When the Packers face Arizona on Sunday afternoon at University of Phoenix Stadium, the big story will be the veteran Super Bowl Champion against the first time playoff starter Aaron Rodgers. Both are arguably two of the biggest names at the quarterback position and both will play a major role in whether or not their team advances beyond round one. For the Packers, winning or losing may well be determined by whether or not the offensive line can play like they did the second half of the season, or if they revert back to the group that started 2009.

A loss at Tampa Bay in week nine had the Packers staring .500 right in the face. Rodgers was taking a beating, sacked 37 times in those first eight games. Ryan Grant was struggling to find running room as well, averaging just over 77-yards per game. The Packers were at a cross-roads, one that would either find them in the post-season, or sitting at home watching. It all had to start up front.

In the final eight games of the season things have looked far different for Green Bay. Rodgers has spent less time on the ground, sacked only 13 times and Grant has found his groove, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and finding the endzone seven times (he finished with 11 touchdowns on the season). The result: a 7-1 finish, a Wild Card berth and the title of the hottest team in the NFC.

Nobody can honestly say that they want to play Green Bay right now. In their game last week the Packers had 14-0 lead before the Cardinals pulled their starters, and the lead ballooned to 33-0 before the fourth quarter. While Sunday should offer a more competitive game, the Packers seem primed to make a run in the playoffs, but they won't be able to do it without the offensive line getting their job done.

Aaron Rodgers doesn't throw interceptions anyhow, which undoubtedly contributed to his high number of sacks, but if he gets time he will make this Arizona defense pay. The Cardinals were  the 23rd ranked passing defense in the NFL this season, and with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie hurting Rodgers will be able to exploit his matchups with some solid blocking.

The Cardinals were no slouch at getting to opposing quarterbacks in 2009. With 43 sacks on the season, they were sixth in the NFL, and three players registered at least five sacks for the Cardinals in 2009 led by Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell who both had seven. Finding a way to get to Rodgers without being burned will be a major key for Arizona if they want to make another run towards the Super Bowl.

Football starts "in the trenches." The Packers dismal start to the season can be directly linked to poor offensive line play. It's no surprise that since the Packers have started to protect him better, and with a few tweeks to the offensive scheme, the Packers have won football games, and a lot of them.

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