Packers headed back to the desert again
Jan 10, 2016, 6:46 PM | Updated: Jan 11, 2016, 11:09 am
Green Bay Packers tight end Richard Rodgers (82) celebrates with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) after wide receiver Davante Adams caught a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
For a brief moment on Sunday, it appeared that the Arizona Cardinals would be facing the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional round.
All the Vikings needed was for kicker Blair Walsh to hit a 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining and Minnesota would’ve escaped the frigid below-zero temperatures of Minneapolis and head to a warmer place for their next playoff game.
Instead, Walsh’s chip shot hooked left, ending the Vikings’ season. A few hours later, the Cardinals found out who they’d be hosting at University of Phoenix Stadium.
The Green Bay Packers overcame a slow start in the first quarter to defeat the NFC East-champion Washington Redskins 35-18 and now head to Glendale to face the Cardinals.
Arizona defeated the Packers 38-8 back in Week 16 — a game in which the Cardinals’ defense limited the Packers to just 178 yards in total offense while sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers eight times.
Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Carson Palmer and company as the Cardinals racked up 381 yards in total offense while Palmer threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns, completing 18-of-27 passes against the Packers.
Against the Redskins on Sunday, Rodgers threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns while running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks each added rushing touchdowns.
“I talked a lot this week about being able to turn it on, and a lot of (the media) probably thought it was lip service,” Rodgers said following the game. “But we just needed a game like this to get our mojo back and get our confidence going.
“I said this week that it just takes one. Just takes one performance to get us going back in the right direction and believing we can make a run.”
The Cardinals will try to stop Green Bay’s run. The NFC Divisional Round matchup kicks off at 6:15 p.m. Saturday evening. The game can be heard on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.
