If you are placing some bets and making your NFL picks this weekend, it’s hard to side with the Arizona Cardinals in this matchup. Sure, they represented the NFC in the Super Bowl last year but the magic is gone. The Cards have stumbled into the playoffs and they aren’t healthy. Unfortunately for them, their opponent is. It’s going to be tough sledding for the Cardinals, even though they are at home. Storylines: The Packers
Not many people have noticed this but the Packers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. They won seven of their last eight games to finish the year and their lone loss was that miraculous last-second comeback by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers offensive line, running game and defense has improved every single week and they are now a very dangerous team.
Although they’ll have to go on the road the entire way, this team is capable of winning in different ways. They will be tough to stop.
Storylines: The Cardinals
For a second year in a row, those who bet NFL football watched the Cardinals stumble into the playoffs. They won three of their last six games but their two wins over Detroit and St. Louis were fairly uninspiring.
Throw in a rash of injuries and it’s really simple math: the Cardinals might be running out of gas.
Sure, they still have Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, but they’ll need more than that. They’ll need turnovers and they’ll need the Packers to be off their game. That may be too much to ask.
Matchup
NFL betting cappers need to be aware how beaten up the Cardinals are. They were already without left tackle Mike Gandy and now will likely be without wideout Anquan Boldin. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is questionable with a knee injury and could be limited if he does play. Safety Antrel Rolle is also banged up and is in a similar boat.
That’s a lot for the Cardinals to overcome especially without a top-flight wide receiver and their top cornerback.
The Packers led the NFL in turnover margin, interceptions and run defense. That indicates that not only are they the hotter, healthier team, but they also have the better defense and the better fundamentals.
The only thing the Cardinals have going for them is home field advantage but that won’t be enough.
BSNblog Pick: Packers -1
0 comments:
Post a Comment