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    Cardinals vs. Lions: Kent Somers and Dan Bickley preview the game

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    Bob McManaman wraps up Cardinals practice on Friday

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    Shot Clock: Chiefs-Patriots lessons for Cardinals

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    Arizona Cardinals report: Thursday’s practice

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    Shot Clock: Cards a slim pick, what are the keys?

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    Cardinals report: How will Bucannon’s absence affect team?

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    Shot Clock: Detroit Lions, Super Bowl champions?

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    Reaction to Cardinals’ move at punter

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    Somers wraps up the Cardinals’ preseason finale

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    Cardinals vs Broncos preview

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    Somers and McManaman wrap up Cardinals’ Tuesday practice

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    Shot Clock: CJ2K stays?; Drown out LA fans

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    Sights and sounds from 9th Annual Fitz’s Supper Club

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    Arizona Cardinals break camp

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    McLellan and McManaman wrap up Cardinals practice

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    Somers on Cardinals vs. Falcons

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    Cardinals treating final preseason game seriously

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    Kent and Bob talk Cardinals game planning and remaining preseason games

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    Bickley and Moore: Cardinals looked ‘sluggish’

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    Shot Clock: Cards’ Palmer, ‘D’ gotta get better

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    Kent and Bob break down Cards’ preseason loss to Bears

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    Somers, McManaman on the Cardinals’ ‘boring’ camp

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    Somers, McManaman on Arians’ anger, receiving issues

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    Shot Clock: Cards WRs stink; anthem issue solved

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    Insider: Was Arians’ criticism truth or motivational chatter?

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    Shot Clock: Stanton stands out for Cardinals

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    Shot Clock: Cardinals protecting QB Palmer?

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    Greg Moore and Bruce Arians talk charities

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    Gabbert’s big chance, special team auditions

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    Shot Clock: Arians changes tone with Cardinals

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    Greg Moore and Bob McManaman break down the Red-White practice

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    Somers, McManaman on Gruden possibility, CB battle

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    Shot Clock: Early hiccups for Cardinals

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    Moore, McManaman wrap up opening day at Cardinals training camp

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    David Johnson’s work load; D-Backs’ head games

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    Shot Clock: Cards kick off fan-friendly camp

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    Somers sits down with Cardinals rookie Budda Baker

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    Shot Clock: Blaine Gabbert a keeper for Cardinals?

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    Kent and Bob talk new NFL rules and wide out depth

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    Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser at Top Golf

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    Report card on Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert

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    Top 3 games in Cardinals schedule

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    Larry Fitzgerald holding 7th annual charity softball tournament

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    Larry Fitzgerald 1-on-1 with Kent Somers

The Cardinals must …

*Take advantage of Detroit’s continuing poor performance on special teams, which has included a botched punt return attempt, a failed point-after attempt because of a bad snap and a turnover on downs because the punter couldn’t handle the snap and was forced to run out of the end zone.

*Get more out of the short-yardage run game, where the Lions’ defensive front has collapsed things everywhere for David Johnson.

*Go back to a shorter passing game because Carson Palmer has missed sure-fired first downs underneath by trying to go over the top a few too many times.

–Bob McManaman

Lions taking heat

The Cardinals aren’t off to an overwhelming start, but they’re leading the Lions in the first half.

And while that reflects well on certain aspects of the Cardinals’ play – think Justin Bethel’s pick six and some stout defense – it might be more indicative of just how rough this game is going for the Lions.

There’s been questionable decisions on special teams, untimely penalties and an offense that looks out-of-sync.

And everyone seems to know it.

Some first-quarter stats

Not much in the way of offense for either team after one quarter of play at Ford Field, where the Cardinals lead the Lions 10-0.

Here’s a look at some of the numbers:

Total offense – Cardinals 29 yards, Lions 32

Passing yards – Carson Palmer 20, Matthew Stafford 17

Rushing yards – Cardinals 9, Lions 15

Time of possession – Cardinals 8:09, Lions 6:51

Penalties – Cardinals 0-0, Lions 3-29

 –Bob McManaman

Humphries out with injury

Left tackle D.J. Humphries was carted off the field with an apparent knee injury midway through the first quarter.

Taking his place is now John Wetzel, who thought he might be starting this game at left guard because of a triceps injury to Mike Iupati. However, Iupati is in the game and playing well thus far. Wetzel will need to step up his game against the Lions’ defensive front.

It’ll be interesting to see what the Cardinals do long-term at left tackle if Humphries is out for any serious length of time. One option could be switching right tackle Jared Veldheer back to his natural position, left tackle.

–Bob McManaman

Not a good start for David Johnson

It’s early but …

Johnson lost the football after a 15-yard reception on Arizona’s opening drive. He took a big hit from free safety Glover Quin, but he needed to do a better job of securing the ball when he knew he was going to get drilled.

Johnson also was called for pass interference, which Detroit declined.

And on two carries, he has zero yards.

On the positive side, you have to think Justin Bethel’s 82-yard interception return for a touchdown is only going to boost his confidence from here on out. Great way to start the season by Bethel on that play – by being in the right spot, following his blockers, and getting the pix six into the end zone.

–Bob McManaman

Picking up the pace

Running back David Johnson didn’t score the Cardinals’ first touchdown of the season.

Neither did receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Actually, no one on offense was responsible for the score, as cornerback Justin Bethel intercepted Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford before taking off for an 82-yard run to the end zone.

The play was a strong statement by Bethel, who enters this season looking to rebound from a tough 2016 as the starting cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson

But it also was a flop of a debut for Stafford as the NFL’s highest-paid player.

Fitz at 196

With the game’s first catch, Larry Fitzgerald extended his consecutive games streak with at least one catch to 196 games, the third most in NFL history.

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Broadcast information

Kickoff: 10 a.m. MST

Television: Fox 10

Play-By-Play: Chris Myers, Analyst: Daryl Johnston, Sideline: Laura Okmin

Cardinals Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM / Play-By-Play: Dave Pasch, Analyst: Ron Wolfley, Sideline: Paul Calvisi

Cardinals Spanish Radio: 100.3 FM Latino Mix / Play-By-Play: Gabriel Trujillo, Analyst: Rolando Cantu 

The view from Detroit

Kyle Meinke from Michigan Live asked me to help break down today’s game between the Cardinals and Lions. Here’s the piece:

MLive: What is Arizona’s biggest strength this season? Its biggest weakness?

Bob McManaman: The Cardinals are built around running back David Johnson, who might be the most complete running  back in the league. The running game and the passing game goes through him. What make the offense so good, however, is when it has a speedy wide receiver like John Brown able to stretch a defense and attract both safeties, which opens things up for Johnson and helps Larry Fitzgerald and the tight ends gain mismatches underneath.

The weakness as it stands now is at inside linebacker, where the team is missing one of its starters (Deone Bucannon with an ankle issue) and is relying on a rookie (Haason Reddick) to fill his shoes. Arizona is also relying on 35-year-old Karlos Dansby in the middle and we’re about to find out how much he has left in the tank. There isn’t a ton of help behind them in terms of serviceable depth.

MLive: The Lions are starting Greg Robinson at left tackle, which could be a problem. Especially with Chandler Jones staring him down this week. How has Jones looked and how do you think Arizona will try to get after Matthew Stafford?

McManaman: Jones is a huge weapon on this Cardinals’ defense, no question, But so is the other outside linebacker, Markus Golden, who led the team with 12.5 sacks a year ago. Jones finished with 11. Coach Bruce Arians said he expects both players to get five more sacks than they did a year ago, which might be wishful thinking or a very real possibility.

The Cardinals love to blitz, and they do it from everywhere, so Stafford better keep his eyes open when he sees Tyrann Mathieu and rookie Haason Reddick lining up anywhere near the box. Stafford remembers all too well what this defense did to him ma couple years ago.

MLive: The Cardinals have won seven straight in the series. They make it eight in a row if …

McManaman: … they win the turnover battle, which they can do by harassing Stafford as often as possible. The secondary in Arizona is full of ballhawks (Patrick Peterson, the Honey Badger, Tyvon Branch, Antoine Bethea) and the defensive front and outside edge rusher are all disruptive and capable of forcing fumbles and stripping the ball. The over/under on forced turnovers by the Cardinals in this game: 3.

Bob McManaman’s prediction: The Cardinals win the turnover battle, score a touchdown on defense, and get nearly 200 yards from scrimmage by David Johnson. Cardinals 30, Lions 21

By the numbers

With 82 receiving yards today …

Larry Fitzgerald can become just the fifth player in NFL history to have 1,000 receiving yards and eight touchdowns over a career in season openers.

The four to have done it thus far: Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Andre Reed and Don Maynard.

With 125 passing yards today …

Carson Palmer will pass Charley Johnson (14,928) for fifth on the Cardinals’ all-time passing list.

The top four in franchise history: Jim Hart (34,639), Neil Lomax (22,771), Jake Plummer (17,622) abnd Kurt Warner (15,843).

With two points today …

Kicker Phil Dawson will pass Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud (1,699) for 14th place on the NFL’s all-time scoring list.

With a win today …

Coach Bruce Arians will tie Don Coryell (42) for second place on the all-time victory list.

Ken Whisenhunt ranks first in franchise history with 49 wins.

 –Bob McManaman

Waiting for word on Iupati

Since left guard Mike Iupati wasn’t among the inactives named for today’s game, it might be natural to assume he will start. That may not be the case, however, as Iupati is still dealing with a tender right triceps issue.

He experimented with using a brace contraption on his arm late last week. Coach Bruce Arians said Iupati would be a game-time decision and even if he starts.

We could see John Wetzel filling in or replacing him altogether of things don’t go well and the arm just can’t hold up.

We’ll update his status closer to kickoff.

P.S. My prediction on today’s score: Cardinals 30, Lions 21.

–Bob McManaman

Nkemdiche among inactives today

Defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (calf strain) is inactive for today’s game against the Lions. He had practiced twice last week on a limited basis, but it clearly wasn’t enough to make the coaching staff feel comfortable that Nkemdiche could make any real sort of impact in the season opener.

With Nkemdiche out, look for Xavier Williams and Olsen Pierre to get more action than perhaps previously planned.

The rest of the Cardinals inactives today: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert, receiver Chad Williams, linebacker Scooby Wright, guard/tackle Will Holden, tackle Ulrick John and of course, linebacker Deone Bucannon, who was ruled out on Thursday by coach Bruce Arians because of an ankle issue.

MORE CARDINALS: Arizona Cardinals schedule 2017

MORE CARDINALS: A position-by-position look at the Cardinals roster before Week 1

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Cardinals vs. Lions game notes

The Cardinals own a seven-game winning streak against the Detroit Lions, the team’s longest active win streak against any NFL opponent.

Sunday’s game in Detroit marks the Cardinals second visit to the Motor City in the last three seasons.

The Cardinals beat the Lions 42-17 at Ford Field in the team’s last trip to Detroit.

Sunday’s game is the 65th all-time meeting between the two franchises, dating back to when the Cardinals played in Chicago and the Lions were known as the Portsmouth, Ohio, Spartans.

The Lions have a 31-28-5 edge in the series with the Cardinals, though the Cardinals have taken 12 of the last 15 meetings.

CARDINALS-LIONS REGULAR SEASON SERIES

  • Overall Regular Season Series: 28-31-5
  • Cardinals on the road at Det: 11-18-2
  • First Meeting: 10/5/30 @ Port, Tie 0-0
  • Last Meeting: 10/11/15 @ Det, W, 42-17

MORE CARDINALS: If Cardinals can’t go long in ’17, they won’t go far

MORE CARDINALS: Cardinals rookie Reddick ready to step in for injured Bucannon

BICKLEY: Cardinals need temperament to match talent in 2017

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