Cardinals Bring Playoff Mentality To Matchup With Bills

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The Cardinals have some positive vibes going after a promising first half of the season, but potential alone doesn't win football games.


While a 5-3 record has the team in the No. 6 spot in the NFC playoff picture, a tough slate awaits in the second half of the season.


If the Cardinals lose too many coin-flip contests down the stretch – like they did Sunday despite outgaining the Dolphins by 130 yards – dreams of their first playoff appearance since 2015 will disappear.


That's why cornerback Patrick Peterson is treating the Week 10 showdown against the Bills like it's already the start of the postseason.


"Every game is a playoff game for us," Peterson said. "Every game is very important. We feel like we let two slip away (against the Dolphins and Lions) that we had really good opportunities of winning. Now we can't let any games slip away. Every game counts now. It's an eight-game season, and no game after that is promised."


Buffalo enters with a 7-2 record, fresh off an impressive 44-34 win over the Seahawks, although cornerbacks Josh Norman and Levi Wallace are among four players who aren't traveling to Arizona after being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list.


Despite that, the Bills are a tough matchup. Quarterback Josh Allen has reached new heights in his third season, as his accuracy and overall efficiency have caught up to the always-ridiculous arm talent.


Stefon Diggs leads the NFL in receptions (63) and receiving yards (813), while former Cardinals receiver John Brown is another dangerous weapon on the outside. Many are expecting a shootout, even with the Cardinals finally in good health in their secondary.


"Josh is as talented of a player you'll see when you're talking about arm strength and athleticism and being able to escape and move and make plays," coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "He was awesome last Sunday. If you watch that Seattle game, the ball hardly touched the ground, and he's had a great year, so it will be a heck of a challenge for us."

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