NEWSLETTER
This week’s edition of Thursday Night Football pits an up-and-coming Cardinals team that once had residence in Chicago long ago against a Packers team that remains a thorn in the side of football fans of this fair city.
But more than that, this game could be one of those passing-of-the-torch type of deals.
If you’re reading this, you’re familiar with Aaron Rodgers’ exploits. So, with that in mind, I won’t go any further. Even if I did want to do so, I’d get sick of writing about it just as you’d be likely to be sick of reading it. Instead, let’s get to know Kyler Murray, who is the betting favorite to dethrone Rodgers as NFL MVP.
Simply put, Murray is sick with it. Through seven games, Murray already has 2,002 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions. His 116.8 passer rating is nifty, as is the fact that he has 126 rushing yards and 3 ground scores on 43 carries. Extrapolate his numbers over a full 17-game season and we’re looking at 4,862 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions to go along with 103 carries, 306 rushing yards, and 7 rushing touchdowns. The future is here. And it wears No. 1 for football’s Redbirds.
The Bears will get an up-close look at Murray in Week 13. Hopefully, they’ll make use of that mini-bye that comes before that game and after Thanksgiving. In the meantime, buckle up.
Game Info
Green Bay Packers (6-1, 1st NFC North) at Arizona Cardinals (7-0, 1st NFC West) – FOX, NFL Network (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink), Westwood One (Tom McCarthy, Mike Golic), Prime (Andrea Kremer, Hannah Storm), Prime Scouts (Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah, Joy Taylor), FOX Deportes (Jorge Pérez Navaarro, Ronaldo Cantú)
Kickoff Time: 7:20 p.m. CT
Site: State Farm Stadium; Glendale, Ari.
Referee: Alex Kemp
Odds: ARI -6, O/U 50.5 (via DraftKings Sports Book)
Game Thread
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun!
Coaches
Packers: Matt LaFleur (32-7) vs. Cardinals: Kliff Kingsbury (20-18-1)
Starting QBs and Projected Game Stats
Packers: Aaron Rodgers: 25/38, 259 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 2 carry, 9 rushing yards
versus
Cardinals: Kyler Murray: 21/32, 241 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 6 carries, 21 rushing yards
Projected stats via ESPN
Packers Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Aaron Rodgers
• RB Aaron Jones
• WRs Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown
• TEs Robert Tonyan
• LT Elgton Jenkins, LG Jon Runyan, C Lucas Patrick, RG Royce Newman, RT Billy Turner
Defense
• DEs Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, NT Kenny Clark
• OLBs Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, ILBs Krys Barnes, De’Vondre Campbell
• CBs Eric Stokes, Isaac Yiadom
• S Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage
Specialists
• Mason Crosby (kicker), Corey Bojorquez (punter, holder), Hunter Bradley (long snapper), Kylin Hill, Amari Rodgers (kick and punt returns)
Cardinals Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Kyler Murray
• RB Chase Edmonds
• WRs DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, Christian Kirk
• TEs Zach Ertz
• LT DJ Humphries, LG Justin Pugh, C Sean Harlow, RG Josh Jones, RT Kelvin Beachum
Defense
• DE Michael Dogbe, DL Leki Foto, DE Zach Allen
• WLB Chandler Jones, ILBs Jordan Hicks, Isaiah Simmons, SLB Markus Golden
• LCB Byron Murphy Jr., RCB Robert Alford
• FS Budda Baker, SS Jalen Thompson
Specialists
• Matt Prater (kicker), Andy Lee (punter, holder), Aaron Brewer (long snapper), Rondale Moore and Christian Kirk (kick and punt returns)
Inactives
Week 8 Inactives: pic.twitter.com/Byd27bhOfl
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 28, 2021
Full #Packers inactives at Cardinals:
LB Jaylon Smith
CB Kevin King
S Vernon Scott
LB La'Darius Hamilton
T Dennis Kelly
DL Jack Heflin— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) October 28, 2021
