Matchup of the 10-plus win teams: Packers fall to Cardinals in the desert, 38-8
GLENDALE, Arizona -- The Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals meet in a matchup of 10-plus win teams on Sunday, December 27th. The two teams will meet at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. -- and you'll see the game only on FOX6.
Now that the Packers are in the playoffs, what’s left to determine is their seed in the NFC field.
Heading into the Week 16 showdown between the Packers (10-4) and Cardinals (12-2), there are four possible playoff seeds for Green Bay, according to Packers.com:
The following players have been declared as inactive for Sunday’s game between the Green Bay Packers and the Arizona Cardinals:
Green Bay Packers
7 QB Brett Hundley
37 CB Sam Shields
55 LB Andy Mulumba
69 T David Bakhtiari
80 TE Justin Perillo
86 TE Kennard Backman
91 LB Jayrone Elliott
Starting lineup changes: #23 Damarious Randall will start in place of #37 Sam Shields at cornerback. #67 Don Barclay will start in place of #69 David Bakhtiari at left tackle.
Arizona Cardinals
9 QB Matt Barkley
26 S Rashad Johnson
27 CB Corey White
47 OLB Shaq Riddick
74 T D.J. Humphries
94 NT Xavier Williams
97 DT Josh Mauro
The Arizona Cardinals won the coin toss, and opted to receive as play got underway at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday.
The Green Bay Packers' defense began this matchup with a three-and-out.
The Packers' offense then took over at their own 40 yard line.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw to James Jones for a first down at the Cardinals 46. On third-and-three, Rodgers threw for a first down, but Josh Sitton was flagged for holding.
Rodgers’ pass for Davante Adams on third-and-13 was incomplete, forcing a Tim Masthay punt that was downed at the Cardinals five yard line.
Carson Palmer pitched a short pass to David Johnson, who broke three tackles en route to a 44-yard gain to the Packers 35. On third-and-four, Palmer was sacked by Mike Neal, forcing a punt that was downed on the Packers four yard line.
The Packers were able to get out of the hole on their next drive, but they were again forced to punt from their own 25 yard line.
A facemask penalty was called on Jeff Janis -- moving the Cardinals to mid-field.
Packers NT B.J. Raji was slow to get up off the field -- but he was able to get up on his own. He was then seen walking to the locker room. Packers officials said Raji was being evaluated for a concussion -- and his return is questionable.
As the first quarter came to an end in Arizona, the score was 0-0, and the Cardinals were at the Packers 10 yard line.
CLICK HERE for a first quarter recap via Packers.com.
The Cardinals began the second quarter with a first-and-goal on the Green Bay 10-yard line and took it in for the score. QB Carson Palmer found WR Larry Fitzgerald for a three-yard TD pass on third down, getting Arizona on the board first.
The Cardinals' extra point was good -- and the Cardinals then led the Packers 7-0.
The Cardinals' scoring drive included seven plays for 50 yards in 3:40.
Cardinals score TD in second quarter vs. Packers with pass from Palmer to Fitzgerald
The Packers next possession was bogged down by a holding penalty, the second on the offensive line in the game. A third-down sack followed by DT Calais Campbell, who beat a double-team of C Corey Linsley and RG T.J. Lang, and the Packers had to punt.
The Cardinals drove for a field goal to extend their lead. Passes of 11 and 17 yards to WR Michael Floyd followed by a 29-yard catch-and-run by RB David Johnson made it first-and-goal. The Packers defense stiffened, though, with S Morgan Burnett breaking up a third-down pass at the goal line intended for Johnson, and Arizona settled for a 19-yard FG by K Chandler Cantanzaro for a 10-0 lead.
The Cardinals' scoring drive included nine plays for 72 yards in 5:02.
Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro completes 19-yard FG
During the Packers' next possession, Tim Masthay faked a punt, and instead ran the ball for a Packers first down -- running for seven yards.
Packers Tim Masthay (#8) fakes the punt, runs the ball for a first down
After that play, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked on back-to-back plays by Cardinals DE Calais Campbell.
The Packers then opted to actually punt the ball for real.
The score was Cardinals 10, Packers 0 at the two-minute warning until halftime.
The Packers were able to get the ball into the red zone thanks to an interception by Mike Daniels -- who reached up and snagged an intended screen pass -- returning it to the Arizona 15-yard line.
Packers Mike Daniels interception late in the second quarter vs. Cardinals
Packers' center Corey Linsley was slow to get up, and the Packers were charged with a time out. Linsley was able to walk off the field on his own, and JC Tretter was then in for the Packers at center at third and five from the Arizona 10 yard line.
The Packers were then intercepted by the Cardinals -- with cornerback Justin Bethel picking off the ball in the end zone.
Ahead of halftime, the Packers announced B.J. Raji would not return to this game. He is out with a concussion.
Arizona got moving again right away, as Floyd gained 47 yards on a catch and run over the middle, and then gained nine more to the Green Bay 24. A defensive holding call gave the Cardinals a first down on the 19, and Palmer hit Fitzgerald for a gain of 12 to make it first-and-goal on the seven with 22 seconds left.
The Cardinals were able to score a touchdown just before the first half came to an end with a pass from QB Palmer to WR John Brown for seven yards.
The score at halftime was Cardinals 17, Packers 0.
Cardinals score TD ahead of halftime with QB Palmer to WR John Brown for seven yards
CLICK HERE for a first half recap via Packers.com.
The second half began with a touchback -- and the Packers would begin on their own 20 yard line.
Packers RB James Starks fumbled on the first play from scrimmage to start the second half. The Cardinals recovered the ball in Green Bay territory -- and returned the fumble five yards to the Packers 28.
Packers RB James Starks fumbles on Packers first possession of second half
A touchdown came for the Cardinals with a 14-yard run by RB David Johnson. The extra point was good, bringing the score to Cardinals 24, Packers 0.
14-yard TD run by Cardinals RB David Johnson
The Packers’ deep passing game came to life with a 38-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams. Adams underscored the Packers’ deep-pass frustration by spiking the ball, a five-yard delay-of-game penalty.
A couple of scrambles by Aaron Rodgers moved the ball to near midfield. On third-and-seven, Rodgers was sacked and stripped of the ball, which was recovered by defensive lineman Cory Redding and returned 36 yards for a touchdown.
With 9:34 to play in the third quarter, the Cardinals led, 31-0.
Frustrated Aaron Rodgers as Cardinals lead 31-0
Packers T Bryan Bulaga sustained an ankle injury and his return was questionable. Josh Walker replaced Bulaga and JC Tretter replaced Walker late in the quarter.
The Packers' first score this game came from running back Eddie Lacy, who caught a screen pass from QB Aaron Rodgers and then ran the ball into the end zone for 28 yards.
The Packers opted to go for the two-point conversion -- and James Jones caught the pass from Rodgers to make that happen.
The score was then Cardinals 31, Packers 8.
Eddie Lacy gets Packers on the board vs. Cardinals with TD run
The Packers touchdown drive included eight plays for 80 yards in 3:03.
Arizona tacked on another defensive touchdown when Dwight Freeney sacked Rodgers and stripped him of the ball. Cornerback Jerraud Powers returned the fumble seven yards for a touchdown.
Rodgers was sacked for the seventh time in the game -- and Scott Tolzien was seen warming up along the sideline.
The Cardinals punctuated the quarter with a goal-line stand.
Sack-fumble-TD for Cardinals brings score to 38-8
CLICK HERE for a third quarter recap via Packers.com.
As the fourth quarter began, Scott Tolzien came into the game as QB for the Packers, who would begin a drive at their own 13 yard line. Rodgers ended his night 15-of-28 for 151 yards with one TD and one interception. He was sacked eight times.
Tolzien was sacked inside the one-yard line -- and the Cardinals challenged -- saying Tolzien was in the end zone.
The ruling was that the play would stand, and the Packers then punted the ball.
Scott Tolzien sacked by Cardinals
Cardinals challenge after Tolzien sack
Packers S Morgan Burnett was able to recover a Cardinals fumble, forced by NT Mike Pennel. The Packers got the ball back near mid-field after a 21-yard punt return.
The score was Cardinals 38, Packers 8 at the two-minute warning -- and that would be the final score of this game.
The Packers’ loss to the Cardinals in Arizona means the NFC North title will be at stake next Sunday at Lambeau Field when the Vikings visit Green Bay. The Vikings play Sunday night vs. the Giants -- but regardless of that result, the winner of the Week 17 Packers-Vikings game will be NFC North champion.
Arizona clinched a first-round bye with the win vs. the Packers -- and still has a chance at the No. 1 seed in the NFC following the first loss of the season by Carolina (14-1) earlier Sunday.
If Seattle loses vs. the Rams, the only playoff seeds in play for the Packers would be the No. 3 or the No. 5.
The Packers would earn the No. 3 seed by beating the Vikings next week, or the No. 5 seed with a loss.
If they were to win the No. 3 seed, Green Bay would host either Minnesota, Seattle or Atlanta on wild-card weekend.
If the Packers get the No. 5 seed, they would travel to Washington to face the NFC East champion Redskins.
Green Bay drops to 10-5 on the season with this loss to the Cardinals.
CLICK HERE for more on the Packers/Cardinals matchup via Packers.com.