The Cardinals learned earlier this week that star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will likely miss the remainder of the regular season with a sprained knee. Still, the Cardinals have fared well despite Hopkins having a down season prior to the injury and are heavily favoured against a Lions team stuck at one win on the season.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Hopkins’ absence hasn’t put a dent in the Cardinals’ odds for Sunday’s encounter, as they’re still favoured by nearly two touchdowns against the woeful Lions, who are 1-5 at home and have been outscored by 141 points through their first 13 games. And yet, you can’t count this team out from an ATS perspective: Detroit is 8-5 against the spread for the season and are 3-1 ATS in their previous four games as an underdog of 10+ points.

Sunday’s total is sitting at 47.5, with the Over and Under sporting identical -110 odds. The Lions are 5-8 O/U in 2021, largely due to an anemic offence that ranks 30th in the league in scoring at 16.4 points per game. The Cardinals have gone 7-6 against the total so far, thanks to being ranked inside the top-5 in both offence and defence. And Arizona has been surging toward the Over in recent weeks, sporting a 4-1 record over its past five games.

Arizona Cardinals

Hopkins’ extended absence will give two players in particular an opportunity to shine – one a young up-and-comer, the other a talented veteran making the most of a second chance. Look for Christian Kirk to become Kyler Murray’s No. 1 target; the 25-year-old leads the team in receiving yards (718) despite not seeing more than eight targets in a game. A.J. Green should also benefit; the 33-year-old has 654 receiving yards and three scores to date.

Detroit Lions

The Lions are starting to show up as the lead item in most NFL draft articles, which isn’t a good thing for Detroit fans in 2021 – but quarterback Jared Goff says the team is still playing for pride. “We’re trying to win every game,” Goff told reporters earlier this week – though this week’s quest is a daunting one given the Cardinals’ superiority on both sides of the ball. Goff has been uneven in his first season in Detroit, throwing for 2,791 yards with 14 TDs and eight INTs.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Cardinals vs. Lions?