Glendale, Ariz-
Eight teams remain in the quest for the Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California. Who will advance to Championship Sunday? We will find out Saturday and Sunday.
Divisional Weekend is the best weekend in the NFL, and as a fan and writer that covers this great game I couldn’t be more excited.
I am even more excited than usual because, as an Arizona Cardinals fan, I will be attending my first NFL game on Saturday when my team faces the Green Bay Packers and their outstanding quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Go Cards! Ok that is out of the way.
When I tell people how excited I am for this year’s postseason in particular they inevitably ask me, “wasn’t your team in the playoffs last year?”
While it’s true that the Cardinals were in the playoffs last season, I honestly just wanted to get last year’s postseason over with. Ryan Lindley was the quarterbak (Carson Palmer was out with an injury), and the Cardinals were preparing to go on the road to face Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round. Arizona, and their fans, had no expectations, and I was preparing for the Cardinals to be one and done.
The only hope about last year’s Cardinals was that we were playing an under .500 team, and our defense under Todd Bowles was one of the best in the NFL.
I didn’t even want to watch the game because I knew what the result would be.
For obvious reasons, this season is completely different.
Keys, Predictions for Packers vs. Cardinals
The Cardinals enter this year’s playoffs as the favorite to reach the Super Bowl if chalk holds up on the NFC side. At the very least they are expected to reach the NFC Championship game.
The biggest difference is that Carson Palmer is healthy, and the Cardinals are ready to go. They have the number one offense in the NFL, and a top five defense. Their pass rush is scary, and the secondary led by Patrick Peterson and Deonne Buchanan is unstoppable even without Tyrone Mathieu.
This year, the Cards earned a bye with a 13-3 record, won the NFC West, and earned the number two seed. The receiving core has everything you want, and the running game is just as good with David Johnson in the lineup even without a healthy Andre Ellington and Chris Johnson.
The Cardinals are the most complete team in football, and in my mind are a better team than the one that came one play from winning the Super Bowl in 2008.
Will this team be mentally ready and live up to the pressure facing them? We shall see. The journey starts today.
Top Storylines
Cardinals
Can Carson Palmer take the next step? That is what everybody is taking about as we count down to kickoff. Palmer has already established himself statically as the best quarterback in the franchise’s history after a career year. Now it’s time for him to write the next chapter and cement his legacy when it matters most. Here is what is on the line: Palmer will never be a lock for the Hall of Fame until he wins a ring, and he won’t even be considered until he wins his first playoff game.
Packers
Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers, and Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has been there and done that. He is a Super Bowl and league MVP, and he turns his play up to another level in the postseason. If he is given time in the pocket, like he was last Sunday, he has the chance to take over the game and will the Packers to a victory. But for Green Bay to win Mr. Discount Double Check will have to play much better than he did when the Cardinals and Packers last met. In a 38-8 victory for Arizona, the Cards defense had more sacks than the Packers had points. But this appears to be a completely different Packers team and they look hungry.
Key Matchups
The battle at the line of scrimmage will decide this game and quite frankly every playoff game on the schedule. If Arizona’s elite pass rush can get to Rodgers often, and put pressure on him early in the game, it’s going to be a long night for Green Bay. Getting pressure on the opposing quarterback gives Arizona’s playmakers in the secondary a chance to make a big play. I think their defense will have to create turnovers and score points.
The Packers offensive line is healthy, and their ability to protect Rodgers and, even more importantly, open up holes for the run game will give the Packers a chance to win. It’s the same story on the other side of the football: the Cards offensive line has to dominate the point of attack and win the individual battles up front. If Palmer has time to throw and David Johnson has room to run look out. We all know that this offense can put up points in a hurry.
Cardinals OL vs. Packers DL
Cardinals Pass Rush vs. Packers OL
Cardinals Secondary vs. Packers WR core
Packers Secondary vs. Cardinals WR core
Keys To Victory
Cardinals
Protect Carson Palmer, establish the run game, dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football, and create turnovers in the secondary.
Packers
Use the hurry up no huddle offense to their advantage, include a bunch of wide receiver screens, establish the run game, give Aaron Rodgers time in the pocket, and dominate the line of scrimmage.
X Factors For Both Teams
Cardinals
David Johnson, RB: He ran all over the Packers defense in the last matchup. If he repeats that performance and the Cards stay balanced offensively the Packers have no chance.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR: Fitz had a quiet postseason last year but that was with Lindley at quarterback. Fitzgerald had the best season of his career in 2015 and reestablished himself as one of the best wideouts in the NFL. His ability to play in the slot and on the outside is what makes him so dangerous. He is one of two wide receivers this season to have 40 plus catches in both situations. Here is the stat of the day: Among players with at least five postseason games, Fitz’s 105.1 receiving yards per game is the best in league history.
Packers
Eddie Lacey, RB: Many people will point to the Packers use of the up temp no huddle offense as the reason for the success of Rodgers and company against the Redskins. The real reason the Packers offense suddenly looked like the offense everybody is used to watching is simple: the Packers had success running the football. Lacey and James Starks combined for over 100 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. That will have to continue in order to keep Arizona’s defense off balance.
Clay Matthews, LB: Clay Matthews will have to be more effective in this game than he was in the last matchup against Arizona. Obviously it starts with getting to Palmer, but more importantly he needs to have an impact stopping the run. The Packers have the 21st ranked run defense, and David Johnson will get his carries. If Matthews doesn’t have a big day it makes Green Bay’s task tougher. The talented linebacker has to keep Johnson from breaking out for long runs of 20 yards or more, something he has proven he can do.
James Jones, Randall Cobb, WR: With Devante Adams out, Cobb and Jones will have to shoulder more of the burden and have big days for the Packers to have a chance. But I’m not sure if that’s possible against the Cards loaded secondary.
Bottom Line
The Packers are a different team in the playoffs and for that reason I think this game will remain close throughout. At the end of the day, Arizona has too many play makers on both sides of the football and that will be the difference. I think Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald have big days and I expect to see a lot of deep passes completed. I also expect Arizona’s front seven to force critical turnovers and create havoc for Rodgers.
This might sound biased, but I can’t pick against my team!
Prediction: Cardinals-27 Packers-21
Main Photo
