As it says in my bio, my goal is to watch the Green Bay Packers win in every stadium in the NFL. This week I marked another one off the list as I attended the Packers win in Arizona on Sunday afternoon.
Tailgating
Getting to the State Farm Stadium was an easy 30 minute ride from where I was staying in Scottsdale. Upon arriving, it was a short walk to the Great Lawn tailgating area outside of the stadium.
The Great Lawn is a large turf field filled with tents where people were cooking food, playing bags, and other usual tailgating activities. A large stage with a band was set up to play music. There was also a beer garden and a sportsbook on site, providing the opportunity to watch the early slate of NFL games.
It was obvious from early in the day that a lot of Packers fans were in attendance. Fans in green and gold seemed to outnumber those in Arizona Cardinals red.
State Farm Stadium
There wasn’t much that stood out about the stadium. It is a dome that lacks any real character.
A few positives were that the lines for security, concessions and restrooms all moved quickly. They also have a natural grass field which is a bonus for the players.
Atmosphere
Green Bay Packers fans are well known for traveling well. They showed up again in Arizona. Cardinals fans may have been outnumbered on Sunday.
“Go Pack Go” chants broke out multiple times during the game, even when the Packers were on offense which is something Packers fans are notorious for.
In his postgame press conference Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett revealed their offense had to use a silent count during the game due to the noise Packers fans were making. The crowd was especially loud during the final minutes of the game.
Getting a Road Win
The Packers got their first road win of the season on Sunday. While it wasn’t pretty, winning on the road in the NFL is never easy.
The Cardinals may have a 2-5 record, but all five losses have been by four points or less. They have been competitive in every game and are a tougher opponent than their record suggests.
Micah Parsons was the biggest story of the game. He finished with a career-high three sacks, two of those coming during the fourth quarter. His constant presence in the backfield sealed the victory for Green Bay. Surrounding Packers fan in my section were singing his praises all afternoon.
Final Thoughts
The trip to Arizona was well worth it. It is hard to beat the incredible fall weather and it made for a great day of tailgating and football.
Whether it was transplants from the midwest or people like myself wanting to enjoy some sun, Packers fans showed up by the thousands making it feel like a home game. Green Bay finding a way to win was icing on the cake.
The post In the Trenches for Green Bay Packers at Arizona first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.