The Arizona Cardinals are set to take on the Green Bay Packers this Sunday at Lambeau Field, starting at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The Packers enter the matchup as 5.5-point favorites, with the total projected points for the game at 47.
Arizona (2-3 SU, 3-2 ATS, 3-2 O/U) pulled off a surprise victory against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, winning 24-23 and breaking a two-game losing streak.
Meanwhile, Green Bay (3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS, 3-2 O/U) managed to defeat the Los Angeles Rams 24-19, rebounding from a narrow loss to Minnesota the previous week.
Cardinals’ Rushing Power and Offensive Strategy
The Arizona Cardinals are currently showcasing one of the league’s most formidable rushing attacks. In their recent game against San Francisco, quarterback Kyler Murray threw for 195 yards and rushed for an impressive 83 yards. The team averaged 6.5 yards per carry, effectively controlling the ball better than their opponents, who struggled with turnovers. This victory was especially important given their previous 42-14 loss to Washington.
Murray’s completion percentage stands at 68.1%, totaling 972 yards with seven touchdowns against two interceptions. Running back James Conner is a key player, leading the Cardinals with 379 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Coach Jonathan Gannon emphasized the importance of staying competitive late in games. “We wanted to get it to the fourth quarter and have a chance to win the game, and that’s what we did,” he remarked. “Last week was not a good performance by us. They took that some type of way.”
Offensively, Arizona is scoring an average of 24.0 points per game (ranked 12th) and accumulating 338.0 total yards (14th). The breakdown reveals 181.6 passing yards (24th) and an impressive 156.4 rushing yards (4th). However, the Cardinals have allowed 11 sacks and committed five turnovers, which could be a point of concern against a strong defense.
Defensive Struggles for Arizona
Defensively, Arizona is giving up 25.8 points (27th) and 360.6 total yards (25th) each game. They struggle particularly against the run, allowing 147.8 rushing yards per game (28th). The team’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks has been lacking, as evidenced by their ranking of 30th in third-down conversions against them. Their defense has managed only 11 sacks and forced seven turnovers so far this season.
Such vulnerabilities could be exploited by the Packers, especially if Arizona’s defense continues to falter.
Packers’ Revival with Jordan Love
On the other side, the Green Bay Packers are finding their rhythm with quarterback Jordan Love back in action. In their latest game against the Rams, Love threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns, leading a comeback in the second half after a rocky start that included throwing his first career pick-six. He completed nine consecutive passes, showcasing his resilience.
Love’s overall performance this season shows a completion rate of 56.1%, amassing 873 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Running back Josh Jacobs is contributing significantly to the ground game, leading with 402 rushing yards and one touchdown.
“The pick, it was a bad decision and it’s tough. But it’s all about how you respond and bounce back,” Love said following the game.
Head coach Matt LaFleur praised Love’s character, noting, “When you get a bunch of tough-minded guys, I think that kind of just manifests itself and it’s contagious.”
Offensively, Green Bay averages 25.6 points (8th) and 392.6 total yards (6th) per game, including 227.8 passing yards (10th) and 164.8 rushing yards (3rd). Despite allowing eight sacks and committing seven turnovers, the Packers are finding ways to score efficiently.
Green Bay’s Defensive Edge
Defensively, Green Bay has allowed 21.6 points (14th) and 345.8 total yards (21st) per game. The pass defense ranks 23rd, but they have excelled at creating pressure, accumulating 16 sacks and forcing eight turnovers. The Packers’ opponents convert 35.5% of their third downs against them (13th), which is a significant improvement compared to Arizona’s defensive struggles.
Betting Insights for Cardinals vs. Packers
Betting Trends: The Cardinals have struggled as underdogs, with a record of 4-13 (23.5%) in their last 17 games. In contrast, the Packers have been more reliable, going 7-2 ATS (77.8%) in their last nine games.
Given Arizona’s narrow victory last week, which relied heavily on San Francisco’s mistakes rather than their defensive prowess, it seems reasonable to favor the Packers to cover the 5.5-point spread on Sunday. Their ability to capitalize on Arizona’s defensive weaknesses could be the key to a decisive win.
