The upcoming playoff game in Arizona should be a milestone for the Green Bay Packers; the first playoff victory without Brett Favre since the 1982 strike shortened season Super Bowl Tournament.

1. The Preseason Preview

As noted in our article “The Road to 12-4,” the Packers dominated the Cardinals in the third game of the preseason.  During the first half of that game, when all the starters were playing for both teams, the Packers completely dominated all phases of the game.  The Packers racked up 38 points in the first half while only allowing 10. Week 17 was no different.  If you think that preseason doesn’t matter, we will refer you once more to former Cardinals coach Dennis Green’s quote from his famous rant:  ”We played them in preaseason. Who the hell takes a third game of the preseason like it’s bullshit?”  Dennis Green was right.

2. The Crushing Week 17 Victory

The Packers came in to Phoenix on Sunday to win.  The Cardinals came in to prevent injuries to their starters.  The Packers accomplished the teams’ goals.  The Cardinals failed miserably.  From the opening drive of the game, it was Packer domination.  The Packer offense played the first series against all the Arizona defensive starters.  They moved the ball 69 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown.  Kurt Warner took a total of 9 snaps and could barely move the ball against the Packers defense.  Another frightening aspect of the game for the Cardinals is that Charles Woodson completely shut down their biggest playmaker, 4 x Pro Bowl WR Larry Fitzgerald.  The Packers were clearly physically dominating the Cardinals in this game as well as playing at a higher level of finesse. The game also caused injuries to Arizona Pro-Bowl CB Dominique Rodger-Cromartie (knee), 3 x Pro-Bowler WR Anquan Boldin (ankle, knee), and DE Calais Campbell (thumb), all who are questionable for this weeks game.

Beyond the domination and the injuries inflicted in this game, the psychological impact of being completely dominated in a game, regardless if it is a “meaningless” game, has to be negative.  When the cameras showed the Cardinals sideline, you could see the hangdog and defeated expressions on the Cardinals players faces, starters and backups alike.  The Cardinals can tell themselves that this game was meaningless, but by their expressions, it clearly had meaning.  While across the field, you could see the Packers fired up and reveling in their victory.  It will take an exceptionally strong team to bounce back from this defeat and a great coach to galvanize the hangdog Cardinals.

For the Packers, it will be next to impossible for them to forget their crushing of the Cardinals.  The high level of swagger that the Pack will have coming out of the tunnel at University of Phoenix Stadium  will be visible from the nose bleed seats on Sunday.  The Packers have not let up one iota and are entering the playoffs at a full gallop.  Winning 7 out of their last 8 games gives them the momentum going into the playoffs.  As long as the Packers don’t let off the gas, they should be able to dispatch the Cardinals.

3. The Battle in the Trenches
One thing was clear in both the preseason game and the week 17 game: the Packers won the battle in the trenches.  The Packers defense, which rarely sent more than four pass rushers against the Cardinals last Sunday, completely controlled the line of scrimmage.  The results were clear.  The Packers forced their first safety since over 5 years with a holding call in the end zone.  The Packers defensive line and linebackers knocked QB Matt Leinart to the turf countless times and help pressure a number of bad throws, including three interceptions.

The Packers’ offensive line did a good job protecting Aaron Rodgers and opening holes for the running game.  The only sack the Packers allowed was in the 4th quarter; by then, they were resting their o-line starters.  The Packers rushed for over 100 yards thanks to the holes the line helped open.  The Cardinals did not blitz much on Sunday, but if they do, they will give Rodgers those hot routes which he is very good at hitting.  When the Packers offensive line can hold off a four man rush and the defense needs to blitz to get pressure, it is usually a long day for the defense.

These three reasons along with other give us here at Lombardi Sweep great confidence in a Packers Victory.  Go Pack Go!