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The 2020 NFL season will be on its descent for this matchup between the New York Giants and the Arizona Cardinals. In mid-December, the Giants will return home to MetLife to take on Arizona at 1 p.m.
Last year’s game between the two squads ended in favor of the Cardinals. After a rainy day in New Jersey, a big offensive output by Arizona secured a win.
For the second year in a row we’ll get to witness a duel between the top two quarterbacks selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. Only this time we’ll get to see who’s developed the most in their second year.
Key Losses: RB David Johnson, WR Damiere Byrd, WR Pharoh Cooper
Key free agent signings and trades: WR DeAndre Hopkins, LB Devon Kennard, DT Jordan Phillips, LB De’Vondre Campbell
Draft picks: LB Isaiah Simmons, OT Josh Jones, DT Leki Fotu, DT Rashard Lawrence, LB Evan Weaver, RB Eno Benjamin
This next season projects underrated promise for an Arizona Cardinals team that won only five games in 2019. In Kliff Kingsbury’s second season, the offensive mastermind has now had two full offseasons to concoct a roster built for his Air Raid offense.
It didn’t take long for the Air Raid to make its way to the professional ranks. Now the Cardinals have a head coach and promising young quarterback to operate it. Playing within a scheme that he was designed for, Kyler Murray earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors last season.
Murray has a stocked arsenal heading into his second year with DeAndre Hopkins added to the group. They also still have future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald, followed by young guns Christian Kirk, Andy Isabella, and Hakeem Butler.
Arizona also successfully reshaped its running back group by trading for Kenyan Drake midseason and moving on from David Johnson.
Defensively, Arizona concentrated on trying to improve at linebacker and in the secondary.
At linebacker, the Cardinals already had Chandler Jones and Jordan Hicks. However, they bolstered their lineup even more by adding De’Vondre Campbell through free agency. This already strong group was invented in further when they drafted Isaiah Simmons ninth overall out of Clemson. The do-it-all linebacker could be a scary chess piece for Arizona’s defense.
The Cardinals’ secondary is anchored by veteran corner Patrick Peterson. Conversely, Byron Murphey and Budda Baker are the young, developing studs.
Last year’s matchup between the Giants and Cardinals weighed heavily in favor of Arizona. Murray mustered only 104 passing yards, but the Giants defense was gashed by backup running back Chase Edmonds for 126 yards and 3 touchdowns. That game was also an infamous performance for Daniel Jones, who turned the ball over three times.
This season’s battle will have an entirely different narrative from two rookies looking to establish their footing. Instead, it will be who has developed into the better second-year quarterback out of the two early first-round selections.