The Packers have never lost two games in a row under coach Matt LaFleur, but they’ve also rarely played as poorly as they did last week. The undermanned Giants were without six starters in London and still managed to come away with the upset. Now a more talented team from New York is up next on the schedule. The Jets have won two straight behind an improving young quarterback and a defense that may not have seven No. 1 draft picks but plays hard on every single snap.
If the Packers are to bounce back and at least temporarily silence the growing number of critics, here are five keys to victory:
1) GET AARON JONES THE BALL
Despite being the best skill player on offense, Jones has touched the ball only 15 times per game. That’s not enough. What’s even more disturbing than the relatively low number of carries (61) is how infrequently Jones has been used in the passing game. The former UTEP star is one of the most gifted receivers out of the backfield in the league, and yet he’s caught only 14 balls for 98 yards. While LaFleur’s unwavering desire to keep the undersized Jones (5-9, 205) healthy is understandable, there’s a fine line between overuse and underuse, and he’s been on the wrong side of that line too often.
2) MAKE THE QB UNCOMFORTABLE
Zach Wilson has been playing well since returning from a knee injury a few weeks ago, but he’s still making only the 16th start of his career on Sunday at Lambeau Field. There was a time when Green Bay’s defenses – even the ones that weren’t any good – feasted on young quarterbacks, but that hasn’t been the case lately. New England’s Bailey Zappe and the Giants’ Daniel Jones didn’t throw a single interception against a way too passive secondary that boasts a trio of No. 1 picks. After being heavily criticized, let’s see if embattled coordinator Joe Barry lives up to his promise of being more aggressive.
3) SLOW DOWN THE ROOKIES
Unlike the Packers, who’ve gotten very little production from their top draft picks, the Jets boast two of the NFL’s top offensive rookies in running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Keeping both from making big plays will be one of the keys to slowing down a rapidly improving New York offense. Hall, a second-round pick from Iowa State, is especially impressive. He’s physical and has a burst that makes him a legit threat to score from anywhere on the field. Barry’s run defense, which has been very inconsistent all season, will need to man up and tackle well in space.
4) KEEP CARL LAWSON QUIET
The edge rusher the Packers passed over in the fourth round of the 2017 draft – then general manager Ted Thompson preferred Wisconsin’s Vince Biegel – is coming off a huge game last week and will be a heck of a challenge for left tackle David Bakhtiari, who’s still shaking off the rust after nearly two years of inactivity. Lawson had seven quarterback hits against Miami last week, and he’ll need to be controlled if the Packers are going to have consistent success throwing the ball. While Bakhtiari has been getting incrementally better each game, he’s yet to face an opponent playing as well as Lawson.
5) PLAY WITH MORE EMOTION
Green Bay has looked almost disinterested at times this season, displaying an alarming lack of emotion and urgency. The young and banged-up Giants and Patriots had no business even being competitive but were for two reasons – they were better coached and played harder. The Packers might not be able to do anything about the former unless Barry is fired before the game, but they can certainly do something about the latter. On offense, Aaron Rodgers can encourage his teammates instead of rolling his eyes and shaking his head. On defense, players can fly to the ball and celebrate a good play.
PREDICTION: I would’ve confidently picked the Jets had the Packers won unimpressively last week in London, but now I’m not feeling nearly as bold. While I’m impressed by coach Robert Saleh’s young upstarts, could Green Bay actually lose to both New York teams in consecutive weeks? Have the thrice-defending NFC North champs really fallen that far?
LaFleur has been excellent when it comes to bouncing back from losses in the regular season. The Packers are 9-0 following defeats since he was hired in January 2019, and they’ve won those games by an average of 14 points (none by less than eight points). And while things feel a little different with this year’s team, that trend is still very difficult to ignore.
The Packers are favored by 7.5, which seems high for a game that could go either way. My gut tells me to take the road underdogs, but my head – or perhaps my heart – just won’t let me do it. GREEN BAY 24-23 (Season record 3-2; 1-4 vs. spread)
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“[Carl Lawson] The edge rusher the Packers passed over in the fourth round of the 2017 draft – then general manager Ted Thompson preferred Wisconsin’s Vince Biegel.”
i remember that decision well. occasionally, the Packers have passed guys who seem destined to succeed in the league.. in this case the talented and productive Lawson out of Auburn.. and i scratch my head. let’s see how Bakh does tomorrow.
Lawson tore us a new one in 2017 Bengals game at Lambeau. Pack better be ready.
There’s a part of me that wants to see the defense have another bad game and force LaFleur to make a change, but after watching him stick with Drayton, I’m not sure anything would make LaFleur get rid of Barry during the season.