The Green Bay Packers enter Week Three against another division rival in the Detroit Lions. This will be the 172nd meeting between both teams dating back to 1930, when the Lions visited City Stadium in Green Bay. This season marks the first time in the modern era of the NFL dating to 1970, that the Green Bay Packers are playing their first home game in Week Three of the season.
This will also be the first time since 2008 that Green Bay has played against division opponents in two of the first three games. Considering the way things have gone in the first two games of the 2016 season, expect some fireworks on Sunday against the Lions. Hopefully, we won’t have to visit the Hail Mary again. Here are a few keys to victory for the Packers to lean on against those Lions from Detroit.
Green Bay Packers Week Three Keys to Victory
Eddie Lacy needs at least 15 carries
Let’s face it. The Green Bay Packers need to feed the beast. And that beast is Eddie Lacy. The Packers gave Lacy only 14 carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and a saddening 12 carries against the Minnesota Vikings. He has been essentially phased out of games. Stretching back to last season, Lacy hasn’t been given 15 carries in any one of the last seven games; a significant waste of his talent.
The proof is in the numbers. In 2015, Lacy was given the ball over 15 times only five times and still averaged 100.8 yards per game. The success of the Packers starts with Lacy and the tempo he can set. Green Bay has been giving up on him way too early and not allowing his bruising style to come to fruition. His steady, hammering style will wear defenses down and open up the passing attack. This can’t happen unless the coaches get the ball in the hands of Lacy.
Head coach Mike McCarthy seems to have recognized this issue and addressed it after the loss to Minnesota by saying that, “The analysis of our offense after two games, the running backs have not been given enough opportunities. So that’s something that I need to focus on.”
The Packers have faced way too many second and eleven’s or second and twelve’s the past couple of weeks. Once again, Eddie Lacy can help reduce that.
Richard Rodgers & Jared Cook Against Lions Lack of Linebackers
If there has ever been a time for these two tight ends to step up and break out, it is now. The deep ball seems to be out of the question. Perhaps it’s time to utilize these two players more prominently. During the off-season, general manager Ted Thompson went out and shocked us all with the signing of free agent tight end Jared Cook. Was it a blockbuster deal? No. Was it the signing to change the league? No. It was just a signing. And that’s more than what Packer fans are used to. Since coming to the team, Cook has flashed the potential for something that could be fun to watch between him and Aaron Rodgers.
On the other side is third-year man Richard Rodgers, a highly underrated player. Rodgers was criticized last year for his lack of burst and speed. A fair assessment, yet his numbers were up in the top-tier category. He was one of only four tight ends in the NFL last season to register 55-plus catches, 500-plus receiving yards and eight or more touchdown receptions (Rob Gronkowski, Jordan Reed, Gary Barnidge).
Both of Detroit’s starting linebackers have been battling injuries. Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy is doubtful with a quadriceps injury, leaving the team with only a little hope he will be cleared to play Sunday at Green Bay after he was inactive against the Tennessee Titans. Levy missed much of last season with a hip injury.
Levy and linebacker Antwione Williams, who has a hamstring injury, didn’t practice Friday. Williams is also doubtful to face the Packers, which leaves only three active linebackers on their defense: third-year starter Kyle Van Noy, fifth-year veteran Tahir Whitehead, and second-year player Thurston Armbrister.
It doesn’t get much better than that for opposing tight ends. This is Cook’s time to shine and Rodgers’ opportunity to remind the league he’s more than just a game-winning, Hail Mary catching legend.
Can Green Bay’s Front Seven Shut Down Theo Riddick?
The one thing that has been seemingly consistent during these first two weeks has been the Green Bay front seven. The defense has been nothing short of stellar against the run. In Week One, the Packers shut down young backs T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson to the tune of only 46 total yards. In Week Two, Green Bay faced off against division rival and foe, Adrian Peterson. Peterson left the game early. He was held to only 19 yards on 12 carries.
Green Bay enters week three as the number one ranked rush defense in the NFL, allowing an average of 39 yards per game, an absolutely incredible stat. With Detroit’s top running back Ameer Abdullah out with an injury, the bulk of the workload will be put on Theo Riddick. Riddick has 82 yards on 18 carries for the season. However, it is Riddick’s ability to catch the ball that will give the most fits to the Green Bay defense, and the Packers will also be without veteran nose tackle Letroy Guion this week after he suffered a sprained MCL.
Conclusion
Green Bay’s struggles have been front page news now since Sunday night. If the Packers continue to struggle and lose two consecutive meetings against division rivals, then there is concern that the world could flip upside down. However, this is poised to be the perfect opportunity to regroup and get back to what the Packers have been so good at for so long. With Ameer Abdullah out, the Lions’ best pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah out, and no Calvin Johnson, the Packers should be able to wrap this one up. But if there is one thing that Packer fans have been getting to know, it’s that nothing is a sure thing anymore.
Prediction: Green Bay 34 Detroit 28
Main Photo:
