Packers vs. Cardinals: TNF betting odds, preview, and pick
The Arizona Cardinals are 7-0 for the first time since 1974 and will look to extend their win streak against a red-hot Green Bay Packers team in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football.
Ertz shines in latest Cardinal conquest
The Cardinals were handed an easy opponent in 1-6 Houston on Sunday and took little time to tear apart the Texans, who have lost six straight since Week 1.
As a 20.5-point favorite, Arizona scored 31 unanswered points in the 31-5 thrashing, and enjoyed standout performances from MVP frontrunner Kyler Murray, as well as new acquisition Zach Ertz.
Murray completed all but eight of his 28 passes for 261 yards, accounted for three touchdowns, and tossed one interception.
Ertz, a veteran tight end who was traded from Philadelphia on Oct. 15, pulled down three catches for 66 yards, which tied receiver A.J. Green for the most receiving yards on the day. Ertz also found the end zone on a 47-yard reception, which marked the longest touchdown catch of his career.
YAC Zach
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) October 24, 2021
pic.twitter.com/Z1kxW9V22n
On defense, Arizona held Houston to 160 total yards, while linebacker Markus Golden sacked rookie Davis Mills twice and recovered a fumble.
The Cardinals currently own the league's third best pass defense and are tied with Buffalo for the fewest points allowed (16.3).
The offense also ranks fourth in points per game (32.1) and fifth in rushing yards per contest (136.6).
Green Bay defense takes step forward in Week 7
The Packers are riding high on their own win streak at the moment, as they secured their sixth straight victory of the season against 2-5 Washington on Sunday.
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers turned in a strong performance, despite dealing with back pain. He threw for 274 yards and three scores on 27-of-35 passing in the 24-10 triumph at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay's defense entered the matchup shorthanded, with injuries to cornerback Kevin King and linebacker Preston Smith, who missed a game for the first time in his seven-year career.
In spite of their absences, the Packers held Washington to just 10 points and prevented WFT from reaching the end zone on five separate drives inside Green Bay's 30-yard line.
Washington had 10 possessions and didn't punt, but the Packers gave up only 10 points. That's wild.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) October 25, 2021
Up until Week 7, the Packers had surrendered a touchdown every time their opponent reached the red zone.
Green Bay ranks seventh in total defense and sixth against the pass, but its run defense has been a sore spot.
The unit allowed Washington to rack up 195 yards on the ground, including 95 from quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
The Packers will face a far more lethal rushing attack in Arizona, whose dual-threat QB is tied for the second most rushing touchdowns (three) among quarterbacks this season.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers injury report
Arizona Cardinals | Green Bay Packers |
---|
TE Darrell Daniels: Out (hamstring) | CB Kevin King: Questionable (shoulder) |
LB Kylie Fitts: Out (concussion) | LB Preston Smith: Questionable (oblique) |
DT Rashard Lawrence: Out (calf) | WR Malik Taylor: Out (illness) |
DT Corey Peters: Out (illness) | CB Jaire Alexander: Questionable (shoulder) |
LB Chandler Jones: Out (illness) | LB Chauncey Rivers: Out (ACL) |
NT Xavier Williams: Questionable (undisclosed) | LB Za'Darius Smith: Out (back) |
C Rodney Hudson: Out (ribs) | CB Will Redmond: Out (toe) |
DE Zach Allen: Out (illness) | LB Randy Ramsey: Out (leg) |
Cardinals and Packers betting trends
- Green Bay is 6-0 ATS in its last six games overall
- Green Bay is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven Thursday Night Football games
- Arizona is 5-0 ATS in its last five games overall
- Arizona is 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record
- The Under is 4-0 in Green Bay's last four games overall
- The Over is 6-2 in Arizona's last eight vs. a team with a winning record
- The Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Arizona
Arizona too hot to stop at home
Thursday's meeting will represent the first head-to-head battle between Rodgers and Murray.
The 37-year-old Packers QB is 2-4 all time (including the postseason) against the leader of the NFC West and has lost his three most recent matchups, two of which were hosted in Arizona.
Both of these franchises are riding a massive wave of momentum, but Green Bay's hot streak is about to come to a close.
The Cardinals are the most complete team in the NFL, and it's going to take a defense much stronger than Green Bay's to hand Arizona its first loss of the season.
Score prediction: Cardinals 28, Packers 21
Week 8 NFL pick: Cardinals -3.5
Cardinals vs. Packers Pick powered by The Quant Edge
Our predictive engine is calling for the Cardinals to win outright.
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