Brief Recap: Green Bay Packers Defeat Cardinals 33-7

by Brandon on Jan 3, 2010 7:00 PM CST in News Comment 65 comments

It wasn't much of a preview for the Green Bay Packers and Cardinals playoff game next week.

QB Kurt Warner didn't move the ball in their first two possessions, and after he was pulled as a precaution, QB Matt Leinart was awful as his replacement. And the Packers only managed 1 QB hit (zero sacks) against them, so there's no indication they'll be harassing Warner next week. The Cardinals had little success running the ball, 14 carries for 48 yards, but they also took RB Beanie Wells out early. Their only TD was after an errant pass from QB Matt Flynn was returned down to the Packers' 3 yard line. I'm not expecting to hold the Cards to only 187 yards of offense, with 3 INTs, next week.

But the Packers' offense did a lot of damage against the Cardinals' 1st team defense in the first half. They marched down the field for 2 TDs on their first 2 drives, and they controlled the line of scrimmage. RB Ryan Grant had a lot of room to run. The Packers kept QB Aaron Rodgers in until the 4th quarter, and the offense did little with Flynn at QB. But the Packers were almost exclusively running the ball in the final quarter too.

I was hoping to have an update about CB Charles Woodson's injured shoulder, but I couldn't find anything. I'm not sure if it's the same shoulder that's been injured for the past couple weeks, but hopefully it's not serious.

It's hard to find anything to criticize with a 33-7 victory, and it's a promising sign of a win next week too.

0 recs | Comment 65 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Any updates on Pat White?

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 7:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Cardinals fan here

Kudos on the win.

It seemed obvious to me that the entire team just didn’t want to play against you guys since the game didn’t matter, and the Packers took advantage of it. I thought it was classless for you coach to leave the starters in so long, especially after Woodson got hurt, but they were playing well when the starters were in.

Hopefully when we play next week the game is more interesting. And if you do beat us I would like to see you beat Favre in the playoffs.

Hopefully Woodson is okay, he is a good person and I think he deserves to be the defensive MVP this year.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 3, 2010 7:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I seem to remember Fitzgerald scoring a TD in the 4th. How classless.

by Zorakathura on Jan 3, 2010 7:49 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

To be honest,

People here at APC began calling for the starters to be pulled after the Packers stretched their lead to 19-0.

After each Packers score put up by the offense from when it was 19-0, I began asking for the starters to be pulled, largely because it appeared the Cardinals were treating this as a preseason game and allowing their backups to play.

The shouts of yanking the starters were especially loud after the Packers took a 33-0 lead.

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 8:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats how I felt.

I would have pulled the starters for the second half since it was obvious that the Cardinals weren’t going to do anything.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 3, 2010 9:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also,

It is worth noting that the first two drives by the Packers which led to the early 14-0 lead were against Arizona’s starting defense.

Just sayin’.

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 8:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly…I think they were going to come out trying and then it didn’t start right at the beginning so they pulled back and bent over.

by TrevorR on Jan 3, 2010 8:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That does make sense.

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 8:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Starters played, yes

Very half assed with a vanilla scheme. Same thing happened last year. We clinched the division early and lost horribly to a bunch of teams then came out the gates in the post season with crazy looks no one had seen all year.

by badmatty53 on Jan 4, 2010 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah...so was ours

you think we came out with anything special? We didn’t blitz we just played…thats it. Face it, your team came out , the starters played and they got schooled. Next week will be a different thing…don’t think I think this game shows what will happen next week but lets stop pretending like the Packers were giving their all and the Cards were giving nothing.

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Classless? Just cause your team didn’t want to play doesn’t mean the other team should just roll over for you. I think its classless of your team to screw over all the fans that paid $50 a pop and more for tickets only to get Matt frickin Leinert and the other bad QB for 3/4 of the game. Your team had something to play for and chose to come out looking lame even with a bunch of your starters playing the whole game. That said, I would have liked to see our coach get the starters out a little earlier, for OUR sake, not to take it easy on the Cards though!

That said, I don’t put much on this game. Clearly AZ’s goal was to play and not screw themselves over the playoffs (yet they still suffered injuries to DMC and Bolden). I get why you do it, but as I recall, they still had something to play for. I am surprised they didn’t at least come out and give it an ole college try…or maybe they did for the first quarter and when it didn’t go their way they pulled back and chocked up the loss.

by TrevorR on Jan 3, 2010 8:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Your team had something to play for and chose to come out looking lame

What exactly did they have to play for? There was no chance for ARI to get the 2 seed, and whether they won or not made no difference for their seed. Also, do you really think they chose to be lame?

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)

by Fukudometer on Jan 3, 2010 9:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I don’t blame them for pulling their starters. Win or lose, the Cards are playing at home next week regardless.

Also, I’m getting sick of hearing all this junk about it’s not right for a team to sit their starters. It’s a lot of bologna. If you buy a ticket for the last game of the season, you should assume that there is a possibility of that happening if your team is in the playoffs. Teams that know they are in the playoffs have been practicing this sort of thing for years.

by Mark Y on Jan 3, 2010 9:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm…what about the season ticket holders…its not like they can say, yeah I’d like to buy 7 of the 8 games but forget about that last one. Thanks.

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 8:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Rodgers threw a couple of bombs on the series before he came out.

Stuff like that is what I thought was classless. Belichick-like.

I don’t like seeing any team piling up the score on another one like that, especially when the team they are pounding is treating it like a glorified Preseason game.

And I feel the same was as you do about the Cardinals pulling the starters, but don’t forget that Leinart also racked up 350 yards on you guys during the Preseason before you say he is crap [the other guy Pierre, say whatever you want about him]. And I also agree about not puting much stock into this game, since next week will probably be a lot closer.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 3, 2010 9:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

re: classless

Last time I checked, the 2nd and 3rd stringers get paid to stop the offense too. Do you think that Warren Moon and company said “at least we were classy” when the Bills came back from 38 down in that playoff game. Playing the starters in the second half of a blowout in a meaningless game is stupid yes, but hardly classless. Classless is when college teams like Florida put up 75 on teams like the Citadel and then try for killshots all 4th qtr to try to get on Sportscenter. This is the NFL. Defensive players, even bad backups, get paid a lot of money to stop whatever the offense throws at them. If they can’t, just tip your cap and move on to the next ~~paycheck~~ game.

"I agree but dont agree"

by juggernaut400 on Jan 4, 2010 12:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly…they sound like a bunch of babies! It wasn’t a 50 point blowout. The Belichek game they are referring to was a 59-0 game against the Titans. FIFTY NINE!!! This game was in the 30s.

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 8:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It was my understanding...

…that Mike McCarthy informed Arizona we would be playing our starters through the 3rd quarter. What they decided to do is up to them. We have a young team running schemes that require a lot of timing.

Rodgers has been great, but doesn’t have nearly the experience Warner has (by nearly, I mean a single playoff start). And while I love Jennings and Driver, they are not as physically talented as Fitz and ’Quan.

The defense is even more suspect. Williams and Bush need every rep possible to avoid another performance like Pittsburgh a few weeks ago. Pickett may be out for who knows, so Raji and our current DL rotation need every rep they can get.

It’s not classless if you were told our intentions… And no one here is under the impression next weeks game will be anything like todays warm-up…

by soliman on Jan 4, 2010 5:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

tell yourself whatever you want

it was 14-0 before you even blinked when your starters were playing anyway. hope you enjoyed the preview of next week. and just to be straight, when should we pull our starters next week? once we’re up more than 17? we’d hate to be considered classless again

Frye is honestly gotta be one of the top 10 3rd Stringers in all of the NFL right now--colbyb

by verno329 on Jan 4, 2010 6:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose you could think that… I guess you get your chance to come back and show us whats up now. The Vikings did the same thing and the Jets did the same thing too. I am sorry though, your team DID NOT treat it like a preseason game. You came out with all your starters at the start and many important players including Fitz were out there for the entire game. Lets not pretend that it was your second team out there. YOu pull Warner, that was about IT for the first half.

Also, regarding Leinart…he did that against a second team after the Packers had ROLLED your Cardinals for an entire half. Lets not make that more than it is…EVERY chance Leinert has had in the regular season he’s looked like garbage.

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 8:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is simple excuse making and grasping at straws

Can’t wait to hear their excuses next week. They kept playing their starters outside of the old man so I understand if they find it hard to take their beating but the Cardinals fans need to grow up. They go to one Super Bowl and suddenly they have a monopoly on classy playing, huh?

Frye is honestly gotta be one of the top 10 3rd Stringers in all of the NFL right now--colbyb

by verno329 on Jan 4, 2010 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I like how they imply they gave 0 and we were giving 100 percent. What a steaming pile of crap. I hope we stomp them out next week…

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Leinart is crap

And classless, come on man you sound like a troll

by badmatty53 on Jan 4, 2010 12:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think both teams approached this game the right way

The packers are young, inexperienced and on a roll. Instead of resting and losing any momentum, they kept their starters playing for most of the game.

The majority of the arizona team was in the Super Bowl last year. They know what the playoffs are all about and are well aware of what they have to do and how to do it. It made sense for them to limit playing time for their starters.

rmlumley.com

by shaftr on Jan 3, 2010 8:00 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

Probably a good point here! Nice observation.

by TrevorR on Jan 3, 2010 8:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by badmatty53 on Jan 4, 2010 12:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BUT!

They really didn’t bench many starters…but you are right about the Packers!

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Score update:

NY Jets 17, Cincinnati 0, midway through the second quarter.

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 8:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Palmer 1-10 0yds 1 int

by Zorakathura on Jan 3, 2010 8:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Defensively

And the Packers only managed 1 QB hit (zero sacks) against them, so there’s no indication they’ll be harassing Warner next week.

I didn’t get to watch the game, so i didn’t see what Capers was running. Did it look like he was saving the fireworks for next weekend?

by Mark Y on Jan 3, 2010 9:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

We actually had 5 hits

3 by Clay, 2 by Jones. But yeah, very few blitzes.

The Dude abides

by SlowJoe445 on Jan 3, 2010 10:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was using ESPN's stats

The ESPN box score only showed 1 QB hit. But Matthews was a factor by forcing a safety and he destroyed a back who tried to block him.

by Brandon on Jan 4, 2010 12:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I followed the ESPN box during the game

And they had Matthews with 3 and Jones with 2, I guess they changed it after the game to 1 hit by Jenkins. But I remember seeing at least 3 clear hits by Clay/Jones, so there’s must be a mistake.

Anyway, the NFL game book has those 5 more QB hits registered:
http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/54718/ARZ_Gamebook.pdf

The Dude abides

by SlowJoe445 on Jan 4, 2010 9:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

NFL stats can vary

Unofficially Matthews had 7 QB hits. All the stats are recorded by different groups and they just come out different. It’s much harder to put numbers on defense. A player can blow up a play (like Matthews did on a couple occasions) but it might not be an obvious stat.

by Brandon on Jan 5, 2010 12:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Clay would have had another too if they didn’t grab him on that one play too.

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 8:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Clay had his way with Gandy (I believe his name is) and Jones shedded their RTs blocks a few times. We were actually getting pretty good pressure considering we were just sending 4 most of the time.

by packallday555 on Jan 5, 2010 3:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was almost positive

the Joe/Troy Sunday game next week would be Eagles/Cowboys, but they’ll be playing Saturday night. We’ll be the last wild card weekend game when we kick off 4:30 on Sunday.

In the most predictable football scheduling decision ever, the Cincinnati/New York matchup will be in the worst tv game slot, as they kickoff saturday at 4:00. Baltimore/New England will kick sunday at 1:00 on CBS.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Jan 3, 2010 9:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

UGH!`

I knew taht was going to happen! I have the entire weekend open until Sunday night at 6 pm!!!!

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 8:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The wild-card schedule is out!

Saturday, Jan. 9

AFC: 4:30 p.m. ET — NY Jets/Houston at Cincinnati (NBC-TV)

NFC: 8 p.m. ET — Philadelphia at Dallas (NBC-TV)

Sunday, Jan. 10

AFC: 1 p.m. ET — Baltimore at New England (CBS-TV)

NFC: 4:40 p.m. ET — Green Bay at Arizona (FOX-TV)

The Dude abides

by SlowJoe445 on Jan 3, 2010 10:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

3 of the games are repeats of today's games

that’s quite bizarre.

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)

by Fukudometer on Jan 3, 2010 10:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Both NFC games are exact repeats.

Philadelphia at Dallas, and Green Bay at Arizona.

Both other games are rematches, too.

NY Jets at Cincinnati (okay, admittedly, the first game was in NY), but Baltimore at New England is also a rematch. Remember when the Ravens were screaming that Tom Brady threw himself to the ground, and then hopped past a tackler? Both times, it was called “roughing the passer,” though “roughing the pussy” would have been a better call.

Now the Ravens have another chance at NE.

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 10:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lat four playoff sunday 4:30 games

2005 Minnesota 31 Green Bay 17
2004 Green Bay 17 Philadelphia 20
2002 Green Bay 17 St. Louis 45
1999 Green Bay 27 San Francisco 30

by jobe on Jan 3, 2010 11:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

really?

Get out of my dreams and into my Chuckie Carr
-Molitorfan 12/23/09

by Michael M on Jan 3, 2010 11:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh

That’s interesting though it’s meaningless.

by Brandon on Jan 4, 2010 12:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

those were all with Favre.

by jobe on Jan 4, 2010 12:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So true...

not sure what that means though. I just hope he does the same thing in the playoffs this year!!

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 1:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If we want to see that happen

I’d root Cowboys on saturday. Loadholt and McKinnie can’t handle Ware and Spencer.

by jobe on Jan 4, 2010 1:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah…so true!

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 9:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

About time to reverse that trend, eh?

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 4, 2010 12:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Classless would be Favre staying in with the score 41-0....

In all seriousness, the Packers are thin in the secondary anyways, it’s not there fault they picked off the Cards 3 times. Would it be classy to put in special teams players for CB’s? Also, if they got injured, our ST would be even worse for next weekend.

The Packers built up all that false confidence early on against bad teams; it’s important now to get everyone gelling. I mean the Packers looked more or less like they were practicing for next week: a safety, a field goal, INT TD, QB sneak TD, rushing TD, passing TD, long passes, option slants, etc. Really, it seemed liked they were testing to see what will work best next week. AZ however did none of that, so let’s see how that bodes for them.

Additionally, Fitzgerald made that statement about the Cards being upset about the preseason game. Apparently “upset” means letting the starters put 70 points up on you. I don’t think next week will be like this week or preseason but if it is, AZ will look back on today as a missed opportunity.
Just saying…

"There are three important things in life: family, religion, and the Green Bay Packers" - Vince Lombardi

by PackerProphet on Jan 3, 2010 10:49 PM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

That was classless, I agree.

Minnesota didn’t even have to try, they had that game wrapped up well before then, too.

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 11:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Way more classless.

Favre should have been on the bench by halftime.

I thought that people like Rodgers were the ones that should have been pulled, I didn’t have as much of a problem with the defensive players staying in.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 3, 2010 11:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Minnesota Vikings: redefining "Classlessness" since 1961!

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."
-Anne Frank-

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 3, 2010 11:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think it was classless…stupid maybe but not classless in my book.

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 8:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

There are no "BACK UPS " behind bell, underwood and bush THEY ARE THE FRICKEN BACKUPS!!! We only have 4-5 DL’s THEY ROTATE as they have all year and Pickett was injured to boot so…. WHO ARE THEIR BACK UPS???? there are none. Jordy Nelson is like 4th string and he burned the cards. As far as "PULLING STARTERS " You really can only “pull” a couple of players - Rodgers, Driver, Jennings maybe tausher and clifton, and grant. Otherwise they way it has been ALL YEAR is that everyone rotates. As far as Im concerned with Bush, Bell and Undewrood in They were playing our “back ups” Classless my ass

by turd on Jan 3, 2010 11:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well said

by jobe on Jan 3, 2010 11:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

Its not like the Cards pulled everyone. They pulled Warner. Fitz still played. Boldin still played. Their RBs still played (TH and BW got almost every carry). I don’t know about the D, I don’t know your players as well there but lets not make this more than it was. It was the Packer choosing to play a little more of the game with the starter than the Cards did. They were clearly using it to get some mo and confidence in a young team. I hope it pays off too!

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 8:59 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Almost the entire starting defense went out.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 4, 2010 11:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True...

But they were out there for the first quarter…

By the way…how did you end up a Bears AND Cardinals fan??

by TrevorR on Jan 4, 2010 1:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

anyone else see the irony here?

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can’t stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

Some people say the glass is half empty, some say half full. I say, are you going to drink that?

by BleedsbluinMI on Jan 4, 2010 1:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

haha

this question has come up before. So Joe lets have it?

by badmatty53 on Jan 4, 2010 3:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Favre adding to his legacy...

Though MM pulled Rodgers after he passed Favre’s season high for passing yards but before breaking Dickey’s record.

"There are three important things in life: family, religion, and the Green Bay Packers" - Vince Lombardi

by PackerProphet on Jan 3, 2010 11:09 PM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Back ups

I didn’t yet get a chance to watch this game as I’m at a very very boring night at work, but I can repeat one thing, and that’s MM probably wasn’t at all looking at any kind of records for when he decided to pull people. His choice probably had more to do with what kinds of looks and such he wanted to see out of his offense and probably who he actually had on defense, as there isn’t alot of depth there.

I think on the injury side of things, as long as Chuck is ok for this playoffs, the cards definately came out the worse for wear. Which is weird, because given they knew they wheren’t playing for anything other than pride, I would have been pulling WR’s and QB’s as soon as I got the looks I wanted to see. I can’t believe it took till the time boldin suffered an injury to get those looks. Although DRC would be far and away a worse loss, as evidenced by our gasping and holding our chests when Chuck got injured.

by azreal60 on Jan 3, 2010 11:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Classless?? This is football!

The idea is that if I line up my O (1st string, 2nd string, etc.) and you line up your D, its your job to stop me and vise versa. That is regardless of the status of your playoff position. If your team can’t stop the offense then don’t cry about the score. The goal of a good team is to exploit a weaker team. Yesterday, you were the weaker team in all phases of the game. Lets hope you put up a better fight next Sunday.

You don’t like a team scoring then stop them from doing it. Otherwise, get out of the way!

by pvilleWIcheezhed on Jan 4, 2010 12:57 PM CST reply actions 1 recs