After consecutive 4-13 campaigns and only one winning season since 2015, the 5-4 Arizona Cardinals are finally enjoying decent vibes and enter as slight favorites at home against the 3-6 New York Jets. This game is crucial for both teams.
The Cardinals are eager to turn the corner this year. Kyler Murray is having an efficient year — he’s on pace to throw his fewest interceptions ever, and his sack rate is the lowest since 2020. Rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has been explosive, if inconsistent, and the run game is second in football at 5.3 yards per carry. On the other side of the ball, Arizona traded a sixth-round draft pick for linebacker Baron Browning, a young talent previously logjammed on the Denver depth chart. Acquiring Browning is a low-risk move that gives the current roster a chance at winning, as the Cardinals are near the bottom of the league in quarterback pressure rate.
The quarterback the Cardinals will pressure Sunday looks more like his four-time MVP self lately. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns in a win over the Houston Texans last week. Sure, he benefited from a sublime one-handed end-zone grab by Garrett Wilson, but Rodgers also looked more comfortable with longtime target Davante Adams. Still, the Jets stake games on their defense. They’re solid against the run and consistently break the pocket. If this unit has a weakness, it’s defending the long ball — New York allows the deepest average target in the game. Sauce Gardner vs. Harrison Jr. could be a must-watch.
The Jets beat a team with a winning record for the first time last week. The Cardinals have had a daunting schedule. Other than a Week 8 victory over the Dolphins, all their opponents are in playoff contention. There’s much to learn about these squads in Week 10, and the Jets-Cardinals matchup may be one of the tightest on Sunday’s slate.
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(Photo of Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr.: Norm Hall / Getty Images)
