Green Bay Packers defeat Arizona Cardinals 31-17 - NFL Recap
The Green Bay Packers head into their bye week in week 10 on the back of a four-game winning run after beating the Arizona Cardinals 31-17 on Sunday.
Arizona has now lost five straight games and head into their own bye week as they look to regroup once again for the tough games ahead.
Green Bay delivered yet another good performance with the offence purring as usual even though quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not perform to his own high standards while the defence successfully kept Arizona’s star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in check
while the Cardinals’ remaining receivers dropped too many catches.
The Packers rushing game also delivered with 176 yards gained on the rush from 39 carries making it the highest rushing gain for the franchise since 2009.
Unfortunately the game led to three more injuries being added to the Packers roster with Bryan Bulaga, Jordy Nelson, and Clay Matthews all going off the field and the bye week could not have come at a better time to help the Packers get back some of their
main players.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy speaking after the game said:
"We need to get healthy, that's what bye weeks are for. We're 6-3 and we've got time to evaluate, step back, clean some things up and get ready for ... the grind."
He also praised the rushing game of the team and said:
"That's the way you want to run the ball. Aaron, obviously, made some plays with his feet and added to the total. I was very pleased with the rushing effort."
Rodgers ended up passing for four touchdowns and 218 yards while he also threw an interception completing just 14 of his 30 attempted passes.
"No, I didn't throw it very well today. I threw it in the dirt and got Jordy hurt and then just was off. I just wasn't in a great rhythm. You know, I made a couple decent throws for touchdowns. But no, it wasn't one of my better games."
Taking up a 21-7 lead by the end of the first half thanks to three touchdown passes from Rodgers, the Packers looked like they were on route to an easy win but they let the Cardinals get back in the game in the third quarter.
A 31-yard touchdown pass from John Skelton was caught by Fitzgerald while afterwards the Cardinals scored a field goal to get within touching distance of tying the game.
However, Rodgers and tight end Tom Crabtree combined for a massive 72-yard touchdown to put the game to bed right at the end of the final quarter.
Green Bay then saw off the game for an important victory that now sees them go up to 6-3 in the NFC North Division.
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