It’s back to business for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals, as they meet each other in their first NFL preseason game. The Chiefs have some tools to sharpen this offseason, one of which is a receiving corps that did not look like it belonged in the NFL last year. For the Cardinals, this will be the first time they’ll have Carson Palmer in competitive action since his season-ending injury last year.
In another NFL Week 1 preseason matchup, the Raiders will go up against the Rams. You can read more of that here.
[sc:Football ]Kansas City Chiefs vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
When: Saturday, August 15, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Kansas City Chiefs (+3) at Arizona Cardinals (-3); total 36.0 – view all NFL lines
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Chiefs’ preseason games, like the one against the Arizona this coming Saturday, should serve as a gauge for whether there is really life down field. By now, everyone has probably wrapped his mind around the fact that no Chiefs wide receiver caught a touchdown last season.
Sure, the Chiefs signed former Philadelphia wideout Jeremy Maclin in the offseason, giving Alex Smith a legitimate option, but outside of Maclin, will someone from the receiving corps step up? Maclin has a history of getting hurt (he missed the entire 2013 season because of an ACL injury), so the Chiefs better have dependable wide receivers to keep the passing game going should their prized free agent acquisition get hurt again.
Rookie wide receiver Chris Conley will be among those to be tested against Arizona. Conley played four seasons in college with Georgia, where he amassed 1,938 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns before getting drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.
We’ve mentioned Smith a number of times already, but don’t expect the veteran to play many (or even any) minutes against Arizona. Instead, look for the coaching staff to give backups Chase Daniels and Aaron Murray the chance to play under center. Between the two, Murray is the more intriguing one to watch given his upside (he’s entering just his second season, while Daniels is a seven-year vet) and his apparent familiarity with Conley.
The sophomore Murray and Conley are both Georgia products and played together for three seasons (2011-2013). Murray didn’t get to play last season, but he should be able to challenge Daniels as Smith’s main backup this year.
On defense, safety Eric Berry is looking to further recover his form prior to his battle with cancer.
The under is 5-1 in Kansas City’s last six road games.
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Betting on the Arizona Cardinals
Carson Palmer is ready to play, but is the left knee he shredded last November strong enough to go through an NFL game? Palmer and the rest of the Cardinals are about to partly find that out when he plays limited minutes against Kansas City on Saturday. It will be Carson’s first appearance since going down with an ACL injury in Week 9 of the 2014 season.
In any case, the Cardinals’ quarterback protection unit will have to keep Palmer out of harm’s way. Enter rookie offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, who was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. Humphries is a great addition to an Arizona O-line that gave up the sixth-fewest sacks (28) but the eighth-most quarterback hits (95) last season.
Another key piece the O-line will have to block for is running back Andre Ellington. Ellington, who led the Cardinals’ rushing offense that ranked worst in the NFL (81.8 yards per game) in 2014, is expected to play after coping with a hamstring injury. Ellington had an assortment of injuries last season, which means added pressure for the offensive line to do its job well. Besides Ellington, the backfield also features the pair of Stepfan Taylor and rookie David Johnson.
There should also be lots of emphasis on Arizona’s defense, which took some heavy blows over the offseason. The Cardinals lost cornerback Antonio Cromartie (back with the Jets) among others, but Patrick Peterson should be able to fill the void. The lack of depth in the defensive line, meanwhile, was partially addressed via the draft with the selections of Rodney Gunter and Shaquille Riddick. If the duo are to become key pieces in the future, they will have to prove it in games such as this one against Kansas City.
Arizona is 6-1 ATS in its last seven home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Arizona (-3) wins, 21-17.
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