3 favorable matchups for the Cardinals in Week 8 vs. the Packers
By Sion Fawkes
Cardinals pass defense vs. Packers passing attack
It’s not every day where teams hold an edge over Aaron Rodgers. And while some will find it foolish to bet against Rodgers given his ability to make even the most pedestrian receivers look good, he must also find a way to do this against one of the league’s top defensive units.
Per Pro-Football-Reference, the Cardinals are one of only 10 teams to have allowed fewer than 10 receiving touchdowns in 2021. They are one of just four teams to have done so across seven games, with the other six teams coming off their bye week.
The Cardinals are also number one in scoring defense, having allowed 16.3 points per game. Technically, they’re tied with the Buffalo Bills in this category, but the Bills have played one fewer game. Ironically, the Packers’ rushing offense may not wind up giving them a boost in the scoring column.
Although the Cardinals have one of the worst rush defenses in football, they have only allowed 3 rushing touchdowns in 2021. In 99 out of 100 games, Rodgers can and will make do with whoever is in his supporting cast. But the Cardinals’ defense is on another level, and it grants them a favorable matchup.