Last week was called the “Petzing Bowl,” as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing squared off against his brother, Dean Petzing, of the Carolina Panthers. This week, Drew Petzing plays his former team, the Arizona Cardinals, adding a little more drama to the matchup.
After a Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cardinals have lost three straight, but don’t let the record fool you. This team has improved and has been playing good football, so don’t be surprised if this game
turns into a shootout as both defenses struggle and the offenses keep it close.
Let’s take a deep look at the Cardinals and how much they’ve changed ahead of Week 5.
Arizona Cardinals
2025 season
- 3-14 record (4th in NFC West)
- 23rd in points for, 29th in points allowed
- Overall DVOA: 27th (24th on offense, 21st on defense)
The Cardinals fell quickly in 2025. Quarterback Kyler Murray suffered a foot injury in Week 5, joining running back James Conner, who also suffered a foot injury in Week 3. Murray was replaced by veteran Jacoby Brissett, who did well under the circumstances he was in. Brissett threw for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He had to do a lot of the heavy lifting because he wasn’t getting help in the backfield, and he was constantly on his back, getting sacked 43 times; the Cardinals’ offensive line allowed 59 sacks overall, the fifth most in the NFL.
The Cardinals had a lot of running backs start, with Michael Carter the most successful, leading the team with 333 yards and a touchdown. The team got a spark from Zonovan Knight, who ran for 269 yards and four touchdowns, but his season ended early as he suffered an ankle injury in Week 15 and was put on IR.
With Brissett having to air it out, he leaned on tight end Trey McBride to carry the offense, finishing as the team’s leader in catches (126, setting an NFL record for tight ends) for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wide receiver Michael Wilson had a breakout season, posting 78 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns. Second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. finished with only 41 catches for 608 yards and four touchdowns.
While the offense struggled, the defense tried its best to help. The Cardinals signed EDGE Josh Sweat in the offseason, and he was their best defender on the field, leading the team in sacks (12) and forced fumbles (four). He had a solid partner in crime in EDGE Calais Campbell, who, at 39, still got 6.5 sacks and was a presence on the defensive line. The secondary had some woes, but cornerback Denzel Burke led the team in interceptions (three) and pass deflections (11).
Overall, once the wheels fell off the Cardinals offense, the rest of the season felt like a slow demise as they finished the year on a nine-game losing streak. Despite starting 2-0, the team finished 3-14, pushing their hopes to compete in the NFC to 2026.
2026 offseason
Key additions: G Isaac Seumalo, RB Tyler Allgeier, DT Roy Lopez, WR Kendrick Bourne, LB Jack Gibbens, HC Mike LaFleur
Key losses: QB Kyler Murray, S Jalen Thompson, DL Dalvin Tomlinson, DL Calais Campbell, OC Drew Petzing, HC Jonathan Gannon
2026 NFL Draft picks
Round 1: RB Jeremiyah Love
Round 2: G Chase Bisontis
Round 3: QB Carson Beck
Round 4: DT Kaleb Proctor
Round 5: WR Reggie Virgil
Round 6: LB Karson Sharar
Round 7: OT Jayden Williams
There was some drama for the Cardinals in the offseason. First, with the team falling flat on it’s face, head coach Jonathan Gannon was fired after finishing his career at 15-36 for three seasons. The Cardinals would move on and hire Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to be their new head coach. With Gannon gone, Petzing left Arizona to be the offensive coordinator for Detroit.
Next, they moved on from Murray and had a contract standoff with Brissett, which ended with Brissett getting a reworked one-year deal for $21 million, $15.5 million guaranteed. The offensive line got some help at guard with the signing of Isaac Seumalo and the second-round draft pick of Chase Bisontis. With Conner still dealing with an injury, the team drafted running back Jeremiyah Love in the first round and signed Tyler Allgeier as a backup to add solid depth at the position.
Arizona’s offensive shakeup didn’t stop there, as they signed wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and drafted wide receiver Reggie Virgil. Before signing Brissett to his reworked deal, the team drafted quarterback Carson Beck to help prepare for the future at the position. The defense took the biggest hit, losing safety Jalen Thompson and defensive linemen Dalvin Tomlinson and Campbell in free agency. Arizona countered those moves by signing defensive tackle Roy Lopez and drafting Kaleb Proctor.
2026 season thus far (1-3)
Week 1: Defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-14
Week 2: Lost to Seattle Seahawks 31-7
Week 3: Lost to San Francisco 49ers 36-30
Week 4: Lost to New York Giants 36-24
Stats:
- 17th in points scored, 29th in points allowed
- Overall DVOA: 18th (12th on offense, 29th on defense, 4th on special teams)
The season started with a bang for the Cardinals, who beat the Chargers on the road. They came down to earth the following week against the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, losing by 24. Arizona didn’t let that loss deter them much, as they kept up with one of the three undefeated teams left in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers, and almost pulled off another upset. Finally, against the New York Giants, they lost on the final play when Brissett attempted a fourth-down touchdown pass, but it was picked off and returned for a touchdown.
Brissett has had a decent start to the season, throwing for 818 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. Three of those interceptions came against the Giants, so he was doing well protecting the ball until last week. He’s been asked to carry the load as the running game hasn’t taken off yet, but it’s showing signs of improvement while Conner is still on the sidelines.
Love leads the team in rushing yards with 223, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and a touchdown. Allgeier has 112 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per carry and a touchdown. The run game could certainly be better and ease some pressure off Brissett as he tries to carry the offense with his arm.
The team’s current leading receiver is Wilson with 25 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown, but McBride is still Brissett’s go-to option. He leads the team in targets (46) and catches (33) for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Teams know McBride is the lifeblood of the passing game, and limiting his production forces Brissett to go elsewhere. Harrison got his first touchdown of the season against the Giants in Week 4, but he still has only five catches for 85 yards.
While the offense has shown signs of life and moving the football, the defense hasn’t gotten that memo since Week 1. After the win over the Chargers, the Cardinals have allowed over 30 points in their last three games. Their last in the NFL in passing yards per attempt with 9.1, tied with the Lions and Washington Commanders for most passing touchdowns allowed (11), and have the second-highest QBR rating allowed at 114.9.
Their best defensive player, safety Budda Baker, is everywhere for them this season, leading the team in sacks (1.5), tied for most interceptions (one), and tied for most pass deflections (three). He is the heartbeat of this defense and is playing what he is worth, while others haven’t been up to par. Sweat is off to a slow start (seven tackles and 1.0 sack) this season. Arizona’s defense is similar to Detroit’s, where opposing quarterbacks seem to have their way. Heck, they allowed Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston to throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns on them just last week.
While their record is 1-3, this team can’t be overlooked. Their offense can put up points when needed, but it’s one-dimensional and relies on the passing attack. The defense is what is hurting this team most (sound familiar?), and if they can clean up what’s going on on that side of the ball, they can be competitive this season with eyes on a postseason chance in 2027.
Injury notes
Key players ruled out: CB Will Johnson (IR), G Chase Bisontis (IR), DT Kaleb Proctor (IR), LT Paris Johnson Jr. (IR)
Key players to monitor: RB James Conner (IR), S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (back)
Arizona has struggled with injuries in the first quarter of the season. Starting cornerback Will Johnson was placed on IR after suffering a neck injury in Week 2. Two of the team’s top four draft picks won’t see the field this season as Bisontis and Proctor were placed on season-ending IR. On Monday, it was announced that starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. tore his bicep and would be placed on season-ending IR, a blow to the improved offensive line.
The only IR player aiming to return is Conner, who started the year on IR while still recovering from last season’s foot injury. Conner is eligible to return to the field now, but with no practice reps yet, I don’t believe he will play this week. Backup safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson missed last week’s game, and he could potentially suit up this week.
Biggest strength: Passing attack
Similar to last season, the Cardinals offense is leaning on Brissett and the passing game. While the stats aren’t eye-popping, the team is still trying to figure out the ground attack. Brissett is coming off his worst game of the season, but I can see him bouncing back well when matched up against this Lions secondary. Wilson and McBride remain the top receiving options, and with Harrison finding the end zone, maybe he can add some sizzle against a weak Lions secondary.
Love has contributed through the air too, getting a touchdown and 36 yards on 11 catches. The improvement along the offensive line has made this passing game the offense’s bright spot. Brissett has been sacked only seven times in four games, on pace for 30, a step in the right direction after getting sacked 43 times in 2025. According to PFF, the Cardinals have the 12th-best passing game with a 74.7 passing grade
Biggest weakness: Defense
While the offense has been improving, the defense feels like it took a step back. If you thought the Lions secondary was rough, Arizona leads the NFL in average yards per reception allowed (9.1) and has allowed multiple 80+ yard passes. A big difference between Detroit and Arizona is that Detroit at least gets help from its defensive line, with 15 sacks compared to Arizona’s eight.
With former sack leader Sweat struggling to find his groove, the Cardinals need him to close in on the quarterback, as they paid him to do. According to PFF, the Cardinals have the fifth-lowest coverage grade (48.2) and are tied with the Lions with the 10th-lowest run defense grade (59.8). Nothing is standing out positively for this defense, and if they can’t figure something out soon, it could be a repeat of 2025.
Key matchup: Lions defense vs. Cardinals tight ends
No position has had more success against the Lions’ defense than the tight end spot. Through four games, Detroit has allowed 37 catches for 407 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 9.25 catches for 101.75 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game. The Lions are on pace to allow 157 catches for 1,730 yards and 26 touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t pretty, and as a major problem for Detroit’s defense, McBride presents a tough challenge this week.
Arizona’s offense currently lives and dies by the passing game, as McBride is their top option. In this season’s matchups, Detroit has faced impressive tight end play, but McBride is a step above it all and arguably the NFL’s top tight end. If the Cardinals keep using McBride as they please, Detroit could be in for a shootout where whoever has the ball last has a chance to win once again.
Slowing down McBride is Detroit’s best path to winning. Arizona’s running game hasn’t taken off yet, and even though the Lions’ secondary hasn’t been impressive, they’ll need to do a lot of the heavy lifting on Sunday. Arizona could use this game as a chance for possibly Harrison or Love to get going, if all the focus is on McBride. With how the Lions’ defense has been against tight ends, though, McBride is going to get his; it’s just a matter of how much and when.
Vegas line for Sunday: Lions favored by 5.5
