Arizona Cardinals Crush Green Bay Packers To Clinch Playoff Bye

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Cardinals have dominated the competition all year long with veteran quarterback Carson Palmer under center. Last season, the Cardinals were one of the better teams in the NFC, but couldn’t keep their quarterbacks healthy. This year, everything has changed with Palmer finally healthy and being undisputed leader on this football team.

On Sunday, the Cardinals headed into their showdown with the Green Bay Packers with hopes of coming away with the win and a first-round bye in the upcoming NFL playoffs. Although Green Bay has struggled as of late, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians knew the team had a tough challenge ahead.

Unfortunately for the Packers, the Cardinals came to play on both sides of the football and crushed Aaron Rodgers and company. As a result, Arizona has clinched a playoff bye via Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com:

The Arizona Cardinals have played like the best team in the NFL all season long. On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers learned it the hard way in a 38-8 loss. The Cardinals clinch a playoff bye with the win.

Rodgers simply couldn’t stay upright in this game. The Cardinals kept constant pressure on the one-time Super Bowl champion with Rodgers being hit 14 times and sacked eight of those times.

Despite the fact the Carolina Panthers have only one loss on the season after falling to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, the Cardinals make a strong case to be the best team in the NFL right now. Palmer and company are firing on all cylinders on defense and offense with the team seemingly getting better week after week.

Arizona will be as tough to beat in the postseason as any team in the league. The Panthers and New England Patriots are among the cream of the crop, but the Cardinals may have the best all-around squad. As long as Palmer stays healthy, this team could end up lifting the Lombardi Trophy in February.