According to Aaron Rodgers, the Packers got their mojo back in last week’s 35-18 wild card win over Washington. They’ll need plenty more of it in a rematch with Cardinals, who smacked Green Bay by 30 points just over two weeks ago.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Arizona Cardinals -7
Green Bay Packers +7
Over/Under 50
ODDS ANALYSIS
The total opened at 50 and has since dropped a half-point to 49.5, still the highest of any playoff game so far. In a stat that’s likely a direct correlation to Green Bay’s midseason offensive woes, the under went 11-5 in Packers’ games this year. Arizona was just 3-5 ATS at home this season and 2-4 ATS when favored by seven or more points.
KEY INJURIES
Davante Adams – Is unlikely to play after suffering a knee injury in Green Bay’s wild card win Sunday at Washington. Jared Abbrederis is next up on the depth chart behind Randall Cobb and James Jones. Jeff Janis could also see an increased workload if Adams can’t go.
Quinten Rollins – Left last week’s game with a quadriceps injury and is questionable to play against Arizona. The Packers played their last four games without their top cornerback, Sam Shields, who remains in the concussion protocol, and the secondary could take a hit if Rollins is unable to play.
Alex Okafor – The Cardinals lost their starting linebacker to a mysterious toe injury that apparently happened during the team’s bye week. Jason Babin was signed to take the roster spot with Kareem Martin likely to take the starting job. Markus Golden is expected to play this week after missing the last two games with a knee injury.
KEY MISMATCH
Cardinals’ cornerback Justin Bethel has become a favorite target for quarterbacks to throw against when he’s on the field, which has been more often since Tyrann Matthieu’s season-ending knee injury in Week 15. In Bethel’s four starts this season he leads the NFL with 34 pass attempts thrown at him. In his last two games, both of which were starts, he was targeted a league-high 22 times. That’s what happens when you’re an inexperienced corner lined up across the field from All-Pro Patrick Peterson. Aaron Rodgers knows that all too well. When the teams met in Week 16, Rodgers threw at Bethel a season-high 14 times, testing the young corner as often as he could. Bethel allowed seven catches for 75 yards in Arizona’s win and intercepted Rodgers in the end zone. Bethel will get picked on again Saturday, but his increased workload this season has only made him better.
KEY STAT
30.6 – Arizona’s points per game. The Cardinals had the second-best scoring offense in the NFL and dropped 38 on the Pack when the teams met in Week 16. Green Bay placed 12th in the league in scoring defense.
BETTING ANGLE
It wasn’t much of a game when these teams met two weeks ago with the Cardinals putting the hammer down on the Pack 38-8. However, it would behoove Arizona to remember two things: First, that game turned on a couple of turnovers in the second and third quarters. And second, the Packers were beat up that day and at one point were playing without three starting offensive linemen. There’s no question the Cardinals are the better team, especially on offense. That’s why they’re favored by a touchdown. But they would be wise to expect a much more competitive game this time around with so much at stake.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Packers were playing without a full deck when they were blasted by the Cards on Dec. 27. Arizona does have a better team and got a breather in the first round, but like Rodgers said, the Packers got in a groove last week, overcoming an early 11-point deficit to defeat Washington on the road. The Pack will be a motivated group, wanting to avenge that 38-8 loss where nothing went right for them. Rodgers was sacked eight times, he gift wrapped some points with costly turnovers and wasn’t around when the final gun went off. It wasn’t a pretty game. Green Bay addressed some issues last week, most notably the run game and pass protection. They’ll need to be working again for an upset. Expect this one to be much closer, but in the end the Cards will advance behind Carson Palmer, who will enjoy this trip to the playoffs.
Arizona 27, Green Bay 23
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Click here and start wagering today! The game between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals will commence Saturday, January 16, 2016, at 8:15 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
