NFL Divisional Weekend Preview and Prediction: Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals

With less than four minutes remaining, the Arizona leads the Green Bay Packers 17-13. He will likely be looked at again before Saturday’s game and limited in his snaps. James Jones couldn’t hold on to Rodgers’ throw, giving the ball back to Arizona.

A 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in last weekend’s NFC Wild Card Game also gives the Seahawks a boost, marking their second playoff road win in their past three outings, ending a lengthy eight-game SU losing streak in postseason contests on the road.

Offensively, the Cardinals can put up points and they are playing at home, which is big for them.

Rodgers hit Janis on the desperation pass on the final play of regulation, but Larry Fitzgerald weaved through Green Bay’s defense for a 75-yard reception to open overtime. On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, Palmer immediately felt pressure from Green Bay.

It was Green Bay’s second straight disheartening exit from the playoffs, too. In any case, the Cardinals are looking to get him into the win column with this one.

If Packers head coach Mike McCarthy did not pull out Rodgers from the game to have a brief rest, he could have been sacked a few more times.

Green Bay got the ball back with 3:44 left, but went three-and-out. Janis, who had two catches this season, caught seven passes for 145 yards and two TDs in the game.

The Cardinals had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson called back because of a hands-to-the-face penalty on defensive tackle Frostee Rucker. Rodgers has had to deal with an injury plagued receiving core all season long which led to the Packers going from one of the top National Football League teams to having points in the season where they dropped 3 in a row.

When the Packers last made the trip to the desert in Week 16, Carson Palmer and the Cardinals throttled the Packers 38-8.

The Green Bay Packers are heading into the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs coming off of a huge victory over the Washington Redskins in their Wild Card game. In the 11 games since, the Packers have taken the early lead just five times, amounting to just a 5-6 record.

The Packers had a pair of interceptions in the second half, one setting up a touchdown, the other by Damarious Randall stealing a potential Cardinals touchdown. On the next play, Palmer had possibly the most improbable touchdown of his career – an intended slant pass to Fitzgerald got tipped up into the air, which ended up in the hands of Floyd in the end zone. “You’ve just got to keep all your emotions in check and go to the next play”.