Sixteen Players to Watch: Falcons at Cardinals
The 2-4 Falcons make a west coast trip for a battle with the 3-4 Cardinals. Here is a look at players to watch for from both teams.
Rookie CB Desmond Trufant is going into this game with 28 tackles and 6 passes defensed. Will QB Carson Palmer purposely target Trufant because he's a rookie?
QB Carson Palmer is second in the league in interceptions (13) and 29th among starters in passer rating (69.5). Can the Falcons' defense apply enough pressure to force more interceptions out of Palmer?
RB Antone Smith has been a beast on special teams. How disruptive will he be on the west coast?
LB Daryl Washington was suspended for the first four weeks of the season. Since his return, he's been unstoppable. He had 2 QB hits in his last game. Can the Falcons offensive line stop Washington?
WR Harry Douglas has risen to the occasion. Last week, he had 7 receptions for 149 yards and 1 touchdown. Will Douglas have the same productivity on the field this week?
WR Larry Fitzgerald has been playing injured according to head coach Bruce Arians. Will his hamstring continue to limit his explosiveness on the field?
RB Jacquizz Rodgers has been a driving force of the Falcons offense with two touchdowns last week against the Bucs. With a strong Cardinals defense, will Rodgers find the holes he needs to reach the end zone?
LB John Abraham spent most of his career as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Now, he's glad that he gets a chance to go after QB Matt Ryan. Will he get his chance?
LB Joplo Bartu led the team with 10 tackles against the Bucs last week.
WR Michael Floyd is averaging 13 yards per reception this season, but has only found the end zone once. What can the Falcons defense do to continue to keep him from scoring?
T Sam Baker will start, if cleared by doctors, in place of Lamar Holmes. How much of an impact will he have since he's coming off of an injury?
CB Patrick Peterson will likely be on WR Harry Douglas to limit his success. Will Douglas be able to separate himself from Peterson?
DT Peria Jerry is coming off of a strong game against the Bucs. He had a sack and two QB hits. Will his dominance continue against Carson Palmer?
S Tyrann Mathieu is on the radar of many and being pegged as one of the top rookies this season. He's got strong tackling abilities and playmaking instincts.
S Thomas DeCoud recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown last week. Will he be able to continue to create a spark on defense?
RB Rashard Mendenhall hasn't been practicing this week due to a toe injury. He has yet to be ruled out. Andre Ellington will get the start if Mendenhall isn't cleared to play. Will the Cardinals run game be effective?
