Packers vs. Cardinals 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch NFL playoffs online
The Packers get another shot at the soaring Cardinals.
Back in Week 16, the Arizona Cardinals demolished the Green Bay Packers by a score of 38-8. The two teams meet again with much more at stake Saturday night on NBC in the Divisional round of the NFC playoffs.
For much of the year, Green Bay has struggled to produce much in the way of effective offense. The ground attack of Eddie Lacy and James Starks disappeared for weeks at a time, forcing the passing game to carry the load. While that normally wouldn't present many issues for the Packers, the preseason loss of Jordy Nelson to a torn ACL along with injuries to Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and James Jones limited the team's effectiveness.
Aaron Rodgers endured the worst season statistically since becoming a starter, completing just 60.7 percent of his passes for 3,821 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Those aren't terrible numbers by the standards of most quarterbacks, but they represent a steep decline for the league's reigning MVP. Overall, the Packers dropped from the No. 1 scoring offense to 15th.
However, the light finally came on for Green Bay last weekend. After falling into an 11-0 hole and missing seven of his first eight passes, Rodgers got hot after completing a 24-yard bomb to Jones in the second quarter. From that point on, Rodgers and the offense seemed to have little trouble moving the ball. Even the ground game picked up its play, as Lacy and Starks averaged 5.3 and 4.4 yards per carry, respectively. Both also found their way into the end zone.
In the end, the Packers trounced Washington, 35-18.
Still, while the Packers have just now rediscovered their mojo, the Cardinals never lost theirs. Quarterback Carson Palmer enjoyed the best season of his career, completing 63.7 percent of his passes for a whopping 4,671 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The main beneficiary of his success was veteran wideout Larry Fitzgerald, who led the team with 1,215 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. It was Fitzgerald's first season with over 1,000 yards receiving since 2011.
Meanwhile, the ground game succeeded early on due to the resurgent efforts of free agent addition Chris Johnson. After some disappointing years in Tennessee and New York -- not to mention a scary offseason drive-by shooting that took the life of one of his friends -- Johnson found the fountain of youth in the desert. In 11 games, he ran for 814 yards at a 4.2 clip, his best numbers on a per game basis since 2012.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Johnson broke his leg late in the year and landed on short-term injured reserve. His only chance to play again this season is if Arizona ends up in Santa Clara for the Super Bowl.
Johnson's absence did not leave the offense totally devoid of a running threat, though. Rookie David Johnson took the reins, and busted out in a major way just before Christmas. In a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the younger Johnson rushed 29 times for an astounding 187 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 42 yards as a receiver. His development may have actually improved Arizona's offense, making the league's top scoring unit even scarier in the postseason.
How to watch
When: 8:15 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
TV: NBC
Commentators: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
Online: NBC Sports
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