Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. (grass, outdoors with retractable roof)
When: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
Forecast: 57 degrees, sunny skies.
Spread: Lions by 6.5
Records -- Lions (4-9, NFC North 0-5); Cardinals (4-9, NFC West 1-4)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Dec. 20, 2009: Cardinals 31, Lions 24; Nov. 11, 2007: Cardinals 31, Lions 21. Series record: Detroit holds a 31-24-5 advantage in a series that dates back to 1930, but the Cardinals have won the past three and seven of the last 10.
What matters: The Lions’ current five-game losing streak eliminated them from playoff contention, leaving the opportunity to build momentum for the 2013 season as the team’s sole focus over their last three games. To win, Detroit must correct key issues that have plagued the team in recent weeks:
- Lapses in execution: LB Stephen Tulloch has described the Lions as the “best three quarters team in football,” and his assessment is correct. Slow starts hurt the Lions’ earlier this season, and late collapses have contributed to their current struggles. To win Sunday, the Lions have to find a way to execute for a full 60 minutes.
- Offensive balance: Detroit found a way to run a balanced offense early in their Week 14 loss to the Packers, but they became one-dimensional in the second half. OC Scott Linehan’s abandonment of the run game allowed the Packers to focus on limiting QB Matthew Stafford’s impact, and Detroit was outscored 27-6 after taking a 14-0 lead. Maintaining a multi-dimensional offense will be vital to Detroit’s chances Sunday.
Who matters: Stafford in on pace to break the 5,000-passing yard plateau for the second-straight year. To beat the Cardinals, however, he has to find a way to involve multiple receivers in the offense. Arizona CB Patrick Peterson admitted that he views Calvin Johnson and injured TE Brandon Pettigrew as the Lions’ most viable receiving threats. That puts the onus on Stafford to force Cardinals’ defenders to respect his other receivers. … Detroit’s D-line has routinely collapsed opposing passers’ pockets in recent weeks. They’ll face an Arizona O-line Sunday that has struggled in pass protection most of the season, and will have the opportunity to rattle Cardinals’ rookie QB Ryan Lindley early with an effective pass rush.
Key matchups: Sunday’s game will be a battle of two of the NFL’s elite receivers, and the cornerbacks assigned to cover them. Peterson ranks third in the NFL with six interceptions this season, and he told reporters that he wanted to attain notoriety by shutting down Johnson. Look for Johnson to use his four-inch height advantage over Peterson to give him the upper hand Sunday. Lions’ CB Chris Houston, who leads Detroit with nine pass breakups, will be tasked with stopping Cardinals’ WR Larry Fitzgerald. Both receivers have been effusive in their praise of each other this week, and the team whose star WR has the better game should have a decided advantage over their opponent.
Injuries of note: The Lions released the following status report for Sunday’s game: Doubtful -- DT Nick Fairley (shoulder) and Pettigrew (ankle). Questionable -- S Louis Delmas. Probable -- S Don Carey (knee), Houston (hamstring), Johnson (knee), CB Jacob Lacey (foot/Achilles), and T Corey Hilliard (knee).
The team released WR Lance Long late Friday and signed TE Shaun Chapas from the practice squad. The addition of a fourth TE to the active roster isn’t a good sign for Pettigrew’s availability Sunday. The fact that Fairley was given a “doubtful” designation means that it’s likely that the team will have only three healthy DTs -- Ndamukong Suh, Sammie Hill, and Andre Fluellen.
Inside stuff: Stafford’s performance this season is all the more impressive when you consider that 37 of his 232 incompletions are the result of dropped passes by his receivers. The 15.9-percent drops-to-incompletions ratio is the seventh-highest percentage in the NFL.
Connections: Cardinals LB Paris Lenon played three seasons with the Lions, starting all 42 games over that span. Jim Schwartz spent three seasons on the Ravens coaching staff with Cardinals’ coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Stat you should know: 4 -- That’s the number of unique O-line combinations the Cardinals will have used this season after Sunday’s game because of season-ending injuries to centers Lyle Sendlein and Rich Ohrnberger. The lack of O-line continuity is a major factor in the 51 sacks Arizona has surrendered this season, a total which doubles the 26 sacks the Lions’ O-line has allowed through 13 games. Starting left tackle Levi Brown, reserve tackle Jeremy Bridges (since released), Sendlein and Ohrnberger were all placed on IR this season. Arizona starts rookies at both tackle positions (Nate Potter and Bobby Massie).
Record watch: Johnson needs 303 yards to pass Jerry Rice’s NFL record for most receiving yards in a season, but he’s also on his way to breaking or tying several other Lions’ franchise and NFL records: With 141 receiving yards Johnson will set a new franchise record for receiving yards in a season (WR Herman Moore, 1,686 in 1995)… With 120 yards He will break the NFL record for most receiving yards over a two-year span (WR Jerry Rice, 3,347 in 1994-95). Johnson has 3,227 yards since the beginning of the 2011 season…With 54 yards Johnson will become the first player in NFL history to gain 1,600 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons and the third player in League history to do it twice in a career (WR Marvin Harrison, 1,663 in 1999 and 1,722 in 2002; WR Torry Holt, 1,635 in 2000 and 1,696 in 2003).
Looking ahead: Detroit’s final two 2012 contests are both home games against teams fighting for playoff position. The Falcons visit Ford Field on Dec. 22, and could clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win. Chicago visits Detroit in the regular season finale for both teams on Dec. 30. The Bears currently hold the sixth and final NFC playoff spot, and currently sit one game behind the Packers in the NFC North championship race.
Prediction: Lions 24, Cardinals 14.
Follow Lions reporter John Kreger on Twitter at @CBSLions and @JohnKreger.
