CARDINALS OLB CHANDLER JONES VS. PACKERS LT ELGTON JENKINS
THE PACKERS WILL WIN IF ... Rodgers is on his game and finds a hot hand among his short-handed wide receivers, Jones runs for 100 or more yards and the defense can put the hurt on Murray.
It will be interesting to see how much explosion Jones has after missing two weeks on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. If he’s back to normal, Jenkins will have a hungry pass rusher on his hands and will need to find a way to neutralize him. Although Jones hasn’t had a sack since tying the single-game franchise record with five in the season opener at Tennessee, he’ll be itching to get to Rodgers. With one sack, Jones will also set the Cardinals’ all-time sack record.
SERIES HISTORY: The Packers lead the all-time series 46-24-4, but the Cardinals have won the last three matchups, including the postseason. One of the oldest rivalries in sports, the series launched on Nov. 20, 1921, when the Packers and Cardinals tied, 3-3. The series has been noted for its streaks, with the Packers winning 15 straight between 1937-46, followed by the Cardinals winning seven straight through 1949. Green Bay has won 15 of the last 20 regular-season games (with one tie) since.
DID YOU KNOW? In the last six games he has played on Thursday night, Rodgers has thrown for 16 touchdowns and one interception with a passer rating of 113.6. That included a four-touchdown game against the 49ers last season that resulted in the highest passer rating of Rodgers’ career (147.2). Rodgers has started 12 Thursday night games in his career (27 touchdowns, five interceptions) and Green Bay is 8-4 in those contests.
HE SAID IT: “It’s not fun, I’ll tell you that much. You turn on the tape and watch the throws that he’s able to make and just the way he orchestrates that offense –getting them into the right plays, getting them into the right checks. Even when you have it covered, his off-schedule stuff is as good as anybody who has ever played. It’ll be some sleepless nights when you’re watching that film.” – Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury on what it’s like to game-plan against Rodgers.