If Sunday reminded us anything about the NFL, it's how little we actually know for sure.
There will be lots of speculation in the coming weeks about the future of the Green Bay Packers, and where fired coach Mike McCarthy will land. That conjecture is inevitable. But Arizona's 20-17 victory over the Packers was so stunning, so against-all-odds weird, it's worth revisiting.
The Cardinals were 14-point underdogs and their other two wins this season came against the down-and-out San Francisco 49ers. This matchup was rookie quarterback Josh Rosen against Hall of Fame-bound Aaron Rodgers, who was 16-1 for his career in December games at Lambeau Field. And the Packers hadn't lost at home this season.
A dome team from the desert had no business winning a game that was 34 degrees at kickoff, and 23 degrees with the wind chill. What's more, Arizona's offensive line consisted of middle-round rookies and guys who joined the team only in the last 40 days.
The Cardinals were coming off a 35-point loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center, where visitors get the Four Seasons treatment, as opposed to playing at Lambeau, where the reliable season is sideways-blowing snow.
Speaking of Lambeau, that venerable stadium was still eight years away from being built when the Cardinals previously won in Green Bay (1949). Though, Curly Lambeau was coach of the Packers at the time.
All 20 of Arizona's points were attributable to players who had never before scored for the Cardinals, and kicker Zane Gonzalez, who had two field goals and an extra point, had never before experienced an NFL victory. The former Arizona State kicker making his Cardinals debut was on the 0-16 Cleveland Browns in 2017, then had another loss and a tie with them this year.
All in all, it was a strange and unforgettable day. And a reminder that in the NFL, you just never know.
