NFL: New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals

 

I sided with the Cardinals for their Thursday night game with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5............
 

Now the Niners have to face another team who are missing their star quarterback, with Carson Palmer sitting this one out, back up Drew Stanton went 5-3 in 2014, so is able enough (his numbers that year would have seen him ranked 23rd this season which is "ok") and will only be called upon to do the basics. The Cardinals will rely on David Johnson (4.7 yards per carry) and his fellow running backs more this evening and this is obviously the one game,if you had to choose one,  when it is likely to work and I doubt the Niners can sort out their issues against the run anytime soon, let alone with a four day turnaround and this is their second short week already this season. They have the worst rush defense in the NFL and are missing their best tackler, Cardinals ran well against a good defense on Sunday and if Stanton can do the simple things and he will not be asked to do more than that, it should be enough. Arizona are 1-3 , personal errors have cost them two wins and there is world of difference between 2-3 and 1-4 and this is a game they have to find a way to win and most probably will.
 

Arizona won 33-12 with Drew Stanton throwing for two touchdowns and David Johnson ( see both above) running for 157 yards and two further scores, it was a big win for the Cardinals, albeit against a poor opponent and the extended break and 11 days is the most you can get without a bye week, has enabled them to get Carson Palmer (pictured) back to full fitness and they will be asking the Jets very different questions to those they posed to the Niners. Johnson will ensure that the offense is "balanced" at least to a degree, but it is through the air and against the pass that the Jets are struggling.
 

The Jets defensive line is underachieving and that is putting additional pressure and none was needed, on a poor secondary. They have given up 663 yards and 7 touchdowns against the pass in their last two starts. 309 and three TD's came at home to the Seahawks, NFC West divisional rivals of the Cards and to a banged up Russell Wilson, who had a heavily strapped sprained knee. His 42 yard touchdown pass to Tanner McEvoy was an embarrassment, the wide receiver did not have a player within 20 yards of him at any stage, none within camera shot when he caught the ball and that is just too bad for words.
 

Now the Jets have had to made the long trip West, where they do not play too often, but have a terrible record when they do, they have lost five in a row on the road against teams from either Western division, all by at least ten points and a combined 97 ( 19.4 average). Cardinals are 8-3 in prime time games under head coach Bruce Arrans and give these extra importance as you might expect and Carson Palmer said : "We understand how rare an opportunity it is to play on national television and expose the rest of the country to our team and our city and all those things. "It means a lot to us, we take a lot of pride in that."
 

In addition to the return of Palmer, the extra days allowed defensive tackle Josh Mauro to practice fully since Wednesday after missing out last week and linebacker Kevin Minter to clear concussion protocol and things seem like they are starting to go the Cardinals way. They host the 4-1 divisional leaders Seattle at the weekend and if they go into that 2-4 instead of 3-3, it could be an early end to post season ambitions, as they alreday lose the tie breaker to the 3-3 Rams. Hosts to win and the handicap doesn't look too onerous, with the Jets losing both road games this season by 18+ points.
 

1.75 units Arizona Cardinals -7.5 points 2.02 Pinnacle Sports/Vegas Line/Sportmarket Pro.