Behind Enemy Lines with Cardinals Wire to break down Week 3

Another trip to Arizona for the Detroit Lions means renewed meeting with the Cardinals. Now 2-0 after an impressive start, the Cardinals are rolling behind QB Kyler Murray and DE Chandler Jones. It will be a big challenge for the 0-2 Lions and their struggling defense.

There are quite a few differences from the Week 1 matchup in 2019, a game that ended in a tie. To help break down the changes in the Cardinals, I turned to Cardinals Wire and editor Jess Root for a few questions about the surging Arizona team.

How has DeAndre Hopkins blended into the offense in his first two games?

He has been better than imagined, and that is really hard to do. He did admit that his running a wrong route led to a Kyler Murray interception last week, but the numbers show the chemistry between the two isn’t a problem. Hopkins gives the offense an alpha. And Hopkins is downright giddy about the situation here.

Kyler Murray looked very effective in avoiding Washington’s heavy pressure. Can Detroit’s lack of a pass rush actually be a benefit and bother him?

I don’t think that will be a thing for Murray. The way teams have been able to get Murray to make mistakes is by applying pressure. He has gotten better about knowing when to take off with his legs and has done a better job about getting positive yardage when nothing is there.

Many Lions fans coveted Isaiah Simmons in the draft. How has the rookie played so far?

He has barely played. Because the Cardinals signed De’Vondre Campbell, they have had to manufacture ways to use Simmons early on to get him involved. Campbell has been fantastic and Simmons, having lost offseason and preseason reps, is still learning. He is used in certain base defensive situations.

He gave up a long touchdown in Week 1 when he had his eyes in the wrong spot. He was penalized for a horse-collar tackle. However, in Week 1, he did keep up with George Kittle and helped limit him to only four catches for 44 yards.

Who are a couple of Cardinals who don’t get enough national attention for their games?

On defense, it is definitely linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. He has been a revelation. His play overall has solved their previous woes against tight ends. He is keeping Isaiah Simmons off the field and is performing at a high level.

On offense, Chase Edmonds is quietly a very important weapon. He can hurt you in the running game and the passing game, and he can break out a big kick return. Kenyan Drake is the workhorse at running back, but Edmonds makes plays when given the chance.

What is the one thing that worries you most about the Lions?

Honestly, the fact they are 0-2 worries me because it means they are due. They do have the offensive weapons to give the Cardinals defense trouble and with Kenny Golladay presumably back, it could create pressure the Cardinals haven’t faced. They played a 49ers team with no receivers and a Washington team with no real threat outside of Terry McLaurin. This could be the week where the Cardinals defense looks more like it did in 2019. We find out if their early success is sustainable.

Who wins and why, and would Kliff Kingsbury go for a win or a tie if given the chance again?

I think this is the game the Cardinals offense finds some rhythm. They have averaged 27 points per game through two weeks but still haven’t clicked in the running game or passing game. I think the Cardinals win 34-20 but it won’t even feel that close.

And I think Kingsbury would still do what he did a year ago. He would try to win, but he wouldn’t try to put his team in a position to potentially lose. When he decided to punt, it was because all it would have taken was about 10 yards for the Lions to be in field goal range. He wanted to give the defense the chance to make something happen and, had Tramaine Brock not dropped that potential interception, the Cardinals would have been in position to win.