Arizona @ New Orleans preview
Caesars Superdome
Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2012 ) Arizona 10, New Orleans 17
The New Orleans Saints again look like the class of the NFC South, even as their prolific offense spins its wheels. New Orleans aims for its first 3-0 start since 2009 when it hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Cardinals have won three of the past five meetings but the teams haven't played one another since Arizona's 30-20 home win in 2010.
While the Saints' offense has struggled to find the end zone, coordinator Rob Ryan's revamped defense has limited its first two opponents to 320 yards and 15.5 points per game. The Cardinals have played a pair of close games, losing 27-24 at St. Louis in Week 1 before holding on for a 25-21 win over Detroit last week. The trip to New Orleans is a homecoming of sorts for three of Arizona's young defensive players, as versatile cornerback Patrick Peterson, safety Tyrann Mathieu and linebacker Kevin Minter all played their college ball at LSU.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, Fox. LINE: New Orleans -9. O/U: 49.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (1-1): Quarterback Carson Palmer has injected some life into Arizona's passing game, but the ground game hasn't been as effective and running back Rashard Mendenhall (toe) is questionable for Sunday. Palmer should have tight end Rob Housler, who was expected to be a key component of the offense, back in the lineup after missing the first two games with a sore ankle, and the Cardinals have eased receiver Larry Fitzgerald along in practice in hopes he can play through a hamstring injury. The defense played well against a dangerous Detroit team.
ABOUT THE SAINTS (2-0): The Saints have survived close games against Atlanta and Tampa Bay despite converting only one of seven trips to the red zone into a touchdown after doing so 68 percent of the time last season. "We certainly had some opportunities and just haven't taken advantage of them yet," quarterback Drew Brees told reporters. "Eventually that will bite us if we don't get it fixed, so that is what we are working on." The overhauled defense did a solid job against Atlanta in Week 1 but was dominant in a 16-14 win versus Tampa Bay, allowing 273 total yards - the Saints' lowest total since Week 15 of the 2011 season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Brees has topped 300 passing yards in seven straight games, the second-longest streak all-time and two shy of tying his own record.
2. Arizona has lost eight straight road games dating to a victory at New England in Week 2 last season.
3. Saints RB Darren Sproles has not scored a touchdown this season. Sproles has not gone three straight games without reaching the end zone since Weeks 4-6 in 2011.
PREDICTION: Saints 31, Cardinals 23