This week the Packers look to stay hot, and they get a shot to do it vs a Cardinals team at home that is struggling without QB Kevin Kolb, who is back on the bench this week hurt.
The Pack do have a ton of injuries to deal with – receiver Greg Jennings (torn abdominal muscle), running back Cedric Benson (sprained foot) and defensive back Charles Woodson (broken collarbone) and receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring).
It almost bit them last week as they struggled with the Jaguars at home, but they wound up rallying for a 24-15 win, and say they won’t let the same thing happen this week vs Arizona.
“The injuries are part of the game. It’s unfortunate on a personal level,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “There’s things that go on in our world in the game of football that are just unsaid. It’s just the way you go about your business. It’s what you accept and it’s part of the grind of an NFL season.”
If the Pack can get to the bye, they will have a shot to rest up, but have to make sure not to stumble vs the Cards at home first.
Arizona’s 4-0 start now seems a distant memory, suffering its fourth straight defeat after being routed 24-3 by San Francisco on Monday night. The Cardinals’ seven rushing yards were their fewest since totaling minus-1 on Oct. 18, 1953.
“My biggest sense is that I feel like I’ve let our fans down,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We’ve let our fans down as a team, and that hurts.”
John Skelton set career highs with 32 completions and 52 attempts while tossing an interception Monday, and he will start a third straight game Sunday.
Whisenhunt said he doesn’t plan to make any major changes despite the team’s struggles.
“We’ll get on these guys more, and I think one of the things is we’ll have the players get on the players,” Whisenhunt said. “Peer pressure plays a part in that. You’ve got to get on your leaders to do that, but let’s not get into a panic here and start changing things up. We’re going to continue to do what we do, and we’re going to do it better.”
If the Cards are going to win, they are going to need an effort like in week two vs the Patriots on the road, when their defense stopped Tom Brady and they wound up a winner.
The Cards offense simply has to play better, as they are 31st in the NFL averaging 289.9 yards. The Cardinals possess the league’s sixth-ranked defense, though, giving up 312.8 yards per game and likely will need a more complete effort to snap out of their funk.
Won’t happen, as Aaron Rodgers and the Pack are simply too strong, and they will take home an easy win here to get to the bye week 6-3.
Green Bay 24 Arizona 13