Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons: Complete Week 13 Preview for Arizona

A Thanksgiving beatdown of the San Francisco 49ers by the Seattle Seahawks made last week’s Arizona Cardinals loss seem a bit better, if that’s possible. It was still ugly, but what Seattle did to San Francisco in their house on national television lessens the blow of that loss.

It also means the Cardinals (9-2) cannot falter against the Atlanta Falcons, who somehow lead the NFC South division despite a paltry 4-7 record.

Arizona is second in the conference with a .485 strength of victory (SOV) percentage, according to ESPN. Atlanta is in the basement of the NFC, coming in with a .261 SOV.

For the Cardinals to bounce back after their second loss of the season, two aspects of their game must be cleaned up: offense and special teams. It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out poor punting led to great field position for the Seahawks—a stumbling offense exacerbated the situation.

Here is your in-depth preview for the Cardinals’ Week 13 matchup with the Falcons.

Cardinals’ Week 12 Review

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As noted, offense and special teams were a problem against the Seahawks. Arizona did block a field goal (thanks to defensive tackle Tommy Kelly), but punter Drew Butler had a game to forget, averaging just 37.2 yards per punt and having one blocked—he pinned Seattle inside its own 20-yard line only once despite several opportunities.

Coming off a week in which he was efficient, accurate and passed for a career-high 306 yards, Drew Stanton completed 14 of 26 passes (53.8 percent) for just 149 yards, no touchdowns and an interception for a 54.8 passer rating. He and the offense really had nothing going on at any point thanks in large part to their inability to convert third downs (3-of-12).

The Cardinals wasted a superb performance rushing Russell Wilson and limiting Marshawn Lynch. Wilson went down a career-high seven times, and Lynch carried 15 times for only 39 yards (2.6 yards per carry).

It meant nothing, however, given Stanton and the offense were unable to capitalize.

Is it bad the Cardinals lost in the manner they did? Sure. But when you consider their only two losses this season came with their backup quarterback starting on the road to last season’s Super Bowl teams, it really puts into perspective how good this team is.

News and Notes

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Michael Bush in It for the ‘Long Haul’

Head coach Bruce Arians said this week that new running back Michael Bush, whom the team signed in hopes of improving its rushing attack, is in Arizona “for the long haul,” according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. That quote brightened Bush’s day:

"

That puts a smile on my face. I’ve got to learn the offense, I’ve got to get adjusted to the terminology. I have to clear what I’ve learned in the past to do what I’m doing now. So he’s right.

"

Bush is considered a “touchdown vulture” by some for the way he has been used throughout his seven-year NFL career. That is, he comes in on short-yardage and goal-to-go situations to pound the ball up the middle to convert a first down or score a touchdown:

"

In NFL history, #AZCardinals Michael Bush (3,250) has 10th fewest rush yards among RB w/ 25+ rush TD. Definition of goal-line back.

— Shaun Church (@NFLChurch) November 27, 2014"

"

24 of Michael Bush's 29 career rushing touchdowns have come in goal-to-go situations. 23 of those from inside 5. 16 of those — Shaun Church (@NFLChurch) November 27, 2014

"

Fitzgerald ‘Highly Likely’ to Play

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald sat out the game last Sunday for the first time since 2007. He told Kent Somers of AZCentral.com he didn’t feel right not being able to help the team on the field:

"

I didn’t know what the routine was, what I was supposed to do. It was just a really awkward feeling to be there but not being able to actually do anything to help your team. That was frustrating. …

I’m highly likely, but it’s not my call, though.

"

Again, Stanton and the offense failed to move the chains against the Seahawks on third down, which is something Fitzgerald has been good for of late—he leads the team with 17 receptions for 316 yards (18.6 yards per catch) on third down this season.

Getting him back this week would be a major plus for the offense, to state the obvious.

Calais Campbell ‘Can Do More’

Arians stopped short this week of blatantly calling out his star defensive player for not having more than three sacks against the Seahawks last week, according to Vince Marotta of ArizonaSports.com, saying, "Calais played his normal game, but he can play better. He had potential for a five-sack day. Three sacks are nice when it comes to stats, but he’s a better player than that."

The big defensive end agreed with his coach:

"

It’s true. He expects more out of me because I can do more. I left too many plays out there on the field. Statistically, I had a great game, sure. But personally, I know there were several more plays I could have made but I didn’t.

I have higher standards for myself, and I’m glad that Coach sees it the same way.

"

Does anyone else get the feeling Campbell is about to put this entire team on his back and carry it to the playoffs?

Birdgang Boo-Boo Brigade

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Player	Position	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Day
Lorenzo Alexander	OLB	Knee	LP	LP	-	-
Marcus Benard	OLB	Shoulder	LP	FP	-	-
John Brown	WR	Teeth	LP	FP	-	-
Kenny Demens	ILB	Hamstring	DNP	DNP	-	-
Andre Ellington	RB	Foot/Hip	LP	LP	-	-
Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Knee	DNP	DNP	-	-
Drew Stanton	QB	Ankle	FP	FP	-	-
Ed Stinson	DE	Toe	LP	DNP	-	-

All injury statuses gathered from AZCardinals.com.

X-Factors and Matchups to Watch

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Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie vs. Roddy White and Julio Jones

Two true No. 1 receivers versus two true No. 1 cornerbacks on the same field at the same time. What’s not to love about this matchup?

Over the past month, about the only cornerback tandem that has matched the play of Peterson and Cromartie is Richard Sherman and Byron Maxwell of Seattle. Arizona’s top corners have locked down opposing receivers with extreme regularity of late, which has helped the pass rush get going over the past few games—only the Buffalo Bills (18) have more sacks since Week 10 than do the Cardinals (17).

Front Seven vs. Steven Jackson

Only four running backs have rushed for more yards against the Cardinals than Steven Jackson has, and three of them are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The other, current 49ers back Frank Gore, is just 19 yards ahead of Jackson entering play this weekend.

Jackson will pass Gore at some point on Sunday for fourth all-time against the Cardinals. Or maybe he won’t, depending on how the game goes. If Arizona builds a lead early, the Falcons may ask Matt Ryan to sling it 50 times.

Five times this season, Jackson has rushed for under 40 yards in a game, and he has been limited over the past two games, carrying 30 times for just 75 yards (2.5 YPC).

The Cardinals have the No. 5 rush defense in the NFL, allowing 3.59 yards per carry. Stopping Jackson on Sunday is big if they hope to limit what Ryan, White and Jones do in the passing game.

Cardinals’ X-Factor of the Week: Drew Butler

It’s odd that a punter would be the X-factor for the Cardinals, but that’s what it has come to this season. With Dave Zastudil on the season-ending injured reserve list with a groin injury, Butler is what they have right now.

He was abysmal in Seattle. Playing in cooler weather up in Seattle may have had something to do with that—we hope—so getting Butler into the Georgia Dome might help him get back on track.

Not that he was ever going to look like a Pro Bowl-type punter this season, but Arizona needs a better effort out of him than 37.2 yards per punt. He also needs to speed up his windup and kick, because he’s had three punts blocked this season due in part to how long it takes him to get the kick away.

Field position is a huge part of football, and the Cardinals proved last week losing that battle makes it very difficult to win games.

Prediction

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Between the middle of November 2012 and Halloween 2013, Ryan threw 14 interceptions in 14 games. One per game is a bit high, but it’s not terrible. Two of those games were against the Cardinals, during which time Ryan threw nine of his 14 picks over that span.

That’s gross.

Should we expect another four-interception performance for the defense against Ryan on Sunday? That’s probably far-fetched, because Ryan has played well most of the season—especially of late, completing 67.1 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and two interceptions over the past four games.

Will we see Bush suit up and play this weekend? I can’t see it happening, really. Arians may get him ready with a simple goal-line or 3rd-and-short package, but we won’t see him in pass protection or running routes out of the backfield yet. He probably needs to get into the playbook for a couple of weeks before he will be ready to have a real role on offense.

The run game still belongs to Andre Ellington, at least for this week. There’s no reason to believe Bush will overtake Ellington for the starter role at any point, but having a steady back to give him a break and wear down the defense with tough runs should make things easier on Ellington down the road.

Don’t expect a repeat performance of Ellington’s big day last season against the Falcons. Though he is capable of tearing off big runs at any time, the fact is he hasn’t done that enough this season. The run game has been a struggle, and that may not change until Bush is inserted into the offense.

This game will come down to quarterback play, and based on defensive play, the Cardinals have the advantage. However, Stanton must be sharper this week if the Cardinals want to notch a road win over the Falcons. He missed some wide-open receivers last week that likely took points off the board, so if he is more decisive and accurate against Atlanta, Arizona should have a great shot at walking away from this battle victorious.

Prediction: Cardinals 24, Falcons 13

All stats gathered from Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.