The Lions head west in Week 5 with the betting market leaning their way. FanDuel Sportsbook opened Detroit as a 4.5-point favorite over Arizona, setting up a road test for a 2-2 team trying to keep pace against a Cardinals group still searching for stability at 1-3.
Arizona’s season has already taken on the feel of a full-scale reset. After the 2025 campaign, the Cardinals moved on from head coach Jonathan Gannon and his staff, an opening that allowed Detroit to hire offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Arizona then turned to former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who is the brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, and he kept Nick Rallis as defensive coordinator while adding veteran playcaller Nathaniel Hackett to run the offense.
The roster overhaul followed quickly. The Cardinals released quarterback Kyler Murray and handed the starting job to Jacoby Brissett, then used the third overall pick on running back Jeremiyah Love.
They also signed Tyler Allgeier to help at running back while James Conner recovers from a 2025 foot injury on injured reserve. On the perimeter, Arizona added Kendrick Bourne, Isaac Seumalo and Elijah Wilkinson as projected starters.
Defensively, the Cardinals brought back defensive tackle Roy Lopez, who spent last season in Detroit, and paired him with linebacker Jack Gibbens and safety Andrew Wingard in starting roles.
Even with all that turnover, the results have been rough. Arizona opened with a win in Week 1, but that came against the 0-4 Chargers. Since then, the Cardinals have allowed at least 31 points in each of their last three games, falling 31-7 to the Seahawks, 36-30 to the 49ers and 36-24 to a Jameis Winston-led Giants team on Sunday.
That loss to New York had a little of everything, and it ended painfully for Arizona. The Cardinals battled back and got into position to win, but Brissett’s third interception of the day turned into a pick-six that slammed the door.
Detroit’s defense has its own issues right now, which means the Lions may need another big offensive day to leave Arizona with a win. If they can keep scoring in the 31-point range, they should be in good shape.
Kickoff is set for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Darius Slay Just Said What Lions Fans Fear About This Secondary
Darius Slay has never been shy about giving his old team an honest evaluation, and his latest comments land at a time when the Lions are still trying to steady a defense that has drawn plenty of scrutiny. The former Detroit cornerback pointed to Carlton Davis as the player he thought fit best in the scheme and said letting him leave in free agency was the clubs biggest recent misstep, a remark that will sound familiar to anyone who has watched the secondary struggle to find consistency.
Slay also took aim at the broader direction of the defense under Kelvin Sheppard, suggesting the issues in the back end go beyond one departure and reflect a need for a different philosophy. He did leave open a sliver of intrigue about his own future, saying he might entertain a return for the right offer, though he made clear he is comfortable with life after football for now. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Pass Defense Problem Could Force A Trade Fans Didn't Expect
Through the first month of the season, the Lions pass defense has been one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and it has already pushed the front office into the trade market. Detroit has talked with other teams about cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the search for help could widen if the right deal materializes. One name floating into the conversation is Philadelphia cornerback Riq Woolen, a player with the kind of tools that can change the feel of a secondary in a hurry.
Woolens contract situation and past performance make him an intriguing fit for a team trying to shore up the back end without overcommitting long term. Philadelphias recent roster changes, including the retirement of Lane Johnson and the trade of Cam Jurgens, have also fueled the idea that the Eagles could be willing to keep moving pieces to stockpile future draft capital. For the Lions, the question is whether a move like that is realistic, and whether solving the pass-defense issue will require a swing more aggressive than the one fans expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Secondary Problem Is Fueling A Trade Fans Will Want
The Lions search for help in the back end keeps circling back to the trade market, and Kristian Fulton has become one of the more interesting names attached to it. Detroit has already come up short on other cornerback targets, including Joey Porter Jr., which has only sharpened the focus on a defense that could use more stability on the outside. Fultons situation in Kansas City makes him a logical candidate to watch, especially with the kind of midseason deal that can sometimes benefit both teams.
Jeremy Fowler reported that Fulton is not currently a full-time starter for the Chiefs, and that matters for a Detroit team looking for a player who can step in without forcing a massive overhaul. A trade could come together if the teams are willing to split his salary, which gives the Lions a possible path forward if they decide to keep pressing for help. For a secondary still trying to find the right fit, this is the sort of move that can gain momentum quickly if the price is right. [Read more 🡒]