Aaron Rodgers wants all Green Bay Packers supporters to just r-e-l-a-x. With the Packers finally earning a postseason berth, the team now looks to further improve their record in the NFC, when they take on the surging Arizona Cardinals in Glendale next Sunday. Will the Packers extend their win streak to four games? Or will the Cardinals show Green Bay who’s the boss in the desert?
For more Week 16 game previews, you can also read our breakdown of Chargers vs. Raiders.
[sc:Football ]
Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
When: Sunday, December 27, 4:25 PM ET
Line: Green Bay Packers (+4.5) at Arizona Cardinals (-4.5); total: 49.5 – see all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Green Bay Packers (10-4)
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Packers are back in the playoffs. After beating Oakland, 30-20, on Sunday, Aaron Rodgers and company extended their win streak to three games and clinched a spot in the postseason. It sure will feel like a playoff game next Sunday for the Packers, when they play current NFC No. 2 seed, Arizona.
Despite the victory against Oakland, the Packers obviously need to work more on their offense that produced just 293 total yards. Rodgers managed just 204 passing yards with just one touchdown and an interception on 22 of 39 completions. The struggle on offense wasn’t all on Rodgers, though, with his receivers dropping balls at an alarming rate.
Davante Adams, Jeff Janis, and Richard Rodgers each dropped a Rodgers delivery against Oakland. Green Bay’s receivers will have to straighten up their acts this coming Sunday, as they go up against a no-joke Arizona defense that has 18 interceptions on the season.
Green Bay’s backfield also has to be more consistent to give Rodgers and the team’s passing game some more breathing room. Eddie Lacy, for one, followed up 124 rushing-yard performance against Dallas in Week 14 with a pathetic 23 rushing-yard output versus Oakland.
As for their defense, the Packers’ stop is fifth in scoring defense (18.9 points allowed per game) and will look to contain Arizona’s high-octane attack.
Green Bay is 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three road games.
Who’s okay with Carson Palmer being in the running for the MVP? With Cam Newton and Tom Brady always on the limelight, it’s easy to overlook Palmer, who’s been playing great this year. In Arizona’s 40-17 beatdown of the Eagles on Sunday, however, even Palmer had to take his feet off the pedal a bit, as he watched David Johnson and the Cards’ defense do most of the heavy lifting.
The Cards got a superb performance out of Johnson, who rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. For those keeping count, Johnson now has 378 rushing yards over the past three games.
Johnson could hit the pay dirt anew next Sunday as he’s going to get a favorable matchup with Green Bay’s defense that ranks just 22nd in the league against the run. Arizona’s offense is first in the NFL in total yards per game (417.5), third in passing yards (299.1), and 11th in rushing (118.4).
The Cardinals’ defense, on the other hand, appears to be ready for the looming showdown with Green Bay, having limited the Eagles to only 17 points. That said, the Cardinals let Sam Bradford to go off for 361 yards and two touchdowns on 28 of 41 completions. Arizona did pick Bradford twice, but the Cards’ secondary will have to do a better job of covering their assignments against Green Bay.
On the season, Arizona allows just 19.4 points and 322.4 total yards per game.
