Given the records and ramifications, should be a whale of a ballgame when the 6-1 Green Bay Packers meet the 7-0 Arizona Cardinals, the NFL’s last unbeaten team, kicking off Thursday night at 7:20 CDT at State Farm Stadium. 13-1 combined, the .928 winning percentage is the highest ever for a week eight game in the Super Bowl era. The winner will garner at least the mid-season bragging rights for the NFC’s number one seed which earns the only first round playoff bye.
But given everything that transpired in the compressed week of preparation, especially in Green Bay, the intrigue over who is going to play and how the Packers plan to measure up to, if not spoil the Cardinals’ fast start easily makes this the matchup of the year to date.
Let’s get the COVID-19 storylines up to date. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry did not make the trip out west. He was the first to test positive on Monday. Secondary coach Jerry Gray will handle the play calling duties. Gray said before departing that Barry stayed involved in game plan development via zoom all week. Gray, a former Buffalo and Tennessee defensive coordinator, will relay calls to linebacker coach Kirk Olivadotti who will deliver it on field to linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.
Wide receiver Allen Lazard remained home too. His close contact positive test on Tuesday requires a five day isolation period because he reportedly was unvaccinated.
All Pro receiver Davante Adams also did not board the team plane but there’s still an outside chance to he could play. Assuming Adams had a negative PCR test today, another Wednesday morning with quick results, could get him cleared and he’d have to hitch a ride for the three and half hour flight and rejoin the team by kickoff. That sounds like quite a stretch.
The general medical news is somewhat more encouraging. Wednesday’s final injury report listed only backup tackle Dennis Kelly doubtful with a back injury. Kevin King (shoulder/back) and Preston Smith (oblique) were both listed as questionable. Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Josiah Deguara, Rasul Douglas and Hunter Bradley were also listed but as full practice participants, had no designation and they’re good to go.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is still on the Injured Reserve list but has missed the requisite three games. He has been running of late and the Packers could activate him as late at Thursday morning. David Bakhtiari is also ready to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list. He returned to practice last week but with almost no on-field practice time this week, it sounds like the Packers want to make certain he’s in both physical and football condition before bringing him up.
Back in Phoenix, the Cardinals ruled Wisconsin native J.J. Watt out for the game because of a shoulder injury. While they’ll lose one pass rusher, they’re getting one back as Chandler Jones was re-activated off the Reserve/COVID-19 list. They’ve been battling the bug too of course as Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury missed the team’s week 6 game because of a positive test. Four other Cardinals are questionable, including two significant players on offense. DeAndre Hopkins is nursing a hamstring injury and starting center Max Garcia has a sore Achilles. Defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence (calf) and back up tight end Darrell Daniels (hamstring) are also questionable.
Before breaking down the matchup, there were two off-field stories of considerable note. At the NFL Owners meeting in New York, Commissioner Roger Goodell has given his, and the league’s blessing to another potential stock sale. Under provisions adopted in 1997, the Packers have to request approval to raise funds which can not be utilized for football operations. The franchise has already undertaken Lambeau Field improvement projects such as concourse renovations. More concourse work along with upgrades to the stadium video boards are driving the cost estimate toward 250 million dollars.
Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy issued a statement Wednesday afternoon. “We appreciate the consideration of Commissioner Goodell and the support from the NFL for our potential stock sale,” Murphy said, “Should we proceed with our offering, we would also have to take regulatory steps and other actions. We are exploring such steps and intend to keep our fans informed of further developments when we are able.”
If more Packer stock is issued, it would be the sixth stock sale in franchise history, dating back to 1923, 1935 when the franchise became incorporated, 1950 and the two most recent which led to massive improvements to the stadium In 1997, 24 million was raised at $200.00 a share to completely renovate Lambeau Field. In 2011, at $250.00 a share, another 67.4 million was generated which resulted in the upper deck in the south end zone.
The other item involves the radio broadcasts of Packer games, specifically in Milwaukee. WTMJ 620 AM had been the flagship station for the Packer Radio Network since they first began airing games in 1929. In 2018, the Packers purchased the network rights but kept WTMJ as it’s Milwaukee affiliate. Today, the Packers announced an agreement with IHeartMedia Milwaukee that will move that affiliation to WRNW, 97.3 The Game. Packer broadcasts are already being aired on IHeartMedia stations in Madison, Eau Claire and Moline, Illinois. The change will take effect at the start of the 2022 season.
On to the Cardinals. By one week, they’re actually the oldest Packer NFL rival. The first meeting was in November of 1921 when the Pack traveled to Chicago to play a 3-3 tie with the Cardinals. The following week Green Bay played the Chicago Staleys, soon to become the Bears, for the first time. The Cards moved to St. Louis in 1960 and finally migrated west in 1988.
When the Packers have the ball. Aaron Rodgers may be down to Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown, Amari Rodgers and a rusty Malik Taylor at wide receiver, He’ll eventually have to throw it their way but the adjusted game plan just might put the ball in the hands of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. What better way to keep Kyler Murray’s track team on the sidelines than by muscling up and showing how they can win with a ground attack. The Cardinals defense is built on pressure and speed. Watt’s already out, Lawrence is not 100% and that could leave Arizona’s front vulnerable. Efficient runs may also protect Rodgers from having to find someone other than his old friend Cobbie on third and long situations. Two pretty good blocking tight ends are another reason to try and shorten the game. The concern is how the protection, when needed, holds up. Unlike front fours doing most of the work in recent games, Arizona blitzes 37% of the time, with anyone, from everywhere. Linebackers Markus Golden and Isaiah Simmons can close in a hurry. Even All Pro safety Budda Baker gets in to the mix. I’ll be interested to see the passing target distribution. Cobb and Robert Tonyan seem most capable of winning matchup but don’t be surprised if the running backs get their share with screens and check downs. 150 to 200 total yards from the lightning and thunder backfield might be enough to get it done.
When the Cardinals have the ball.
Get ready to run fellas. Murray has exceptionally quick feet and can change direction in a hiccup. Breaking the line of scrimmage is more often than not, a last resort to buying time and making plays downfield. Counting sacks (and there have been 16 of them, so he can be caught), Murray has dropped back 239 times. He’s credited with 43 rushing attempts for 129 yards, his longest rush is 18. Taylor Heinicke had one twice than long a week ago. Murray would rather throw it, he’s completing passes 73.5 % of the time and at an outstanding array of targets. While Hopkins is questionable, there’s no question A.J. Green, Christian Kirk and speedy rookie Rondale Moore will stress the secondary. Throw in former Eagle tight end Zach Ertz and theGreen Bay defense, run by a former and pretty good corner in Jerry Gray, will have their hands full. The key will be the front seven actually. If it’s an all out surge toward Murray, Arizona’s ground game of Chase Edmonds and James Conner, the former Steeler, will sting. Gray said the front four will have to play with energy and discipline. Rush lane integrity must be sound with a pocket that can hem Murray in. He will get loose and the secondary will have to run with receivers longer than they’re used to. Rush and cover will have to work hand in hand. Keep an eye out for Stokes staying on one receiver, Hopkins if he plays. Two weeks ago he shadowed JaMarr Chase, last week it was Terry McLaurin. He lost some, but he also won some. The goal is to minimize explosive plays and force the Cardinals to run a lot of plays to earn their points.
The bottom line.
Something tells me Rodgers is itching to put on a big, shorthanded offensive show. I wouldn’t put it past him but the extremely thin perimeter will make it tough. The offense still has enough weapons to generate points but Arizona has hit 30 or more in six of their seven wins. If they get near that number again, it probably will be too high for the visitors to match.
I like the Cardinals 34-24.
