Green Bay made it here by rallying from an 11-0 deficit to defeat Washington, 35-18, on Sunday in the Wild Card Round.
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TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – The Arizona Cardinals will meet a familiar foe in the NFC divisional playoffs on Saturday night. I talked a lot the last couple of weeks about being able to turn it on. “He has outstanding energy”, McCarthy said. “We know what that side is, and now we’re going to try to climb our way through”. But the You Like That fab died quickly as Aaron Rodgers regrouped, carried the Packers with him and it all ended as one would expect when a mediocre (at best) team like the Redskins play a good opponent.
The hard work has paid off. Eddie Lacy and James Starks each had 12 carries on Sunday and combined for 116 yards rushing, production they’ll have to repeat to be able to upset the Cardinals in their comfortable home.
Arizona is well rested while Green Bay must travel on a short week. A TV camera even caught a light moment when the giddy Rodgers walked up behind McCarthy and put two hands on the coach’s shoulders. His receivers, though young and unheralded, have emerged as threats which then freed up space for the running game to develop.
A weak link earlier in the season, Paradis played every offensive snap and started all 16 games. While Rodgers still didn’t reach the 300-yard mark (he finished with 210), he looked back to his normal self in commanding the offense and picking apart the Washington secondary. After coming off a disappointing finish last season, the Cardinals are looking for their first playoff win under head coach Bruce Arians. Arians said the game plan is the same – score points, hit Rodgers and hold up in man-to-man coverage.
-Quarterback Carson Palmer is 0-2 in playoff starts, although he was injured on his first throw in his first playoff game, 2005 against the Steelers.
“The main thing is everybody just needs to realize the taste they had in their mouth last time”, Packers receiver James Jones said.
The Packers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games against the Cardinals. If Aaron Rodgers is not throwing the ball at least 35 times per game, you’re not putting yourself into a position to win the game.
Offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett spoke highly of Rodgers’ football mind.
“It’s huge for us; it really is”, Rodgers said. “The opportunities we had out there today – it makes you ill”.
Arizona thoroughly dominated Green Bay in the first meeting, limiting Rodgers to just 151 passing yards, his second-lowest total of the season.
– Clay Matthews is back to terrorizing quarterbacks following a late-season slump.
“I get what people are saying. It’s going to be tough to block us both when we’re both humming”. We’re no underdog going to Arizona. Will the Packers be good enough to march into Arizona and steal one?
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And why not? He has a lot more fun when his offense is balanced – and the Green Bay Packers score seemingly at will.
