ESPN’s John Clayton: Cardinals DBs will dominate matchup vs. Packers
Jan 15, 2016, 8:56 AM | Updated: 9:13 am
Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones (89) can't make the catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel (28) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made headlines earlier this week when he claimed all the pressure is on the Arizona Cardinals when the two teams meet in the NFC Divisional Playoffs Saturday night in Glendale.
Maybe he believes it, maybe it’s a good player on an inferior team looking for some sort of psychological edge.
The Cardinals smacked the Packers 38-8 in Week 16, and according to ESPN NFL insider John Clayton, the tape of that game doesn’t lie.
“This is kind of a discount reality double-check and (Rodgers) needs to look at the film of the last game,” Clayton told Doug and Wolf Friday morning on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “Every time I saw a Packers receiver, I saw some cornerback from the Arizona Cardinals on his hip.
“That’s because the Packers can’t run and the Cardinals can cover. What’s changed? What’s changed is that Davante Adams is now out and you have one less guy to get into the route. I don’t see much different.”
Adams, a second-year wide receiver who had been making strides in recent weeks, injured his knee in the Packers’ 35-18 Wild Card win over the Washington Redskins and won’t play Saturday. Adams was Green Bay’s third-leading receiver this season with 50 catches for 483 yards and a touchdown.
“You saw how slow those receivers are — the lack of separation. The only thing that Aaron Rodgers could do except for picking himself up after being sacked eight times, was maybe throw a back-shoulder throw to James Jones or to maybe try a little bit of a crossing route,” Clayton said.
“The downfield routes are covered and I can’t imagine with a week where the Cardinals defenders have been able to rest, that they’re going to be able to slow down.”
Clayton’s point is a valid one, and one that has affected the Packers all season. Green Bay averaged just 10.99 yards per completion which ranked 28th in the NFL. With a healthy Jordy Nelson, the Packers ranked second in the same category a year ago, averaging 12.74 yards per completion.
Clayton believes this will be too much for Rodgers and Green Bay to overcome.
“It’s not going to be the same blowout, but I can’t see this changing,” he said.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 6:15 p.m. and can be heard on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. Extended pregame coverage begins at 11:00 a.m.
