PACKERS
Stop the Run
The Miami Dolphins have the sixth-ranked rushing offense in the league. They are averaging 142.3 yards per game and have a 5-yard per rush average. Knowshon Moreno is trying to return from an elbow injury that held him out of the last two games. Lamar Miller has played well in Moreno’s absence, racking up 277 yards, 5.7 yards per rush, in four games. The two will likely split time if Moreno is healthy enough to go. With quarterback Ryan Tannehill playing up and down this season, rushing the ball could be the Dolphins’ best shot at pulling off the upset. The Green Bay Packers have been vulnerable against the rush all season, giving up a league-worst 815 yards on the ground.
Knock Off the Rust
With Green Bay coming off a mini-bye after a Thursday night game last week, and Miami coming off its bye after playing in London two weeks ago, the team that gets back to football the quickest will have an early advantage. Miscues and sloppy play could land a team in a hole early. The Packers need to knock the rust off quickly. A quick early strike could take the fight out of the Dolphins.
DOLPHINS
Avoid the Turnover
The Packers come into Sunday’s game with the league’s best turnover ratio at plus-six. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers can be counted on to avoid throwing picks, and the Packers’ defense has been living on turnovers in its last three games. Miami is even in the turnover category. Tannehill has thrown three interceptions so far this season. He has also fumbled two that he managed to get back. The Dolphins will have to play a clean game to steal a win.
Rattle Rodgers
The Dolphins have a solid defensive line, led by defensive end Cameron Wake. Wake has two sacks, tied for the team lead with defensive end Olivier Vernon and suspended defensive end Derrick Shelby. The Dolphins have 10 sacks this season. Throw in defensive tackles Earl Mitchell, Jared Odrick and Randy Starks, who may return from a back injury, and the Dolphins are formidable up front. Both of the Packers’ losses came against stout defensive lines in Seattle and Detroit. If the Dolphins can get to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and disrupt the offense, they have a chance to pull out the victory. If the defensive line can’t get to Rodgers, he’ll be able to carve up the secondary.
EXTRA POINTS
Must-see Matchup: Sam Shields vs. Mike Wallace
Speed against speed. That sums up the matchup of Packers cornerback Sam Shields and Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace. Wallace will line up all over the Dolphins’ formations, but it’s likely he’ll see a lot of Shields, who is fast enough to give chase to the speedy receiver. The two last met in Super Bowl XLV. Wallace had nine catches for 89 yards in that game, including a 25-yard touchdown over Shields.
Hot Streak: Aaron Rodgers
After a Week 3 loss to the Detroit Lions, Rodgers appealed to Packers fans to relax. The quarterback apparently knew what he was talking about. Since then he’s completed 34 of 45 passes for 458 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions in two blow-out wins against division rivals. His quarterback rating in the last two weeks was 147.0. The doldrums the offense suffered through the first few weeks of the season appear to be resolved. Receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have been Rodgers’ favorite targets, but if rookie targets tight end Richard Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams begin to emerge, the Packers’ offense could become even more effective than it has been the last two weeks. That’s a scary thought for the Packers’ upcoming opponents.
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