Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter spoke to the media Tuesday.
Here are 10 takeaways from those media sessions:
1. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has turned the ball over four times in the fourth quarter in the last two games, and eight times in the fourth quarter this season. Asked about Stafford needing to be more careful with the football in those late-game situations, Cooter said that turnovers are a team stat more than just an individual. He said he has to coach it better, and the players need to protect the ball and protect the quarterback better in the fourth quarter.
2. The Cardinals have one of the least productive offenses in the NFL this season, but Pasqualoni said you wouldn't be able to tell by the tape from Sunday's win in Green Bay. Arizona managed the game well, and rushed for 182 yards in a 20-17 victory over the Packers. Pasqualoni can probably expect a similar game plan Sunday.
3. Be ready for the Arizona blitz on Sunday. Cooter called the Cardinals' defense extremely aggressive. They will come after Stafford via their defensive front and the blitz. Arizona does a good job with their pressures, and cover behind it well (ranked fourth against the pass).
4. While the Cardinals rank 30th in the NFL in rushing at 86.0 yards per game, they do still employ one of the best backs in the game in David Johnson, and because of that fact, Detroit won't get lulled into any sense of security on defense entering this game. The Cardinals also rank 32nd in scoring (14.6), 32nd in overall offense (239.3) and 32nd in passing (153.3).
5. It seems every week the Lions are facing an elite pass rusher. That's just kind of how the NFL is these days. Detroit will have their hands full with Chandler Jones this week, who is leading the Cardinals with 12.0 sacks on the season. The Cardinals have 38 sacks as a team.
6. Pasqualoni said he doesn't really factor a quarterback being a rookie into his game plan the week leading up to facing one. He made the point that by this time in the season, they've seen a lot of football. Instead, Pasqualoni likes to focus on the opponent's system, personnel, what they like to do, and what they did successfully in their wins. That's how he formulates his game plans.
7. Rookie guard Frank Ragnow had the unenviable task of trying to contain Aaron Donald for most of last week. He won some, and he lost some. That's just how it goes for a rookie player in this league. Cooter said the goal Ragnow should have now is to be better the next time he faces Donald or a player of that caliber..
8. One of the things that jumped out to Pasqualoni watching the Cardinals beat the Packers Sunday was how Arizona's offensive line was able to control the line of scrimmage and knock back the Packers' front on a consistent basis.
9. The Cardinals are allowing 140.9 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 29th in the NFL, but their yards per carry average of 4.5 ranks 15th. Cooter was sure to make the point that it won't be as easy to run the ball Sunday as one might think.
10. This is the second rookie quarterback the Lions will face this season. The first one, Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, completed 76 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and a 116.8 passer rating in a 48-17 Jets' victory Week 1. Don't think for a minute the Lions will be taking Arizona's Josh Rosen lightly this week. Or Buffalo's Josh Allen the week after.
