Arizona Cardinals vs Green Bay Packers Picks and Prediction for Friday August 28, 2026

The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers close out their 2026 preseason schedules Friday night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET, with NFL+ among the viewing options. Arizona enters at 1-2 after playing an extra preseason game because of its Hall of Fame appearance, while Green Bay is 1-1 after an impressive performance against Denver. Get ready for the regular season with our free NFL picks.

The current betting market makes Arizona a 2.5-point road favorite, with the Cardinals around -136 on the moneyline and Green Bay around +118. The total is 37.5. That line is interesting because Green Bay is coming off its best performance of the preseason, yet the market still gives Arizona the advantage on the road.

Cardinals Have More Preseason Reps Under Their Belt

Arizona has already played three preseason games because the Cardinals participated in the Hall of Fame game. That gives head coach Mike LaFleur's staff considerably more live-game material to evaluate as Arizona prepares to make its final roster decisions.

The Cardinals' most recent game didn't go nearly as well as they would have hoped. Arizona lost 34-13 to Dallas, dropping to 1-2. The Cowboys controlled the game early and built a 24-6 halftime advantage, putting Arizona's reserve units in catch-up mode for most of the evening.

One of the more important developments for Arizona during the preseason has been the work of Gardner Minshew. He was named the starter against Dallas, giving the Cardinals an experienced quarterback option as they evaluate the position behind their regular-season starter.

The extra preseason game could prove valuable Friday. By this point Arizona's younger players and reserves have accumulated four weeks of preparation and three actual games of evaluation. That's meaningful when handicapping a finale in which the bottom half of each roster can determine the outcome.

However, the Dallas result also exposed the downside. Arizona's depth was thoroughly outplayed, and that's concerning when facing a Green Bay team that received quality production throughout its lineup against Denver.

Packers Coming off Their Best Preseason Performance

Green Bay enters Friday's game after beating the Denver Broncos 33-13, improving to 1-1 in the preseason. The Packers generated points throughout the game rather than relying solely on their established starters, which is exactly what bettors should be looking for when evaluating a preseason finale.

Green Bay received an early touchdown when Jordan Love connected with MarShawn Lloyd for an 11-yard score. After the first-team work was completed, the Packers continued producing. Tyrod Taylor found Will Sheppard for a touchdown, and Green Bay carried a 23-10 advantage into halftime.

The Packers didn't stop scoring after halftime. Jaden Nixon added a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown, while kicker Trey Smack converted field goals from 51, 59, 43 and 49 yards. That ability to manufacture points without requiring touchdown drives on every possession becomes particularly valuable in a preseason game.

Green Bay's defensive performance was equally encouraging. Denver managed only 13 points, including just three in the second half. The Packers therefore demonstrated both offensive depth and the ability to keep an opponent from producing once the game shifted primarily toward reserves.

That's why I'm not particularly concerned about Green Bay's underdog status. Preseason betting isn't primarily about which regular-season roster is stronger. It's about which players are actually going to play and whether the second- and third-team units can execute. Green Bay just provided convincing evidence that its depth can do exactly that.

Arizona Cardinals vs Green Bay Packers Picks and Prediction

Pick: Green Bay Packers +2.5

I'm taking Green Bay +2.5. Arizona being favored on the road makes this an interesting number, but the evidence from the most recent round of preseason games pushes me toward the Packers.

Green Bay just beat Denver 33-13 and continued producing after the starters left the game. Taylor provided competent quarterback play, the running game contributed and the Packers received excellent production from their kicking unit. Those are all valuable attributes in a preseason finale.

Arizona, meanwhile, is coming off a 21-point loss to Dallas. The Cardinals have the advantage of having played an additional preseason game, but I don't think that outweighs what Green Bay demonstrated against Denver.

Getting 2.5 points at Lambeau Field is enough for me to take the underdog.

Take the Green Bay Packers +2.5.

Pick: Under 37.5

Under 37.5 is my total pick. Green Bay scoring 33 points against Denver makes this somewhat uncomfortable, but I'm more interested in what the Packers did defensively. They held Denver to 13 points and allowed only three points after halftime.

Arizona also scored just 13 points against Dallas. With the regular season approaching, neither coaching staff has much incentive to open the playbook, and the deepest portions of the rosters should receive substantial second-half work.

The Packers also have a kicking game capable of converting stalled possessions into three points. That can help Green Bay win without necessarily pushing the game toward a high total.

I have this matchup landing around 20-16 Green Bay, which produces 36 points and gives us a narrow cushion beneath 37.5.

Take Under 37.5.

Final Cardinals vs Packers Prediction

Arizona has the benefit of an additional preseason game and is currently favored, but Green Bay showed me more in its latest performance. The Packers beat Denver by 20 points, produced offensively with multiple units and played particularly well defensively after halftime.

With Green Bay getting points at home, I'm taking the Packers rather than laying a short road number with an Arizona team coming off a 34-13 loss.

Final Picks: Green Bay Packers +2.5 and Under 37.5.

Projected Score: Green Bay Packers 20, Arizona Cardinals 16.