Wild Card Playoff Preview: Green Bay Packers at Cardinals

by Brandon on Jan 10, 2010 1:27 AM CST in Green Bay Packers Analysis

I've been going into a lot of detail about how the Green Bay Packers matchup against the Cardinals all this week:

Packers Pass Offense vs. Cardinals Pass Defense

Packers Run Offense vs. Cardinals Run Defense

Packers Pass Defense vs. Cardinals Pass Offense

Packers Run Defense vs. Cardinals Run Offense

Bottom line: I didn't see any area where the Cardinals are better than the Packers. Yes, I'm a Packer homer, but there's nothing about their team that worries me, unless WR Larry Fitzgerald goes off again like he did in the playoffs last year, but even then the Packers should still be able to keep up in a shootout.

Though they've been better in recent weeks at avoiding penalties, the Packers are still likely to commit more. The Cardinals' special teams are much better than the Packers' awful unit. But those two areas alone aren't going to win them the game.

The Cardinals won't be as bad as they were during their 33-7 loss to the Packers last week, but the Jets and Cowboys proved on Saturday that their week 17 wins weren't a fluke. The last time the Cardinals faced a defense similar to the Packers was December 14th at the 49ers (the 49ers defense is a 3-4, and, like the Packers, very good against the run and pass), and that game was a turnover disaster for the Cardinals. My prediction is Packers 31, Cardinals 17.

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As long

as the playcallers don’t lose their nerve (see 4th quarter v Steelers) then I’m confident the Packers have enough weapons either side of the ball, although I feel it’ll be closer than you’ve predicted.

I’ve no idea how I’m going to keep a lid on my mounting excitement for anotgher nine hours though………..

by rudi on Jan 10, 2010 6:16 AM CST reply actions

This won't be a pushover game

like the other week 17 rematches have been so far in the playoffs. Bengals and Eagles really didn’t put up much of a fight. Watching Williams and Austin torch the Philly DBs makes me worry and hope to goodness thats not what the Cards are able to do. I think the key will be runnning and doing what Rodgers does best, moving the chains on 3rd down.

I still think we’ll be seeings lots of this…

"I don't know how a guy gets single covered in that situation when you're dropping eight men," Tony Dungy, 12/20/09

by PackaCracka on Jan 10, 2010 7:35 AM CST reply actions

I really think we are fine..

I am also a homer and I do understand that last weeks game didn’t mean a whole lot but we are playing good right now and I’m really enjoying being under the radar. All you hear right now is how hot dallas is (which is rightfully so) but no mention our way. Go Packers!

Greg Jennings.. Future All Pro

by mkcubs21 on Jan 10, 2010 8:02 AM CST reply actions

There is plenty of mention our way…go check out the SI predictions. 4 of 7 have us in the super bowl.

by TrevorR on Jan 10, 2010 9:16 AM CST up reply actions

The true X-factor

is Turnover ratio. The Pack is 1st in takeaways and the Cards are 31st ( thats almost last) Whoever protects the ball more will win. And I think it is going to be the pack. The team that wins the turnover battle wins 84% of the time. I do worry about our special teams though, but the turnover ratio makes up for it

by GBfan73 on Jan 10, 2010 8:47 AM CST reply actions

Yeah if the game follows the trands of the year that gives us a huge advantage.

by TrevorR on Jan 10, 2010 9:17 AM CST up reply actions

Vegas

Packers started as 2.5 point underdogs. Vegas now has them as 2.5 point favorites.

rmlumley.com

by shaftr on Jan 10, 2010 10:45 AM CST reply actions

I think the Jets and Cowboys showed

that MM was right in keeping the pedal to the metal last week. Being hot going in to the playoffs seems to matter a lot. It’s the one thing that has me cautiously optimistic about today’s game, because I fear a Cardinal-style spread passing attack with an experienced savvy QB more than any other kind of offense (especially without Harris playing). I think the Steelers and Vikings amply demostrated this against us.

And this argument also means I would be cautiously optimistic against the Saints next week should we prevail today. They’ve been the antithesis of pedal to the metal and I’m betting they’re going to be cold, cold, cold next week.

Best game I ever attended was the 163rd game last year in 2008.

by NorthSidePaulie on Jan 10, 2010 2:13 PM CST reply actions