It is a family affair at Lambeau Field on Friday night. Cardinals offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur takes on his brother, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, when Arizona visits Green Bay at 8 p.m. ET in the preseason finale. The teams practiced together this week, which means the coaching staffs have already gotten a long look at each other's rosters — and the starters on both sides are expected to sit.
Cardinals at Packers: How to Watch at Lambeau
Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT) Friday from Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The game airs on NFL+ and in local markets. With the 53-man roster cutdown next week, this is the final audition for players on the bubble in both camps.
Jordan Love and the Starters Get Their Work in Practice
The Packers held joint practices with the Cardinals this week, and that is where Jordan Love and Jacoby Brissett got their reps. Neither is expected to play much, if at all, Friday night. That leaves Kyle McCord to handle the bulk of Green Bay's snaps — a big opportunity for the young quarterback to show he belongs on the roster.
McCord has looked comfortable running the offense in the first two preseason games, and the Packers want to see him string together a full game against live competition. His performance Friday could determine whether Green Bay carries two or three quarterbacks into the regular season.
Carson Beck's Status Clouds Arizona's Night
Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck missed Wednesday's practice and is highly doubtful for Friday, which means Kedon Slovis is in line for significant work. Gardner Minshew has thrown plenty this preseason with Beck out, so the Cardinals have options — but none of them have separated themselves as the clear answer behind the starter.
Arizona's defense has been the brighter spot of its camp, and the Cardinals will want to see that group finish the preseason strong against Green Bay's backup-laden offense. The joint practices have already given both teams a feel for the matchup, which should make for a cleaner, more competitive exhibition than the usual preseason fare.
Cardinals at Packers Prediction: Green Bay's Depth Wins the Brother Bowl
The Packers have the more settled quarterback situation with McCord getting extended run, while Arizona's uncertainty behind Beck makes the Cardinals harder to trust. Lambeau Field, even in a preseason game, is a real home-field advantage, and Green Bay's roster depth has been a talking point all camp.
Prediction: Packers 23, Cardinals 17. Kyle McCord outplays the Arizona backup committee, and Matt LaFleur gets bragging rights over his brother in a tight, competitive finale.
Nathan Caldwell
Nathan Caldwell edits and writes multi-sport coverage for True Grit Sports, turning game notes, market movement, and key trends into readable context.