Cardinals at Lions: Highlights, score and recap

In a potential NFC Playoff preview, the Arizona Cardinals went into Detroit and beat the Lions inside Ford Field.

Heading into the 2017 NFL season, many believed that the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions would both be playoff teams. On Sunday, the two teams met up inside Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, and it was as good a game as you could have asked for. The two teams traded punches for three quarters, but one team proved to be too much late.

Arizona got off to a fast start in this one, as Justin Bethel took a Matthew Stafford pass back 82 yards for a touchdown. After a Phil Dawson field goal put them up 10-0, Stafford hit Marvin Jones Jr. for a six-yard touchdown. They missed the two-point conversion, though kicker Matt Prater did hit a 58-yard field goal prior to half to pull the Lions within a point at 10-9.

In the second half, the Lions offense sputtered until late in the third quarter, when Stafford picked up his second touchdown pass of the game. This time, Stafford hit Theo Riddick for a seven-yard touchdown, though the team once again missed the two-point conversion. With the missed conversion, the two teams entered the final frame with the Cardinals up 17-15, though it would get out of hand in the fourth.

The Lions ripped off 20 straight points, and with a little over four minutes left in the game, the Lions were suddenly up 35-17. Stafford hit Kenny Golladay for two touchdowns in the final quarter, and Miles Killebrew extended the Lions lead with his 35-yard return for a touchdown. It was a solid victory for the Lions, who proved they are for real in the NFC Playoff picture.

Highlights

Three Stars

1. Matthew Stafford

Stafford was awarded a big contract this offseason, and he showed why he was given that kind of money on Sunday. The veteran threw four touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter, as the Lions offense got rolling late. Stafford finished the game with nearly 300 yards passing, while distributing his 29 completions to seven different receivers.

2. Detroit Defense

Prior to this matchup, you would have thought the Cardinals defense would have been the one to make the difference. However, it was the Lions who stepped up big time in this one, sealing the victory with a 35-yard INT return for a touchdown by Miles Killebrew. The Lions racked up three interceptions, 11 passes defended, and two fumble recoveries.

3. Kenny Golladay

When the Lions made their run in the fourth quarter, it was a rookie wideout who made two huge plays. While Golden Tate led the Lions with ten catches on Sunday, it was Kenny Golladay who caught two Matthew Stafford touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. The rookie out of Northern Illinois is going to be a nice third option in a passing game that could be one of the best in the NFC this season.

Betting Odds

This matchup on Sunday is going to be a good one, as both teams figure to play a big role in the NFC playoff picture. The Cardinals are a rare road favorite, but that could all change by gametime. With an over/under under 50.0 points, there could be some serious money to be made in this one. Head over to SportsBook Review for the latest odds prior to kickoff.

Next: FanSided 2017 NFL Preview

Next Week

The Cardinals will stay on the road in Week 2, as they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Detroit will hit the road for their first game away from Ford Field, playing in a primetime matchup against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.