Arizona Cardinals-Washington Commanders scouting report: A new era begins with Jonathan Gannon
Arizona Cardinals (0-0) at Washington Commanders (0-0)
Time/site: 10 a.m. MST, FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland.
TV: FOX. Radio: 98.7 FM
Last time they played: The Cardinals defeated Washington 30-15, led by Kyler Murray's two touchdown runs and 286 passing yards with a touchdown. No fans were in attendance due to COVID-19 protocols at the time. As the Washington Football Team following the deletion of its former team name, the Commanders trailed 20-0 at halftime.
Series history: The two teams are meeting for the 126th time in a rivalry that dates back to 1932, when the Cardinals were based in Chicago and the Commanders were in Boston. Arizona is making its 11th visit to FedEx Field and first since 2017. It's the 10th time the two teams have met in a season opener. The Cardinals are 47-76 all-time against Washington, with two ties.
Coaching matchup
Arizona: Jonathan Gannon (first year). Gannon makes his NFL debut as a head coach after two years as the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator. He is one of three coaches making their NFL debuts this week. Gannon guided the Eagles defense to Super Bowl 57 last season.
Washington: Ron Rivera enters his 13th NFL season as an NFL head coach and fourth in the nation's capital. He led the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl in 2015 and has been the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year twice (2013, 2015). Rivera played nine NFL seasons.
Storyline
It's a new era for Cardinals football with Gannon as head coach and Monti Ossenfort as the general manager tasked with rebuilding the roster and making the team into a contender again. The path toward that end begins Sunday against the Commanders, who were 8-8-1 last season and have named second-year pro Sam Howell as starting quarterback. Sunday offers a chance to see how Josh Dobbs, the expected starting quarterback for the Cardinals, plays only a few weeks since being acquired via trade, and what kind of first impression the new-look Cardinals can make. Not much is expected of Arizona in 2023, so it will be interesting to see if the team plays with a nothing-to-lose attitude.
Arizona will win if . . .
1. Dobbs or whoever is playing quarterback makes some plays and makes good decisions: The Cardinals can't expect Dobbs, who hasn't been with the team even a month, to be the guy he is in for, Kyler Murray. But to win, Dobbs has to be efficient and hit some throws downfield, and also be some kind of threat to run. It's a lot to ask, and Dobbs might be quickly replaced if he isn't playing well in the game. The same goes for Clayton Tune, the perceived backup and only a rookie.
2. The defense can keep the game close: This isn't a defense with a lot of well-known names. So the unit will have to prove itself as a group largely made up of younger players with something to prove and veterans who have to lead them. A turnover or two and everyone being on the same page would be a good start.
3. James Conner is the best running back on the field: Conner is certainly capable, and in this offense, he could see a high volume of touches. All three of these factors will probably have to go the Cardinals' way to defeat the Commanders.
Washington will win if . . .
1. It controls the line of scrimmage and protects Howell: Howell has potential but not a lot of experience from last season. Now he gets to start the season as the No. 1 QB, and he's got some good receivers to throw to. If the line buys him time, the Cardinals' secondary will have its hands full.
2. It unleashes a strong pass rush and gets to the quarterback often: This is a very talented pass rush with a healthy and available Chase Young, and the Cardinals have three offensive line starters who weren't on the team last season at this time. It will be interesting to see how the line holds up.
3. It takes advantage of a largely unproven Cardinals cornerbacks crew: It's advantage Washington on paper with Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson working against possibly Cardinals rookie Kei'Trel Clark and Marco Wilson on the corners. One key to this game is if Arizona can limit those receivers' production.
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They said it
"I'm excited that place will be rocking, it'd be a cool environment. I always like honestly playing Week 1 on the road. You know it's going to be full, and you know it's going to be hostile, and it'd be a good measuring stick for us and a good learning experience for us.'' - Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon
"Come on, man! I don't know. I want to see them all. I can't pinpoint one. I'm excited to watch all those guys go out there. And they put in a lot of hard work. Every position. I feel like there's leaders in every group. I feel like there's workers in every group. I just feel like it's a phenomenal group, collectively, every position, and they've worked hard to get to this week. ... Come Sunday out, they all let it loose." - Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, asked what position group on defense he looks forward to seeing most.
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By the numbers
126 - After Sunday, the number of times Arizona and Washington have played each other. The Cardinals have only played one team more, the New York Giants.
867 - Receiving yards for Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz against Washington in his career. With 87 catches, Ertz has more career receptions and yards against Washington than against any other team.
27 - Players on the Cardinals' Week 1 roster who were not on the team at any point last season.
11 - Number of rookies on the Cardinals' Week 1 roster.
24 - Number of new coaches on the Cardinals' staff in 2023.
1,674 - Career point total for kicker Matt Prater, who enters the season as the NFL's active career leader in points scored.
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Who will win and why
Washington 24, Arizona 16: It's hard to expect a Cardinals offense that will probably be run-oriented to put up a lot of points on the road with a quarterback that doesn't have a lot of regular season experience, if Dobbs is the guy. The Cardinals' defense could also be a liability, but the unit could keep the game respectable purely through effort. The Commanders will play in front of a full house and will look to take advantage of a fresh start after the off-field drama the team has been through with owner Daniel Snyder and the scandals that have come under his administration.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can Arizona Cardinals steal a win against Washington Commanders?
