Green Bay Packers vs Arizona Cardinals Picks and Predictions October 13th 2024

Confident Cardinals Seek to Keep Momentum in Visit to Packers

The Arizona Cardinals, once looking like a team headed for a difficult season, are riding high after an unexpected victory over the San Francisco 49ers last week. Now, the Cardinals (2-3) have an opportunity to even their record as they travel to face the Green Bay Packers (3-2) on Sunday afternoon.

Cardinals Building Momentum

Arizona’s thrilling 24-23 comeback win against San Francisco, where they overcame a 13-point halftime deficit, has breathed new life into the team. Kyler Murray led the charge, orchestrating two critical drives late in the game. The first was a 12-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a touchdown, and the second was a 14-play, 75-yard drive capped by Chad Ryland’s 35-yard game-winning field goal with just 1:37 left.

Murray’s leadership and performance prevented the Cardinals from falling to 1-4, helping the team avoid another potentially lost season.

“This league is really hard, and I was frustrated with just the way we were playing in the first half,” Murray said. “I feel like the score didn’t represent how well we were moving the ball and the way we were playing. … The margin for error is very tight, and I feel like we just weren’t capitalizing on the opportunities we had.”

On the defensive side, linebacker Mack Wilson was a game-changer, recording both an interception and a fumble recovery in the second half. Wilson, now in his first season with the Cardinals, has already matched his career total of takeaways in his previous five NFL seasons. He believes the Cardinals are poised for a turnaround.

“We’re sitting at 2-3, and I still feel like we’ve got a hell of a football team,” Wilson said. “There’s still something brewing in the desert.”

Packers Looking to Build on Win

Green Bay, meanwhile, is entering a favorable stretch of their season, with five of their next seven games taking place at home. The Packers are coming off a 24-19 road victory over the Los Angeles Rams, with quarterback Jordan Love throwing two touchdown passes in the third quarter to lead the team.

Love, who recently returned from a knee injury, has thrown six touchdowns in his last two games, but he’s also been intercepted four times. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur is encouraging Love to make smarter decisions, particularly in balancing his desire to throw deep.

“We’ve just got to continue to encourage [him] to take what’s there,” LaFleur said. “He’s always wanted to push the ball down the field, which I respect. But one thing we always talk about is sometimes you’ve got to earn the right to throw it down the field.”

Defensively, the Packers have been bolstered by safety Xavier McKinney, who has recorded an interception in each of the team’s first five games, tying a franchise record set by Irv Comp in 1943. McKinney, a free-agent addition from the New York Giants, has matched his career-best total of five interceptions from 2021 and remains on a mission to make an impact.

“The guy just has a knack for the football and he’s got great ball skills,” LaFleur said of McKinney. “He’s very instinctive and smart, which allows him to anticipate and make plays.”

Injury Updates

Both teams are dealing with injuries that could impact the game.

For the Packers, wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, returned to practice this week along with Christian Watson, who was limited with an ankle injury. Watson missed last week’s game against the Rams after suffering an injury against the Minnesota Vikings. Defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt missed practice due to an ankle issue.

The Cardinals will see the return of wide receiver Zay Jones, who is expected to be active after completing a five-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. However, Arizona is dealing with injuries on the offensive line, with right tackle Kelvin Beachum and left guard Evan Brown sitting out of practice due to hamstring injuries.

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Key Matchup

The last time these two teams met was in 2021 when the Packers defeated the Cardinals 24-21 in Arizona. This time, both teams have much at stake. For Arizona, a win would bring them back to .500 and keep their momentum alive as they aim to build off last week’s victory. For Green Bay, a home win would solidify their place in the NFC playoff picture and help them capitalize on a favorable schedule in the coming weeks.

Kyler Murray’s ability to extend plays and lead the Cardinals’ offense will be tested against a Packers defense led by McKinney’s ball-hawking abilities. Meanwhile, Jordan Love’s development and decision-making will be critical for Green Bay as they try to avoid costly turnovers against an opportunistic Arizona defense.

With both teams looking to build on their recent success, Sunday’s game promises to be a competitive battle between two teams trying to gain traction in their respective divisions.