Arizona not counting on another rout in rematch
glendale, ariz. » Three weeks ago, the Arizona Cardinals pounded the Green Bay Packers by 30 points. No one should expect that kind of blowout when the teams meet again Saturday night, this time in the NFC divisional playoffs.
“I think these guys definitely come back here with a bad taste in their mouth,” Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson said of the Packers, “so I think it will definitely be a much better game.”
Oddsmakers are picking the Cardinals, the NFC’s No. 2 seed, by seven points, although Packers coach Mike McCarthy wouldn’t call his team the underdog.
“We’re no underdog going to Arizona,” McCarthy said after his team’s 35- 18 wildcard victory over Washington last weekend. “I don’t care what people think or how we’re picked or things like that. We’re going out there to win, and expect to win.”
Green Bay quarterback Aaron-Rodgers, on the other hand, acknowledged his team’s underdog status. But he said “the pressure’s all going to be on” Arizona.
“They’re coming off a tough loss at home against Seattle. Before that, they blew us out,” Rodgers said. “They’re the Super Bowl favorites, and obviously the favorite teamon Saturdaynight, so we’ve just got to go out, be loose and let it all hang out, because the pressure’s all on that side.”
Arizona safety Rashad Johnson said there is pressure on both sides.
“We’ve all got to play the game,” he said. “I think there’s a little bit of pressure on everyone to go out and want to play well. If you don’t feel any butterflies and have some type of pressure, you’re in the wrong business.”
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians discounted the whole concept of pressure.
“There is no pressure,” he said. “Pressure is something when you’re not prepared for something. We have high expectations.”
The easyDec. 27 victory over the Packers capped a nine- game winning streak for Arizona ( 13- 3).