• CARDINALS vs. PACKERS
• 1:25 p.m. Sunday
• State Farm Stadium
• Line: Cardinals +6.5 (For more NFL odds, visit the BetMGM online sportsbook)

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NAME: PARIS JOHNSON JR.

Playing left tackle, especially if your quarterback is right-handed, may be the most important position along the offensive line. The left tackle protects the quarterback's blindside. The left tackle often faces the opponent's No. 1 pass rusher. And on Sunday, Paris Johnson Jr. will line up across from one of the best edge players in the game in Micah Parsons. Though the sack total (2.5) isn't there (yet) for Parsons, the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro has been a consistent presence in opposing backfields. Parsons has recorded the third-most pressures (30) in the league, and last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, he finished with a game-high five pressures, his third game with five or more, the most of any player. In other words, Johnson is in for a challenge, which he readily accepts each week.

-- Craig Grialou

NUMBER: 3

Note: We've repeatedly tried to submit '6,7' as our number. Alas, like the meaning within the viral meme itself: #Denied. So, we'll call an audible and go with 3. As in, the money down. Good news -- the AZ D sports the seventh-best third-down defense in the league (allowing a conversion rate of just 36 percent). Here's the sobering news/challenge -- the Packers offense leads the NFL in third-down conversion rate (52.3 percent) and it's the highest conversion rate by any team since the 2011 Saints. Simply put, can third down become '6,7' time for the Cards defense - #Denied?

-- Paul Calvisi

NUANCE: ONE PLAY AWAY

When the Cardinals say they're "close" to winning games, they're not wrong. The last four losses have come by a combined nine points, which means this team is just one play away from turning those losses into wins. There aren't moral victories in the NFL, but it does mean something that despite the last month's results, this team has never lacked grit or fight because that can be tough to recreate if it's lost. It's clear this locker room is more determined than ever to turn things around. There are plenty of positives to carry into the Packers game from last week, especially in the pass game. If the Cardinals can execute on just a few more plays early on and keep their opponents out of the end zone late in the fourth quarter, they'll be in decent shape heading into the bye week with lots of football still to be played.

-- Dani Sureck