The Green Bay Packers eked out a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on the road in what was their first one-score win of the 2025 season on Sunday.
Here are some quick takeaways on Green Bay’s win in the desert:
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Biggest play
Matt LaFleur’s play call on 3rd-and-1 with the Packers driving to try to take the lead was mind boggling, but his aggressiveness in sending the offense back out on 4th-and-2, eschewing a game-tying field goal, was rewarded.
Tucker Kraft showed once again why is a go-to guy in this offense, picking up the first down and pushing Green Bay into the red zone. Scoring the touchdown on that drive completely changed the complexion of Arizona’s final drive, with a field goal doing them no good due to a four-point deficit.
Standout player
Micah Parsons has already proven why he was worth everything the Packers gave up to get him, but today was emphatic confirmation. When the team needed him to make a play, he made it, including the key sack on the Cardinals’ final drive, which knocked them back to a 2nd-and-19 they never recovered from. It was the first three-sack game in Parsons’ career and easily his most impactful performance as a Packer.
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Reason for optimism
The Packers showed they can overcome adversity today, and also that they are capable of playing from behind. Those two things had not really been tested early in the season.
After the travel issues last night, and a first half in which it seemed everything went against them, it would have been easy to wilt, but the Packers stayed in the fight and eventually came out on top. Those things matter, especially in the playoffs.
Although it was not pretty, Green Bay showed they are the kind of team who can keep battling for 60 minutes and find a way.
Cause for concern
There were reasonable excuses to be made for Green Bay’s corners getting bested by the likes of George Pickens, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in recent weeks, but another poor showing, especially from Nate Hobbs, is certainly a legitimate worry.
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In fairness, Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. are the type of big-bodied pass catchers who can beat the best of cornerbacks at the catch point, but it felt like every time Jacoby Brissett heaved a hopeful ball downfield, the Cardinals came down with it.
Maybe the Packers’ corners will go on to prove that recipe is not sustainable – they held up well against the Commanders receivers when tested back in Week 2 – and it did certainly feel like Brissett was just on a hot streak today, but until they produce better results, the play of the cornerback group is going to be a talking point.
Injuries
Josh Jacobs seemed to make it through the game without aggravating his calf injury, and pretty much looked like Josh Jacobs.
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However, Dontayvion Wicks left the game with a calf injury of his own and did not return. LaFleur was not asked about Wicks’ injury postgame, so updates will have to wait until his first media session of next week.
Other notes
— The Packers scored exactly 27 points for the fourth time this season. They are averaging just under 27 points (26.33) on the season after averaging 27.1 last year. It’s been a remarkable level of consistency.
— Lucas Havrisik will be a great trivia answer some day, after making a franchise record 61-yard field goal to cut the Cardinals’ lead to seven points at halftime. Those three points turned out to be pretty helpful. He deserves immense credit for the job he has done in the last two weeks.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Quick takeaways from Packers win over Cardinals: Green Bay finds a way
