The Arizona Cardinals were an 18-point favorite by most sportsbook apps going into the Houston Texans Game. They ended up covering the spread winning 31 to 5.
But it wasn’t all pretty. Arizona struggled in the first quarter and Kyler Murray was taking hard hits all game. But the undefeated Cardinals were able to regroup in the second quarter and dominate the rest of the way.
The Cardinals might be 7-0 right now, but they could be looking at their first loss on Thursday night when they host the 6-1 Green Bay Packers. It is going to be a tough game and after Kyler Murray’s physical game on Sunday, I am a little worried. Murray needs to be at his best physically and mentally if the Cardinals want to remain undefeated and takedown Aaron Rodgers and his talented roster.
The good news for the Cardinals? Chandler Jones and Zach Allen are now activated from the COVID-19 list. And unfortunately for the Packers, Davante Adams will miss Thursday after being added to the list and more could join him.
AZ Cardinals Game Preview (7-0)
Head coach Kliff Kingsbury was back on the sidelines and even though I questioned some of his play calls, it was good to have him back to lead the team to another victory.
The offense didn’t start out on fire, but they sure ended that way with a total of 397 yards. Murray threw for 261 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Chase Edmonds led the team in rushing with 81 yards. Zach Ertz’s first game as a Cardinal was a successful one, with 66 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Packers might be full of talent on their offense, but so are the Cardinals. And it seems like every one of them is playing a part, with four different players scoring touchdowns in the Texans win: James Conner, DeAndre Hopkins, Zach Ertz, and Christian Kirk.
Arizona’s offense also had 24 first downs. But the offensive line needs a little work, allowing four sacks and not giving Murray much time. Hopefully, Rodney Hudson is back soon because he is clearly missed.
On the defensive side of the ball, Chandler Jones was still out, but the defense stepped up and played another strong game. They limited the Texans quarterback to only 135 passing yards and no touchdowns. In fact, the Texans didn’t score a touchdown all game. Former Arizona player, David Johnson, was the leading rusher for Houston with only 25 yards. And the Texans’ Nico Collins led receiving yards with just 28. Every player on the defense contributed and did their part, allowing the Texans only eight first downs. Marcus Golden had another great game with two sacks. He is the only player in the league with at least 6 sacks and four forced fumbles.
The defense is good. But they are going to need to play even more aggressively against the Packers. Luckily, Chandler Jones and Zach Allen are back and they could be that extra boost the defense needs to beat Green Bay.
LV Raiders vs NO Saints | Moneyline | Point Spread | Total Points |
---|---|---|---|
LV Raiders | +130 | +3.0 (-115) | O 43.0 (-110) |
NO Saints | -154 | -3.0 (-105) | U 43.0 (-110) |
*Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbooks. Receive $50 in bonus bets when you deposit $5 through our exclusive offer.
The odds for this game are not available (nfl, betmgm)
Green Bay Packers Game Preview (6-1)
The Packers’ first game of the season was downright ugly. But since then, Rodgers and gang have proved to be one of the best in the league right now.
Green Bay is coming off a 24-10 win against the Washington Football Team. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns with no interceptions. But the running game just wasn’t there for the Packers, with just 57 rushing yards all game. Aaron Jones led in rushing yards with just 19. Davante Adams had another big game with 76 receiving yards and a touchdown. Rodgers did get sacked three times, so I could see the Arizona defense being a problem for Rodgers especially with Adams likely missing the game after being placed on the COVID-19 list.
But the defense was hot with four sacks. This could be an issue for Arizona. Murray can’t really handle any more hits without him suffering some type of injury to set him back. However, the defensive coordinator is also out for the game being placed on the COVID-19 list. Not sure if this will make a big difference for the defense, but it could be just enough for Murray and the Cardinals’ offense to take control and pull off another W.
What will make a difference? The absence of Davante Adams and possibly David Bakhtiari.
NFC Sports Betting Odds
The NFC is tough. And the NFC West is usually one of the toughest divisions, but with Seattle and San Francisco coming up short this season, the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams are leading the way. Even if the Cardinals don’t win the division, they have a good chance of snagging a wild card spot. And as they continue to win, their odds for winning the Super Bowl keep getting better. FanDuel currently has them at +850 to win.
DraftKings Odds To Win NFC West
- Arizona Cardinals -165
- Los Angeles Rams +150
- San Francisco 49ers +4000
- Seattle Seahawks +4000
Caesars Odds To Win NFC (Top 7)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +250
- Los Angeles Rams +425
- Arizona Cardinals +475
- Green Bay Packers +525
- Dallas Cowboys +550
- New Orleans Saints +2000
- Minnesota Vikings +3000
Is it worth taking the Cardinals to win it all? If they continue to play like they have been and can avoid injuries, it just might be!
How To Watch The TNF Cardinals & Packers Game
- Date: Thursday, October 28
- Time: 5:20 PM MST
- Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
- TV: Fox/NFL Network