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Cardinals-Packers: Matchups That Matter

Published: January 5, 2010

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Charles Woodson vs. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin

There is a large circle of media and fans alike that think Packers’ CB Charles Woodson should be crowned the NFL’s Defensive MVP immediately.

He very well could earn that title before game time, since it is likely we will hear the results of the voting process before Sunday afternoon’s Packers-Cardinals rematch.

Woodson has had an outstanding year and has earned his reputation over his 12-year career. He’ll have a chance to add to his legacy if he performs admirably against two of the game’s best receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Woodson will likely be lined up primarily against Fitzgerald, but I’m sure his pads will come into contact with Anquan, as well.

In one-on-one coverage with Fitzgerald, experience favors Woodson, but the height advantage and hands go to Larry.

Both are Pro Bowlers with serious ball skills, so the question is: Who will have more tenacity? It is an even draw otherwise.

Q is currently listed as questionable with knee and ankle issues, but if history repeats itself, Boldin will find a way onto the field, regardless of how hobbled he is.

It is fair to assume that if he plays he will be gimpy, which will most certainly be a Packers advantage with one caveat: If Early Doucet rises to the challenge and continues to make his presence known, he could help offset the Boldin deficit.

Early has really been coming on strong as of late. It is clear the game has slowed down for him, he is playing with much more swagger, and he is a player conveniently in the mold of Q.

Aaron Rodgers vs. the Arizona Secondary

I am a big fan of Aaron Rodgers. What he has been able to accomplish after replacing a legend in a legendary football town is simply amazing.

With Peyton Manning’s offensive line his team may have gone 14-2, too. Rodgers has some of the best touch on the ball of anyone in the game right now, especially deep.

With the emergence of budding star TE Jermichael Finley, the Packers’ arsenal is downright scary: WR’s Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson, not to mention being able to hand off or throw to Ryan Grant.

Two things need to happen if the Cardinals have any chance of shutting Aaron down: Pro Bowl CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie needs to play and play well, and the Arizona pass rush needs to get to Rodgers early and often.

DRC is questionable with cleat knee—you know, when a knee gets gashed and bruised on another player’s upturned cleats? Okay so I know that is not a medical term, but consider it coined.

DRC’s fluidity of movement will have a lot to do with Rodger’s success, or lack thereof. If he has has full range of movement it will limit the amount of available receiving options, as DRC is known to blanket opponents.

The pass rush is perhaps even more crucial than DRC’s health.

In the Week 17 game, the Cardinals refused to show any aggressive packages and did not blitz one time. This is from a team whose bread and butter has been the sack—they finished with 43 sacks, just five shy of the NFL-leading 48 put up by the Vikings.

DE Calais Campbell is the third key Cardinal player who is listed as questionable for the game. He has a broken thumb, but may be able to play with a cast. Arizona fans hope so since he is tied with Pro Bowler Darnell Dockett for the team lead in sacks with seven.

The Packers offensive line made a name for themselves by allowing Rodgers to be sacked a league-tying 50 times, but in fairness, the majority of those came in the first half of the season. After eight games, Aaron was laid down a whopping 37 times, and therefore only 13 times in the last eight.

The Cardinals hope to ramp up their blitz, and throw a flurry of confusing formations at his O-line to persuade them to get back to their bad habits.

If they can’t, Rodgers could have a field day.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Wes Welker, Chad Henne, and Pat White Hurt in Week 17

Published: January 3, 2010

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Wes Welker left the Houston game today with a knee injury. He left on a cart with a towel over his head, which is usually an indication from the player that they know the injury to be serious.

It could be awful news for Patriots fans, but then again Belichick is the best at applying band aids to glaring sores.

I would be willing to bet his top two band aids may be journeyman Sam Aiken and rookie Julian Edelman.

Edelman is physically almost an exact replica of Welker, although not nearly as seasoned and unlikely to be as tough a runner after catch, and Aiken has some serious wheels for the long ball.

Expect both to get heavily involved in the postseason if Welker is out for the year.

After Chad Henne left with an eye injury, Pat White took a nasty helmet to helmet shot in the Dolphins-Steelers contest. The hit left White immediately motionless, and now Tyler Thigpen will get a chance to throw the ‘Fins last desperation tosses of the season.

I have a couple of remarks about this scenario. First, if I were a Miami fan I would be upset with the coaching staff for not giving White much of an opportunity to throw the ball.

This is their last chance at having an opportunity to get into the playoffs, and by not even attempting to throw with White playing QB, they created a huge bull’s eye on his back because the Steelers knew they were running every single play.

Secondly, I am a big fan of No. 3 QB Thigpen and who knows? They are down by 17, and last year playing on a bad Chiefs team he regularly put together some impressive fourth quarter drives.

I have seen enough of Thigpen that I think he is deserving of a chance to be the No. 1 long-term QB for some team.

Stay tuned.