Two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum will face off this coming Sunday in Michigan when the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals go head-to-head with the NFC North cellar dwellers Detroit Lions. Here's a preview of the Cardinals vs Lions matchup.
Arizona Cardinals installed as -13 favorites
Arizona's hopes of landing the No. 1 seed in the NFC were dealt a major blow in Week 14 after the Cardinals suffered a 30-23 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. The Cardinals dropped to third place in the NFC standings with the defeat.
The NFC West title also remains in play for the Rams with the Cardinals' lead atop the division sliced to just one game with four games remaining in the schedule. The task of holding on to that advantage was made even harder with the news that star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.
Hopkins suffered a sprained knee in the loss to the Rams. Two Rams defenders came down on top of Hopkins' legs when he tried to catch a pass in the end zone with 1:13 remaining in the game. Hopkins already missed three games earlier this campaign with a hamstring injury.
Hopkins will finish 2021 with career lows in the regular season in games (10), receiving yards (572) and catches (42). That is disappointing for Hopkins, who had just missed two games in his first eight NFL seasons.
The good news for the Cardinals is that they are back on the road for Week 15. They have won all seven of their away games this campaign. They will look to preserve their unbeaten away record against the Lions, who are 1-5 at home this season.
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Detroit Lions enter Week 15 as +13 underdogs
The Detroit Lions received some terrible news on Thursday with star tight end T.J. Hockenson now done for the season after undergoing surgery to repair his injured thumb. Hockenson suffered the thumb injury during their win against Minnesota on December 5. He caught four passes for 49 yards and a score in that game.
Hockenson did not play in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos because of the injury. Hockenson was one of the few bright spots for the Lions in their abysmal 2021 campaign, leading the team with 583 yards, 61 receptions and four touchdowns. He has been Jared Goff's main receiving option this season.
With Hockenson sidelined, the Lions will turn to rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to produce the necessary yardage through the air in Week 15. He is Detroit's second-leading receiver with 511 receiving yards, 57 catches and a touchdown. St. Brown became the first Lions rookie to record at least seven receptions in back-to-back games, accomplishing that feat in Weeks 13-14.
Writer's Prediction
Arizona wins and covers the spread.
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