Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about what they believe are the best remaining games in the NFL season.
Conventional thinking dictates that the only possible quality remaining games in the NFL season involve teams consistently in the national conversation. My colleagues will argue that only Pittsburgh or Baltimore or Philadelphia or Dallas – teams that are always “in the conversation” – are playing in games worth watching as the 2009 regular season comes to a conclusion. I say, whatever happened to good, old fashioned football? Give me a couple of talented team with loads of talent – and a few question marks – and I will give you the best game left in the NFL season featuring the Green Bay Packers visit to sunny Arizona to take on the Cardinals in Week 17.
All of the metrics necessary to evaluate quality are in place. Arizona is a division winner already while Green Bay has nearly locked up a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. It is quite possible that when the teams meet next week to close out the regular season they will be vying for 11 win seasons.
Plus, expectations for both teams were moderate entering the season.
The Arizona Cardinals had turned over important defensive players, had a star receiver in Anquan Boldin trying to complain his way off the team, and an offensive coordinator in Todd Haley that took the head coaching position in Kansas City. For a team that reached the Super Bowl a season ago – and nearly beat the Pittsburgh Steelers – underwent a great deal of change, but managed to win its division again in 2009.
The Packers were supposed to be a solid team in 2009, but were not playoff lock by any stretch. Aaron Rodgers and the offense have put up some impressive numbers, but questions surrounding the defense persisted, and a switch from a 4-3 scheme in 2008 to a Dom Capers led 3-4 scheme in 2009 – without a substantial changeover in personnel – was cause for alarm in Cheesehead country.
Both teams have come through the season and passed a variety of tests with flying colors, winning tough games when necessary and surviving close ones each was “supposed” to win. The two teams are even similar statistically on offense. The Packers are seventh in the league in offense putting up 27.1 points per game and the Cardinals are eleventh at 24.1 points per game. The Packers are eighth in passing yards putting up 262.9 a game, and the Cardinals finish eleventh again with 256.1 per game. The Packers slightly separate from the Cardinals with a strong 46.6 percent success rate on third down.
Both have middle of the pack defenses. The Packers are 11th the league in defense allowing 20 points per game, and the Cardinals are 12th allowing 20.1 points per game.
In short, these teams are even, they have compelling season stories, and both enter the final game of the season again a team needing to prove they belong in the playoffs. The Arizona Cardinals enter the 2009 post-season much the way the team did last season when it surprised the Carolina Panthers – and the NFC – en route to the Super Bowl. This season’s Green Bay Packers team shares some similarities with that Cardinals team, too. Steady improvement through the season, proven coaching, disciplined players are all hallmarks of quality teams – and traits these two teams share.
If you are in search of a great football game to watch in the NFL before the regular season ends, look no further than this game between two talented, evenly matched teams. The Green Bay Packers visit to Arizona to face the Cardinals next weekend is the best game remaining in the 2009 NFL regular season.
