A possible NFC Championship preview unfolds in the desert on Thursday night, as the Green Bay Packers visit the Arizona Cardinals. Green Bay beat Washington, 24-10, at home on Sunday, while Arizona routed the Houston Texans, 31-5, last week as well. The Packers have won 46 of the 71 meetings all time, but Arizona has won the last two, including a 20-17 win at Lambeau Field in December 2018. Which team will prevail on Thursday night?
Don’t miss our online NFL betting thoughts on this showdown between top contenders.
NFL Preview: Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals (Thursday, October 28)
When: Thursday, October 28, 2021, 8:20 pm ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
TV: FOX / NFL Network
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Odds: Green Bay +6 / O/U 51 // Green Bay +200 / Arizona -250
Why should you bet on the Packers?
Despite that setback in Week 1, Green Bay leads Minnesota in the NFC North by 2 ½ games coming into this game. Last week, Green Bay was tied with Washington at seven before Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard with 15 seconds left before halftime. From then on, the Packers never looked back, building a 24-7 lead by early in the fourth quarter. Green Bay also blocked a field goal, had a pair of takeaways and also forced a turnover on downs twice inside their own five-yard line.
The Packers’ offense has been average this season, ranking 19th in rushing yards per game and 16th in scoring offense, putting up about 24 points per game. On defense, the Packers have been elite, ranked seventh overall by permitting 20.9 points per game. Aaron Rodgers has a 15:3 TD:INT ratio, and he has also run for two more touchdowns. Tailback Aaron Jones has brought balance, running for 404 yards and two touchdowns. If you like the Packers, you think that their offense will be able to maintain balance even with some players (see below) out for COVID-19 protocols.
Why should you put your money on the Cardinals?
The Cardinals’ current hot streak aside, the biggest reason to take Arizona has to do with the COVID-19 restrictions that already have Davante Adams likely on the sideline for Green Bay — and possibly Allen Lazard. That list could grow as the week wears on, so I would tread very carefully when thinking about taking the Packers in this game.
Arizona took a while to wake up against Houston, falling behind 5-0 at the start of the second quarter last week but then put up 17 points before halftime. Both teams had one turnover, but Arizona outgained Houston, 397-160, and had 24 first downs as opposed to just eight for Houston. Kyler Murray has a 17:5 TD:INT ratio and has run for three more touchdowns. Chase Edmonds and James Conner have run for a combined 733 yards on the season to provide balance, and the trifecta of DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk and A.J. Green give Murray three elite wide receiving targets — and Zach Ertz has come to town via trade to join the offense as well. If you like the Cardinals, you see their high-flying offense wearing down the Packer defense — and you see Green Bay struggling to move the ball without one or two top wideouts – and possibly other starters as well.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
I was looking forward to this game more before I read the news about the COVID-19 protocols. For the bettor, the smart money goes on Arizona — but may take the under, as Green Bay may have trouble scoring without its top two receivers. I predict a final score of Arizona 30, Green Bay 16.
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