5 Lions vs. Cardinals thoughts after watching Arizona’s loss to Giants

The Detroit Lions’ upcoming matchup with the Arizona Cardinals will be heavily influenced by Arizona’s recent struggles against blitz-heavy defenses and their reliance on perimeter running plays. The Cardinals’ offense, despite offseason investments in their ground game—including the signing of running back Tyler Allgeier and the drafting of Jeremiyah Love—has yet to show consistent success inside the tackle box.

Their rushing attack managed just 3.9 yards per carry on the season and ranked 20th in rushing EPA, though they did post 123 yards and 4.7 yards per carry against the Giants. However, nearly all of that gain came on outside runs, with their best production occurring outside the left and right tackles.

Meanwhile, the Lions have been vulnerable to those very same perimeter runs, allowing a league-worst +0.36 EPA on outside runs to the left tackle and a top-five mark on the right side, raising concerns about their ability to contain Arizona’s explosive outside zone schemes. The Cardinals’ quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, also showed signs of vulnerability under pressure, particularly when facing blitzes.

The Giants exploited this by increasing their blitz rate to 51.3%, leading to a 55% pressure rate on Brissett, who struggled to adjust his reads and check down too quickly, averaging just a 6.2-yard depth of target—ranking 27th in the league. If the Lions can limit Brissett’s decision-making time and force him into similar situations, it could be a key factor in Sunday’s game.

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Caleb Downs has no injury designation, George Pickens listed as questionable