2. Chandler Jones & Markus Golden combine for 4.5 sacks
With the loss to Johnson on offense it’s going to be Arizona’s defense that needs to step up if the Cardinals make any noise in the NFL in 2017.
The secondary is stout with the likes of Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu leading the way. Their front seven isn’t too shabby either with Chandler Jones and Markus Golden making the lives easier on Sunday’s. But that wasn’t the case on Sunday; only Jones was able to get to Stafford with Golden ghosting on James Bettcher’s defense.
This weekend will be different against Indianapolis’ offensive line. Although they only gave up four sacks to Los Angeles’ line (missing Aaron Donald) that doesn’t give the group a pass. Jones and Golden will feast on Sunday giving Peterson and Mathieu plenty of opportunities to clean up on the back end.
1. Chris Johnson won’t make a difference
What a difference a couple weeks make. Chris Johnson, who signed with the Cardinals just prior to training camp starting, was cut at the end of the preseason. Now after the injury to David Johnson he’s back. But how much of a difference is it going to truly make?
In just a couple weeks, Johnson will be 32 years old, well past his prime and the 2,000-yard rushing season. This offseason he waiting until the last possible second in hopes of landing in a spot where he could be the feature back. But after a 2016 season riddled with injury, that wasn’t going to happen.
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There’s a real reason why CJ2K wasn’t retained. He’s past his prime and didn’t show any flashes of a full-time back in preseason play averaging just three yards per carry on 13 attempts. To make matters worse, he fumbled deep in enemy territory, all-but sealing sealing his fate for one of the younger backs to make the roster.
Don’t expect anything spectacular this Sunday from Johnson on the ground or through the air. Like Adrian Peterson on Monday night, there won’t be any coming back party for the over-30 club this weekend.