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With an Arizona Cardinals Week 8 game scheduled against the Green Bay Packers, the race for a wild-card playoff bye intensifies in the NFC. Before the Cardinals-Packers game, here are some predictions for the Bird Gang in Glendale.
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Arizona Cardinals Week 8 Predictions
4. Markus Golden gets another sack for the Cardinals
Want to guess who leads the Cardinals in sacks with six through seven games? Yes, it's Markus Golden, who added two to his tally against the Houston Texans this past Sunday. If there's a good choice for a sackmaster who can fluster the Pack Attack in Week 8, why not this Golden defender?
This game's stature might be undercut to a degree by all the high-profile absences (J.J. Watt is out for the Cardinals, while Davante Adams, Za'Darius Smith, and Jaire Alexander are out for the Packers, among others), but it's still a very important game for NFC playoff seeding purposes.
The Cardinals have relied on their defense this season, even though the offense gets a lot of well-earned publicity due to the dynamism of Kyler Murray. Expect Markus Golden and Arizona's defense to continue to play well, especially with the Packers being undermanned in Week 8.
3. Cardinals receiver A.J. Green catches a touchdown pass
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The best highlight from the Cardinals' win over the Texans this past Sunday was a long pass Kyler Murray threw along the right sideline. A.J. Green beat the Houston cornerback and found an open spot. Murray managed to fit the ball into a window before the safety was able to get to the area to provide help.
Many people reacted with great skepticism to the A.J. Green acquisition when the Cardinals grabbed the veteran from the Cincinnati Bengals. Green is certainly past his prime, but there is a difference between being past one's prime and being a washed-up and fundamentally useless professional athlete with nothing more to offer. Some analysts certainly felt this was a waste of a roster spot and money, given the Cards' needs along their offensive line and at other position groups. Through seven games, Green hasn't been spectacular, but he hasn't been a drag on this offense, either.
Green didn't win a single playoff game with the Bengals. You know he's itching to make a mark on a game which could decide who gets the top seed in the NFC playoffs. Green will catch a touchdown pass against the Packers.
2. Cardinals will allow fewer than 100 rushing yards to the Packers
The Cardinals have a nasty defense. Given the fact that the Packers have so many roster limitations and so many top players unavailable, they will probably use a conservative approach to start the game and will try to control the ball, keeping Kyler Murray off the field. Arizona will therefore be intent on making sure Green Bay isn't able to run the ball. If this means Green Bay completes a ton of short passes, the Cards can adjust to that. They don't want the Pack Attack to be confident it can run the ball between the tackles. The Bird Gang will clamp down on the visitors' attempts to run the pigskin.
1. Arizona Cardinals will defeat the Green Bay Packers in Week 8
While this game will be close due to Arizona's offensive line being vulnerable to a good pass rush — the Texans had success rushing Kyler Murray this past Sunday — the reality of the Packers having so many key players out will make the difference. The Cardinals will win in Week 8 and remain unbeaten.
