Category: Cardinals vs. Chiefs

Cardinals’ keys in preseason game vs. Chiefs

What do we want to see from the Cardinals in their game against the Chiefs?

The Arizona Cardinals face the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday night in their second preseason game. They picked up a win in their opener last week and now will face Kansas City’s starters for roughly the first half.

Because it is the preseason, it doesn’t ultimately matter if they get a win, although it is fun when they do.

So what are some keys or points of emphasis we would like to see the Cardinals do Saturday night?

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

How to watch, stream, listen to Cardinals’ preseason matchup vs. Chiefs

Here is the game information you need to watch, listen to or stream the Cardinals’ preseason matchup against the defending champion Chiefs.

The Arizona Cardinals are at home for their second preseason game of the year. They face the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Cardinals picked up a win in their preseason opener last week, beating the Denver Broncos 18-17. Quarterback David Blough led the offense on a game-winning drive, throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brian Cobbs with two seconds left in the game, and running back Emari Demercado ran in the successful two-point conversion to give them the win.

The Chiefs lost their preseason opener 26-24 to the New Orleans Saints, although quarterback Patrick Mahomes only threw two passes in the game. They allowed nine points in the final 1:20 holding a 24-17 lead.

Now they play each other. They last faced one another in Week 1 of last season. The Chiefs blew them out 44-21.

If you are planning on watching or listening to the Cardinals play the Chiefs tonight, here is the information you need!

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

PODCAST: Cardinals vs. Chiefs preseason preview

Jess Root goes over what you should watch for in the Cardinals’ second preseason game.

The Arizona Cardinals host the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday night at State Farm Stadium. Before that happens, make sure to listen to the latest edition of the podcast.

I run the show by myself this time and preview the upcoming game. I talk about the players to watch, the keys for the Cardinals and and to watch for.

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the show with the embedded player above or by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, so you never miss a show. Make sure as well to give it a five-star rating!

Here are the topics of this quick show

(1:00) The upcoming game and what to watch

(7:35) Players to watch

(17:20) Keys for the Cardinals against the Chiefs

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=663413582]

Cardinals to face Chiefs starters for about one half of game

The Cardinals will get to go up against the Chiefs’ starters for about a full half of play on Saturday.

The Arizona Cardinals played their starters in the preseason opener less than a quarter. Both the offensive and defensive starters were on the field for two series, although quarterback Colt McCoy came out after one series on offense.

While head coach Jonathan Gannon has not revealed exactly what the plan is for how long the starters will get work against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cardinals will get a healthy dose of play against the Chiefs’ starters.

The Chiefs are expected to play most of their starters for roughly the first half of the game.

Whether it is Arizona’s starters who are on the field against the Kansas City starters or whether the backups will get an extra challenge, it will show the makeup of the Cardinals team, facing the defending champs and competing with them for a half of play before it is backups vs. backups.

The Cardinals and Chiefs kick off at 5 p.m. Arizona time at State Farm Stadium on Saturday.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

DC Nick Rallis likely to call defense from sideline

Rallis worked in the booth as a position coach in 2022 but liked how it went from the sideline last week.

Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, in his preseason debut as a defensive coordinator against the Denver Broncos last week, called the defense from the sideline rather than in the booth.

It was a change for him.

He probably will move forward working on the sideline.

Rallis, speaking to reporters on Thursday, explained his thought process.

Being on the sideline was new again.

As a linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, he worked on the sideline in 2021. He found it difficult to see things on the field from the angle he was at to see what the opposing offense was doing.

In 2022, he moved up to the booth.

He gave the sideline a try again as a defensive coordinator and liked it.

“My plan was to do a game on the sidelines, stand a little further back, see if I could see what I needed to see and then, if that didn’t work out, I was going to try going up in the booth, but I actually really liked it,” he explained. “I think there is value to being on the sideline where I can communicate with the players face-to-face, with (head coach) Jonathan (Gannon) face-to-face because the head coach it’s difficult to get a hold of that guy.”

After working from the sideline against the Broncos and liking, he thinks he will continue to do that.

So we can expect to see him in the sideline on Saturday night at State Farm Stadium, probably wearing a hoodie again.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Cardinals-Chiefs preseason player connections

The Chiefs and Cardinals each have two players who used to play for the other.

The Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs face one another in each team’s second preseason game. They play Saturday night at State Farm Stadium at 5 p.m. Arizona time.

Both teams have players who spent time on the other’s roster.

Check out who.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Rookie LB BJ Ojulari still might not make preseason debut this week

Jonathan Gannon still needs to see certain things in practice from Ojulari.

Arizona Cardinals second-round pick BJ Ojulari, an outside linebacker, began training camp on PUP with a knee injury. He was activated off the list but did not get any work in the Cardinals’ preseason opener.

With another week of practice, one might think Ojulari could be on track to make his preseason debut.

That might not happen this week.

“Not sure yet (whether he will play),” said head coach Jonathan Gannon on Wednesday. “We’re going to be smart with him. I need to see something from him in practice before I feel comfortable putting him in a game.”

The longer Ojulari is out and doesn’t get live game reps, the less likely it is that he has a significant role in the defense, at least early in the season.

If he can’t go on Saturday, hopefully he will have progressed enough to play in the preseason finale next Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Zach Ertz misses practice, Cameron Thomas suffering from ‘residual effect of game’

A couple of practice updates about the Cardinals as they prepare for their second preseason game.

The Arizona Cardinals were back on the practice field on Wednesday preparing for their second preseason matchup. They face the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday at home.

While head coach Jonathan Gannon indicated early in the week that some players would be coming back from injury. However, they did not have everyone practicing.

Again, second-year linebacker Cameron Thomas did not practice. Gannon would not say what exactly was the issue, but rather called it “residual effect from the game.”

Tight end Zach Ertz also would miss practice. He was activated from PUP on Tuesday but it wasn’t a setback. Per Gannon, he had a cold.

We will see if Thomas will be able to play on Saturday. We should not expect Ertz to play in the preseason.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Leki Fotu appears to have increased but limited role

He is only playing nose tackle but appears to be on track to hold the starting job.

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Leki Fotu quietly has found himself in position to win a starting role on the team’s new defense. The key might be limiting his role while increasing it.

He is listed as the team’s No. 1 nose tackle. He was used that way in the team’s preseason opener.

It was the only way he was used on Friday. He played nose tackle in base defensive sets and came out for nickel packages in the few snaps the starters were on the field.

The 6-foot-5, 334-pound defensive lineman has not been limited to the one role since college.

He was drafted in the fourth round in 2019 out of Utah. He was used exclusively as a space-eating nose tackle.

However, his raw athleticism and movement skills led the Cardinals to believe he could be much more than a nose tackle. He rarely lined up as a nose tackle, especially with fellow fourth-round pick Rashard Lawrence playing there.

However, Fotu’s impact in three NFL seasons has been minimal.

It appears that head coach Jonathan Gannon has focused on Fotu playing nose tackle only, allowing him to potentially thrive as the guy he is and not worry about the player he didn’t become.

He has the size to be good. He did it very well in college.

Of the defensive linemen the Cardinals returned from last season, Fotu was probably the one least likely to make the team and contribute.

It turns out he might be a starter now.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing feeling out where he wants to call plays on game days

Petzing called plays from the sideline in the Cardinals’ preseason opener. He will be in the booth for their game against the Chiefs.

The Arizona Cardinals have a number of coaches in their current position for the first time. Jonathan Gannon is a first-time head coach and both offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis are first-time coordinators.

As such, they are adjusting to how they want to do things.

Petzing called plays from the sideline in the Cardinals’ preseason opener, an 18-17 win over the Denver Broncos.

But he isn’t married to staying on the sideline.

In fact, he will call plays from the booth on Saturday when the Cardinals host the Kansas City Chiefs for their second preseason contest.

“I think it’s important to try both and make sure that I’m making an educated decision bout what’s best for the team and best for the offense,” he said Tuesday.

He was pleased with the communication and the operations in the game against the Broncos but wants to see if anything is different in the booth.

As it is the preseason, we will see if one works differently or better than the other.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1362]