Is week two a must-win game for the Green Bay Packers?
By Josh McPeak
Fans of the Green Bay Packers and all teams in sports hear the term all the time – “a must-win game” – it gets kicked around far too often.
However, as we look at week two for the Green Bay Packers the pattern of years past proves that week two could be a make-or-break week.
Live Feed
FanSided
The Packers dropped their third straight regular season opener to begin the 2014 season. It is also the third straight season-opening loss to NFC West opponents.
Week two has been a very good week for the Packers who have showed the ability of late to bounce back from the initial letdown. This has proved to be a very important aspect regarding the success of the remainder of the schedule.
When starting 0-1, week two has predicted whether or not the Packers make the playoffs the last nine times. If the Packers come away victorious in week two they have made the postseason. Lose week two and the Packers have watched the playoffs in the same place as most of us – the couch.
Aaron Rodgers celebrates a touchdown pass by doing the Lambeau leap; during the 2012 family night scrimmage at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Last season Aaron Rodgers opened with a disappointing 177 yards passing. Rodgers was only able to net 189 yards in the season-opener this year. The good news is that Rodgers followed the 2013 opening loss with a 333-yard performance and a victory.
The New York Jets stand in the way of perhaps the Packers postseason hopes this Sunday.
Something that may come as a surprise is the fact that the two clubs have only met 11 times, with the Jets winning 8 of those meetings.
Rex Ryan’s defense was the third best against the run during the 2013 NFL season. They followed it up by stuffing the Raiders’ platoon of backs and holding them to a whopping 25 total yards on the ground.
Green Bay may have to lean heavily on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers to come away victorious Sunday at Lambeau Field. Rodgers has restored some of the mystique, winning 28 of his last 31 games at Lambeau.
While Geno Smith proved to be more accurate to start things off, the Jets still showed a few areas of concern. Showing shades of the 2013 Green Bay Packers, the Jets visited the Red-Zone four times and only produced one touchdown.
New York was also penalized 11 times for 105 yards.
Early indications appear to be that both Eddie Lacy and Bryan Bulaga may both lace it up for week two after suffering injuries in the NFL season opener.
This is very good news for both, especially after the play of Derek Sherrod against the Seahawks in week one.
Will Green Bay Packers linebacker Jamari Lattimore get some playing time this week? Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
One hates to see players get opportunities due to injuries but in the event Brad Jones is unable to go we could see a lot of Jamari Lattimore, Sam Barrington and Carl Bradford. A sight many Packers’ fans would welcome with arms wide open.
It’s a very long season to call week two a must-win, but history has proven that week two is a very pivotal game after dropping the opener.
I look for the Packers to come out very motivated and Aaron Rodgers to be looking to make week one a very faint memory.