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After beating the Cincinnati Bengals at home in Week 6, the Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) will begin a two-game road trip with a visit to Phoenix to play the Arizona Cardinals (2-4) on Sunday at State Farm Stadium.
Like the Bengals, the Cardinals started 2-0. Like the Bengals, the Cardinals haven't won since -- losing four straight games, including a close defeat last week without starting quarterback Kyler Murray.
Can the Packers keep the reeling Cardinals in free fall while starting the road trip with a conference win?
Here's a closer look at the Cardinals entering Week 7:
Even without Kyler Murray, the Cardinals led 17-14, 24-17 and 27-24 in the second half against the one-loss Indianapolis Colts last Sunday but failed to hang on late -- allowing a long touchdown drive in the fourth quarter and then turning the ball over on downs on 4th-and-7 from the Colts' 9-yard line with under a minute left. Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett helped the Cardinals gain 400 total yards, convert 9-of-14 opportunities on third down and engineer four scoring drives of at least 65 yards. Trey McBride and Greg Dortch caught touchdown passes from Brissett, and six different receivers had a catch of at least 20 yards. The Cardinals defense gave up three total touchdowns to Daniel Jones and 123 rushing yards to Jonathan Taylor. The Colts, meanwhile, produced an interception and 12 quarterback hits on Brissett.
The Cardinals remade the defense during the offseason, signing edge rusher Josh Sweat, defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither while also drafting cornerback Will Johnson in the second round. It was a group that desperately needed an infusion of talent. Adding Jacoby Brissett, a veteran quarterback, is already paying off with an injury to Kyler Murray. Veteran receiver Zay Jones has 10 catches.
The Packers will either face Kyler Murray or Jacoby Brissett, depending on the status of Murray's foot injury. Murray is a mobile, creative playmaker who likes to hold the football and make off-schedule plays with his legs. Brisset is a veteran passer who can be accurate and safe with the ball from the pocket. The Cardinals scored over 21 points just once in Murray's five starts but scored 27 on Sunday with Brissett, who had the team's first 300-yard passing game of the season. Murray is more accurate, and a better playmaker overall, but he'll take sacks and allow negative plays. The Cardinals scored just 13 points with him under center at Lambeau Field last season. Brissett has started 54 career games and is more than just a game managing backup, but there's a reason why he's never held a starting job and is just 19-35 overall as a starter.
Paris Johnson (2023 first-round pick) has developed into a quality left tackle, but the rest of the offensive line is average at best and lacks depth at key spots. By PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric, the Cardinals rank 12th. This offensive line looks far better protecting the quarterback than clearing holes in the run game. Defensively, the Cardinals rank 30th in PFF's run defense grade and 27th in pass-rushing grade, but there are good players up front for Jonathan Gannon. Josh Sweat, Baron Browning and Calais Campbell have combined for 10 sacks, 21 quarterback hits and 13 tackles for loss.
The Cardinals are even in the turnover department: seven takeaways, seven giveaways. Over the four-game losing streak, the Cardinals have turned the ball over six times, including multiple key giveaways in losses to the Titans and Seahawks. Arizona's defense, meanwhile, has four interceptions and three forced fumbles, including two strip sacks from Josh Sweat.
Jonathan Gannon's team is hurting. Kyler Murray has an uncertain status due to a foot injury, Marvin Harrison Jr. is in concussion protocol and several important players on injured reserve, including running backs James Conner and Trey Benson and defensive lineman LJ Collier.
TE Trey McBride: The 25-year-old tight end caught 111 passes last season and already has 37 in six games in 2025. He's a high volume target who does most of his work underneath and after the catch.
CB Will Johnson: The rookie has been terrific in coverage, allowing only 79 yards on 23 targets into his coverage. When healthy, Johnson has lockdown ability on the perimeter.
LB Baron Browning: Versatile and disruptive. Browning has 19 pressures, an interception, two sacks and a fumble recovery in six games. But he has missed a team-high eight tackles.
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither: The former Bengal is a four-down player, and he's second on the defense in tackles and first in special teams tackles.
CB Max Melton: Bo's younger brother hasn't allowed a touchdown catch this season, but he has given up a team-high 249 yards into his coverage, and he's missed seven tackles.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Cardinals: 7 things to know about Green Bay's Week 7 opponent
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Like the Bengals, the Cardinals started 2-0. Like the Bengals, the Cardinals haven't won since -- losing four straight games, including a close defeat last week without starting quarterback Kyler Murray.
Can the Packers keep the reeling Cardinals in free fall while starting the road trip with a conference win?
Here's a closer look at the Cardinals entering Week 7:
Last week
Even without Kyler Murray, the Cardinals led 17-14, 24-17 and 27-24 in the second half against the one-loss Indianapolis Colts last Sunday but failed to hang on late -- allowing a long touchdown drive in the fourth quarter and then turning the ball over on downs on 4th-and-7 from the Colts' 9-yard line with under a minute left. Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett helped the Cardinals gain 400 total yards, convert 9-of-14 opportunities on third down and engineer four scoring drives of at least 65 yards. Trey McBride and Greg Dortch caught touchdown passes from Brissett, and six different receivers had a catch of at least 20 yards. The Cardinals defense gave up three total touchdowns to Daniel Jones and 123 rushing yards to Jonathan Taylor. The Colts, meanwhile, produced an interception and 12 quarterback hits on Brissett.
Newcomers
The Cardinals remade the defense during the offseason, signing edge rusher Josh Sweat, defensive linemen Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither while also drafting cornerback Will Johnson in the second round. It was a group that desperately needed an infusion of talent. Adding Jacoby Brissett, a veteran quarterback, is already paying off with an injury to Kyler Murray. Veteran receiver Zay Jones has 10 catches.
Quarterback play
The Packers will either face Kyler Murray or Jacoby Brissett, depending on the status of Murray's foot injury. Murray is a mobile, creative playmaker who likes to hold the football and make off-schedule plays with his legs. Brisset is a veteran passer who can be accurate and safe with the ball from the pocket. The Cardinals scored over 21 points just once in Murray's five starts but scored 27 on Sunday with Brissett, who had the team's first 300-yard passing game of the season. Murray is more accurate, and a better playmaker overall, but he'll take sacks and allow negative plays. The Cardinals scored just 13 points with him under center at Lambeau Field last season. Brissett has started 54 career games and is more than just a game managing backup, but there's a reason why he's never held a starting job and is just 19-35 overall as a starter.
Line of scrimmage
Paris Johnson (2023 first-round pick) has developed into a quality left tackle, but the rest of the offensive line is average at best and lacks depth at key spots. By PFF's pass-blocking efficiency metric, the Cardinals rank 12th. This offensive line looks far better protecting the quarterback than clearing holes in the run game. Defensively, the Cardinals rank 30th in PFF's run defense grade and 27th in pass-rushing grade, but there are good players up front for Jonathan Gannon. Josh Sweat, Baron Browning and Calais Campbell have combined for 10 sacks, 21 quarterback hits and 13 tackles for loss.
Turnovers
The Cardinals are even in the turnover department: seven takeaways, seven giveaways. Over the four-game losing streak, the Cardinals have turned the ball over six times, including multiple key giveaways in losses to the Titans and Seahawks. Arizona's defense, meanwhile, has four interceptions and three forced fumbles, including two strip sacks from Josh Sweat.
Injury situation
Jonathan Gannon's team is hurting. Kyler Murray has an uncertain status due to a foot injury, Marvin Harrison Jr. is in concussion protocol and several important players on injured reserve, including running backs James Conner and Trey Benson and defensive lineman LJ Collier.
Players to know
TE Trey McBride: The 25-year-old tight end caught 111 passes last season and already has 37 in six games in 2025. He's a high volume target who does most of his work underneath and after the catch.
CB Will Johnson: The rookie has been terrific in coverage, allowing only 79 yards on 23 targets into his coverage. When healthy, Johnson has lockdown ability on the perimeter.
LB Baron Browning: Versatile and disruptive. Browning has 19 pressures, an interception, two sacks and a fumble recovery in six games. But he has missed a team-high eight tackles.
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither: The former Bengal is a four-down player, and he's second on the defense in tackles and first in special teams tackles.
CB Max Melton: Bo's younger brother hasn't allowed a touchdown catch this season, but he has given up a team-high 249 yards into his coverage, and he's missed seven tackles.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Cardinals: 7 things to know about Green Bay's Week 7 opponent
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