The Detroit Lions’ defense will have one less offensive talent to worry about in its matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 11 (4:25 p.m., Fox) in Glendale, Arizona.
The Cards are reportedly dealing third-year wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. – though it’s not clear to who – meaning Kelvin Sheppard’s crew can focus even more on stopping All-Pro tight end Trey McBride.
Then again, Harrison – the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – was averaging just 3.3 targets a game this season, en route to just five total catches, so he may not have been a major part of the Lions’ defensive plan.
Will the Lions be able to shut down the rest of the Arizona attack, which enters Sunday ranked 17th in scoring but just 23rd in yards?
Can Detroit get back on track?
Six Free Press sports writers sound off on the Lions' chances in Glendale:
Dave Birkett
What did Aaron Rodgers say once upon a time? Relax? I kind of feel that way about the Lions right now. Their defense has not been good and things need to change, but it's also Week 5 and they're about to play an Arizona Cardinals team that's lost three straight, including to the New York Giants with Jameis Winston starting at quarterback last week. I don't expect a miracle turnaround from the defense, this week or this season, but I do anticipate big things from Drew Petzing's offense in his return to Arizona against a Cardinals defense that's been almost as bad as the Lions'. A win and a bye week will do wonders for everyone's psyche. The pick: Lions 34, Cardinals 24.
Carlos Monarrez
The Lions’ elite offense should give them a sizable advantage in this defense-optional matchup that pits the Lions’ second-worst scoring defense (31.8 points per game) against Arizona’s fourth-worst scoring defense (29.3 points). If Kelvin Sheppard’s crew can’t stop Jacoby Brissett and a toothless Cardinals offense, he should consider packing up his office before the Lions head out for the bye. The pick: Lions 38, Cardinals 28.
Christian Romo
The Cardinals are probably better than their 1-3 record indicates, but aren't excellent in any facet of the game. That's a good test for a Lions team that badly needs a win – and while nothing suggests Detroit's defense is going to improve significantly from last week's loss against Carolina, the offense looks ready to accept Campbell's challenge and go off in the desert. The pick: Lions 34, Cardinals 24.
Rainer Sabin
The Lions’ defense has been among the worst in the NFL, ranking at or near the bottom of the league in several major statistical categories. The expectation is that the offense will need to carry this team going forward. Well, Jared Goff and Co. do just that in the desert. The Lions will simply outscore the Cardinals, as Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs each take turns scorching Arizona’s pliable defense. The pick: Lions 35, Cardinals 28.
Jeff Seidel
I have absolutely no faith in the Lions' pass defense and part of me thinks Arizona is going to pull off the upset. Part of me thinks that Jacoby Brissett is going to look like an All Pro on Sunday, as QBs are apt to do against the Lions, throwing for 300 yards with three TDs. And he actually might. But the Lions defense will get one key turnover and the offense will simply outscore the Cardinals. That's the only path forward for the Lions right now. The pick: Lions 37, Cardinals 31.
Shawn Windsor
Let's give the Lions the benefit of the doubt here, not that they've earned it. Let's also give them more than 31 points for the first time this season. Arizona doesn't defend much. Then again, neither did Carolina, but the offense tripped over itself too many times in the Queen City. If they do that in the desert, they'll likely lose. But they won't. They've got too much talent on that side not to figure it out. The pick: Lions 33, Cardinals 23.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions vs Arizona Cardinals picks: Who has defense in desert?
