Improving Arizona Cardinals take on declining Cleveland Browns – NFL Week 15 Preview
Arizona Cardinals silenced their critics by winning five of their last six games. Notwithstanding the victories, their chances of reaching the postseason are not very bright. That said, a wildcard entry is always on the cards as
long as they continue to rattle their opponents. Carrying a goal of extending their winning streak, the Cardinals are hosting Cleveland Browns at the University of Phoenix Stadium in the week-15 game of the National Football League current season on Sunday.
The Cardinals were once placed at the bottom of the National Football Conference West division. Their powerful comeback has now placed them at the second spot. On the course of improving the records, they defeated competent teams
like Dallas Cowboys that are tied with New York Giants for the first spot in the NFC East division, and the NFC West division champions, San Francisco 49ers.
After defeating the division champions last week, Cardinals’ Coach Ken Whisenhunt responded to the critics saying that despite the early slump, the players and the staff believed that they could turn things around.
"You guys stuck a fork in us quite a while ago," the coach said. "I think our guys never let it get to them. How many times during those first weeks did we say that we were going to stay the course and that it was going to turn
for us? We believed it."
The competition for the Cardinals could be relatively easy as they are going to take on a team that has maintained a poor record this season. The Browns have lost nine games and won only four. They are placed at the bottom of the
American Football Conference North division.
The Browns should be cautious when it comes to dealing with Cardinals’ wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The eight-year veteran is in tremendous form this season. In 13 games, he has 62 receptions for 1,092 yards with seven touchdowns.
The Cardinals’ opponent seems to have figured out a way to contain Larry. Browns’ defensive back Joe Haden has been given the task to prevent Larry from rushing in the game. In 12 games this season, Haden has 55 tackles and 1.0
tackles to his credit.
Browns’ Coach Pat Shurmur thinks that Larry is a game-winning player and one of the finest receivers in the league. He said that he has devised a strategy to block the receiver.
“Wherever Larry is, Joe probably won’t be far,” he said. “There are different things you do on defence, whether you pressure, sometimes you’re one-on-one. There are times where you’re playing a zone and it’s two-on-one. We have
multiple ways to try and cover him.”
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