The Green Bay Packers return home to face the Arizona Cardinals Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Packers are 3-2 on the season while the Cardinals are 2-3. The Pack defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-19 in Los Angeles last week. Meanwhile, the Cardinals upset the San Francisco 49ers 24-23. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 6 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Packers lead the all-time series between these two teams 47-24-4 in the regular season. The series dates back to 1921 when the Cardinals were based in Chicago. The Packers have lost two of the three postseason meetings between the teams.
Here are the keys to victory for Sunday’s game at Lambeau:
Packers Keys to Victory vs Cardinals, Number One: Don’t Let Kyler Murray Beat You with His Legs
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has a strong arm, but he is also one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the NFL. When he gets the ball in the open field, he is a big play waiting to happen and can make defenders miss with his elusiveness and speed.
Murray is presently second on the team with 247 yards rushing. He is averaging 10.7-yards per rush and has scored one rushing touchdown.
Much like they did in the first two games of the season, the Packers will want to prioritize keeping Murray in the pocket rather than sacking him. They are also likely to want a spy on Murray with speedy linebackers Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper, the most likely candidates.
Containing Murray and preventing him from improvising and making big plays will be the key to slowing down the Cardinals offense.
Number Two: Prevent Marvin Harrison Jr. From Making Big Plays
Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. is already a weapon. He leads the Cardinals with 279 yards receiving and four touchdowns. He has the speed to get deep and make big plays.
The Packers are hoping to have Jaire Alexander back in the lineup after he sat out the last two games due to injury. Alexander has the speed and skill to stay with Harrison. Harrison is 6’4” and will have a big height advantage over the 5’10” Alexander.
The rookie is likely to get some catches but keeping him from making splash plays will be a key to this game.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Cardinals, Number Three: Exploit the Cardinals Secondary
The Cardinals pass rush has been sporadic this season. They have 11 sacks through five games, but the Green Bay offensive line should be able to give Jordan Love time to throw the football against the Cardinals.
The top pass rusher thus far is Dennis Gardeck who has three sacks followed by former Packers linebacker Krys Barnes who has two. Expect the Cardinals to try to have Gardeck line up opposite Rasheed Walker rather than Zach Tom whenever possible even though Tom is coming off his worst game of the season against LA.
If Love has time to throw the football, he should be able to take advantage of the Arizona secondary. The Packers hope to have Christian Watson healthy and ready to play while Romeo Doubs will be back in the fold after sitting out a one-game suspension. The Packers will be without tight end Luke Musgrave who has been placed on the IR with an ankle injury.
Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft are playing at an elite level which will be a challenge for the Cardinals secondary. Starting cornerback Garrett Williams is nursing a groin injury while Sean Murphy-Bunting has been struggling. The Packers could try to exploit that and create other favorable matchups on Sunday.
Number Four: Slow Down James Connor and the Running Game
The Packers run defense struggled last week against the Rams, a team that hadn’t been running the ball well this season. The Cardinals, however, have a stronger rushing attack.
The Cardinals are fourth in the NFL with 156.4 rushing yards per game. It’s not just Murray contributing but running back James Connor. He’s averaging 4.6-yards per attempt and has gained 379 yards while scoring three rushing touchdowns.
The Packers need to win the battle at the line of scrimmage, hold their contain lanes and keep Connor from having a big game. The key is to get Murray to try to win this game with his arm only and force him into second and third down and long situations as often as possible.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Rams, Number Five: Establish the Running Game
Green Bay’s offense works best when it is diversified. That means not getting away from running the football too soon.
The Cardinals are 28th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 147.8 yards per game. The Packers should be able to exploit that with Josh Jacobs following Sean Rhyan, Tom, and Elgton Jenkins for steady gains between the tackles. The Packers could also incorporate more short passes to Jacobs as part of the offense as well.
Keeping the Cardinals offense off the field is another way the Packers can control the game and limit what Arizona can do with the ball in this game.
Number Six: Win the Turnover Battle
The Packers are tied for league lead with a plus-seven turnover differential. The Cardinals are a plus-two. The Packers cannot give the dangerous Arizona offense a short field often and expect to win this game. Love took some big risks last week but needs to be more judicious with his decision making against the Cards.
Murray doesn’t throw many picks, and the Cardinals have only five giveaways all season. Can Xavier McKinney keep his five-game interception streak doing?
The Packers need to win the turnover battle, or they will give Arizona a chance to pull off the upset.
Prediction:
The Packers are the better team on paper, but the Cardinals are a team that is dangerous and cannot be taken lightly.
If the Packers don’t neglect the running game and don’t beat themselves, they should win unless Murray just has an outstanding game and makes too many big plays.
The Packers need to contain Murray to win the game. They will find a way to get it done but it won’t be easy.
Packers 31, Cardinals 27
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