Arizona Cardinals vs Detroit Lions: Betting Guide
The Arizona Cardinals had the inside track to secure home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs. It might still happen but a loss to the Los Angeles Rams the last time out dropped Arizona into a dead heat with Green Bay and Tampa Bay for the best record in the NFC.
The Cardinals are listed behind Tampa Bay and Green Bay among NFC teams among the betting odds to win the Super Bowl.
There are question marks with some of the top offensive players with Detroit tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back D’Andre Swift joining Arizona receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Chase Edmonds are players whose availability is in question.
Normally it would seem to be an advantage to be the home team but Arizona is the only NFC team yet to lose a road game this season while Detroit is one of four NFL teams with only one home win in 2021.
While there are six games in Week 15 with double-digit point spreads, this is the largest spread of the week.
- Game: Arizona Cardinals (10-3) vs Detroit Lions (1-11-1)
- Location: Ford Field
- Day/Time: Sunday, Dec.19, 1 p.m. ET
- Television: FOX
Cardinals vs Lions Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
| Arizona Cardinals | -13½ (-110) | -750 | 47½ (-110o) |
| Detroit Lions | +13½ (-110) | +550 | 47½ (-110u) |
Head-to-Head
When the teams met in 2020, the Arizona Cardinals were listed by the NFL picks against the spread as five-point favorites against the visiting Detroit Lions. In a game featuring seven lead changes, Arizona led by three points heading into the fourth quarter. A pair of Matt Prater field goals lifted Detroit to the 26-23 win as the Lions improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games against the Cardinals. Detroit covered in three of those four games.
The game went under the 55½-point total. Dating back to 1989, it was the largest total for a Cardinals-Lions game.
Arizona Cardinals
Next game: vs. Indianapolis
Last Game
The Arizona Cardinals were three-point favorites according to the scores and odds against their NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams. With a win giving Arizona a commanding lead in the division, the visiting Rams took the lead for good on a 52-yard touchdown reception by Van Jefferson early in the third quarter. Another Matthew Stafford touchdown pass pushed the lead to 14.
Arizona pulled within seven points twice in the fourth quarter but could never push across the tying score.
Prater’s field goal with 37 seconds left made it a 30-23 final in favor of the Rams and put the game over the 51½-point total.
Injury Report
Hopkins (leg), defensive lineman Zach Kerr (ribs), safety Charles Washington (hamstring) are questionable. Edmonds (ankle) is out. Defensive lineman J.J. Watt (shoulder), safety James Wiggins (knee) and tight end Maxx Williams (knee) are on injured reserve.
Detroit Lions
Next game: at Atlanta
Last Game
The visiting Detroit Lions were listed as a nine-point underdog according to the Las Vegas odds despite coming off their first win.
The Broncos, who dedicated the game to former Denver receiver Demaryius Thomas who died at the age of 33. Teddy Bridgewater threw a pair of touchdown passes in the second half as Denver rolled to a 38-10 victory.
Bridgewater’s touchdown pass with 1:41 left pushed the game over the 42-point total.
Injury Report
Tight end T.J. Hockenson (hand), running back D’Andre Swift (shoulder), offensive lineman Jonah Jackson (illness), linebackers Alex Anzalone (ankle) and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder), receiver Trinity Benson (knee), defensive lineman Jashon Cornell and Julian Okwara (ankle) are questionable. Offensive lineman Evan Brown, defensive backs Bobby Price, Mark Gilbert and Tracy Walker are on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Defensive end Trey Flowers (knee) and cornerbacks Jerry Jacobs and A.J. Parker (ankle) are on injured reserve.
The Lions are “hopeful” to get T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift back, and Dan Campbell says they felt better today, but they’re still day-to-day.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) December 13, 2021
Cardinals vs Lions Final Betting Analysis
If Kyler Murray hadn’t missed three games he would likely be getting more love as an NFL Most Valuable Player candidate. Murray is back now and has Arizona in a position to win a division title for the first time since 2015.
The Cardinals have quietly given up the fifth-fewest yards in the NFL and the fourth-fewest points. Markus Golden and Chandler Jones have combined for 19½ sacks to lead the defense.
Offensive linemen don’t get much traction in Rookie of the Year races but Detroit offensive tackle Penei Sewell has been one of the top right tackles in football in recent weeks.
Arizona has won each road game by at least 10 points this season and playing the worst team in the NFL shouldn’t keep the Cardinals from continuing that streak and improve to 8-0 against the spread in road games this season.
The total has gone over in Arizona’s last six games played at Detroit. The total has also gone over in four of Arizona’s last five games.
Wins might be hard to come by but the Detroit Lions are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games.
The total has gone over in 12 of the last 17 games between Detroit and Arizona.
