Arizona Cardinals open as 7-point favorites over Green Bay Packers
Jan 11, 2016, 9:19 AM | Updated: 5:20 pm
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) scores a touchdown as Green Bay Packers strong safety Morgan Burnett (42) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Arizona Cardinals will host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoffs Saturday night at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
Bruce Arians’ team is a prohibitive favorite, opening as 7-point favorites in the contest, which will kick off at 6:15 p.m.
The two teams met in Week 16 in a game dominated by the Cardinals. Arizona’s defense terrorized Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, sacking him eight times in an easy 38-8 win. The defense also scored two touchdowns on fumble returns by Cory Redding and Jerraud Powers.
Carson Palmer threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns in the win, which clinched a first-round bye for the Cardinals. Arizona enjoyed that bye this past weekend, while the Packers went on the road and beat the Washington Redskins 35-18 to move on to the Divisional Round.
The point spread for Saturday’s game is the biggest in the Divisional Round. In the other NFC matchup, the Carolina Panthers opened as a 3-point favorite over the Seattle Seahawks. In the AFC, the New England Patriots are 5-point favorites over Kansas City and the Denver Broncos are favored against Pittsburgh, although many sportsbooks don’t have odds due to injuries to Steelers stars Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.
