Three games remain in this young Green Bay Packers “maiden” season. If the Packers hope to make the playoffs, they must win all three remaining games. If the team has learned anything from the past two games, it’s not to overlook any opponent. Hopefully, that lesson hasn’t been forgotten with the Packers traveling to Carolina to face the worst team in the NFL. Let’s look at the three keys to get out of Bank of America Stadium with a win.
Must Make Bryce Young Beat You
It has been a tough rookie season for the NFL’s number-one overall pick. Carolina has the second-worst passing attack in the NFL, averaging 164.9 yards per game. That is 31st in the NFL, only behind the New York Giants, who average 150.7 passing yards per game.
Bryce Young has thrown for 2359 yards. He also has nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. PFF has him graded out as the 57th-best QB in the NFL with a 51.7 overall grade. Over Barry’s season as defensive coordinator, he has consistently made quarterbacks who are having down years or rocky starts to their careers look like All-Pros. If this Packers defense does what it’s supposed to do, they should make a below-average rate quarterback look below-average.
If you can’t find a way to make a game plan that limits the league’s worst-ranked scoring offense, led by the league’s worst starting QB, there will be no redemption for Barry.
Green Bay Packers Must Get Their Playmakers in Space
The Panthers have one of the league’s worst tackling groups on defense. They have missed 121 tackles on the season so far. PFF grades them out as the 4th worst tackling defense. That should set up the Packers quick game nicely. Get the ball out of Love’s hands quickly and get your playmakers into space.
Green Bay has plenty of options between Aaron Jones, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft. The stats show that you don’t have to confuse this defense; you must force them to make stops.
Protect Love With Five
Carolina also doesn’t get much pressure, along with poor tackling. According to Pro Football Reference, the Panthers have the 2nd lowest pressure rate in the NFL, with a 17.1 percent rate. Only the Cardinals are ranked lower.
This should allow LaFleur and the Offense to open the play call sheet. The Packers have turned pass protection into a strength of this offensive line over the second half of the season. PFF has them graded out as the sixth-best pass-blocking unit in football.
Closing Thoughts
Most people would be satisfied if Green Bay won by a field goal on Sunday. No, it’s not; we haven’t seen this team play well against a lesser opponent. It’s been a common theme in Green Bay for a while. The Packers always find a way to play down to some of the lesser teams in the NFL. It’s time to show that they can outclass a team that looks on track to give our NFC rival Bears the number one overall pick.
Beat this team by more than a touchdown and regain some confidence the last two weeks may have stolen away. Truman Capote said, “Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.” I hope the Packers owe a lot to the Panthers after Sunday.
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