SCOUTING REPORT: CARDINALS AT CHARGERS
The Cardinals meet the Chargers on Sunday at StubHub Center, a 30,000seat venue originally built for soccer in Carson, Calif. The game kicks off at 2:05 p.m. and is televised on Channel 10.
Bob McManaman offers his scouting report and prediction.
Cardinals on offense
It only took them until the ninth and 10th game of the season, but the Cardinals seem to finally have figured out how to deploy running back David Johnson, who has totaled 327 yards from scrimmage the past two weeks. Now, part of that might be explained by the fact Arizona was going against two run-porous defenses in Kansas City and Oakland, but there’s no doubt Johnson has got a lot of his swagger back after rushing for 98 yards and 137 yards and is making catches while lining up both in the slot and outside as a wide receiver.
The Chargers lost their leading tackler and starting inside linebacker Denzel Perryman to torn knee ligaments two weeks ago in a win over the Raiders. The Cardinals are hoping left tackle D.J. Humphries returns to the starting lineup after missing last week’s game with a sore right knee. If the Cardinals hope to win their third game of the season, they need better ball security out of quarterback Josh Rosen, who has been intercepted 10 times. Rosen will have to be leery of Chargers’ defensive end Joey Bosa, who made his first appearance of the season last week after missing the first nine games with a foot injury.
Edge: Chargers
Cardinals on defense
The Cardinals have to pick their poison. Do they invest everything they have in trying to stop the run and contain the Chargers’ Melvin Gordon, who ranks fifth in the league in rushing (741 yards) and is tied for fourth in touchdowns (seven)? Or do they rely mostly on their passing defense, which has climbed to fourth-best in the league (allowing 218 yards per game), and dare Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to beat them through the air?
One thing that would help is creating some turnovers. The Cardinals haven’t produced any in their last three games, which seems odd. Rivers has already nearly thrown for 3,000 yards (2,860) and he’s tied for fifth in touchdown passes (23). But he’s cut way back on his interceptions with only six thus far. . The back end needs to pay close attention to the Chargers’ top two wide receivers, Keenan Allen and Tyrell Williams. The Cardinals’ secondary has been tested a lot lately and they’ve been burned. It cost cornerback Jamar Taylor his job this week.
Edge: Chargers
Special teams
The Chargers have a new kicker in Michael Badgley, who’s made all five of his field goal attempts since replacing veteran Caleb Sturgis. Sturgis was released after going three straight games with at least one missed field goal and an extra point, the first kicker to do that since 1979. Badgley did miss an extra point last last week and it proved to be the difference in a 23-22 loss to the Broncos. Cardinals’ kicker Phil Dawson missed last week’s game with a sore right hip and the team said he’s good to go Sunday. The Chargers have a dangerous return man in Desmond King II, who averages 21.3 yards per kickoff return and 11.5 yards per punt return with a long of 56.
Edge: Chargers
Bottom line
There’s a good chance the Cardinals don’t win another game this season and as 12-point underdogs in this one, there’s no reason to even think about them possibly pulling off an upset. It would take a series of monumental things falling the Cardinals’ way just for them to keep this game close and that’s asking for a lot. They’ll lose and fall to 2-9.
Prediction: Chargers 33, Cardinals 13