Online sports betting fans should expect a wild game on Sunday night as two of the NFL’s best offenses and top quarterbacks go head to head. Indianapolis (2-0) is coming off a 27-23 win over the Dolphins on Monday night while the Cardinals (1-1) blew out Jacksonville 31-17.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, September 27 at 8:20 p.m. ET
NFL Week 3 sportsbook odds: Arizona -2
Peyton Manning has opened the season with back-to-back 300-yard performances. He’s yet to throw an interception this season and has completely carried the Colts’ offense. With Anthony Gonzalez out with a knee injury, the veteran quarterback has turned to Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark even more than usual; Clark hauled in seven passes for 183 yards and a score against Miami last week. The passing game has been nearly perfect, and it’s needed to be thanks to a struggling running game. Indianapolis is averaging just 66 yards per game so far and, at some point, teams will find a way to disrupt Manning.
There are question marks hovering around Indy’s defense after it was exposed by the Wild Cat against Miami. The Dolphins racked up 239 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. At least the pass defense was solid, with Chad Pennington averaging just 5.5 yards per attempt while being sacked twice.
Kurt Warner and the Cardinals bounced back against Jacksonville after a slow start in Week 1. Warner looked uncomfortable on opening day but set an NFL record for completion percentage in a single game against the Jags, going 24/26 for 243 yards and two touchdowns. The team has yet to work Larry Fitzgerald down the field yet, however, so expect the Cardinals to try and bust him loose against Indianapolis. Arizona is slowly working Beanie Wells into the mix; he and Tim Hightower have combined for 160 yards rushing this season. Their ground game won’t wow you, but at least the Cardinals have added some balance to the offense.
Defensively the Cardinals turned things up a notch last week, recording four sacks and three takeaways. Arizona ranks second in the NFL with eight sacks this season, and that kind of pressure will be instrumental in slowing down the Colts’ passing game. We’re betting management is happy with the progress this unit has made.
Indianapolis can’t run the football right now and there’s no reason to believe things will change against Arizona. That means the Colts’ chances rest on Peyton Manning’s arm—and the Cardinals have the horses to rush Manning like maniacs. The quarterback will still get his points, but the ferocious rush will be enough to slow Indy down. Take Arizona on your NFL bet.
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