Happy Thursday! Almost to the weekend!
I’ll get to the Cardinals below, but first, I mentioned yesterday Sun Devils kicker Jesus Gomez was the Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, and as it turns out, that wasn’t his only award. Gomez received the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, which recognizes three of the top kickers each week from FBS division teams as the “Stars of the Week.” He earned the selection after lifting Arizona State to a 27-24 win over Baylor, where he was 4-for-4 in the game while also converting his only point after attempt.
On Deck: NFL football today, NCAA football tomorrow! Friday’s issue will be jam packed, including instant reaction from tonight’s clash against Seattle, as well as a preview of ASU’s Friday night game against No. 24 TCU.
Enjoy the game tonight. On to the show!
Cardinals Have Opportunity to Regain Footing in NFC West
Talk about a quick turnaround.
The Cardinals are right back to it tonight, returning home to State Farm Stadium to host another NFC West rival — the Seattle Seahawks. Both share 2-1 records, and both lost to the 49ers, but Seattle has recovered nicely by winning its last two games.
The Cards, meanwhile, are looking to shake off Sunday’s 16-15 loss in San Fran, in which they turned a 13-6 fourth quarter deficit into a 15-13 lead with just over three minutes left. Alas, they were unable to get off the field, and Eddy Piniero’s game-winning 35-yarder sealed Arizona’s first loss of the season.
We all know the Cardinals weren’t going to go 17-0, but their meager offensive production to this point, especially in the second half, is something to keep an eye on. I’m not out here saying Drew Petzing’s job is in trouble, but at some point action is inevitable if results don’t follow.
Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr. Needs to be the X-Factor
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
5:15 pm, Prime Video & FOX 10 locally
bet365 odds: Seattle -1.5
- Passing game, Marvin Harrison Jr. must come alive
Can’t say anyone expected the Cardinals to be a bottom-five team as it relates to passing yards per game, but through three games their 165.0 mark is just that. Losing James Conner for the season only amplifies the need for the passing game to step it up, and that will begin with Marvin Harrison Jr. The second-year wideout had a great camp, and he appeared to be primed to make an impact this season, but that has yet to happen.
Harrison trails tight end Trey McBride 182-142 in total receiving yards this season, and has only hauled in one touchdown. The Seahawks are in the lower half of the league with 221 passing yards allowed per game, so there’s definitely an opportunity.
- Now paging: Trey Benson
Benson’s number has officially been called given the loss of Conner for the season, and we’ll see how he handles the increased workload. He has performed well to this point, accumulating 125 yards on 21 carries (6.0 average), though he has yet to find the end zone. He’s just as capable as a receiver.
Collectively, the Cardinals’ rushing attack ranks 16th in the league with 111.3 rushing yards per game, but without Conner, Benson is going to have to shoulder a significantly increased load.
- Defense needs to slow the Seahawks’ attack
Seattle has been impressive offensively over the past two weeks, racking up 75 points while holding the opposition to 30. One place where Arizona does hold an advantage is in turnover differential, as the Cardinals are +2 while the Seahawks are even. Seattle has capitalized on its opportunities, and though individual numbers don’t jump off the page, they currently rank fifth overall in total points per game (29.3).
Feeling Dodgy: The D-backs missed a golden opportunity to sneak into the final NL Wild Card spot, falling 5-4 to the Dodgers last night in 11 innings to remain one game behind New York (and tied with the Reds). Arizona wraps up its regular season home schedule this afternoon (12:40 pm) in a must-have rubber match against L.A.
That one stung, but there’s still time. Four games to go.
Catch the Postgame Show: Hard to be mad at this team — one more to go in this series. Catch Derek and Damon’s thoughts on yesterday’s heartbreaking loss to the Dodgers after a thrilling rally.
Home, Sweet Home: The Mercury host the Lynx in a pivotal Game 3 tomorrow (6:30 pm, ESPN2), and the winner will take a commanding 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Phoenix shocked everyone with a 20-point comeback on Tuesday, and now has a chance to put the league’s best regular season team on the brink of elimination.
Catch Tuesday’s Postgame Show: How the Mercury rallied from 20 down to even the series.
Oh my this is so well done. Cannot. Stop. Laughing.
