The Cardinals didn’t kick-off on the right foot, and I know it’s easy to want to panic after seeing their level of play and star running back David Johnson go down, but that was only week one and there is still time to get these birds back on the right flight path. Arizona has some areas to address, especially on offense. The offensive line needs to figure it out or it’s going to be a very long season for Carson Palmer and Company. Let’s get to this edition of Talking Touchdowns and preview this week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Indianapolis Colts

Offense

For the Cardinals offense, we saw so much go wrong in week one. The passing game seemed to be out of sync and the running game was non-existent, rushing for an embarrassing 45 yards. The offensive line has to do a better job of creating running lanes. With Running Back David Johnson out, all eyes will be on his replacement #33 Kerwynn Williams. Now for the Cardinals offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, left tackle John Wetzel allowed eight QB hurries, a hit and a sack in the 45 plays he was in . You guys, that is not good. As for the Colts offense, with their star QB Andrew Luck still sidelined from shoulder surgery, the QB spot is up for grabs between Scott Tolzien and Jacoby Brissett. My guess is it will be former Patriot Brissett this week.

Defense

My favorite rookie on this team is linebacker Haason Reddick out of Temple University. The New Jersey native made his NFL debut in Week 1 and had seven solo tackles and two QB hurries so there’s a lot to be hopeful about with this side of the ball. As for the Colts defense, although they lost 46-9, their defense did a good job of stopping the run game and holding the Rams to 64 rushing yards. Colts Nose Tackle Al Woods could be the guy to shut down the Cardinals running game. He is a guy that can clog gaps, like he did in week one against the Rams.

Prediction time!

I am confident our Red Birds will figure things out from Week 1 to Week 2. So I am going Cards again, of course. The last time these teams met was 2013 and Cards won 40-11. So I am going to predict the same thing and will it to happen! Cards 40-Colts 11!

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Photo Credits:

• Carson Palmer on flickr by FF Swami
• Arizona Cardinals Pre-game on Wikimedia Commons by Jeffrey Beall
• Arizona Cardinals Stadiumon Wikimedia Commons by Ixnayonthetimmay
• Carson Palmer Huddle on Flickr by FF Swami
• Cardinals Wide Receivers on Flickr by FF Swami
• Kerwynn Williams on Wikimedia Commons by Jeffrey Beall
• John Wetzel on Wikimedia Commons byJeffrey Beall
• Haason Reddick on Wikimedia Commons by Jeffrey Beall
• Colts Logo on Wikimedia Commons by Baltimore Colts
• Colts on Wikimedia Commons by Indianapolis Colts
• Colts Stadium on Flickr by Josh HAllett
• Al Woods on Wikimedia Commons by Jeffrey Beall