The Arizona Cardinals are set to host the Washington Commanders on Sunday as they look to bounce back from their 20-13 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 3. This matchup will mark the return of former head coach Kliff Kingsbury, now Washington’s offensive coordinator, who is still being paid by Arizona after his dismissal in January 2023. Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels have led the Commanders’ offense to impressive performances the last two weeks. Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in April, set an NFL record for highest completion percentage by a rookie in their win over the Cincinnati Bengals last week, completing 91.3% of his passes.
While the Commanders’ offense ranks among the best in the league, their defense has struggled, ranking near the bottom in yards and points allowed. On the other hand, Arizona’s offense is ranked fourth in points per game but took a step back against the Lions, especially in the run game. The Cardinals’ defense showed promise by shutting out Detroit in the second half, and they will need to replicate that success to contain Daniels.
With some key players out on both sides, the Cardinals will need to re-establish their ground game and get Kyler Murray in rhythm to take advantage of Washington’s defensive weaknesses. If Arizona can control the game on the ground and force the Commanders to settle for field goals, they have a good shot at evening their record at 2-2.