Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Matchup Preview (10/28/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Matchup Preview (10/28/21)

Thursday Night Football games can be a little bit lost when you consider the prime matchups we always seem to get on Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football. However, there have been some impressive games this year, such as opening night between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. Well, we’ve got another primetime matchup between two major NFC contenders this week when the undefeated Arizona Cardinals host the Green Bay Packers. The Cardinals are coming off a major blowout of the Houston Texans in which the team scored 31 unanswered points. They’re clicking right now, and it’s going to take a team with a lot of firepower to stand up to them. Well, they just so happen to be facing a team with such firepower this week. 

The Green Bay Packers started the year with an uncharacteristic Week 1 loss, when the New Orleans Saints handed them a 38-3 blowout. Since then, the Packers are 6-0 with Aaron Rodgers throwing 15 TDs and one interception. The team just buried the Washington Football Team 24-10, and will be a tough matchup for anyone this season. The Packers and Cardinals are both definitely Super Bowl contenders, and this game could very well be an NFC Championship preview. Here’s what you should expect this Thursday night.

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Betting Odds

This is going to be a fun matchup. The two teams have been surging in recent weeks, and the numbers are backing it up. Both teams are currently 6-1 against the spread, and they’ll be throwing the kitchen sink on Thursday night. The potential loss of wide receiver Devante Adams to COVID is troubling considering he’s been the most dominant Packers receiver with 744 yards and seven touchdowns. The next most productive receiver? Running back Aaron Jones with 186 yards. Considering they’re already facing one of the best passing defenses in the league, Aaron Rodgers might have trouble keeping up with the high-flying Cardinals. 

The line was 3.5 points a mere few days ago, but it looks like the Adams news has pushed the line to Arizona Cardinals -6. There might have been some value in laying the points with the Cardinals before that, but I’m not trusting a six-point spread against a team that made it to the NFC Championship last year. As long as the Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers, along with a pair of talented running backs in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, they’ll stay competitive. Take the Packers to cover in this intriguing primetime game. 

My predictions: Cardinals win 30-27, Packers +6, over 51

TV Schedule

Date: Thursday, October 28
Time: 8:20 PM ET
Location: State Farm Stadium – Glendale, AZ
TV Coverage: FOX

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Live Stream

Where can you watch Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Free Online Now.

Injuries

Green Bay Packers: WR Devante Adams (COVID-19) O, DT Kenny Clark (ankle) Q, DE Dean Lowry (ankle) Q, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) IR, LB Preston Smith (oblique) O, OT Dennis Kelly (back) O, CB Kevin King(shoulder/back) O, C Josh Myers (knee) IR, OT David Bakhtiari (knee) O
Arizona Cardinals: DT Rashard Lawrence (calf) O, TE Darrell Daniels (hamstring) O, LB Chandler Jones (illness) O, LB Kylie Fitts (concussion) IR, DE J.J. Watt (shoulder) Q, LB Tanner Vallejo (hand/wrist) Q, LB Isaiah Simmons (shoulder) Q, WR DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) Q, LB Devon Kennard (shoulder) Q, G Max Garcia (Achilles) Q, LB Jordan Hicks (toe) Q

Green Bay Packers Analysis

The Packers are one of those teams you simply can’t count out. The Week 1 loss to the Saints caused a field day for “hot take” sports media, with overreactions abound about the rapid decline of QB Aaron Rodgers. Well, the team has certainly proved the doubters wrong since then, with big wins over the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers along the way.

The Packers offense has been productive this season, but they’re not quite gaining yards like they did last year. The team fielded the fifth-best offense in the league last season, gaining 389 yards per game. They’re currently ranked 24th in the league, averaging 337.9 yards per game. That number is definitely brought down by the Week 1 stumble, but it shows Green Bay might still have some work to do offensively. Additionally, the recent addition of WR Devante Adams to the COVID-19 list is concerning for this offensive attack. 

On the other hand, the Green Bay Packers defense has been fairly productive so far. They’re allowing 331.4 yards per game, good enough for seventh in the league. Most importantly, the unit is taking down opposing QBs and forcing turnovers. The team has 18 sacks so far to go along with seven interceptions, and they’ll need to keep that up to stay ahead of the heavy competition in the conference.

Green Bay Packers Depth Chart

QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: A.J. Dillon
WR1: Davante Adams
WR2: Allen Lazard
WR3: Randall Cobb
TE1: Robert Tonyan

Arizona Cardinals Analysis

After a bit of a slow start on Sunday, the Cardinals came alive against the Texans, gaining 397 total yards. The highlight, as per usual, was quarterback Kyler Murray, who tossed three TDs while completing 71.4% of his passes. He’s had a rating of over 100 for four straight weeks now, and it doesn’t look as if he’ll be slowing down anytime soon. Meanwhile, he’s got one of the most enviable receiving corps outside of Tampa Bay right now, and it’s only gotten better in recent weeks. The trade for tight end Zach Ertz has already paid off, with the new Cardinal already nabbing a touchdown for the team.

Much like the Packers, while everyone is so focused on the offense, the Cardinals defense has had a successful year. The team’s only allowing 316.7 yards per game and have been especially productive against the passing game. Opposing quarterbacks are barely hitting 200 yards against Arizona, and they’ll need to be on point this week to take down the Packers. However, I’m a bit concerned about the Cardinals run defense, which has been burned by teams like the Minnesota Vikings this season. 

This week is when we really learn about this Cardinals team. Big wins against 2020 playoff teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans have given the team no shortage of respect. A win on Thursday Night Football would solidify the Cards as the number one team in the league right now. 

Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart

QB: Kyler Murray
RB1: James Conner
RB2: Chase Edmonds
WR1: Christian Kirk
WR2: DeAndre Hopkins
WR3: A.J. Green
TE1: Zach Ertz

Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals Daily Fantasy Picks

With Devante Adams on the COVID-19 list, it’s time for someone else to step up. I think you’ll find the most value in WR Randall Cobb. The receiver hasn’t had a huge breakout game in his reunion with Aaron Rodgers, but he’ll have some opportunities this week, thanks to the absence of wide receiver Devante Adams. The receiver is only listed as $3,500 on DraftKings at the moment, so consider him for one of your receiver slots this week.