What are the Arizona Cardinals talking about ahead of this week's matchup against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale? Let's find out:

1. What jumps out about Detroit's defense to Cardinals running back James Conner, who had 122 yards rushing and a touchdown in Arizona's 41-10 win over the Rams last week?

"97 over there is a good player," Conner said of Aidan Hutchinson. "High motor. I know he had (4.5) sacks or something last game. The head coach over there; they'll come ready to play. So, we're excited about that. It'll be a nice opportunity for us to see who we can be vs. another physical team."

2. Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis is really impressed with the scheme Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has put together in Detroit.

"They do a lot, but they do a lot at a high level," Rallis said.

He said some offenses around the league try to do a lot of different things schematically but can't pull that off at the level Detroit consistently does. Rallis said he respects the fact that Detroit's offense has an identity, but can pivot and throw a lot at a defense and do so at a really high level which makes Detroit dangerous.

"We have a challenge ahead of us," he said. "Not just because their roster is a really good roster, but their scheme is a really good scheme. So, I'm looking forward to the challenge."

3. The Cardinals had a terrific pass-rush performance last week from linebacker Dennis Gardeck, who recorded 3.0 sacks, four tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Gardeck is a little bit of an unconventional rusher at just six feet and 232 pounds.

Rallis said Gardeck's unconventional size is actually his strength because his bend, suddenness and ability to transition from one edge of the tackle to the other is a unique skillset that presents challenges to larger tackles.

It's not unlike the success James Houston has had in Detroit at his size. Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell will have to do some good film work on Gardeck ahead of Sunday's matchup.

4. One area that will be big for Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn Sunday will be trying to limit Arizona's success on third down. The Cardinals come into Sunday ranked No. 1 in the NFL converting on third down at 58.3 percent.

Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said their success on third down really comes down to being in manageable situations and then player execution and winning their one-on-one matchups in those third-down situations.

Detroit enters the contest ranked 14th in third-down defense (31.8 percent) after two weeks.

5. "It's an impressive group," Petzing said of the Lions' defense on tape. "I think really at all three levels they have premiere players. I think they play extremely hard. I think the scheme is really good. I think it's really well coached. They give people fits. It's one of the many reasons they are a good football team."

Petzing said this isn't a game where they feel like they can eliminate one player and they can have success because Detroit's got talent at all three levels. Petzing did admit Hutchinson is the best player on Detroit's defense and even called Hutchinson one of the best defensive players in the entire league and a player they'll definitely be aware of where he is at all times.

"If you're going to rank them out, he is at the top of the list in terms of what we need to pay attention to," Petzing said.

6. Consider Rallis a big fan of Detroit's offensive line play, agreeing with a reporter's assessment that it's one of the best groups in the league.

"They are very good individually, so if you look at each guy you say, 'This is a really good player.' But then collectively they are even better," he said. "Very experienced group that plays really well together and obviously the scheme is great as well. You combine those things with two good running backs behind them, you have a challenge ahead."

7. The Lions face a quarterback in Kyler Murray Sunday who is coming off maybe the best game in his career. He is just the second player in NFL history to have at least 250 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and a 158.3 passer rating in a game after completing 17-of-21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 59 yards against the Rams last week.

"The more reps he gets with our staff and with the players around him I think growth will happen," Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said this week of Murray.