Arizona Cardinals vs Green Bay Packers: Three Keys To Success

by Andrew602 on Jan 1, 2010 5:00 AM MST

The Arizona Cardinals(10-5) meet the Green Bay Packers(10-5) in the first of likely two meetings this Sunday. The Cardinals are coming off a victory over the St. Louis Rams, in which they won 31-10 and recorded their first 10-win season in over 30 years.

The Packers are also coming off the destruction of a NFC West team, in which they dismantled the Seattle Seahawks44-10. The victory shows just how explosive the Packers can be, and what the Cardinals need to watch out for come Sunday. This week, things will be different, as the Cardinals and Packers could be resting starters after the first quarter. This is why there are only three keys to success, is it's also why they may seem like keys to success in the 1st round.

1. Contain the big play: The Packers opened their preseason meeting with the Cardinals, throwing the deep ball and attempting to rattle the Cardinals young corner - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Rodgers first deep pass was beautifully deflected by DRC, but that was the only thing the 2nd year corner did right that game. Rodgers completed multiple touchdowns on Cromartie's side of the field and left a nasty taste in the mouth of Cardinal's fans from around the stadium. The Packers will likely take that approach this week if the starting offense sees the field often.

2. Out-play the Packers starters: We all know this could potentially be a scrimmage between the two teams on Sunday. The Packers can no longer improve their playoff positioning, while the Cardinals will need everybody and their cousins to lose, in order to nab the #2 seed. Anything's possible, and if Ken Whisenhunt feels the Cardinals have a chance, he may play the starters throughout the game. Doing that will obviously give the Cardinals a better chance at victory, especially if the Packers only play their starters throughout the first few drives of the game.

3. Play healthy, don't show all your Cards: Since this should be the first of two meetings, playing conservative and vanilla might be right up Ken Whisenhunt's alley. Obviously this doesn't give the Cardinals success this week, but it would likely play into the Cardinals success in the first round when they show everything they've got. Another important key to the first round of the playoffs, is remaining healthy. Keeping certain players that are dealing with nagging injuries on the sideline should be priority number one, but the Cardinals need to also focus on keeping the players out of harms way.

Let's be honest - this match up doesn't mean much if the Cardinals have no shot at the #2 seed at the start of the game. It may seem more like a preseason game, or technically preseason match up #2. One thing to remember is that the Cardinals 2nd string team battered the Packers 2nd string team, so if this game is close in the second half with both team's starters on the bench, then the Cardinals could at least have a shot at 11 wins. What are your keys to the game?

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keep Warner upright and Rodgers on his back

especially if both teams play starters for a long period of time

http://undrafteds.com/

by Undrafteds on Jan 1, 2010 12:50 PM MST reply actions

Maybe

but you’re really just quoting “conventional” wisdom. I disagree with your characterization that the Cardinals “need everybody and their cousins to lose”. That implies that it would be a MAJOR longshot for the Cardinals to win the #2 seed. It’s a shot, but it isn’t really all that long. Actually, all it takes is for two teams to lose and the Cardinals can beat the third. Nobody’s cousins are involved.

Now that the Cowboys have finally played good ball in December, it’s not a stretch to imagine them beating Philly. The Cowboys and the Eagles have a long rivalry—as all the NFC East teams do—and the Cowboys have the added incentive of wanting to avenge a bitter blowout loss to the Eagles last year that knocked them out of the playoffs. Let’s face it, the Cowboys are a good team this year, and tomorrow, they get the Eagles on their own turf. It’s not a stretch at all that the Cowboys could win.

As for the Vikings, they’re as close to imploding as a team can get before it actually happens. Even though they are at home tomorrow, all the pressure is on them—and given what’s happened in the last month, it’s A LOT OF PRESSURE! If anybody can overcome that pressure, Favre can; but he’s not the only guy feeling the full weight of Lake Superior on top of him. Adrian Peterson is officially a fumbler, and the D-line has been handled lately.

It all depends on the Giants. Will they show up like a proud NFC East team looking for some measure of revenge? Or is their tent already folded and packed in the truck? Tom Coughlin is their coach. I wouldn’t count them out just yet. I’m not predicting it, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Giants get up and roll over the Vikes.

There, see how easy that is? Now all the Cards need to do is take care of business—if they want. Even though they can use the bye for injuries, I’m not actually convinced that Whiz likes the idea of a week off, and I’m not sure I do, either. If they take it easy this week, that would kind of be like a bye.

I don’t know about that. That’s why Whiz gets the big money. Whatever he decides is fine with me, but if the Cards want that #2 seed, it isn’t necessarily all that far from their grasp.

by bigred49yrs on Jan 2, 2010 5:36 PM MST reply actions

Well since the Giants were not informed they were playing a game today. Today’s big match up between your Arizona Cardinals and the Packers or Green Bay becomes a mere exhibition game. I don’t expect Warner or Rodgers to go more than a quarter. Fitz is already out.

So do the Pack find a hotel and a secure a practice facility in the valley or take two flights spending the week in god forsaken WI, in January. I would stay but hope they go back home.

by TBru on Jan 3, 2010 1:40 PM MST reply actions