Wild Card Week: Packers at Cardinals

Wild Card Week: Packers at Cardinals

So looking ahead to this Sunday’s showdown between Green Bay and Arizona. Last year the Cardinals were the epitome of a dark horse team. Talented but limped at the end of the regular season. They got shelled by the Patriots and the Vikings. Then they went on to barely lose to the Steelers in last year’s Super Bowl.

This year they have been up and down but again aren’t getting much attention coming into the playoffs. The Packers have been flying just above the radar. I think if they didn’t lose on a last second TD pass to the Steelers things would be different for them. They would’ve finished the season on an 8 game winning streak and for some reason it seems the sports media picks more up on that then a team that won 7 of 8.

Anyways, I think this game will be totally unlike last Sunday’s game. Hopefully the Packers won’t come in over confident after dismantling a uncaring Cardinals team 33-7. But the Packers are on a roll and have lots of skilled players healthy and playing at a high level.

Players to watch

  • Clay Matthews – Is there anyone that can block him on AZ?
  • Greg Jennings – So due for a gigantic game and he’s the type of player who shines in big games
  • Kurt Warner – He’s either really good or really bad
  • Adrian Wilson – Hasn’t played in either game against Packers but I’ve always liked him
  • KR on AZ – Not sure who this is, but Packers are real susceptible to the big returns

Key Matchups

Warner vs Packer’s secondary – No question the scariest matchup for the Packers. I’m hoping this ISN’T a repeat of the Steelers game a few weeks ago where Roth threw for 500 yards. For sure AZ will look to exploit the Packers depth in the defensive backfield by spreading them out with 4 wides…IE Jarret Bush, Josh Bell, Underwoord.

In my mind, the main difference here is AZ doesn’t have an all-pro type tight end to contend with AND Boldin is either out or will be hampered by the knee.

Rodgers vs Cardinals secondary – Well they’ve played twice already (even though it was preseason) and Rodgers has absolutely lit them up. Will things change this time when everything is on the line?

Ryan Grant / Brandon Jackson / Ahman Green vs Cardinals D-Line – If the Packers can run the ball that will only add to their O’s dominace in this game. Another thing to look for in early.

Packer Defensive Pressure vs AZ O-line – This will probably determine the game. How AZ deals with Green Bay’s 3-4 and Capers blitz packages will be key early on. If the Packers can get constant pressure and hit warner and stuff the run (like they’ve done the past 9 out of 11 games) this could get ugly quick.

I'm all in

Whisenhunt vs McCarthy – This is the wild card of the game. Green Bay plays pretty much the same D as the Steelers and Whisenhunt used to coach against that D every day in practice when he was offensive coordinator. Look for them to do deep posts or deep crossing routes in the middle of the field against Green Bay. It seems to me that its some sort of known hole in this D. I’ve seen Pittsburgh, Cincy, and AZ in the preseason do this successfully against Green Bay.

Predictions

I have a feeling McCarthy gets the last laugh on Sunday. If this game is close watch for a ballsy call to lift the Packers. If you were playing poker with him, McCarthy would be the type of guy who quietly plays by the book until you relax and think you know what he’s up to. Then when your not looking he bluffs his way through the biggest pot of the night on like 8 high.

The Cardinal players are trying to make the case that everyone is doubting them and what not…But thats hogwash, they were in the Super Bowl last YEAR! And Green Bay was 6-10!! So really, the Packers have NOTHING to lose and should play loose. Plus they are mostly young and out there having fun bashing heads around. Oh and talent wins in the playoffs and while they may be young, Green Bay has more…During their 7-1 run, they’ve stayed away from mental breakdowns also.

What gives? Plus the NFL is fixed right? And there’s no game bigger for the sponsors then a rematch of Favre’s Vikings and the Packers.

Green Bay 38 Cardinals 24

Published on January 7, 2010 9:59 pm.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Predictions, Uncategorized, playoffs Tags: , , , ,

Turkey Day Predictions

Packers @ Lions

Looks like Stafford and Calvin Johnson are both active. I think today the Packers will get a good test to their defensive backfield sans Al Harris. Hopefully Woodson can limit Johnson and Stafford will limit himself after his separated shoulder on Sunday.

The Packer offense, I believe, will need to be flawless in this game. (IE No turnovers) Ryan Grant needs to continue is solid play and Rodgers has to spread the ball around with the short passes.

If the Packer D is lackadaisical or comes into this game expecting to dominate this game will be a shootout. I think this will show once again Mike McCarthy’s coaching abilities…able to get his team up for a lesser team after two solid wins in a row. Hopefully they aren’t looking ahead to the 12 days off until they face the Ravens on Monday night.

First quarter will tell if they are ready for today. Detroit could go on a mini roll with a win today. Also these Lions-Packers thanksgiving games have always been close, with the Lions usually prevailing, but I think Green Bay will be able to maintain and come away with a win. Detroit gets a couple crazy plays to keep this close, either a long TD pass and/or a kick return for TD.

Packers 31 Lions 27

Published on November 26, 2009 9:59 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Predictions Tags: , , , , , ,

Swine Flu Bowl

This Sunday’s game between Green Bay and Cleveland might as well be dubbed the Swine Flu Bowl. Looks like there are a couple Brown’s players who have tested positive to the virus. So will McCarthy show up wearing a mask? Will this start a national outbreak of the swine flu throughout the NFL?

Maybe this is what will lead to ending Favre’s streak…

Published on October 22, 2009 10:51 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, news Tags: , ,

Week 3 Predictions

Packers @ Rams

With the abysmal play last week, you would think McCarthy would have his team fired up this week against the lowly Rams. This is not the same Rams team however, I give them two years and they’ll be a playoff team. I’ve always like Spagnaluo the former Giants D Coordinater. Guarantee he’ll have his team fired up, this is is first home game. But I’m going to have to say that if the Packers line can hold up (even if they have to max protect) and pull out a win. And if Raji plays, look for the D to hold the run with Jenkins and maybe AJ Hawk having a HUGE game.

Packers 26-17

Bears @ Seahawks

Seattle was looking good this year, until Hasselbeck got injured…again. Enough said, man I’m already bored with this game.

Bears 28-16

49ers @ Vikings

This is a hard game to gauge….I mean the niners are my darkhorse team, but I also have the Vikings doing good the first half of the season. If San Fran can hold AP and force the Vikings to pass I see this being a dogfight….since I don’t think Favre can really throw long yet. Although these are the games when Favre surprises folks. Like whenever everyone is questioning is abilities…Fuck it, this is a blow out…no matter how good Frank Gore is…

Vikings 28-10

Redskins @ Lions

This is one of those games where the team that wants to lose it worst, loses. Although I haven’t seen much of the skins this year, I just am not feeling them yet. Lions have some talent but are still real shakey.

Tie 16-16 (Ok I realize this doesnt happen often so I’ll just pick Skins 16-12)

Published on September 26, 2009 9:42 pm.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Predictions Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

You’ve got a f-ing dart in your neck! (Week 2 Wrapup)

You've got a f-ing dart in your neck! (Week 2 Wrapup)

Bengals @ Packers

Since the Packers seem to be living in denial over their inability to block anyone, thought it was analogous to one of my favorite Will Ferrell clips. Last Sunday a single DE attibuted for 5 sacks and 2 knockdowns. They are lucky Rodgers made it out of this game without sustaining any injuries. So in my mind there are three major issues with this seemingly unstoppable offense. First this is not PRE-SEASON! Packer’s coaches should recognize that most teams play vanilla defense during pre-sesason, so you can allow your QB to wait for plays to develop and your offense can look unstoppable. But you cannot base your game plan on how things went in the PRE-SEASON!

Second, they are not establishing or trying to establish any sort of running game. I think McCarthy is so giddy about his young QB and talented receivers that he just wants to show them off. Kind of like when you get that first new bike when you were young. Like even if it was a simple walk across the street, you still take your bike out…to show it off.

The second issue is the lack of pass protection and Rodgers holding the ball too long at times. They should have kept a TE back to help out College after Clifton went down. So this week against the lowly Rams, I expect them to go back to the short passing game and running the ball. If they cannot do either then it will be a repeat of last week. Although I have no clue who the Rams have on the D-line.

If they are able to sustain drives and mix it up with a good run then they’ll win this game by a couple TDs.

Steelers @ Bears

Didn’t see much of this game, but the Bears played much better than Week 1. But I think Pittsburgh isn’t has strong w/o Paulamalu. Cutler was much improved, and the bears home field helped.

Vikings @ Lions

What can you say? The Lions were actually in this one until they remembered that they are the Lions. Didn’t watch much of this game either as it coincided with the GB game, but it appears the Vikings are firing on all cylinders. But that is the way thing are supposed to be.

Week Two Winners

  • Bengals – Yes the Bengals are decent
  • Cutler – Redemption!
  • Adrian Peterson – Amazing.

Week Two Losers

  • Mike McCarthy – Ever here of a team having a letdown game on week two? Neither have I…
  • Ryan Grant – Hasn’t broken a tackle all year, and that fumble was at the worst time
  • Aaron Rouse – Released
  • Nick Collins – Injury bug creep alert
  • Brett Favre – going to be a while

Published on September 24, 2009 10:06 am.
Filed under: 2009 Season, Predictions, Videos Tags: , , , , , , , , ,