South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Cards start with more chips
When the Dolphins run The Dolphins may be without their two top running backs against the Cardinals. Leading rusher My les Ga skin landed on injured reserve this week with a knee injury, and veteran Matt B reid a is nursing a hamstring injury that should affect his availability. Without them, the Dolphins will turn to veteran Jordan Howard, who despite three goal-line touchdowns this season, has turned 18 carries into an abysmal 14 yards in four games and has been inactive for the past three. Howard, second-year back Patrick Laird and newcomer Sal von Ahmed, who has not played this season, will likely be the backfield for Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday. Edge: Cardinals.
When the Cardinals run
Quarterback Kyler Murray leads all NFL players with 6.7 yards per carry and is third with seven rushing touchdowns this season, showing off the dynamic playmaking ability that made him the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL draft. The Dolphins defense, while much improved over the past three games, still has one weakness, and it’s against the run. Miami’s rushing defense allows opponents to rush for 4.9yards per carry, whichis the fourth-highest average among teams. And that doesn’t bode well for Sunday. Edge: Cardinals.
When the Dolphins pass
Rookie quarterback Tua Tag ovai lo a was not spectacular in his NFL debut last week, but he didn’t have tobe. Thanks to a stand out performance by the Dolphins defense and a punt-return touchdown by Jake em Grant, the Dolphins kept Tag ovai lo a limited to intermediate throws and handoffs to the running backs. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 93 yards and his first career touchdown to DeVante Parker against the Rams lastweek. And Tagovailoa will start his first NFL road game against the Cardinals defense, which ranks ninth in scoring defense (20.9 points per game allowed), and is three spots belowthe Rams at No. 10 with an 89.1 rating by opposing quarterbacks, despite giving up the 10th-most yards pergame(378.4) to opponents. Edge: Cardinals
When the Cardinals pass
Kyler Murray is coming off one of his best performance soft he season, where he lifted the Cardinals to an overtime win over the Seahawks in Week 7. Murray threw three touchdowns and ran for another as he helped Arizona overcome a double- digit lead. Murray’s numbers as a passer haven’t been outstanding — he’s in the middle of the pack among starting quarterbacks with 13 touch downs throw n (13th) anda 71.5 quarterback rating (14th). But his play overall has resulted in the Cardinals’ offense leading the NFL in yards gained. If Murray runs well, it should open up his passing game. And it’ll be a stiff test for the Dolphins defense. Edge: Cardinals.
Special teams: Dolphins kicker Jakeem Grant scored the NFL’s only special teams return touchdown this season after taking a punt 88 yards to the end zone last week against the Rams. Grant flashed his world-class speed and put points on the board for Miami, which has also benefited from kick er Jason Sanders’ perfect clip (32 for 32 in all kicks) and steady punting by Matt Haack, who is fourth in the NFL with 15 punts landing inside the 20-yard line. The Cardinals are led by returner Chase Edmonds, who ranks 21st with 184 return yards, kicker Zane Gonzalez, who is 10 for 13 and missed an extra point, and punter Andy Lee, who ranks 19th in average punt yards and 20th in punts landed inside the 20. Edge: Dolphins
Intangibles
Sunday’s game will be the first matchup between longtime friends Dolphins coach Brian Flores and Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury. They barely missed each other when their NFL careers starting in New England, with Flores joining the staff shortly after Kingsbury’s tenure as a backup to Tom Brady in 2003. Flores and Kingsbury are two of the eight coaches who were hired before the 2019 season and are in Year 2 of their respective rebuilds. Flores may have the better defense overall, but Kingsbury has the more experienced of the two young-but-talented quarterbacks. Edge: Cardinals.