Last week started out with a sour taste following the close home loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and ended in a chaotic storm. Not only did the Packers lose two consecutive contests to AFC South foes, they were outplayed on all phases against Indianapolis, save for Aaron Rodgers’ attempt at the comeback, and were manhandled in Tennessee by the Titans. This week, the Green and Gold travel east to play the Washington Redskins on Sunday Night Football, so without further ado, here are the Green Bay Packers week 11 keys to victory.
Green Bay Packers Week 11 Keys to Victory
Play a Full Game
As mentioned in the introduction, the Packers have dropped their last two contests, partly because they started to play too late. Two weeks ago against the Colts, they allowed Jordan Todman to return the opening kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown, and another big return to begin the second half. They also allowed the Colts to score a touchdown 11 seconds before halftime – similar to what happened when they played the Cowboys a few weeks ago. Last week, they forgot to show up in the first quarter and in the blink of an eye found themselves facing a daunting 21-0 hole they were unable to climb out of.
Effects of an Absent Running Game on Play-calling
In 2015, when the Packers offense began to deteriorate to unimaginable lows, everyone pointed the finger to the fact that Mike McCarthy was not calling plays. However, in the subsequent summer, Mike McCarthy informed the football world that he would retake the reins as the primary play caller in Green Bay, but that has yet to produce the unstoppable offense that made Green Bay a contender for years.
The biggest reason behind the Packers struggles is the lack of a running game. Green Bay is using wide receivers as running backs, so teams do not feel the need to stuff the box, and drop eight or nine players in coverage. In the end, every eligible receiver is double-team and Rodgers, although he has all the time in the world facing a three-men rush, has absolutely nowhere to go with the ball. The team has just signed Christine Michael, to hopefully improve the Packers running game. As a result, play calling is unbalanced and Green Bay becomes too predictable on offense.
Pass Defense vs. Washington’s Passing Offense
The Packers need Clay Matthews III to come back sooner than later and terrorize opposing quarterbacks. They are now tied for tenth in sacks with 22, but over the last three weeks, they have only registered two sacks. Against the high-powered offense in Washington, Green Bay will have to pressure Kirk Cousins, otherwise he will carve up the defense.
The Packers defense is allowing opposing quarterbacks a passer rating of 101.4, which ranks fourth worst in the NFL. Packers pass rushers would also help out a decimated secondary that has held up better than given credit for. Green Bay has been playing without its best cornerback in Sam Shields (out with a concussion in week one at Jacksonville), and has had to make do with a depleted unit as injuries kept coming. To add insult to injury, they have faced some of the best offenses in the NFL, including the Atlanta Falcons (first), Dallas Cowboys (fourth), Indianapolis (seventh), and Tennessee (eighth), while Washington ranks 16th.
Prediction: Green Bay 32-24 Washington
