What To Know For The Home Opener: Bills V. Cardinals

Get your bowling ball shots and folding tables ready, Buffalo—it’s officially week one of the 2024 NFL season.

With new faces and new playcallers in Buffalo—it’s a new era. With that comes uncertainty about what to expect, as the Bills are a team in transition.

So as Bills Mafia prepares for Sunday’s festivities, let’s preview the matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at One Bills Drive.

The Cardinals had the worst rushing defense last season in the NFL. They were last in rushing yards allowed per game (143.2) and 31st in points allowed per game (26.8). Additionally, the Cardinals allowed 355.7 total yards per game compared to the Buffalo's 307.2 yards and allowed 212.5 passing yards per game, while the Bills allowed 196.6 yards. While they likely have tried to solve this issue by bringing in Bilal Nichols and Mack Wilson, I wouldn’t put my confidence behind them and would let James Cook cook.

I believe Josh Allen is a better quarterback than Kyler Murray. I know he was the Offensive Rookie of the Year for a reason in 2019 and does get slept on, but I don’t see him being a true threat to Allen and Co., unless they let first-game jitters get the best of them.

Last season, Allen was 385-of-579 passing for 4,306 yards with 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His longest pass was an 81-yarder to Khalil Shakir, and he also had 111 carries for 524 yards and 15 touchdowns. Allen has led the league in touchdowns since 2020.

After an ACL injury, Murray only played in eight games and did not return until Week 10, but he performed decently to close out the season.

He was 176-for-268 with 1,799 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions. His longest pass was 48 yards. In 44 carries, Murray had 244 yards and three touchdowns.

But Shakir is the only returning receiver for Allen, and it’s game one, so there could be rhythmic issues for both teams.

Shakir was targeted 45 times last season and came down with 39 catches for 611 yards and two touchdowns.

Mack Hollins, who was named a starting receiver for Sunday, has experience in the NFL but not too much time as a starter. On the Falcons last year, he played in 13 games and got 30 targets, coming down with 18 catches for 251 yards.

The Cardinals have Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson returning at receiver. Wilson and Dortch will be starters, as well as rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. Arizona also has speedster James Conner to help them with the ground game. In 13 games played last season, he had 208 carries for 1,040 yards with seven touchdowns. Keep your eye out for a Harrison Jr. matchup against Rasual Douglas.

Head coach Sean McDermott is 5-2 in home openers, and the weather is supposed to be sunny and low 60 degrees at the 1 p.m. kickoff.

Buffalo is favored to win by six points, but I’m predicting the final score to be 21-17, Bills win.