The first full day of NFL football in 2024 is finally here, and the Arizona Cardinals take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 action.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game today.
Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills
- Start time: Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, 1 p.m. ET
- Channel: CBS
- Live stream options: Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, CBS All-Access
- Radio Stations: KMVP FM98.7, WGR 550 AM
- Starting QBs: Kyler Murray, Josh Allen
- Betting lines:
- Spread: BUF -6
- Total: 48
- Moneyline: BUF -278, ARI +225
While 2023 was essentially a throwaway season after the outcome of the offseason, it was the first season after former head coach Kliff Kingsbury was replaced by Jonathan Gannon. Additionally, with Kyler Murray rehabbing a torn ACL, the Cardinals were without their QB1 until Week 10, throwing rookie QB Clayton Tune into the fire.
However, 2024 is a different story. Murray is fully healthy and has had an entire offseason and preseason to prepare. The Cardinals also had seven picks in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, the first of which was used to select former Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to become the WR1 of the receiver room for Arizona.
Between Harrison, 2023 third-round pick Michael Wilson, and 2019 UDFA Greg Dortch, Murray has a better cast of pass catchers than in recent years. RB James Conner also looks to continue his revival in Arizona after rushing for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.
Meanwhile, the Bills see a significant change in the offense with the thoroughly shuffled wide receiver core. All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs and a couple of late-round picks were traded to Houston for a 2025 second-round pick. Additionally, Gabe Davis signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.
The only remaining starting receiver on the roster from 2023 is Khalil Shakir, currently slotted as the WR1 for QB Josh Allen. Buffalo did draft WR Keon Coleman and signed Curtis Samuel in free agency, but the depth behind them is light, with just Mack Hollins and Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the roster.
While Buffalo’s overall selection of receivers hasn’t been eye-popping, Allen still had Diggs to bail him out in times of need. With Diggs and Davis nowhere to be found, who will help Allen on the offense? RB James Cook’s late surge was very promising, and Buffalo couldn’t have asked for more from Dalton Kincaid’s rookie campaign. However, they will need someone in the receiver room to step up to help this offense.
2024 Preseason Stats Leaders
- QB:
- Cardinals: Clayton Tune, 35 cmp/52 att, 361 yards, one TD, one INT
- Bills: Mitchell Trubisky, 19 cmp/31 att, 168 yards, one INT
- RB:
- Cardinals: Trey Benson, 17 carries, 64 yards
- Bills: Frank Gore Jr., 33 carries, 163 yards, one TD
- WR:
- Cardinals: Xavier Weaver, six rec/11 targets, 95 yards
- Bills: Zach Davidson, five rec/six targets, 50 yards