NFL Picks – NFC Wildcard – Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals [Sunday @ 4:30]

Green Bay Packers (11-5) @ Arizona Cardinals (10-6)

Line: Arizona -2.5

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Last week, and for the first time in history, three teams played in week 17 that now meet in the first round of the playoffs. Green Bay was one, who travelled to Arizona last week and dominated against a Cardinals team who, once got wind Minnesota won and Arizona could no longer clinch the NFC 2nd seed, they shutter’ down big time. The Packers rallied to a 33-7 romp and I figured both teams would sit their starters since both had the playoffs and their positioning almost locked once this game started. The Packers played hard, while the Cardinals sat back… does Green Bay have an advantage by playing hard through-out all 17 weeks, or does Arizona have the advantage by allowing their team to get some much needed rest while they watch Green Bay expose their offence?

Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers has really impressed me this year and TheCoach is almost positive Green Bay fans have been left saying Brett who (in 15 weeks of the season, the other two they were beat by Favre). With that being said, Green Bay is 11-5, two of their losses came against Minnesota (12-4), one against Cincinnati (10-6), and another in a 37-36 battle against the Steelers (9-7). Their 5th loss can be written off, as every team has a set-back losing to a team who is horrible (Tampa Bay). Other than the Bucs, the Packers have lost to teams with record of 31-17. They have also beat Dallas and Baltimore and if it weren’t for that last second touchdown by Ben Roethlisberger would making themselves seem as much of a contender as Dallas and San Diego. Arizona will be playing hard this week so the Packers have a much tougher challenge than last week but Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie (defensive back for Arizona) bruised his knee last week and although he is expected to play, it will be tough covering Donald Driver and Greg Jennings with knee problems. If you’ve been following Green Bay or my predictions this year you know that at one point Aaron Rodgers was on pace to be sacked a whooping 64 times… but in his past eight games, has only went down 13 times. Arizona’s front four need to get at Rodgers without blitzing any linebackers or secondary because Rodgers has the ability to tear apart a defence when defenders get taken out of the secondary. This game will ultimately depend on Ryan Grant and if he can get going early to relieve pressure off of his quarterback. Grant has been very consistent all season long while the Cardinals have allowed all opponents but three put eclipse the century mark since mid-october. If Ryan Grant can put up decent numbers on the Cardinals, it will allow Rodgers who is the best quarterback on third-down, to constantly move the chains and put Green Bay in great field position.

Arizona: Last week Anquan Boldin suffered an ankle and knee injury against Green Bay and rumours are that he may have to sit out this week. Without Boldin, the Cards won’t miss him like the Pats will miss Wes Welker but Green Bay’s phenomenal defence won’t have the task of covering one of the leagues better receivers. The Packers not only will have one less receiver to cover, but they have a great defence in all areas. They have allowed only two running backs to put up 100 yard games since week 3 and no one has passed for over 220 yards since mid-november (except for Ben Roethlisberger when he put up record numbers in a 37-36 win). Clay Matthews has been a great addition and helped transform the defence from a 4-3 formation into 3-4. Also Brad Jones (linebacker) has helped as well and if it weren’t for Brian Cushing over in Houston stealing all the rookie headlines (defensive rookie of the year), you’d hear a lot more about Matthews and Jones. Green Bay will need to get pressure on Kurt Warner, who will almost single handily have to win this game (without Boldin) because Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells won’t move the chains themselves.

In Summary, Green Bay is the better team, with a better record and Arizona’s 10 victories have come against Jacksonville, Houston, New York (Giants), Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle (twice) and St. Louis (twice). Minnesota is the only team in the playoffs but lost three of their last five. Take Minnesota out of the mix, and Arizona’s win came against teams with a combined record of 39-73 (34.8 winning percentage). Yeah, the Packers have beating teams with a 38.1% winning percentage but gave Minnesota two close battles, lost to Pittsburgh in the dying seconds and lost by a touchdown to Cincy early in the season. I can’t put the Cardinals in the same category as Minnesota, Pittsbrugh and Cincinnati… especially without Boldin injured.

TheCoach’s Pick:
Green Bay 30 Arizona 27

Also, Be Sure To Check Out:

NFL Picks – AFC Wild-Card – New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

NFL Picks – NFC Wild-Card – Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

NFL Picks – AFC Wild-Card – Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots