come off the line run straight and turn around in front of the LB. I think Atkins slashing down the line could make the Cardinal back bounce sooner and thus push him out further before going north and south and AJ, Rey eat up blocks. With better coverage match ups with TEs the Safeties can be more reckless. Burfict in pursuit will be huge. Just a couple looney thoughts. I think it's much better than the stretch run offesnes they've had to deal with the past few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 You've got to punch the Cards in the mouth, ...take it to them AFCN style.That's what the Stealers and the Rams did, ...this isn't a game to be timid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeb Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 Btw, ....we've only allowed 30 points in the last 3 games, ...they gave up 32 points in just the last game (70 points in the last 3 games). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.B. Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 Everyone is really sucking off this Cards team. Christ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 Everyone is really sucking off this Cards team. Christ Carson Palmer is so brave Look at him standing up to that meanie old team that he chose to quit on for mysterious reasons he can't discuss but definitely nothing that was his fault I mean I guess probably. Bluhhh... MFer needs to disappear back into whatever SoCal sunbleached dystopian inbred gated community that spawned him. I bet he "hunts" from an ATV with an AR15. I hope Peko farts on his head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|High School Harry| Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 I hope Peko farts on his head What a disgusting thought. That might be going too far. Peko would be flagged for Unnecessary Flatulence, ejected from the game (a plus for us) and fined heavily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooky Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 What a disgusting thought. That might be going too far. Peko would be flagged for Unnecessary Flatulence, ejected from the game (a plus for us) and fined heavily. And the quitter will be out for the rest of the game for concussion protocol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 Everyone is really sucking off this Cards team. ChristBUTZ...ITZ TEH PRIME TIMEZZZZ!1! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jupiter Fan Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 You've got to punch the Cards in the mouth, ...take it to them AFCN style.That's what the Stealers and the Rams did, ...this isn't a game to be timid.Yep, just smack em in the face and smack em again. Throw the ball downfield, be aggressive in the run game, and pressure Palmer every down or we'll be embarrassed again on SNF in their house.We need a great effort all the way around to win this one, IMO. Should treat them like Pitt or Cleveland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhodeIslandFan Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Louis doesn't preach do your job. Iloka got smoked for not doing his. That was poor coachingSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhodeIslandFan Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 We can't win in primtime. This team is part Kremlin "bright lights"Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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