Rodgers, Packers Wrecked by Cardinals

“You want to play your best ball at the end of the season”, Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell said, “and I think this is the best game we’ve played”.

Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked eight times, giving up two fumbles to the Cardinals for touchdowns.

Carson Palmer (finger) completed 18 of 27 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday’s 38-8 win over the Packers. Even with the top two running backs out due to injury, rookie David Johnson has stepped in and made his presence felt in a big win at Philadelphia last week to win the NFC West. Today will be the first Cardinals game without All Pro defender Tyrann Mathieu.

On the other side of the loss, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

So the Packers (10-5) were in no position to slow the rout. There’s not much time we play zone, so statistically, as far as interceptions, you’re not going to get any if they don’t throw at you. “They played very well and took advantage of it”. After winning three straight games, the Packers suffered their first defeat since the Thanksgiving disappointment against the Chicago Bears.

At the moment the teams hold leads over their respective rivals in the division as the Cardinals are at 12-2 to lead the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks are at 9-5 in second and are mathematically out of the running to win the division. If Arizona loses its regular-season finale at home to Seattle, then Green Bay beats Minnesota, suddenly the Packers would have that coveted bye.

The Packers themselves have already locked down a playoff spot so next week’s game is merely for divisional bragging rights and playoff seeding.

On a day when the projected order and flow of the National Football League playoff picture was shaken and stirred silly by one unpredictable episode after another, the Arizona Cardinals provided a rather revealing snapshot that should worry any and all comers they may face in January. “You don’t get rings for byes; you only get T-shirts and hats”. Michael Floyd caught six passes for 111 yards for the Cardinals, who entered the game with the NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense.

After a 28-yard touchdown pass to Lacy, Rodgers found himself on the ground again, this time in the hands of Freeney.

The game was close at 10-0 until the final minute of the first half. Of course, the team was already without starting left tackle David Bakhtiari and they lost right tackle Bryan Bulaga midway through the contest.

It got worse quickly for the Packers in the second half. On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, James Starks fumbled and Powers recovered at the Packers’ 28.

The Cardinals were playing without both of their starting safeties.

CARDINALS: QUESTIONABLE: RB Andre Ellington (toe), S Rashad Johnson (ankle), DE Cory Redding (ankle), DT Frostee Rucker (ankle).