If keeping momentum was truly important to the Green Bay Packers, then they accomplished their goal in a 33-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers played three quarters and was nearly perfect, finishing 21 of 26 for 234 yards and a touchdown.
Charles Woodson took one of three Packers interceptions back 45 yards for a touchdown as the Packers won for the 7th time in the last 8 games and finished the regular season with an 11-5 record.
Arizona took a very conservative approach with this game, knowing well before kickoff that they would be facing the Packers in the opening round of the playoffs next week. The Cardinals (10-6) sat QB Kurt Warner after one quarter and most of Arizona’s first-team defense played only the first possession.
The game did have injuries to key players however. Packers defensive back Charles Woodson left the game with a shoulder injury late in the first half. On the Cardinals sideline, defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie suffered a bruised left knee and WR Anquan Boldin left the game with a right ankle injury.
Woodson’s interception return came off of Cardinals backup quarterback Matt Leinert. It was his third interception return for a touchdown this season and that is a Packers franchise record. Woodson also set a career best with his ninth interception this season and gives him 45 for his career.
The Packers return home and will spend the week in Green Bay preparing for next weekend’s playoff game against the Cardinals. The NFL hasn’t released it’s wild-card playoff lineup for next weekend, but there have been early reports from various sources that are suggesting the Packers will open the playoffs on Saturday.
I think this game was really fun to watch. Also going back to last weeks game, it’s really cool to see our back up quaterback get some playing time two weeks in a row! Can’t wait for the playoffs.