The Arizona Cardinals find themselves at a crossroads this season. This weekend, they face the New York Football Giants in the early contest at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The season is still young. Currently, the Cardinals have a 1-2-0 record as opposed to the Giants being 2-1-0. In looking at both teams’ schedules, Arizona’s two losses are against the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. Both clubs made the playoffs last year. Meanwhile, the Giants have beaten the Dallas
Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans. Neither even sniffed the playoffs last year.
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Both teams need a win in the worst way as the schedules get hot and heavy going forward.
For the Cardinals, after going to New Jersey, they have to play the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, and Denver Broncos. All of those are tough opponents, and going into this stretch would feel a lot better with a 2-2-0 record rather than being 1-3-0.
The key issue is simply to defeat the Giants. Here are three situations that should help the Cardinals affect the outcome.
Clean pocket
Arizona’s offensive line is doing a good job when QB Jacoby Brissett drops back to pass. They have allowed just four sacks so far this year, which is ranked seventh best. The passing game is what is fueling this offense so far, and that must continue. The offense is having a difficult time running the ball, so the passing game must move the offense.
It all starts with TE Trey McBride and getting him more targets especially in the Red Zone. He is ranked second in the league in receptions with 26, one off the league lead. He also ranked third in targets (34). WR Michael Wilson is ranked right behind McBride in targets (31), but this offense has to find a way to get slot receiver Kendrick Bourne more involved and figure out what the heck is wrong with WR Marv Harrison.
The Cardinals offensive line is currently ranked #21 in the league after just three games. Their pass blocking grades overall are pretty good, but the run blocking for three of the five is horrible. Only OT Paris Johnson is having a Pro Bowl season. The Giants’ pass defense is ranked #17 and is vulnerable. The Giants are thrashing to generate consistent pressure and recently lost EDGE Brian Burns to a season-ending ACL injury. Provide a good pocket, and let Brissett sling it for the majority of the game.
Do not throw in safety Jevon Holland’s area
The Cardinals’ passing attack has gotten them going in games since the run game seems to stall. This offense is averaging 303 yards a game and mostly features McBride and Wilson. But one thing that Brissett must avoid is the Giants’ premier safety, Holland. He is an absolute beast in pass coverage and will hit his grandma if she is running with a football in her hands. At just 6’-1” and 207 pounds, he really packs a punch.
Already, Holland has three picks, which ties for the league lead in this category. Per Next Gen Stats, he’s seen a target rate of just 1.9% this year. His four batted passes also lead the league. Of his 15 coverage snaps, he’s made a play on the ball on every target. Which means every QB simply avoids throwing into his zone. Brissett should follow this lead.
He was just named the “NFC Defensive Player of the Month.” He is a big, rangy guy and is able to read the quarterback’s eyes. Two words: ball hawk. Two words for Brissett: avoid Holland.
Blitz heavily when the Giants get into the Red Zone
The Giants’ offense is horrible when they get close to the goal line. Their offense overall is ranked #29 and has scored the fifth-lowest points because they trade field goals for touchdowns. The Giants’ 18 points over the last two weeks have all come via field goals.
How to continue this trend is to force Giants QB Jameis Winston to hurry his decision-making ability when their offense gets into the Red Zone. Winston is not a good QB, with a league-worst QBR of 22.9. He is making a ton of overthrows and missing his targets regularly. But sending at least two more defenders deep into Arizona’s territory will force Winston to hurry his thinking.
The Giants currently stand at 50% in Red Zone visits, going 0-for-4 in the past two games.
