Patrick Peterson calls himself the best cornerback in the league

While the Arizona Cardinals have floundered as a team this season, cornerback Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals' fifth-ranked pass defense have been a bright spot. However, Peterson will be put to the test when he goes up against Detroit Lions star wide receiver Calvin Johnson this Sunday.

Johnson currently leads the NFL in receiving yards and is on pace to break the all-time single-season record, but Peterson is more than ready to accept the challenge. In fact, Peterson put a bit of a target on his back earlier in the week when he called himself the "best cornerback in the NFL." Naturally, he would not back down from his statements (via the Cardinals' official site):

"That's what we play the game for, to be the best at our position," Peterson said. "If I feel I am the best, I am definitely going to let you know. I definitely feel I am playing at a top level right now, so why not feel like I'm the best?"

The second-year man out of LSU truly has been a playmaker this season, racking up 40 tackles and six interceptions. Those six picks put Peterson in a tie for third in the league with the Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman. Tim Jennings of the Chicago Bears leads the NFL with eight interceptions.