Spread: Packers by 1
Hash marks: These two teams haven’t met in the playoffs since January 1983, when Lynn Dickey was the Packers QB. . . . They’ve played 70 times all time, the first meeting in 1921. . . . The Packers have won seven of their last eight games. . . . The Cardinals were 5-3 in their last eight.
The Packers win if: They protect QB Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was sacked a league-leading 50 times this season as the Packers had difficulty finding any continuity up front. It was a phenomenal effort for Rodgers to have thrown just seven interceptions in the face of that kind of punishment and start all 16 games.
The Cardinals win if: They don’t fall into the Packers’ defensive trap. Nobody forced turnovers like Green Bay this season — the Packers led the league in both takeaways (40, including a league-leading 30 interceptions) and turnover margin (plus-24). When things go bad for the Cardinals, it’s because their high-flying offense hasn’t taken care of the ball.
Packers player on the spot: CB Charles Woodson. There were some in the league who said Woodson was their pick for defensive player of the year, and he most likely will get the matchup with Cardinals uber-receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals advanced to last season’s Super Bowl because nobody could cover Fitzgerald in January — an NFL-record 30 receptions in the postseason.
Cardinals player on the spot: DT Darnell Dockett. Dockett led NFL inside rushers with seven sacks this season. He’s also one of most explosive players off the snap and, when motivated, is difficult for guards especially to handle. The Packers have to keep him out of Rodgers’ face.
Bet you didn’t know: The Cardinals, who may have to play without injured WR Anquan Boldin (he suffered a sprained left ankle and sprained left knee last weekend against the Packers), are 5-1 in games Boldin has missed over his career.
Key matchup: Dockett vs. Packers G Josh Sitton. There is no reason for Dockett not to be fired up for this one. Sitton, in his second season, played in 50 games at Central Florida and at 6-feet-3, 322 pounds can play the power game. Dockett will try to use his quickness, so Sitton will have to be quick out of his stance and get into his pass sets without many false steps.
The call: Packers 27-23
Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post
