Week 8 Game Recap: Arizona Cardinals 14, Green Bay Packers 31

What you need to know

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals came into this game in disarray after a disappointing loss to the Bears on Monday Night Football in which they led most of the game but frittered the game away late in the fourth quarter. This game was basically lost by end of the first half when the score was 21-7. The Cardinals scored just before halftime, but traded touchdowns in the third quarter, finally losing 31-14.

The Cardinals’ defense basically could not stop the Packers’ running game, allowing 203 yards on 39 carries, which meant they lost the time of possession by 33.39 to 26.21.

Matt Leinart was harassed all day by the Packers’ defense, including four sacks and numerous pressures. He wasn’t helped by his receivers either, who dropped at least five passes. In the end, Leinart completed only 14 of 35 attempts for only 157 yards. He threw one TD to Troy Walters and a pick to Charles Woodson.

RB Edgerrin James actually had his best game of the season running the ball, gaining 84 yards on 24 carries. But the Cardinals could not mount a consistent offense.

The defense could not register a sack, and was gashed for several runs of ten yards or more by both Ahman Green and Vernand Morency. Robert Griffith led the team in tackles with seven solos and three assists, while Adrian Wilson had a pedestrian day with only one tackle.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers continued to be successful with their running game, which started last week against Miami, with both RB Ahman Green and Vernand Morency gaining at least 100 yards.

QB Brett Favre attempted 25 passes, completing 17 of them for 180 yards. He was not sacked and did not throw any interceptions. In addition he ran for a short touchdown.

WR Donald Martin led all receivers with five catches for 48 yards, while TE David Martin had four catches for 46 yards and one touchdown.

On defense, the Packers harassed QB Matt Leinart all day, with DE Aaron Kampman registering two of the Packers’ four sacks. The defense held the Cardinals to 86 yards in rushing and 157 yards passing.

What you ought to know

QB Matt Leinart, Pass: 14 - 35 - 157 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0

Leinart was constantly under pressure, rarely having a clear lane to throw. Too often when he did, his receivers let him down by dropping passes. Leinart did manage to throw one touchdown pass to WR Troy Walters.

RB Edgerrin James, Rush: 24 - 84 - 1, Rec: 3 - 25 - 0 (7 targets)

James ran hard all day long, actually having his best game of the season. He was a frequent target on safety valve passes as well.

RB J.J. Arrington

Arrington served as the primary kick off returner.

RB Marcel Shipp (1 targets)

Shipp was not a factor in the game, and only received one target in the third quarter.

WR Troy Walters, Rec: 5 - 54 - 1 (8 targets)

Walters was the leading receiver in this game and scored the only touchdown in the air. He also doubled as the punt returner too. Walters mostly worked out of the slot, and was wide open for his touchdown.

WR Anquan Boldin, Rec: 4 - 47 - 0 (11 targets)

Boldin was Matt Leinart’s favorite target, but dropped a couple of passes, and had several others broken up, mostly by Al Harris. Boldin was responsible for several third down conversions, but was not a major factor in this game.

WR Bryant Johnson, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (5 targets)

Johnson was guilty of at least one dropped pass, but many of the passes thrown his way were not catchable.

WR Carlyle Holiday (1 targets)

Holiday was not a factor in the game.

TE Leonard Pope, Rec: 1 - 22 - 0 (2 targets)

Pope dropped one pass in the flat but caught a deep ball in the center seam that kept a drive alive. He was not a prime target in this offense.

TE Adam Bergen (1 targets)

Bergen was targeted on the first drive of the game but he was not involved much in the offense the remainder of the game.

PK Neil Rackers 0 - 0 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points

Rackers did not attempt any FGs and made his only two PATs.

ARI Rush Defense

In a word they were horrible, allowing the Packers to rush for 203 yards on 39 carries. They gave up three rushes over ten yards to Ahman Green and Vernand Morency. Green ran for two short touchdowns and Brett Favre ran for another on a rollout.

ARI Pass Defense

The pass defense allowed Brett Favre to complete 17 out of 25 attempts, and did not register a sack. All-Pro safety Adrian Wilson had only one solo tackle the entire game. His partner at safety, Robert Griffith led the team with ten tackles.

QB Brett Favre, Pass: 17 - 25 - 180 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - -5 - 1

Favre had a very good game, mixing short passes in with a very productive run game. He threw one short TD to TE David Martin and ran for a short TD on a rollout. He did not come close to throwing an INT. This is his third game in a row without an interception.

RB Ahman Green, Rush: 21 - 106 - 2, Rec: 2 - 27 - 0 (2 targets)

Green ran hard for the second week in a row, after sitting out for two weeks with hamstring woes. His long gain was 14 yards and had several runs of over ten yards. He shared the load with Morency and was very productive, scoring two touchdowns in the second quarter.

RB Vernand Morency, Rush: 11 - 101 - 0

Morency spelled Green and had his most productive game as a Packer RB. He broke one long gain of 36 yards and several others longer than seven yards. He spelled Green and kept him fresh.

RB Brandon Miree, Rec: 4 - 31 - 0 (4 targets)

Miree is the blocking back in the zone blocking scheme and was partially responsible for the success of the running game. In addition, he was an important check down target for Brett Favre in this game.

RB Noah Herron, Rush: 2 - 12 - 0

Herron came on in the fourth quarter once the game was decided and played the last series.

WR Donald Driver, Rec: 5 - 48 - 0 (9 targets)

Driver is Favre’s favorite target, mostly on short slants and outs this game. Although he did catch a 40 yard bomb that was called back by penalty. He twisted an ankle early in fourth quarter, so that bears watching.

WR Ruvell Martin, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (5 targets)

Martin is one of the young wide receivers on this team that is being forced into action with the injury to Robert Ferguson and the suspension of Koren Robinson. Martin is a tall WR with only average speed. His route running still needs work.

WR Chris Francies (3 targets)

Francies is in the same situation as Ruvell Martin, trying to find his way as a rookie, playing due to injury. Like Martin, his route running leaves a lot to be desired at this stage of his career.

TE David Martin, Rec: 4 - 48 - 1 (5 targets)

Martin was a frequent target in this game, in both short passes and deeper routes in the middle. He caught a short touchdown

TE Bubba Franks

Franks started the game but was not targeted at all during the game.

TE Donald Lee (1 targets)

Lee played in the three TE sets, and was targeted only once in the game.

PK Dave Rayner 1 - 1 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points

Rayner made a 42 yard field goal and four point after attempts.

GB Rush Defense

The Packers’ rush defense actually played pretty well, although they gave up 84 yards to Edgerrin James on 24 carries. They swarmed on defense and tackled with some authority this game. There were fewer missed tackles.

GB Pass Defense

Statistically this was perhaps their best game of the season, holding the Cardinals to a 40 percent completion percentage and 157 total yards passing. In addition, they sacked Matt Leinart four times, and pressured him many more times. CB’s Al Harris and Charles Woodson blanketed the primary Cardinal receivers. Al Harris had four pass deflections and Charles Woodson intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.