Green Bay Packers: 5 games they must win in 2015

When the Packers travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals in 2015 they need to bring their A-game. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Arizona Cardinals on the road

Playing on the road is never easy in the National Football League, unless you are the 2014 Dallas Cowboys, who won every one of their regular season road games.

That’s why this matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in the desert next year is key.

We all know what happened to the Cardinals in 2014. They got off to an incredible start, then lost starting quarterback Carson Palmer to a season-ending injury and never recovered.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.

Whether Palmer comes back 100 percent from that injury and can lead the Cardinals offense like he did in 2014 remains to be seen, but when you talk about the Cardinals, you’ve got to include their defense in the discussion.

Tough, relentless and really good at home is what the Cardinals defense is all about.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense will clearly be challenged by this Arizona defense … and we all know that when Rodgers goes up against teams that provide pressure with their front seven, he tends to struggle.

The Cardinals ranked ninth overall on defense in 2014 – giving up 368 yards per game. Those are not phenomenal statistics, but this is a team that can be scary on the defensive side of the ball.

Not only do they pressure the quarterback, but they also have a strong secondary that likes to take the ball away.

With 18 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries last season, Arizona finished with 25 takeaways in 2014.

Playing a Playoff qualifier on their home field is never an easy task.

That’s why this road game against the Arizona Cardinals will be key for the Packers in 2015.

Next: Number 4 top game the Packers must win in 2015