Chiefs vs. Cardinals: Getting to know the enemy

In order to get to know this week’s opponent of the Kansas City Chiefs, we asked a few questions of an Arizona Cardinals expert.

Every year, NFL fans are surprised by the results of more than one Week 1 competition. Some teams have to knock off some rust, while other teams look mired in the preseason. Some teams surprise only to come back to earth within the next week or so. It’s just always a wonky start to the regular season for many teams which can make it hard to tell what to expect from the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals in their Week 1 matchup.

The Cardinals and Chiefs both boast high-octane offenses that are without their best wide receivers. The Chiefs are adjusting to life without Tyreek Hill following the blockbuster offseason trade. Meanwhile, the Cards are waiting for DeAndre Hopkins to return from suspension to start the season, which means both teams might not be as explosive as they have in the last year or more.

That said, we recently asked a Cardinals expert, Sion Fawkes of Raising Zona, to tell us more about what we’re overlooking about the Cardinals and it’s the team’s depth of pass catchers that keep them dangerous beyond Nuk’s presence. Does that sound familiar, Chiefs Kingdom? This might be a red-hot offensive battle after all.

It seems like the Cardinals have dealt with drama and injuries this preseason. Last year they started out red hot. Are fans feeling confident out of the gate this year?

I’m getting a mixed vibe. On one hand, many fans believe the Cardinals have enough on offense to hang with anyone, especially given how deep they are at receiver and tight end. It also helped to see Jalen Thompson re-sign to line up alongside Budda Baker. But the issues at corner are gaping, and many fans are concerned about who can step up to be the CB2. Can Marco Wilson put last season’s rough debut behind him? Can Trayvon Mullen step up? Right now, corner is their weakest link, and quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes will exploit that weakness early.

What’s the single biggest concern for the team with the Chiefs coming to town?

Definitely the man at quarterback. The key to defeating Mahomes is to pressure and force him out of the pocket. He can get happy feet and make erratic decisions with the ball. But he can also step up in the pocket and deliver strike after strike. And when Mahomes gets hot, opponents have no choice but to keep pace with the Chiefs’ offense. He no longer has Tyreek Hill, but Mahomes is the type of quarterback who can elevate teammates’ talents.

How has Kyler Murray looked in the preseason?

Murray has looked more like a coach than a player. He stayed on the sidelines in the preseason and even called plays during the fourth quarter. While you ideally want to see players get preseason reps, you also don’t want your star players to suffer major injuries. This may turn out to be a good thing come Week 1, or Murray might look a little rusty.

What are people outside of Arizona overlooking when it comes to offseason additions?

Definitely the pass catchers. The Cardinals held onto their own and re-signed the likes of A.J. Green, extended Zach Ertz, drafted Trey McBride, and held onto Greg Dortch. With Hopkins suspended for six games, many outside the desert are doubting the passing game. But there are still all the aforementioned players along with Rondale Moore, and even running back James Conner is capable of being a worthy pass catcher.

Do you have any final predictions for the game?

It will be closer than many think. I believe when I last checked, the Chiefs were a 4.5-point favorite and that sounds about accurate. I am looking for a high-scoring affair, and the Chiefs will get the ball last and most likely come up with the win here. I’m projecting something like 34-28, or somewhere along those lines.