{"id":2625,"date":"2016-09-24T12:39:48","date_gmt":"2016-09-24T16:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=2625"},"modified":"2016-09-24T12:39:48","modified_gmt":"2016-09-24T16:39:48","slug":"green-bay-packers-week-three-keys-to-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/09\/24\/green-bay-packers-week-three-keys-to-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Bay Packers Week Three Keys to Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Green Bay Packers<\/strong> enter Week Three against another division rival in the Detroit Lions<\/strong>. This will be the 172nd<\/sup> meeting between both teams dating back to 1930, when the Lions visited City Stadium<\/strong> in Green Bay<\/strong>. This season marks the first time in the modern era of the NFL<\/strong> dating to 1970, that the Green Bay Packers are playing their first home game in Week Three of the season.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t have to visit the Hail Mary<\/strong> again. Here are a few keys to victory for the Packers to lean on against those Lions from Detroit.<\/p>\n

Green Bay Packers Week Three Keys to Victory<\/h2>\n

Eddie Lacy<\/a> needs at least 15 carries<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s face it. The Green Bay Packers need to feed the beast. And that beast is Eddie Lacy<\/a><\/strong>. The Packers gave Lacy only 14 carries against the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/strong>, and a saddening 12 carries against the Minnesota Vikings<\/strong>. He has been essentially phased out of games. Stretching back to last season, Lacy hasn\u2019t been given 15 carries in any one of the last seven games;\u00a0a significant waste of his talent.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t happen unless the coaches get the ball in the hands of Lacy.<\/p>\n

Head coach Mike McCarthy<\/strong> seems to have recognized this issue and addressed it after the loss to Minnesota by saying that, \u201cThe analysis of our offense after two games, the running backs have not been given enough opportunities. So that\u2019s something that I need to focus on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Packers have faced way too many second\u00a0and eleven\u2019s or second\u00a0and twelve’s the past couple of weeks. Once again, Eddie Lacy can help reduce that.<\/p>\n

Richard Rodgers & Jared Cook Against Lions Lack of Linebackers<\/h3>\n

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\u2019s time\u00a0to utilize these two\u00a0players more prominently.\u00a0During the off-season, general manager Ted Thompson<\/a><\/strong> went out and shocked us all with the signing of free agent tight end Jared Cook<\/a><\/strong>. Was it a blockbuster deal? No. Was it the signing to change the league? No. It was just a signing. And that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

On the other side is third-year\u00a0man Richard Rodgers<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0a 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\u00a0touchdown receptions (Rob Gronkowski<\/a><\/strong>, Jordan Reed<\/a><\/strong>, Gary Barnidge<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Both of Detroit\u2019s starting linebackers have been battling injuries. Lions linebacker\u00a0DeAndre Levy<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is 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<\/strong>. Levy missed much of last season with a hip injury.<\/p>\n

Levy and linebacker\u00a0Antwione Williams<\/a><\/strong>, 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<\/a><\/strong>, fifth-year veteran Tahir Whitehead<\/a><\/strong>, and second-year player Thurston Armbrister<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t get much better than that for opposing tight ends. This is Cook’s time to shine and Rodgers’ opportunity to remind the league he\u2019s more than just a game-winning, Hail Mary catching legend.<\/p>\n

Can Green Bay\u2019s Front Seven Shut Down Theo Riddick?<\/h3>\n

The one thing that has been seemingly consistent during these first two weeks has been the\u00a0Green Bay\u00a0front seven. The defense has been nothing short of stellar against the run. In Week One,\u00a0the\u00a0Packers\u00a0shut down young backs T.J. Yeldon<\/strong><\/a> and Denard Robinson<\/a><\/strong> to the tune of only 46 total yards. In Week Two, Green Bay faced off against division rival and foe, Adrian Peterson<\/a><\/strong>. Peterson left the game early. He was held to only 19 yards on 12 carries.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s top running back Ameer Abdullah<\/a> <\/strong>out with an injury, the bulk of the workload will be put on Theo Riddick<\/a><\/strong>. Riddick has 82 yards on 18 carries for the season. However, it is Riddick\u2019s ability to catch the ball that will give the most fits to the Green Bay defense, and\u00a0the Packers\u00a0will also be without veteran nose tackle Letroy Guion<\/a><\/strong> this week\u00a0after he\u00a0suffered\u00a0a sprained MCL.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n

Green Bay\u2019s 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’\u00a0best pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah<\/a> <\/strong>out, and no Calvin Johnson<\/a><\/strong>, 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\u2019s that nothing is a sure thing anymore.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Green Bay 34 Detroit 28<\/strong><\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n