On Thursday night, the 6-1 Green Bay Packers will head to the desert to take on the 7-0 Arizona Cardinals. For the Packers, it will be their toughest match-up yet for the 2021 season. The top matchup of the game will be between Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers versus the Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray. In a perfect world, the Packers would have all of their offensive weapons at their disposal. However, the chances of that happening look very dim. Because of that, the Green Bay Packers offense and their game plan will be something to watch on Thursday night.
COVID Could Change Up the Green Bay Packers Offense on Thursday Night
The Green Bay Packers offense will be missing their two starting wide receivers against the Cardinals. Early this week, the Packers top wide receiver Davante Adams was put on the COVID-19/Reserve list. If that was not bad enough, the other Packers starting wide receiver, Allen Lazard was also put on the COVID-19/Reserve list as a close contact.
With the Green Bay Packers offense expected to be without their starting wide receivers, the offensive game plan might look a lot different. Luckily for head coach/offensive play-caller Matt LaFleur he will still have the luxury of having one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Still, the Green Bay Packers offense might look a lot different than it has up to this point in 2021.
Even without Adams and Lazard, the Green Bay Packers offense still has weapons. The key for LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will be to keep the Cardinals on their toes. Watching how they actually do that will be quite interesting. It also might be the key to a Packers victory on Thursday night.
Packers Run Game will be Vital on Thursday Night
Rodgers enters the game with throwing for 1,710 yards, 15 touchdown passes, and only three interceptions. But even with playing so well, the Green Bay Packers cannot rely on Rodgers to throw every down and still expect a Packers victory. Maybe he could have early on in his career, but not anymore.
Because of that, the Green Bay Packers offense will need to run the ball. This will not be a foreign concept for Rodgers and company. Since LaFleur took over as head coach, he has made establishing the run the top priority of the Packers offense. But without Adams and even Lazard, it will be even more crucial.
Running back Aaron Jones is one of the Packers top offensive weapons. He will enter Thursday’s game with 404 yards rushing with two touchdown carries and a 4.5 yards per carry average. Jones has not had many home run carries this season, but he is still very capable of doing so. If Jones can have a big day on the ground, it might pick up the slack of being without Adams.
Jones will not be the only ball carrier expected to pick up the slack of missing Adams and Lazard. A.J. Dillon, the Packers number two running back, will also be expected to chip in on Thursday. So far this season, Dillon has rushed for 231 on 52 carries. He will enter the Cardinals game with a 4.4 yards per carry average. However, Dillon had issues with fumbling in the Packers 24-10 victory over the Washington Football Team. The Packers will need to avoid turnovers against the Cardinals. With that said, Dillon will need to protect the ball when his number is called.
Packers Offense Line Will Need to be at Their Best
Against Washington, the Packers offensive line had their worst output of the season. The Packers run game last week did not have their best showing. Jone finished the game as the Packers top ball carrier, with just 19 yards on six carries. For the day, the Packers gained only 57 yards on only 15 carries. The Packers offensive line struggled to open up holes all game long. On Thursday, they will need to do better.
While Rodgers had a good game against Washington, going 27 of 35 for 274 yards with three touchdown passes, the Packers offensive line did struggle in pass protection. The Packers gave up three sacks against Washington, with most of the pressure coming from the middle. Starting guards Jon Runyan Jr., Royce Newman, and starting center Lucas Patrick will need to be better against the Cardinals. That trio is expected to start again on Thursday. They will need to bounce back from a subpar game. Starting right tackle Billy Turner, who has been the Packers rock on the offensive line, struggled as well. The Packers are hoping that was just a small bump for Turner and he will be back to his strong play this week.
One positive for the Packers on Thursday night will be they will not have to game plan for J.J. Watt. The Cardinals defensive lineman will miss the game due to injury.
Packers Passing Game Expected to Look A Lot Different
To say Adams is a vital piece to the Green Bay Packers offense would be a massive understatement. This season, Adams has 52 catches for 744 yards with three touchdown receptions. Not only is Adams the Packers top pass-catching weapon, but he is also arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver. He is also Rodgers go-to receiver when the Packers need a big play.
With him missing, LaFleur and Hackett will need to create ways for Rodgers to make plays through the air. Lazard would be the next option, but they will be without him as well. So now it will be up to others to pick up the slack with Adams and Lazard out.
One option might be tight end Robert Tonyan. After being quiet leading up to last week, Tonyan finally found some success. He finished the Washington game with four catches for 63 yards with one touchdown reception. LaFleur could implement a two-tight end system against the Cardinals with Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis. Lewis has seen more time as a pass-catcher this season.
Even if LaFleur runs a two-tight end offense, the Packers will need some output from the wide receivers. One of the wide receivers who might do so is Randall Cobb. Rodgers was the one that pleaded for the Packers to trade for Cobb in training camp. With Adams and Lazard missing, Rodgers might lean on his close friend to pick up the slack. Cobb has seen more time in the Green Bay Packers offense in recent games and he could be a big part of the game plan on Thursday.
One wild card for the Packers passing attack on Thursday might be Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Valdes-Scantling has been on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury. There is a chance he could be available on Thursday. If he is good to return, he will provide Rodgers with a deep threat they have been missing since he has been out.
A Prove It Game for LaFleur as a Play-Caller
Recently, we discussed how LaFleur is becoming one of the best offensive play-callers in the NFL. If LaFleur is able to put a winning game plan together for the Cardinals game, it might cement his place in the NFL as a play-caller.
Not only will the Green Bay Packers offense be without Adams and Lazard against the 7-0 Cardinals, but they will be without his defensive coordinator. Joe Barry also tested positive for COVID and will miss Thursday’s game.
To summarize, LaFleur will be with his top two starting wide receivers as well as his defensive coordinator. The deck is stacked against LaFleur and the Packers. But he still has Rodgers and if he is able to put Rodgers in play-making situations, the offense should still produce. If that happens, LaFleur might finally get the respect he deserves. Not only as a play-caller but as a head coach.
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