Just two weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers controlled their own playoff destiny. They were 6-6 coming off a massive win against the Kansas City Chiefs. The playoffs were an expectation. They even had an outside shot at winning the NFC North if they continued their winning ways and got some help from the teams around them.
Now, all of those dreams have been dashed. The Packers are 6-8 after back-to-back disappointing losses to the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Through 14 games, this team has proven one thing clearly. They are capable of beating anyone, as evidenced by back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Detroit Lions.
They are also capable of losing to anyone, as evidenced by the last two games they’ve played.
The Packers are favored on the road against the worst team in the NFL this week. The Carolina Panthers are coming off a 9-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
In the era of Aaron Rodgers, this game was considered a layup. Jordan Love, while improving, is not to that point of his career where any game can be considered a layup. That’s especially true in a road game.
To avoid hitting rock bottom, here is what the Packers need to do to beat the Panthers on the road:
Packers secondary vs. Bryce Young
Bryce Young had high hopes surrounding him when he was the top pick of the 2022 draft. Those hopes have not shined through on the field this year.
Young has not thrown a touchdown pass since before Thanksgiving Day. He has nine touchdown passes on the season and nine interceptions.
The team has struggled mightily to move the ball through the air. The good news for Carolina is that their stoppable force is about to meet what proved to be a very movable object with the Packers’ pass defense coming to town.
With Jaire Alexander missing his sixth consecutive game for a shoulder injury, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers piled up more than 350 yards through the air. He threw four touchdown passes on his way to a perfect passer rating. Mayfield’s perfect day was the second in the history of Lambeau Field, the other belonging to Aaron Rodgers in 2019 when he tore apart the Oakland Raiders.
The secondary, and pass defense as a whole, is reeling. They need the Panthers to be some medicine to cure what has ailed them.
If they’re not, the Packers have some big questions they’ll need to be asking as soon as the game ends.
Ground game vs. Panthers’ defense
The Packers’ ground game has never felt like it’s been at full strength this season. AJ Dillon just missed Sunday’s game with a broken thumb, which coincided with Aaron Jones’ return from a knee injury.
Jones started the season on the wrong foot with a hamstring injury that kept him out of two games and limited for several others.
The reality of the situation is Green Bay has not had an individual 100-yard rusher on the season. The bread and butter of this offense was supposed to go through the ground game spearheaded by these two running backs.
It’s unclear if Dillon will be able to play Sunday with the thumb injury, but even if he doesn’t, the Packers need more from their ground game.
Love and the passing offense have done their part, but this is not an offense at a stage where it can be one-dimensional.
Carolina is 22nd in the NFL in rush yards allowed per game. They allow 123 yards on the ground.
There should be some opportunities for the Packers to get back to their bread and butter on Sunday afternoon.
Packers’ tackles vs. Brian Burns
When the Packers were on the clock in the 2019 draft, they were targeting a pass rusher. Brian Burns was on the board, as was Michigan’s Rashan Gary. The Packers took Gary and the two careers became intertwined. Both players have become two of the better pass rushers in all of football through their short careers.
Gary signed a contract extension earlier in the year, and it remains likely that Burns will get one from Carolina sooner rather than later.
Love has played much better of late, but any quarterback is going to struggle if he is not protected.
Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom both performed admirably against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Love was only sacked twice, one of which came late in the game against an all-out blitz when the game had already been decided.
Burns is a game wrecker, and the Packers have had their struggles against players of his ilk.
Aidan Hutchinson had a big game against them in September. Maxx Crosby did as well.
The Packers’ offense should be able to find some holes in the Panthers’ secondary, but protecting the quarterback is always at a premium.
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