NFC Game Of The Week
Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals
Packers: Six straight victories and counting. Admit it, they are playing good, yet disciplined football at this moment. Now, I understand the knock on them has been they haven’t faced quality competition during this winning streak and that’s true. Nothing has stood out. When I watch the Packers, I see a team that’s in complete sync with one another. The offense seems to improve weekly. For years, we all bashed them for the inability to play with balance on the offensive side of the football, remember those days? I now see a group who plays very methodically and what I mean by this is when one aspect of the offense isn’t flowing for them, they could turn to the running game to move the football down the field. During this six-game winning streak, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 15 touchdown passes. Most importantly, he’s only turned the football over once. Looks like a guy who’s all the way interested if you ask me. I get their defense has been very shaky the last few years. You could argue it’s the reason why they’ve yet to get back to the Super Bowl and I wouldn’t disagree with you. As of late, this is the best I’ve seen them look. They’ve been getting off the field on third down, finishing tackles in the open field, applying pressure on the quarterback, and coming away with turnovers when necessary. What’s been more impressive is they’re doing all of this on defense without Jaire Alexander who I feel is their best defensive player. Tonight, they kick off week eight in Arizona.
Cardinals: 7-0. The only undefeated team remaining in the NFL. I bet you didn’t see that coming. Over the years when teams get off to quick starts, most people will critique their schedules and who they’ve defeated. This football team is for real, I tell no lies. Look at some of the teams they’ve defeated. The Tennessee Titans in week one and they physically dominated them which I didn’t see coming. Week four against the Los Angeles Rams I felt was their introduction game to the world and they stunned the Rams at a time when they were being considered the best team in the NFC and to some, the best in the NFL and just a few weeks ago, they beat the Cleveland Browns in the game that was dubbed the “Oklahoma Bowl”. So, in everything I listed, there are two things in common. The first is all three of those teams I mentioned were all playoff teams a season ago. The next is all of those wins came on the road. The Cardinals have one of the more potent offensive attacks in this game. More than one guy can beat you. Outside of DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green has shown he’s still serviceable when healthy, Rondale Moore is a trusted target of Kyler Murray’s and Christian Kirk has stepped into that “Fitzgerald role” meaning wherever they need him to be, he does it and produces. Their defense is also no slouch with all the playmakers they have. Chandler Jones has been healthy, Watt’s presence is being felt, Isaiah Simmons is getting more playing time and I can’t forget Budda Baker, one of the more underrated players in the league. The Cardinals will kick off week eight tonight with a big game.
Packers X-Factor: Randall Cobb– With Davante Adams and Allen Lazard possibly out, there’s a reason why he’s back. For moments such as this. As of late, he’s become more of that reliable target we hoped he’d be. Randall can give defensive backfields fits when given the opportunity. Nobody’s been better at getting other players to step up for the offense as Aaron Rodgers has.
Cardinals X-Factor: Chase Edmunds– On an offense with some big names, it’s understandable if someone were to go unnoticed. What I enjoy about Chase’s game is the versatility he brings to the table. He takes handoffs out the backfield and he can also catch the ball in space. When any of those other weapons aren’t opening in the passing game, this is who Kyler will check the football down to. Chase can get you some big yards with his feet.
Final Thoughts: This is a great way to kick off a new week of NFL Football. Both teams enter this game with a combined record of 13-1. I said on the radio this week that this will be a challenge for both teams. The Packers haven’t faced an offense of this caliber all year long so this will show us how good their defense is. This will easily be the best quarterback the Cardinals will have faced this season. I need to see the Packers defense get to Kyler early on. Contain him. Don’t let him extend plays. Makes him strictly a pocket passer! This game will be determined by who runs the football more efficiently. If there’s a weakness for both teams, stopping the run is at the top of the list. If either team can throw off the opposing team’s defense off balance, they will come out on top. Aaron Jones can exploit that and the Cardinals boast a nice duo of backs with Edmunds and James Conner. I’m expecting a shootout in this game tonight.
Prediction: Packers 34 Cardinals 31
