The Green Bay Packers are back on the road when they travel west to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. Green Bay enters this week’s game with a 3-1-1 mark while the Cardinals are 2-4. The Packers got back on track with a 27-18 win over the Bengals last week. The Cardinals are coming off a 31-27 loss to the Colts. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 7 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Packers lead the all-time series between these two teams 48-24-4 in the regular season. The two teams first met in 1921 when the Cardinals were based in Chicago. The Cardinals have won two of the three playoff games between the teams.
Here are the keys to victory for Sunday’s game in Arizona:
Packers Keys to Victory vs Cardinals, Number One: Get Pressure on Jacoby Brissett
Kyler Murray has been a limited participant in practice this week. He missed last week’s game with a foot injury and is unlikely to play Sunday against the Packers
Jacoby Brissett gives the Cardinals a solid backup. He’s not as mobile as Murray, who leads the Cardinals in rushing as well as passing. Brissett was effective last week against the Colts. He’s completed 60 percent of his passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. He’s only thrown one pick.
The Arizona offensive line has allowed 18 sacks in six games. Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Packers will need to get pressure on the Cardinals passer.
Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary have been getting pressures, but not many sacks. The Packers will likely be without Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt who are both nursing injuries.
Getting pressure on the quarterback will keep the Cardinals from throwing downfield much. It will also hopefully force whoever the quarterback is into mistakes.
Number Two: Prevent Marvin Harrison Jr. from Making Splash Plays
Marvin Harrison Jr. remains the Cardinals big-play threat. The former Ohio State star has struggled with drops and inconsistency, but when he catches the ball, he can be dangerous. Harrison has been limited in practice this week with a concussion.
The Packers will likely have cornerback Keisean Nixon covering Harrison most of the time. Nixon gave up a lot of catches to Ja’Marr Chase last week, but it was more because of Chase’s strong play than Nixon’s poor play. He will be out to stop Harrison from making catches down the field.
Nixon and the rest of the secondary will try to keep passes in front of them and then rally to the ball to keep the gains short.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Cardinals, Number Three: Contain TE Trey McBride
Tight end Trey McBride gives the Cardinals their steadiest and most reliable pass catching option. He leads the team with 37 catches, 15 more than any other Cardinals receiver.
The Packers will try to cover him with safeties Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, and Xavier McKinney. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper could also factor into coverage.
McBride is the receiver Cardinals quarterbacks look to when they need a key catch on third down. He is the engine that makes the offense go. If the Packers can slow him down, they can make the Cardinals offense struggle to move the chains.
Number Four: Maintain Balance on Offense
The Cardinals defense plays the run better than they defend the pass. But the Packers still need to run the ball enough to keep the defense honest.
Josh Jacobs has been more productive in the last two games. Last week, he made plays in both the running game and as a receiver.
If the Packers banged up offensive line can open holes for Jacobs, the offense will be balanced and that will open things up for the passing game. It can also help slow down the Arizona pass rush.
Matt LaFleur tends to run the ball more often than many fans would like. We’ll see if he can find the right balance on Sunday in Arizona.
Packers Keys to Victory vs Cardinals, Number Five: Protect Jordan Love from Calais Campbell and Josh Sweat
The Packers offensive line continues to deal with injuries. Zach Tom has struggled with his oblique injury. He says he blacked out and does not remember the second half of last week’s win against Cincinnati.
Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, and Anthony Belton are all also on the injury report. Morgan and Banks will have to handle veteran Calais Campbell on the interior.
Tom and Rasheed Walker will have to contain Josh Sweat. Sweat leads the Cards with five sacks. The entire team has recorded only 11 in six games.
If Jordan Love has time to throw, he should be able to pick apart the vulnerable Cardinals secondary which ranks 28th in the league in yards allowed through the air per game.
Number Six: Don’t Lose the Turnover Battle
The Packers defense has caused just two turnovers through five games. With a strong pass rush and the top run defense in the league, that number should be higher.
Love has thrown only two interceptions all season. They were both balls that needed to be thrown away.
The Packers are the better team on paper, so if they can draw even in the turnover battle, they should win the game. They can’t allow the Cardinals to hang around and then get a key turnover. That’s how upsets happen.
Prediction:
Fans are frustrated with the Packers inability to put opponents away and just dominate. They are the favorite, but the Cardinals are better than their record indicates. Their four straight losses have all been by four points or fewer.
The Packers need to keep their foot on the gas and not to beat themselves.
This game won’t be as easy as it looks, but the Packers should get their first road win of the season.
Packers 27, Cardinals 20
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