We've got a showdown in the desert this afternoon as the Green Bay Packers are taking on the Arizona Cardinals at 3:25 CST from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Despite a 27-18 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals that put the team at 3-1-1 on the season, the state of the Packers has been called into question this week. They're not pulling off the decisive victories that many expect. Today, they have the 2-4 Arizona Cardinals coming off a 31-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Cardinals started the season 2-0 but have fallen in four straight games by a combined points differential of only nine. While on paper, the Packers should come out on top, they have a feisty Cardinals team across from them that won't go down easily. 

The last time these two teams met was almost exactly a year ago on 10/13/2024, when the Packers dominated the Cardinals with a final score of 34-13. Jordan Love threw for 258 yards and four touchdowns on 22 completions and one interception while a Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson-led rushing attack totaled 179 yards on the ground. The Packers got out to a 24-0 lead before Arizona finally got on the board with two minutes remaining in the first half. They were then able to kick into cruise control, only scoring a touchdown and a field goal in the second half while limiting the Cardinals to a field goal early in the half. The Packers will be hoping for a similar performance today. 

Last week's game, despite being a two-score victory, just left a sour taste in the mouths of Packers fans. A team starting a quarterback that had only been with the team a few days? That should've been a cakewalk, right? Well, when the quarterback is a veteran like Joe Flacco, who can still sling the ball and has already faced the Packers' defense this season, not so much. While you can't say Flacco carved up the Packers' secondary, going 29/45 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, he was impressive enough getting the ball out quickly to his receivers. The Packers' offense had a few struggles and mistakes in the first half, but capped off the game scoring on all three second-half possessions. The running game saw improvements as well behind a healthier offensive line, where hopefully these positives can be brought into today's game and capitalized on more effectively. 

Today, the Packers will look to put any concerns to bed in Arizona. 

What to See on Offense

Last week, Jordan Love recovered from an interception on the first drive of the game to put together another good game the rest of the way. With the preferred starters on the offensive line returning, he was only sacked once against Cincy, and that one seemed to be a coverage sack more than anything. Arizona does have a few players to get after the quarterback in Josh Sweat and the ageless Calais Campbell, each having five and three sacks so far this season, but Arizona only averages about 1.8 sacks per game, and if the Packers can keep their pass protection solid, Jordan Love should be pretty comfortable today. 

Mathew Golden emerged a little bit last week with three 20+ yard catches totaling 86 yards. It seems like the plan to ease him into the offense is coming to an end, and it might be time to unleash the rookie first-round pick fully. As usual, Romeo Doubs continues to be a model of consistency, and Tucker Kraft may have a good game ahead of him with Arizona giving up decent games to tight ends in the last few weeks. 

In their secondary, the Cardinals have two former Packers draft darlings in Max Melton and Will Johnson at cornerback.  Both of these players were seen as game changers in their respective drafts by Packer fans, but they've struggled so far this season. Safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson has two interceptions, and Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson round out the defensive backs. If all goes well, the Packers' passing game could have a successful outing against a Cardinals secondary that has yet to find its place. 

Running the football, Josh Jacobs had his best game of the season on the ground last week with 93 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. This is ironic given that Jacobs was playing sick, throwing up three times before, during, and after the game. Today, Jacob's is considered a true game-time decision due to illness as well as a calf injury. If Jacobs cannot go, the Packers have elevated Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad to take his place. However, I would expect Strong to be an emergency running back with Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks taking the bulk of the snaps from the backfield.

One of the contributing factors I credit with a lot of the success in the running game last week was the move of Jordan Morgan to right guard. He was a key blocker on both of Jacobs' touchdown runs, and the Packers would be wise to cement his place at the position today to help the running game continue to be successful, whether Jacobs is on the field or not. 

Arizona has been a top-10 defense against the run so far this season, however, with Mack Wilson Sr at linebacker leading the team in tackles and Dalvin Tomlinson plugging up the middle. If Jacobs is a go, today's game will be a big indicator as to whether or not the Packers' running game is "back" or if last week was maybe just an outlier. 

What to See on Defense

Kyler Murray is again questionable this week with an injury; all signs point to him sitting today, and the Packers are going to see veteran QB Jacoby Brissett today as the Cardinals' signal caller. Brissett might be in the top two or three for backup quarterbacks over the last 10 years. Success just seems to find him wherever he goes when he's called upon to take over. Arizona has been no different, with him throwing for 320 yards and two touchdowns last week against Indianapolis, nearly coming away with a win. Brissett isn't a game changer, but like the Packers faced in Joe Flacco last week, he is a veteran who's seen a lot and can be effective. 

The Cardinals' offensive line has given up 18 sacks this season, which is a five-way tie for fifth-worst in the league. I wouldn't say the Packers' pass rushers will be lining up for their sack stats in this one, but the AZ O-line had possibly its worst game of the season last week, with Brissett facing pressure on 20/44 pass attempts. Hopefully, officials will keep an eye on Micah Parsons getting mugged by offensive linemen nearly every play and start making them pay for it in this one. The pass rush will be without Lukas Van Ness today as he is out with a foot injury, which will likely pave the way for rookie Barryn Sorrell to get a few more snaps. Sorrell has half a sack to his credit and has been close to a few others. With some more snaps, we could see more of what the fourth-round pick is capable of. The run blocking of the Cardinals' offensive line has also been inconsistent, with running backs only averaging 3.3 YPC last week. The Packers will still be without Devonte Wyatt today, a player whose absence seems to have been a big factor in the defense's success, but I don't see that being a huge factor in the squad's success in minimizing Brissett. 

Catching the ball for Arizona, Marvin Harrison Jr. is cleared after a concussion and will play today. MH is a dynamic threat who will make a big difference for Jacoby Brissett. Especially if Keisean Nixon, who was added to the injury list yesterday with an illness, is unable to go. Last week's top receiver, Zay Jones, was limited in practice this week. However, tight end Trey McBride continues to be a popular target with 72 yards and a touchdown on eight catches last week, and he is their top pass-catcher this season.  Dallas and Cincinnati seemed to have success against the Packers' secondary with short, quick passes and yards after catch. Hopefully, Jeff Hafley has an answer to that this week, so we don't make it three games in a row. 

Running the football, the Cardinals are struggling. James Conner is out for the season, and Trey Benson also just landed on IR. With Kyler Murray possibly on the shelf as well, that takes away Arizona's top three rushers so far this season. Michael Carter, Bam Knight, and Emari Demercado have taken over rushing duties for the team, but they only combined for 69 yards last week. Against the Bengals, I had said last week that it could be a game for the Packers' rush defense to prove they can be effective without Devonte Wyatt. They held the Bengals to 55 yards rushing. The Cardinals could be along the same lines this week, so hopefully the defense rises to the occasion for a second straight week.

Extra Notes

Last week, the Packers started a kicker they had just picked up to replace the injured Brandon McManus in Lucas Havrisik. Havrisik went 5/5 between field goals and extra points, including a game-sealing kick late in the game. The almost-substitute teacher looked better than the Bengals' all-pro kicker, who went 1/3 on field goals. McManus is still questionable heading into today's game, so we will see if Havrisik will have to take over yet again.

Arizona's kicker, Chad Ryland, is 10/12 on field goals so far this season, with one being a block. 

Arizona punter Blake Gillikin was hurt last week, replaced by former Packer Pat O'Donnell, but should be good to go this week. He averages 51.7 yards per punt, with a long of 63. Daniel Whelan sits in almost the same place with a 51-yard average and a 65-yard long. 

The Packers' returners have been relatively average as of late, especially with Romeo Doubs replacing Matthew Golden on punt returns last week. Savion Williams has done fairly well on kick returns, averaging 32 yards per return last week on three attempts, but hasn't yet shown a lot of breakout potential. That's not to say he won't soon. 

In the End

Whenever I'd talk about the Packers likely defeating a weaker opponent, my Grandpa used to quote Lombardi, saying, "Any team can beat any team, on any given day." It's true. Whenever we play an assumed weaker team and it ends up being a close game, I try to remind myself of that. I remind myself that the opposition is paid to play this game too. They want to win too. They're not just going to lie down and submit because the Packers are the "superior team." They're going to take that personally and give us their best. 

It's going to be no different with Arizona today. They're going to give us all they've got to keep their season alive.

Next week, we have a somewhat emotional trip to Pittsburgh on the docket. Why? Because we're heading to face our old friend and QB Aaron Rodgers. Hopefully, the Packers can head into week 8 with a victory and a 4-1-1 record. Go Pack Go.