Bryant vs. Peterson battle on MNF
Up and down the past two seasons, both eye deep playoff run in ’17
JOHN KRYK
Last season the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys were NFC teams on a see-saw.
Down went the Cards, from division champ and NFC championship game finalist in 2015 to 7-8-1 and out of the playoffs.
Up went the Cowboys, from 4-12 in 2015 to 13-3, division champ and just a last-second long Green Bay field goal from reaching the NFC championship game.
This season, both teams are planning for a deep playoff run, and both are 1-1 heading into Monday night’s matchup at University of Phoenix Stadium (8:30 p.m. EDT, TSN via ESPN).
One of the marquee matchups features veteran Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant against veteran Cardinals star cornerback Patrick Peterson.
It’s only the third time the two have faced one another in the NFL. Peterson said Friday he’s got “a pretty good” coverage plan in place for one of the NFL’s best, and most trash-talking, wideouts.
“I wouldn’t say I get more intense,” Peterson said of playing against Bryant, per the Cardinals’ website. “I get more dialed in. I’m dialed in with other receivers, but you know you’re going to have opportunities to make plays. You know the ball is going to come your way. This team is not going to shy away when you have a tier-1 receiver like Dez Bryant.”
Arizona won both previous games in which Peterson and Bryant dueled. In 2011, Bryant got the best of the then-rookie, snaring eight Tony Romo passes for 86 yards and a score. Three years later, Bryant hooked up with temp injury replacement QB Brandon Weeden only twice for 15 yards.
Although the Cowboys typically play well in the prime-time spotlight, a number of stats are on the Cardinals’ side.
Arizona is 9-2 in home openers at University of Phoenix Stadium since it opened in 2006. And under head coach Bruce Arians since 2013, the Cards are 9-3-1 in primetime, including 3-0 on Mondays.