Arizona Cardinals: Predicting Stats Against the Miami Dolphins

The Cardinals are ready to take the field against Miami.
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The Arizona Cardinals (3-0) host the Miami Dolphins (1-2) in an interconference game Sunday afternoon.

Arizona has ridden its strong defense, and the Dolphins are tough against the run. The Cardinals need the win to keep themselves a game ahead of both Seattle and San Francisco; each team is a game behind Arizona at 2-1 on the season.

Miami can be beaten up on through the air, so Arizona will look to exploit that. Miami might be without RB Reggie Bush this week and would take a serious hit. Arizona's run defense will be ready for any of them. 

Start the slideshow and find out what stats each key member of the team will put up against Miami.

Quarterback Kevin Kolb

Kolb (center) will attempt to get the Cardinals to 4-0.
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Kolb should be licking his chops for this matchup. Miami allows 309 yards per game passing and was dismantled by Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer and the Raiders racked up 373 passing yards against Miami in a 35-13 loss. 

In their last game, Mark Sanchez of the Jets threw for 306 yards in a 23-20 overtime win over the Dolphins. 

Kolb has the tools to have another strong passing game and take advantage of a weak Miami secondary, and it's easy to see him doing so. Look for him to hook up with Larry Fitzgerald often.

Miami has allowed a 120-yard receiver in two of its first three games this season. With that kind of weakness in the secondary, look for the Cardinals to take to the air attack early and often. 

 

Prediction: 27-of-37, 286 yards; 2 TD; 1 INT

Running Back Ryan Williams

Williams will get the start at running back against Miami.
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Arizona will be without running back Beanie Wells until Nov. 25 (at the earliest), after he was put on the injured reserve-designated to return list as of Sept. 26th. Wells has been battling turf toe and will need time to have it heal. The Cardinals brought back (via azcardinals.com) Alfonso Smith on a one-year deal to bolster the rushing attack.

Ryan Williams will be the starting running back while Wells is out. LaRod Stephens-Howling steps into the second spot on the depth chart while Smith is now third. 

As bad as the Dolphins are against the pass, they are actually quite strong against the ground game. Miami boasts the third-best rushing defense, allowing a scant 65 yards a game. Regardless of which running back gets the call, this is going to be a tough matchup against the Dolphins' 4-3 defense. 

Williams also has lost two fumbles in the first three games, so ball security is critical for the second-year back. Arizona doesn't do well rushing, gaining 82 yards per game on the ground. 

 

Predictions:

Williams: 18 carries, 59 yards, 1 rushing TD

Stephens-Howling: 4 carries, 18 yards

Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald

Fizgerald (right) and the Cardinals' receivers could be in for a big day.
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This looks like the game that the offense will get going, and the wide receivers are going to be a big part of the reason why. It's no secret that Miami gives a lot of passing yards with a weak secondary. The only question is how will Kolb be able to distribute the ball to all of his wide receivers. 

Larry Fitzgerald should be the third 100-yard receiver allowed by Miami in four games this season. Look for Andre Roberts to also post season-best numbers against the Dolphins. Early Doucet and Michael Floyd will be involved but to a much lesser effect than Fitzgerald and Roberts. 

 

Predictions:

Fitzgerald: 7 catches, 116 yards, 1 TD

Roberts: 5 catches, 59 yards

Doucet: 3 catches, 27 yards 

Floyd: 2 catches 15 yards

Tight End Jeff King

Jeff King and the Cardinals tight ends look for a breakout game against Miami.
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Arizona has not utilized the tight end much in recent years. In most of the last 10 seasons, the Cardinals would be lucky to get 50 catches per season out of their top tight end. 

The Cardinals don't have a touchdown yet from the tight end spot, but this could change against Miami. With the Dolphins running all over the field to cover the wide receivers, look for mismatches to happen underneath, and the tight ends should prosper. 

Jeff King is the current No. 1 on the depth chart as Todd Heap is questionable for this week with a knee injury. Heap was inactive last week as well. Expectations will be low for this position, but there could be a red-zone score here for the tight end.

 

Projection: 3 catches, 22 yards, 1 TD

Kicker Jay Feely

Feeley (right) will be a busy kicker against Miami.
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Feely should be in for a very productive day. He's hit all six of his field goals this season and should be 7-of-7 after the game against Miami.

The Dolphins have allowed nine field-goal attempts this season, and opposing kickers have cashed in on eight of them. The lone miss was from more than 50 yards away. 

 

Prediction: 3-of-3 PAT; 1of-1 FG (37)

Defense and Special Teams

How many turnovers will the Cardinals force against the Dolphins?
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The defense has been the strength of the Cardinals in 2012, and they have another favorable matchup against a weakened Miami offense. They will be facing a rookie quarterback in Ryan Tannehill.

He's thrown one touchdown pass and four interceptions in his first three games. Outside of the blowout win over Oakland, the Dolphins haven't been able to mount any real passing offense. 

The Dolphins' strength is their rushing attack, but Reggie Bush is still listed as questionable at this point. If he doesn't go, Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller will get the carries, but neither of them has been effective.

Arizona may also get safety Adrian Wilson back in the lineup for this game and be even stronger defending the pass. The Cardinals have allowed just two touchdowns this season, and both of them have been on the ground. 

The Cardinals may also get a boost as Dolphins' placekicker Dan Carpenter missed a pair of attempts in their loss to the Jets. 

 

Prediction: 9 points allowed; 4 sacks; 2 interceptions;