In one of the most exciting games on the schedule this week, the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. With a bevy of offensive weapons (who are also healthy), a superb coaching staff putting him in positions to thrive, and a very good defense, Carson Palmer is finally getting a chance to play for a legitimate Super Bowl contender while having the best season of his 13 year career.
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The Bengals are the best team the Cardinals have faced, and the two teams are somewhat similar. The NFC West power shift had never looked so evident. Both Palmer (7) and Dalton (5) have protected the ball well this year when it comes to interceptions, but they will both be facing a very stingy defense come Sunday. In his third year as coach, Bruce Arians has turned Arizona into the best team in the NFC West. Not to mention that despite playing on a few really bad teams, he regularly ranked in the top-10, and in his better seasons top-5, in every major category.
Mark Sanchez will start at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in place of injured Sam Bradford. They’re a quality, quality group.
“That was so long ago for all of us”, said Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, a teammate of Palmer’s.
“We understand that, and the smarter OCs in this league, they don’t get stubborn and try to force it down”. He played last week against Seattle.
“They’re a talented offense”, Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “A big challenge for us”.
Of course, we wish the player who said Palmer “quit” on the Bengals would’ve put a name to his quote to the NFL Network.
“He’s a great competitor”, Peterson said. It’s going to be a challenge – probably the toughest challenge thus far up to this point in the season. I’ve got the “Skins – led by Cousins – wining their third straight and knocking them off on Sunday”. Respect Green Bay pride under duress, and don’t expect a blowout, but Minnesota momentum should carry, with Adrian Peterson in full crusade mode and the Vikings defense taking steps back towards People-Eater status. Detroit’s Calvin Johnson mustered 67 yards on five catches in an Arizona win while Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown gained just 24 yards on three catches.
Oakland Raiders at Detroit Lions: In April of 2007, the Oakland Raiders selected JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Palmer, who has led the league in exactly one passing category (interceptions not included) in his career, is leading the NFL in TD%, yards per attempt, and yards per completion. While Green caught 10 passes for 227 yards and two scores in that game, Jones caught eight passes for 94 yards and his second-quarter touchdown was a result of isolating him one-on-one with Ravens cornerback Rashaan Melvin.
“I know he knows what he’s doing and if he can run, we can use him”, Arians said. I think the Chargers can stop their five-game losing streak, but this is only a lean to the home ‘dog. I don’t see playing in Seattle as the ideal testing ground for those new tactics.
Carson Palmer gets to face his old team this week. “It’s going to be an all-day affair”.
This is one of the highlight matchups of the entire week, not just this game. That says something pretty special about what we’ve been able to accomplish here.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer’s intention to entertain his friends Sunday night in Seattle cost him a good chunk of change. The Seattle has also improved the team around the quarterback, making a trade for Jimmy Graham to give Russell Wilson his most formidable target yet. However, right now he’s focused on the present, not his past.
Chris Johnson. Many thought he was washed out, with nothing left in the tank.
Palmer’s line is expected to see guard Mike Iupati (neck/concussion) return even though he’s listed as questionable after he was taken off the field prematurely in Week 10’s huge victory over Seattle.
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Craig Grialou reported on how the Cards’ WR depth might be tested against the Bengals.
