Second year cornerback Patrick Peterson has emerged as one the NFL’s top young stars and claims he’s the best cornerback in the league. The Cardinals will play the Detroit Lions this Sunday, and a solid performance against Lions’ star wide receiver Calvin Johnson could go a long way in proving that claim, Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News reports.
“Definitely something that I was thinking about all year, especially when the schedule first came out and seeing Detroit at home,” Peterson said. “That’s probably going to be the biggest matchup of my young career — going against not only a receiver that’s setting records year in and year out (and) just having an opportunity to see how I tally up against one of these top-notch receivers.”
Peterson believes he and Johnson are the same caliber player, and hopes to get a one on one matchups with Pro Bowl wide receiver on Sunday.
“Me and Calvin, we’re the same caliber players, just he’s a receiver and I’m a DB,” he said. “He likes the physical aspect of the game, and that’s something I like to do as well. I’m going to challenge him at the line.
“Honestly, I would like to go one on one as much as I can.”
Johnson has accumulated 1,546 receiving yards this season and is only 300 yards away from breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season yardage record of 1,848.
“I just think going against him each and every play is definitely going to get me notoriety as being one of the best corners in the game, especially if I do what I need to do on Sunday,” Peterson said.
