NFL: Can the Green Bay Packers Upset the Arizona Cardinals?
After the Green Bay Packers dominated the Washington Redskins in the NFC Wild Card game, they are scheduled for a must-watch competition against the Arizona Cardinals. Despite the fact that the Packers have arguably the best quarterback in the league, they are the underdogs.
These two teams met back in Week 16, and it was hardly a competitive matchup. The Cardinals rolled through the Packers en route to a 38-0 win over Mike McCarthy's squad. That game was played in Arizona as will this postseason game. Packers fans are known to travel well, but it's going to take a lot more than just fan support to beat the Cardinals.
Can these wild card Packers take down the No. 2 seed Cardinals? Anything is possible. The last wild card team to win the Super Bowl was in fact the Packers in 2010. Home-field advantage hasn't had any impact either this postseason as the home teams are a disappointing 0-4 thus far. Speaking of home field advantage, Lambeau Field hasn't been very friendly to the Packers this year. For the first time since 1991, the Packers lost at home to the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions in the same season. The Packers actually had an identical record (5-3) on the road as they did at home.
The key factor in this game is going to be the Packers biggest flaw all season long: their receivers ability to get open. The loss of Jordy Nelson has taken a big toll, and no other receiver has stepped up as a true No. 1 option for Rodgers. Rodgers was sacked a staggering 18 more times this season than last year, but that statistic isn't 100 percent accurate or fair to the offensive line. The majority of the sacks against Rodgers this season are coverage sacks.
Richard Rodgers could be X factor in this game. He needs to make catches in the slot area to help move the chains.
Rookie running back David Johnson has surprised a lot of fans this year. Chris Johnson is out with a leg injury, so David Johnson will get the start once again. Johnson is averaging 4.6 yards per carry this year, and that could be a huge problem for the Packers defense. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji has stay firm at the line of scrimmage to help contain the Cardinals rushing attack.
Still, for the Packers, it all comes down to containing the Cardinals high powered passing attack. Carson Palmer had a monster year, and the Cardinals have exceptional wide receiver depth. Larry Fitzgerald set a career high mark in receptions, John Brown has become one of the most underrated receivers in the game, and Michael Floyd can provide that down field deep threat. If the Packers secondary can't get stops and neither Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers can get to Palmer, this one could get ugly in a hurry.
The Packers ground game has been very inconsistent all year long. Luckily, Eddie Lacy and James Starks will be suiting up for this one. Sometimes the best defense is an effective time consuming offense. The Packers have to find a way to control the clock and keep the Cardinals off the field on Saturday.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1