Three Causes Why Packers Will Lose to Cardinals Includes Journey Issues

GREEN BAY, Wis. – On paper, the Green Bay Packers ought to roll over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals have misplaced 4 consecutive video games. Their high working backs are on injured reserve and their electrical beginning quarterback just isn’t anticipated to play.

However, the Cardinals are higher than their file signifies and the Packers had been thrown for an sudden loss on Saturday. Those are amongst three explanation why the Packers will lose.

The Packers had been scheduled to go away for Arizona early Saturday afternoon for what ought to have been an earthly street journey.

Instead, one of many Packers’ two flights – the one with the gamers and coaches – had mechanical points and a brand new aircraft needed to be introduced from Detroit. The flight was supposed to go away Green Bay round 1:30 p.m. however as a substitute didn’t start taxiing till nearly 6 hours later.

Players and coaches are creatures of behavior. No doubt the group adjusted as finest it may, however the ordinary itinerary of touchdown, arriving on the group resort and having group conferences was thrown out the window.

The Packers are winless on the street. The lengthy delay earlier than an extended flight actually won’t assist issues.

What can be the important thing to the primary street win of the season?

“Energy,” security Xavier McKinney stated this week. “Just making sure that our energy is through the roof. I think we’re going to have really good energy because we’re going to have our fans. I’m sure it’s going to be a lot at the game. I think within the locker room, everyone’s got to have high energy and be ready to go.”

The Packers are 0-1-1 on the street this season, with an upset loss at Cleveland adopted by a tie at Dallas. Those groups are a mixed 3-8-1.

“It’s something we’re going to have to find a way to get past,” quarterback Jordan Love stated. “Like you said, we haven’t won yet – an L and a tie. We’ve got to find a way to go out there and be our best on the road and get over that hump.”

You should be a foul group to lose 4 consecutive video games within the parity-filled NFL. That’s what widespread sense would inform you, anyway.

The Cardinals are 2-4, shedding 4 in a row after opening the season with consecutive wins. However, they misplaced 16-15 at San Francisco, 23-20 at residence in opposition to Seattle, 22-21 at residence in opposition to Tennessee and 31-27 at Indianapolis. That’s a complete of 9 factors.

The 49ers, who’re 4-2 and in first place within the NFC West, gained on a last-play area objective. The Seahawks, who’re 4-2 and in second place within the NFC West, gained on a last-play area objective. The Titans, who at 1-5 are the outlier, gained on a last-play area objective. The Colts, who’re 5-1 and have the most effective file within the AFC, gained when the Cardinals’ fourth-down cross from the 9 fell incomplete and defensive holding was not referred to as in opposition to premier tight finish Trey McBride.

“This is a team that’s lost four games in a row by nine points,” coach Matt LaFleur stated. “I read something that that’s unprecedented. So, this is a good football team, and we better be ready to play.”

LaFleur learn appropriately. The Cardinals are the one group for the reason that 1970 NFL-AFL merger to lose three consecutive video games on walk-off area objectives. The 49ers, Seahawks and Colts are a mixed 13-5.

“I think the Cardinals are a really good team,” quarterback Jordan Love stated. “Watching their defense throughout the week, I think they do a lot of good things. Obviously, we played them last year, and I think that defense has gotten better since last year.

“I don’t think we overlook any teams. They’ve been in some close games (and) haven’t come out with the outcomes they wanted, but I still think they’re a really good team. Definitely, we’re focusing on us this week and going out there and trying to get a win on the road.”

The Cardinals don’t excel in any section of the sport however they’re actually good on the yards that win video games. Offensively, they’re solely twenty second in complete offense however they’re sixth on third down and sixth in goal-to-go conditions. On the opposite aspect of the ball, they’re solely twenty fourth in complete protection however they’re seventh on third down and seventh in goal-to-go conditions.

“S**, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” security Xavier McKinney stated. “Regardless of what they’re going through, how many games they’ve lost, how many games they’ve won, we’ve got to control what we can control, and that’s go out there and play and go out there and execute.

“We’re not really thinking about their previous games – obviously, we’re looking at them – but wins and losses, that doesn’t really mean much in this league. You can go in there and play anybody and anything can happen on a Sunday. I think we’re very aware of that and we’re locked in and focused.”

Mentally, the Cardinals say they’re in a great spot. If they will win this sport, they’ll have the bye to get wholesome earlier than going to Dallas and getting rematches in opposition to the Seahawks and 49ers. An opportunity to resurrect their season will start on Sunday in opposition to the jet-lagged Packers.

Coach Jonathan Gannon’s group is dealing with the heartbreak losses, “Probably as good as you can,” he informed reporters this week. “They’re not happy. We feel like we’re right there but, to get in the win column, we have to do a little bit more.

“I am proud of them (for) the response (over) the last couple games here and how those have went, and (then) going on the road to play a good team. I thought our response was the right response. There’s no pointing blame. There’s no finger pointing. Guys have good energy. They have good enthusiasm. They’re continuing to play hard. We’ve just got to get it turned.”

The Cardinals have two high-quality cross rushers with defensive finish Josh Sweat and ageless defensive deal with Calais Campbell.

Sweat ranks among the many NFL leaders with 5 sacks. Among 73 edge rushers with not less than 100 pass-rushing snaps, Sweat is 18th in pass-rush win fee. He is twenty sixth with 21 pressures and fellow edge Baron Browning is thirtieth with 19.

“On third down, they’ll have him rush inside, outside, and he’s a problem,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur stated of Sweat. “He’s a really good rusher, really good football player, and we’re going to have to do a really good job on him just playing with great fundamentals and technique, because he can get an edge on you in a hurry and get to the quarterback.”

Campbell has three sacks. Among 64 defensive tackles with not less than 100 pass-rushing snaps, he’s sixteenth in pressures and twenty fifth in pass-rush win fee.

“It’s pretty impressive,” LaFleur stated. “Kind of reminds me of in terms of a guy that’s been doing a long time, like Marcedes (Lewis). He’s had some very disruptive plays this year, drew that holding penalty in the end zone versus the Niners that led to a safety. He’s an impressive guy. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”

That’s not an unimaginable cross rush. In truth, the Cardinals are tied for twenty sixth in sack proportion. But Sweat and Campbell are influence gamers, and they need to get some juice from taking part in at residence in opposition to a road-weary offensive line.

Quarterback Jordan Love has been unbelievable in a clear pocket. When pressured, although, it’s a special story. Of 34 quarterbacks to be pressured on not less than 40 dropbacks, Love is thirty second in completion proportion, final in yards per try and thirtieth in passer score.

With Sweat and Campbell, the Cardinals have an opportunity to strain their strategy to an upset victory.