Cardinals vs. Chargers preview: Finally, Week 1 is here

TEMPE, Ariz. — Finally.

It’s been just less than nine months since the Arizona Cardinals last took the field in a meaningful game, and now, finally, they can get the 2014 season started.

It is a season filled with expectations, the likes of which have not been terribly common over the years.

“My expectations are the same as they’ve always been going into a season, and that’s to win the division,” receiver and long-time Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald said. “The fastest way to get to the playoffs and secure a home game, is to win your division. Obviously we know we’re in the toughest division in football.”

It’s really the dark cloud that hovers over the Cardinals, no matter how bright things may appear to be. Last season, the team surprised many by winning 10 games, but was still left out of the postseason picture due to, chiefly, being part of a very difficult NFC West.

So as is the case for every team, the Cardinals underwent a makeover. As of Saturday, 17 players from the 53-man roster were not with the team last season. Nine of them were added via free agency from other teams, six were draft picks and two are rookie free agents.

Will it will be enough to get the Cardinals through their division and into the playoffs for the first time since 2009?

“There’s hope in every city, every NFL city, and I know there’s a lot of hope and belief in this city and there’s hope and belief in this locker room,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “We’re excited and we’re prepared to go.”

The Cardinals better be. Last season they dropped their season opener to the Rams in St. Louis. Though no one knew it at the time, that game would end up being looked at as the one that kept Arizona out of the postseason. While Monday night’s affair is just one of 16 games they will play, its importance cannot be understated.

“You can’t give away wins in this league, especially that first one, that’s really the one that gets you going,” defensive end Calais Campbell said. “Momentum in sports is a huge deal, and in this league that we’re playing in, in our division, every game is so critical and you have to approach every game as if it’s the most important one, because it is.”

It will be one of two games played that night, and the final one of Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season.

“There’s nothing better than playing in front of all your peers and everybody in the national game,” Arians said. “That’s great respect that the league has shown our franchise, and I think that’s great respect that the league has shown our fans because they deserve it and I’m sure they’re going to be rowdy and ready to roll.”

There is certainly a buzz surrounding the team and what it could accomplish. That’s what happens when a team wins seven of its last nine games, one of which was on the road against the eventual Super Bowl champions.

“Guys are confident, we’re excited about being in our second year of Coach Arians’ system, offensively and defensively, and guys are just ready to go out there and play now,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s been a month and some change since we started training camp and we’re excited or the real game to be here.”

It couldn’t get here soon enough.

“It’s just like the first one ever, they never get old, that’s for sure,” Arians said of the opener. “The first one is the best one. When you throw it on Monday Night Football — I can think way back, we were starting the college football season at Alabama at LSU, and it was dynamic, and they always are.

“When you step out there Monday night the hair should kind of step up on your body and you know it’s real.”

Things to watch for

– Arians said Chargers linebacker Dwight Freeney is similar to linebacker John Abraham in that “they never run out of gas” and have “more tricks in the trade than anybody.” How the Cardinals handle the future Hall of Famer will play a big role in determining the outcome of this game.

– While the Cardinals took some hits along their defensive line and in their linebacker corp., the team’s secondary appears to be upgraded over last year’s version. How will they match up with a talented passing attack?

– The Cardinals’ struggles defending tight ends last year was well-documented, with Arians joking this week that tight ends catch the balls against his defense all the time. Arizona certainly does not appear to be better off with Kevin Minter and Larry Foote in coverage instead of Daryl Washington and Karlos Dansby, so ho w they handle Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green will be key.

– Last season, Arizona featured the league’s top-ranked run defense. The Chargers have a trio of experienced running backs, led by Ryan Mathews, who ran for 1,255 yards and six touchdowns last year. Forcing the Chargers to be one-dimensional would not be a bad thing.

– There was great anticipation to see Andre Ellington take over as the Cardinals’ lead back, but if he does not play Monday the Cardinals will turn to Jonathan Dwyer, Stepfan Taylor and Robert Hughes. Can they do enough to keep the offense from becoming too predictable?

– Up until the third preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Cardinals QB Carson Palmer appeared to be comfortable and on the same page as his receivers. Arizona will need him to pick up where he left off last season, and hopefully improve from there.

– Receiver John Brown was an offseason all-star. Will that translate to a regular season NFL game? He should get some chances as the Charges are likely to focus more on Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd.

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