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Bills/Cardinals: Four Key Matchups


Can Peters rebound from 3 sloppy starts? (buffalobills.com)

The Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals are set to square off this coming Sunday as the Bills look to extend their record to 5-0 for the first time since 1991.  The Cardinals, meanwhile, will look to end a two-game skid in their first home game since a Week 2 trouncing of Miami.

Several key matchups will hold huge importance in this game.  We're glad to be joined once again by cgolden of Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Cardinals blog, as the two of us break down four key matchups for the Bills/Cardinals tilt.  On to the matchups...

Bills WR Lee Evans vs Cardinals CB Roderick Hood
cgolden - Lee Evans is a tough match-up for any cornerback because of his big play ability and Roderick Hood will certainly have his hands full on Sunday. Evans is having a great year, averaging over 23 yards per catch, so Hood will have to bring his A-game to keep Evans from getting deep. Evans is not only a legitimate down the field threat, he's also shifty enough to turn every short pass into a huge play. Roderick Hood is a good tackler but the Cardinals don't play much press coverage, which could leave Evans open for some quick, short passes. Hood is the Cardinals' best corner by far but he's not anything spectacular so I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cardinals keep a safety over the top. Much of the Cardinals defensive game plan will depend on Adrian Wilson's avaliability on Sunday, but either way, Hood will need to some help to contain Evans.  Advantage: Bills

Yours Truly - Evans is off to a fast start.  He'll never be a guy who catches a large volume of passes, but he definitely makes his catches count (see his 23.7 YPC average through four games).  When Evans is at his best, he's making a play or two early in the game, letting other receivers keep the offense efficient in the middle quarters, and putting the final dagger in a win late in the fourth quarter.  He lulls defenses to sleep in this manner.  There isn't a corner in the league who can cover Evans for an entire game (when he's got competent quarterback play), so I fully expect Evans to make a big play or two in this one.  Advantage: Bills

Bills DT Marcus Stroud vs Cardinals C Lyle Sendlein and RG Deuce Lutui
cgolden - Lyle Sendlien got his first taste of a big, powerful defensive tackle last week when Kris Jenkins abused him a couple of times, and things won't get any easier when Marcus Stroud comes to town.  Stroud benefited from playing on a great defensive line in Jacksonville and he's got some pretty good defensive line mates in Buffalo as well with Aaron Schobel, Kyle Williams and Chris Kelsay. Stroud, like Jenkins, is strong enough to bull rush nearly any center or guard but also has the quickness and agility to be a decent pass rusher. Sendlien is a young guy who's still coming into his own and Lutui has been performing just well enough not to be benched. They'll have to double team Stroud most of the day but I still wouldn't be surprised to see him blow up a running play in the backfield and be in Warner's face a couple of times on Sunday.  Advantage: Bills

Yours Truly - Stroud's importance to this defense can't be measured just by his stats alone.  You have to take into account what Stroud has done for Kyle Williams as well; Buffalo's starting defensive tackles have combined for 28 tackles and 3 sacks in the team's first four games.  Stroud's a force against the run, and he's proven over and over this season that he can routinely beat the double team.  He's been impossible to block.  I don't expect Arizona to establish much of a run game on Sunday, but it would be nice to see Stroud collapse the pocket a handful of times around Kurt Warner, who is a fabulous rhythm passer.  Advantage: Bills

Cardinals OLB Travis LaBoy vs Bills OT Jason Peters
cgolden - This should be a strength on strength match-up and should be worth the price of admission. Oddly enough, these two guys have probably faced off before considering that LaBoy spent his first four seasons in Tennessee. LaBoy is the Cardinals best pass rusher and if Clancy Pendergast decides to be aggressive this week, he should be able to apply some pressure.  Jason Peters is the Bills' best offensive lineman and is one of the better left tackles in the league.  Since LaBoy will at times focus too much on rushing the passer, Peters should be able to handle him in the running game.  In passing situations, though, it'll be much more interesting.  LaBoy is a natural pass rusher and has the ability to get around almost any tackle in the league. He may not register a sack but I'd be surprised if he wasn't able to apply some pressure to Edwards a couple of times.  Advantage: Push

Yours Truly - Peters has been off his game since deciding to return from a prolonged pre-season holdout.  As such, he's only got about a month's worth of football under his belt this year, and with a new offensive coordinator and line coach, he's had some difficulty adjusting to what Buffalo does offensively.  He's been very streaky - looking awful at times and dominant at others - and he's currently dealing with an ankle sprain as well, hindering his footwork.  I fully expect LaBoy, who is very sudden in his pass-rushing, to make some plays on Sunday.  But Peters will have help, and he's still very adept at neutralizing the speed rush.  Advantage: Push

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald vs Bills CB Jabari Greer
cgolden - Larry Fitzgerald has had a great year through four games and he's on pace for over 1,600 yards. His size and ability to snatch the ball out of the air at its highest point are second to none.  He'll have a four inch height and 40 pound weight advantage over Greer, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them test Greer early and often. Whatever the Cardinals' game plan ends up being, Greer shouldn't be underestimated though.  He's a slightly undersized corner back (5'11", 180) who is coming into his own and he plays much bigger than his stature would suggest. He's pretty good about getting his hands on a pass or two during a game and he sealed the Bills' victory over the Rams with a 33-yard pick six.  Overall, Greer's a solid corner but he'll need help because Fitzgerald is a special reciever.  Advantage: Cardinals

Yours Truly - Buffalo employs a Cover 2 shell on pass downs, so it's a virtual certainty that the Bills will have two guys on Fitzgerald at all times.  That number could balloon to 3 on occasion if Anquan Boldin doesn't play as expected.  Greer will get the Fitzgerald assignment most often, and I actually think that his aggressiveness and surprising reach match up better with Fitzgerald than most people believe.  But Fitzgerald is undeniable; he'll get his touches.  The Bills will be lucky if they can hold him to one score.  Advantage: Cardinals

***

Not much of a debate here.  We'd love to hear your thoughts on these matchups and on this exercise in the comments section.

0 recs  |  Comment 16 comments |

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Good article as usual

Brian, are you sure cgolden is not your lost twin brother? You two seem really in sync on all the matchups!

by patamunzo on Oct 3, 2008 10:22 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

And much thanks to cgolden from ROTB as well. His knowledge and insight of all things Cardinals have been exceptionally welcome and have helped us get a better understanding of a team that we really see very little of.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Oct 3, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

it is good to see non biased analysis

You both make great points and are very fair. I don’t know what it is but I have a bad feeling about this game. But GO BILLS!

by yank40te on Oct 3, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yea

Last time I posted about that Saint guy before the raiders game about how I couldnt stand him. This guy is so much more unbiased.

by jdol1568 on Oct 3, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Very nice stuff

I like this Cards guy, he’s very knowledgeable, especially about our Bills, and doesn’t come off as a condescending jerk like we’ve seen at times from the opposition’s fans!!!

I don’t think there’s much to argue with any of that. I will say, we HAVE to take advantage of Evans vs whoever this week. And Peters should be able to win his matchup if he is closer to form this week. Laboy is a solid player, but nothing special. He’s a hard worker that can be tough to handle, but Peters is much better at his position as long as he is playing near his potential….

~K

by Kurupt on Oct 3, 2008 11:45 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

wow

I am impressed with the unbiased analysis. I will say though this game is an enigma to me. I just think if Trent and the offense can get going early, it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals can from the start just march on the Bills. The Bills defense in order for the team to win, I think has to get a couple turnovers. And if not turnovers then 3 and outs, which is hard to do against this offense.

The BIlls offense needs to score 27 in this game to win IMO. And then doesn’t include a possible Def or ST score. I see the Bills defense shutting down the run, making the Cards one dimensional, and blitzing Warner a lot. In those situations it will be interesting to see if the Bills Secondary can hold up

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Oct 3, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

this game

is my favorite of the year so far as far as anticipation going in. I have no idea how it will play out, but if the Bills come out on top they will have superceded any start I thought was possible going into the season.

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Oct 3, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

thanks for all the kind words guys

I was looking over the Bills injury report and it lists Marcus Stroud and Aaron Schobel as ‘questionable.’ Is there really a chance that either or both of these guys won’t play?

by cgolden on Oct 3, 2008 12:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

No. Stroud has a sore shoulder, and Schobel a sore foot. Both missed practice on Wednesday and were limited yesterday. I think they’ll both play, especially with the bye week looming.

by Brian Galliford on Oct 3, 2008 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

From the Buffalo Bills website:

FRIDAY PRACTICE UPDATE: Not practicing today are Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish. Aaron Schobel and Marcus Stroud are both practicing again today. We’ll have to wait for an update from Dick Jauron after practice to see if they did more than Thursday, when they only participated on a limited basis.

by Zumone on Oct 3, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Boldin is officially out

We just learned that Anquan Boldin will not play this Sunday. He had surgery to repair his fracture. Adrian Wilson is also a game time decision. All in all not great news for Cardinals fans.

by cgolden on Oct 3, 2008 3:29 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

huge for the Bills

with the McGee injury this brings the Cardinals receivers vs. Bills secondary matchup back down to Earth (instead of what was looking like a huge disadvantage for Buffalo). I guess its up to Fitzgerald to abuse Greer and up to Greer to give one of the best efforts of his career.

McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year

by poz on Oct 3, 2008 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Boldin and Wilson out...

My money is on Buffalo, literally

by badmatty53 on Oct 3, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

hahaha!

McKelvin and Hardy - rookies of the year

by poz on Oct 3, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is Wilson out for sure??? Looks like he is “questionable” per the link from cgolden above.

That’d be big for our O as your D would be without it’s heart and soul again….

~K

by Kurupt on Oct 3, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Per the Brown Sound

OFFICIAL CARDINALS INJURY REPORT: Here’s the official report confirming that Boldin is out. That’s a nice trade off with Terrence McGee not expected to play Sunday.

Doubtful is DE Bert Berry (groin).

Questionable is SS Adrian Wilson (hamstring) who will be a game time decision. Also questionable are TE Leonard Pope and TE Jerame Tuman.

Probable are DTs Gabe Watson and Darnell Dockett as well as G Elton Brown.

by twoeightnine on Oct 3, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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