Arizona Cardinals vs Buffalo Bills: Bold Predictions, Key Players

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It’s game week for the Arizona Cardinals and they have a doozy of a matchup to kick off the new year as they head to take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

Truly, there are few ways you can start off your season with a bigger challenge.

Let’s hop into this season opener and see if the Cardinals have a chance to pull off perhaps the biggest week one upset against the Bills on the road.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

How will everyone’s favorite rookie fair in his first ever NFL game? My prediction – pretty damn well.

The Bills are a mess in the secondary as they replace All-Pro safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. They also have serviceable cornerbacks who shouldn’t hold a candl;e to MHJ. Expect journeyman and former Cardinal Rasul Douglas to shadow Harrison.

There are big expectations for Harrison as a rookie and this game is a perfect opportunity to come out and make a statement. Against a suspect secondary, Harrison could come out and put on a show in his NFL debut.

Evan Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, and Will Hernandez

Ok, so this is kinda cheating by naming three players, however they are going up against a dynamic defensive line captained by Ed Oliver. They’re going to have their hands full.

Last season, the Bills generated 54 sacks with 17.5 of them coming specifically from the defensive interior. They’re two starters from last year, Oliver and DaQuon Jones are back after tallying 12 of those 17.5 sacks (9.5 from Oliver, 2.5 from Jones). 

I expect those two to move around quite a bit and create different matchups for the interior of the Cardinals offensive line. I also anticipate the Bills will be blitz heavy and send linebackers like Terrel Bernard (6.5 sacks and Tyrel Dodson (2.5 sacks) on blitz packages and attack the middle of the line.

All three of these guys must be on their A-game or not only will the Bills’ pass rush have a field day, but the Cards may have serious trouble running the football.

Zaven Collins

Collins is inheriting a massive role with the defense this year. The edge rushing room is depleted due to injuries and will force him back to that spot. However, Collins will be asked to do more than rush the passer.

The Bills have a potentially dangerous run game thanks to Josh Allen’s ability to run. Running back James Cook is also coming off an 1,122 rushing yard season with rookie Ray Davis (who had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons to close his college career) right behind him.

With a stout offensive line captained by three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, the Bills are primed to host one of the top rushing attacks in the league.

With that in mind, Collins will be tasked with setting the edge and limiting Buffalo’s rushing attack. 

Final score: Bills 31, Cardinals 14


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Florida Atlantic

Green Bay Sweeps Northern Arizona on Day Two of Red Raider Classic

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LUBBOCK, Texas (Sept. 6, 2024) – The Northern Arizona women’s volleyball team took on Green Bay University for their second match of the Red Raider Classic, falling in straight sets by a score of 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-19). Following today’s loss, the Lumberjacks drop to 2-3 on the season.

The first set was matched closely between the Lumberjacks and the Phoenix, with the score being tied on eight different occasions. Two kills in a row by Taylor Jacobsen took the score to 4-2 for the ‘Jacks. A two-point run by Green Bay tied the score at 4-4. It was once again tied at 6-6 before the Phoenix went on a 6-2 run, making the score 12-8. NAU would push back with a 5-1 run, featuring kills by Sophia Wadsworth, Kendall Robertson, Keira Hall, and Jacobsen to tie the score for the sixth time at 13-13. Jacobsen would complete kills to tie at 15-15 and 16-16. It was at this point that GB would finish with a 9-0 run to take the set 25-16.

The Phoenix would take the early lead in the second set with a 4-1 run. A 3-1 run from NAU, including kills from Kylie Moran and Jacobsen would put the score at 5-4 to GB. Green Bay would make a 4-0 run to creep ahead to 9-4 and later, a 5-0 run putting the set at 17-7. The ‘Jacks made a 6-4 run to make the score 21-13 in GB’s favor. A 4-0 run including two service aces by the Phoenix would secure them the second set 25-13.

Green Bay began the third set with a 3-0 run. A 7-4 run later on by the ‘Jacks would put the score at 10-9 to GB. This was followed by a 5-1 run by the Phoenix, resulting in a 15-10 lead. A kill by Savannah Bloom would be the start of another 7-4 run by the ‘Jacks to put the score at 19-17 before GB called a timeout. Green Bay made a 6-2 run including a service ace to land the third set 25-19 and win the match 3-0.

Overall, Jacobsen led the field in kills with 10 and attacks with 34 total. Moran would tie for second-most kills with nine of her own. Robertson would be at the top of the hitting leaders with .571. Millie O’Ketter would carry out the most digs of the match with 12, closely followed by Hall with 11.

The Lumberjacks will take on Florida Atlantic tomorrow at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard time for their final match of the Red Raider Classic. Live coverage will be shown on ESPN+ along with live stats to follow. 




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Tetairoa McMillan

Tetairoa McMillan’s Record Performance Lifts No. 21 Arizona to 61-39 Win Over New Mexico

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Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics






39




New Mexico
UNM

0-2 , 0-0


61




Winner

Arizona
ARI

1-0 , 0-0


39


61

Winner





















Score By Quarters
Team
1st
2nd
3rd
4th 		F

UNM
New Mexico 		14 10 7 8 39

ARI
Arizona 		14 13 21 13 61


Game Recap: Football | | By JOHN MARSHALL





TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) – Tetairoa McMillan had a school-record 304 yards receiving and matched another with four touchdown catches – all from Noah Fifita – and No. 21 Arizona opened coach Brent Brennan‘s first season with a 61-39 win over New Mexico on Saturday night.

The Wildcats (1-0) put on an offensive show in their first game as a Big 12 member, with McMillan and Fifita headlining.

Arizona’s stars connected on a 69-yard touchdown on the Wildcats’ opening drive and kept gouging New Mexico’s defense for big chunks.

McMillan averaged 30.4 yards on 10 catches and broke the Arizona single-game record of 283 yards receiving set by Jeremy McDaniel in 1996. McMillan matched Jacob Cowing’s touchdown catches record set against Southern California last season and fell 10 yards short of the Big 12 record set by Baylor’s Terrance Williams in 2012.

Fifita finished with 422 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing with an interception. Quali Conley ran for 90 yards and three touchdowns to round out an Arizona offense that racked up 627 total yards.

The Lobos (0-2) opened coach Bronco Mendenhall’s first season by blowing a 17-point lead in a 35-31 loss to Montana last week.

New Mexico’s issue for the second straight week came on defense, particularly McMillan.

Arizona’s first preseason AP All-American also had touchdown catches of 17 and 78 yards in the first half, then added a 40-yarder in the third quarter to help Arizona pull away after leading 27-24 at halftime.

The chemistry between Fifita and McMillan played a huge role in the high expectations for Arizona in Brennan’s first season.

UP NEXT

Arizona hosts Northern Arizona next Saturday, September 7. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. MST on ESPN+. To purchase tickets, visit azcats.co/FBtix. 


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