The Green Bay Packers are back home for the first time in three weeks this week as they take on the Carolina Panthers.
These two teams have met 18 times in their history.
The most famous of which sent the Packers to Super Bowl XXXI.
These two teams won’t be playing for a trip to the Super Bowl, but the Panthers are a surprising 4-4 on the season.
The Packers have established themselves as a good team, but the with the calendar turning to November, they need to start rounding into the team they want to be at the end of the season.
More on that in our weekly six pack.
1.) November To Remember?
The soft part of the schedule is over, for the most part. This Sunday’s game against Carolina should be a winnable game, but the remainder of the month could be treacherous. Following this week, the Packers have four games between Nov. 10 and Thanksgiving Day, the first of which is a Monday night date against the defending Super Bowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles.
The other three games are against a frisky New York Giants team, and two division games, finishing with a Thanksgiving day showdown at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions.
If the Packers are able to have a strong month of November, they’ll be able to position themselves nicely for the stretch run.
2.) Another backup?
The Packers have had good fortune in facing backup quarterbacks, or non-preferred starters.
They played Jacoby Brissett in Arizona after facing Joe Flacco, who had only been in Cincinnati for a few days.
This week, there is a question as to whether the Panthers will have their starting quarterback. Bryce Young missed Carolina’s 40-9 loss against the Buffalo Bills with an ankle sprain. Andy Dalton played and struggled against a Buffalo defense that was reeling coming into the game.
Whether it’s Young or Dalton, the Packers should have a good opportunity to play well on defense.
3.) Watson’s Return
Christian Watson made his return Sunday in Pittsburgh, just nine months and 20 days removed from tearing his ACL against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field last January.
Watson gives the Packers’ offense a different dimension, and it will be interesting to see how Matt LaFleur deploys Green Bay’s weapons now that they are getting closer to full strength.
Watson adds a different dimension and is probably their best run blocker in that room.
He played on a limited basis in Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh but should be ready for a heavier workload.
4.) Rico Suave
One of the surprise stars for the Panthers this season is a running back who was in Dallas a season ago.
Rico Dowdle was a forgotten man in Dallas a year ago and allowed to leave without much, if any, competition from the Cowboys. He’s fit in perfectly in Carolina, averaging more than five yards per carry. He’s far and away their leading rusher and has been their most effective offensive player. Carolina’s identity starts with handing the ball to their dynamic rusher.
5.) Panthers Reeling?
Carolina was a surprising 4-3 coming into play last week and felt like they had a good chance to surprise the Buffalo Bills at home.
It was not to be. With Bryce Young on the bench, Carolina’s offense was inept. Their strong run game was silenced, and they were blown away by the Bills, giving up more than 200 yards on the ground to James Cook.
With how young the Panthers are, and still figuring out their identity as a team, could they see a snowball effect coming into Lambeau Field?
6.) Heavy D
Watson was not the only contributor that Green Bay had return to the lineup on Sunday, Devonte Wyatt made his return to the defensive tackle room after missing the last two-plus games with a knee injury.
Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary and Matt LaFleur have all talked about how important Wyatt is to their defense, and they need to get that group firing on all cylinders as the calendar turns to the home stretch of the season.
