The Arizona Cardinals (-6.5) are rolling. Kyler Murray has been playing MVP caliber football while leading his team to an undefeated 7-0 record. After two years of false starts, the Cardinals appear to have built the kind of momentum that can carry them through an entire regular season and into the playoffs.
The Green Bay Packers were rolling. The Pack got starched in their season opener by an enigmatic New Orleans Saints team, then ripped off six straight wins to reclaim their spot atop the NFC North. But their streak may not be derailed by solely by a superior team (though the Cardinals certainly look like one), but COVID-19.
Green Bay will be without defensive coordinator Joe Barry, valued target and downfield blocker Allen Lazard as well as star wide receiver Davante Adams due to virus protocols. They’ll join the sideline alongside Pro Bowlers David Bahktiari, Jaire Alexander, and Za’Darius smith, all of whom have missed extended time this fall due to injury.
That’s bad news for a team whose winning streak included just one game against a team that currently has a record above .500 — and even that was a few feet away from a Cincinnati Bengal win. Arizona-Green Bay was supposed to be a preview of a playoff showdown. Instead, it could be a test of the Packers’ resilience and a tempting “what if” to tide us over until January.
Can Green Bay slap some Flex Seal over its puncture-ridden raft and paddle to victory anyway? Or has a path been cleared for the Cardinals to slide to 8-0? Let’s talk about it. All odds via Tipico