green bay packers vs arizona cardinals match player stats

When NFL franchises lock horns on the gridiron, the matchup brings a blend of history, high-flying offense, and tactical adjustments. A recent iteration of the classic Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals rivalry delivered a high-scoring thriller packed with dynamic individual performances, defensive game-changers, and special teams highlights.

The contest ended in a high-octane 42-38 victory for Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Despite Arizona racking up an eye-popping 492 total yards of offense compared to Green Bay’s 309 yards, the Packers executed when it mattered most, leveraging turnover free play, precise red-zone passing, and explosive special teams production.

The detailed breakdown of player stats, key drives, unit performances, and structural box scores illustrates how this matchup unfolded.

Game Overview and Box Score Summary

The matchup featured massive offensive swings, culminating in a 38-point second quarter and an 18-point fourth-quarter comeback drive by Green Bay.

Quarterly Scoring Breakdown

Team	1st Qtr	2nd Qtr	3rd Qtr	4th Qtr	Final Score
Green Bay Packers	3	21	0	18	42
Arizona Cardinals	3	17	11	7	38

Key Team Statistics

Metric	Green Bay Packers	Arizona Cardinals
Total Offensive Yards	309	492
Passing Yards	226	326
Rushing Yards	83	166
Turnovers Lost	0	2
First Downs	19	24
Sacks Allowed / Yards	3 / 27	3 / 23
Time of Possession	26:14	33:46

Quarterback Breakdown: Efficiency vs. Volume

The contrast in quarterback production defined the outcome of the contest. While Arizona employed a two-quarterback rotation that generated over 300 passing yards, Green Bay’s signal-caller protected the football and converted drives into touchdowns rather than field goals.

Passing Stat Comparison:
Green Bay: 22/35 | 226 YDS | 4 TD | 0 INT | Passer Rating: 119.5
Arizona:   28/44 | 349 YDS | 2 TD | 2 INT | Passer Rating:  84.4

Green Bay Packers Quarterback Performance

Kyle McCord: 22 completions on 35 attempts (62.8%), 226 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes, 0 interceptions.
- Passer Rating: 119.5
- Sacks Taken: 3 for 27 lost yards
- Analysis: McCord showed exceptional poise inside the pocket. His ability to refrain from risky throws kept Green Bay ahead in the turnover battle. His marquee moment came in the fourth quarter when he led a multi-score comeback, capped by touchdown passes under heavy pressure.

Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Performance

Gardner Minshew II: 7 completions on 9 attempts (77.8%), 126 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions.
- Passer Rating: 155.8
- Highlight: Minshew kicked off Arizona’s second-quarter scoring spree with a crisp 41-yard touchdown launch before turning the offense over.
Kedon Slovis: 21 completions on 35 attempts (60.0%), 223 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions.
- Passer Rating: 64.3
- Analysis: Slovis moved the ball effectively between the 20-yard lines, but two costly interceptions threw off momentum during crucial second-half possessions.

Rushing Attack: Ground Game Efficiency

Arizona dictated the pace on the ground for extended stretches, accumulating double the rushing yards of Green Bay.

Arizona Cardinals Rushing Stats

Evan Hull: 16 carries, 107 rushing yards, 6.7 YPC, 2 touchdowns (Long run of 47 yards).
Corey Kiner: 5 carries, 35 rushing yards, 7.0 YPC.
Kedon Slovis: 2 carries, 12 rushing yards.
Tre Stewart: 9 carries, 12 rushing yards.

Evan Hull served as the centerpiece of Arizona’s offense, breaking tackles and exploiting gaps along the interior line. His 47-yard touchdown run in the second quarter showcased home-run speed, while his 1-yard plunge in the third frame put the Cardinals ahead temporarily.

Green Bay Packers Rushing Stats

Jaden Nixon: 9 carries, 44 rushing yards, 4.9 YPC (Long run of 15 yards).
Damien Martinez: 3 carries, 23 rushing yards, 7.7 YPC.
Pierre Strong Jr.: 4 carries, 12 rushing yards, 3.0 YPC.
Kyle McCord: 1 carry, 4 rushing yards.

Green Bay struggled to establish a consistent running presence, tallying just 83 yards on 17 carries (4.9 yards per rush) with 0 rushing touchdowns. However, timely gains by Nixon and Martinez allowed the Packers to balance their passing sets in late-game situations.

Receiving Corps: Big Plays and Targeted Production

Both passing units stretched the field, combining for six receiving touchdowns and multiple gains of over 30 yards.

Green Bay Receiving Stats

Player	Receptions	Targets	Receiving Yards	Avg Per Catch	Touchdowns	Long Catch
J. Michael Sturdivant	6	7	112	18.7	1	36
Kisean Johnson	4	6	52	13.0	2	28
Will Sheppard	3	5	26	8.7	1	12
Bo Melton	2	4	18	9.0	0	11
Pierre Strong Jr.	2	3	10	5.0	0	7
Jaden Nixon	2	2	5	2.5	0	4
Drake Dabney	1	2	3	3.0	0	3

J. Michael Sturdivant posted a game-high 112 receiving yards on six catches. His speed on vertical routes consistently forced Arizona’s secondary into soft coverage, opening up room for Kisean Johnson, who secured two critical touchdown catches late in the fourth quarter.

Arizona Receiving Stats

Player	Receptions	Targets	Receiving Yards	Avg Per Catch	Touchdowns	Long Catch
Simi Fehoko	5	8	94	18.8	2	41
Rivaldo Fairweather	8	12	89	11.1	0	33
Jalen Brooks	4	4	57	14.3	0	20
Ihmir Smith-Marsette	2	4	41	20.5	0	22
Harrison Wallace III	3	5	32	10.7	0	15
Reggie Virgil	2	3	19	9.5	0	12
Evan Hull	2	2	12	6.0	0	8

Arizona relied heavily on tight end Rivaldo Fairweather as a security blanket underneath, resulting in 8 catches on 12 targets. Meanwhile, Simi Fehoko served as the deep threat, hauling in two touchdowns, including a 41-yard score.

Defensive Performance & Impact Plays

While the game produced 80 total points, defensive adjustments played a decisive role down the stretch.

Defensive Stat Summary:
Green Bay: 84 Total Tackles | 3 Sacks | 7 TFL | 2 INTs | 1 Def TD
Arizona:   47 Total Tackles | 3 Sacks | 4 TFL | 0 INTs | 0 Def TD

Defensive Stat Leaders

Green Bay Packers:
- Nyjalik Kelly: 5 tackles, 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss (TFL), 1 interception. Kelly’s interception flipped the field position in the first half, directly leading to a Green Bay score.
- Kristian Welch: 9 total tackles (5 solo), 1 TFL.
- Kitan Oladapo: 6 total tackles, 1 interception, 2 passes defended.
- Nazir Stackhouse: 4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits.
Arizona Cardinals:
- Owen Pappoe: 8 total tackles (6 solo), 1 TFL.
- BJ Ojulari: 4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hits.
- Kei’Trel Clark: 6 total tackles, 1 pass defended.
- Cameron Robertson: 5 tackles, 0.5 sacks.

Green Bay’s defense recorded 84 total tackles compared to Arizona’s 47 tackles. The Packers’ defense created leverage by accumulating 9 passes defended and 10 quarterback hits, forcing Slovis into rushed decisions during two second-half drives.

Special Teams and Kicking Game

Special teams proved to be the ultimate wildcard, providing the point buffer Green Bay needed to secure the victory.

Return Game Game-Changer

Will Sheppard (Green Bay): 1 punt return, 81 yards, 1 touchdown.
- Sheppard executed an 81-yard punt return return for a touchdown in the second half. That single play offset Arizona’s total offensive yardage dominance.
Harrison Wallace III (Arizona): 3 kick returns, 81 return yards (27.0 avg, long of 33).
Ihmir Smith-Marsette (Arizona): 2 kick returns, 44 return yards (22.0 avg).

Kicking & Punting Accuracy

Trey Smack (Green Bay):
- Field Goals: 2-for-2 (36 yards, 37 yards)
- Extra Points: 4-for-4
- Total Points: 10
Chad Ryland (Arizona):
- Field Goals: 3-for-3 (Long of 42 yards)
- Extra Points: 3-for-3
- Total Points: 12
Daniel Whelan (Green Bay Punting): 4 punts, 204 yards (51.0 average, long of 55, 2 inside the 20).
Jack Browning (Arizona Punting): 3 punts, 141 yards (47.0 average, 1 inside the 20).

Analytical Takeaways: How the Game Was Won

Despite losing the statistical battles in total yardage (492 to 309), first downs (24 to 19), and time of possession (33:46 to 26:14), the Green Bay Packers secured the win due to four specific operational metrics:

Zero Passing Turnovers: Green Bay did not commit a single giveaway, whereas Arizona threw two interceptions.
Special Teams Scoring: An 81-yard punt return touchdown produced 7 quick points without requiring offensive snaps.
Red-Zone Efficiency: The Packers converted 4 of 4 trips into the red zone into touchdowns.
Fourth-Quarter Finishing: Green Bay outscored Arizona 18-7 in the final frame to overturn a late deficit.

This matchup highlighted how high-level execution on special teams and turnover margin can overcome significant yardage deficits in high-scoring football games.