Arizona Cardinals: Can this team win back-to-back games?

The Arizona Cardinals have their best opportunity to win back to back games entering a Week 14 matchup with the Lions. Can they do it?

The Arizona Cardinals created shockwaves in Week 13 by defeating the Green Bay Packers on the road. They host the Detroit Lions now in Week 14 in search of another victory. Can the Redbirds win back to back games?

The victory in Green Bay came with a costly price tag. Rookie wide receiver Christian Kirk broke his foot and is on the injured reserve list (IR). The Cardinals also lost star guard Mike Iupati to the IR with a knee injury.

The loss of Kirk is big. Kirk is the deep threat in the passing attack. Remember, he had the 75-yard touchdown reception against San Francisco in Week 5. He finishes the season with 43 receptions for 590 yards and an outstanding average of 13.7 yards per reception.

How will the absence of Kirk affect the offense? Expect the tight ends to get more targeted passes until Chad Williams or J.J. Nelson get comfortable in the fold. Ricky Seals-Jones has developed chemistry with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen.

Detroit has struggled in 2018 to win games, too. Currently, they sport a 4-8 record and have lost two-straight games. They are 1-5 through their last six games.

Rosen faces a Lions defense that gives up an average of 354.5 total yards per game (15th). They are 12th in passing defense allowing 234.8 yards per game. Perhaps Arizona can get their running game going against the Lions, who average giving up 119.8 yards per game.

NFL games are won in the trenches. The Cardinals will have to impose their will on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Arizona will have to exert constant pressure on Matthew Stafford.

Stafford has been sacked 36 times this year. Arizona has 38 total sacks through Week 13. Stafford should see a contact stream of Cardinals jerseys heading towards him, all game long. He has thrown 11 interceptions, but, more importantly, six of them have occurred in the last six games.

Constant quarterback pressure and forcing turnovers give the Redbirds the best chance to get their first back to back victories of the 2018 season. This should be a hard fought game and Arizona will have a chance at winning two-straight.