Green Bay Packers vs. N.Y. Jets: From the Packers perspective

Our sister NFL New York Jets site, thejetpress.com, threw some questions at us about the Green Bay Packers. Thejetpress author Craig Hoffman asked the following … and here’s how we answered …

How is the mood in Green Bay coming off of the loss to Seattle? How is this week’s game against the Jets viewed to Packers’ fans? A gimme or a tough game?

A. The Packers have lost their opener for three straight seasons, and when you lose on the road to the reigning world champion, it’s really not much of a surprise. The Packers would have had to play a perfect game to beat the Seahawks and how many perfect games do you see in openers? So, the bottom line is that the mood is of quiet concern and anticipation.

Packers fans know this team has great potential, but we haven’t seen it come to fruition yet. The mood among fans is to see how things go this week in the home opener. The Jets can’t be taken lightly. Tough team. Nobody’s seeing this as a gimme. The Packers will have to earn this win – just like every other win in the league.

Eddie Lacy plays this week.

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Assuming both miss Sunday’s game (which is a big if at this point), how will the Packers be affected by the loss of RT Bryan Bulaga & RB Eddie Lacy? Is there a concern about facing the Jets’ front 7 with Bulaga injured and a rookie center?

A. It looks like Lacy is on the fast track to playing as he participated fully in Thursday’s practice. Bulaga’s situation, however, is a bit more tenuous. He practiced both Wednesday and Thursday, but how close he is to being ready to play is uncertain.

Should Bulaga not play,Derek Sherrod is the next man up. He was a disaster last week against the Seahawks, giving up two sacks, two hurries and was the cause of the safety the Packers suffered when Aaron Rodgers fumbled into the end zone. As for center, the Packers are well positioned now and for the future.

Their named starter, J.C. Tretter, is out until mid-season, so Corey Linsley a rookie with as much upside as any young lineman in the league, had a great game against the Seahawks. He is very capable of handling the position.

In fact, J.C. Tretter may have a tough time earning his job back if Linsley continues to play like he did last week.

What has the addition of Julius Peppers meant for the Packers? Matthews rushing from 1 side and Peppersfrom the other is a frightening proposition?

A. On paper Peppers is a huge addition. However, we haven’t seen anything really terrific from Peppers yet. He and Matthews did have a shared sack when they met at the quarterback last week, but it was waved off because of a penalty. It might take a few games before we see the Peppers and Matthews experiment pay dividends, but the Packers need Peppers to step it up and help this defense. That’s why he was brought into town.

How has Ha Ha Clinton-Dix played? He will forever be compared to the Jets’ Calvin Pryor due to the closeness of their draft grades and proximity to where they were both selected?

A. I feel Clinton-Dix will be a solid player for the Packers for the foreseeable future. He seems to be a smart, tough player who is always around the ball. He has closing speed that the Packers haven’t seen from their safeties in recent years. I had a friend describe Clinton-Dix as a “Cadillac.”

Packers free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

He is smooth, graceful, has good hands and can lay the wood at the line of scrimmage with the best of them. Comparing Pryor and Clinton-Dix isn’t fair because they graded similarly. Both will be good players for their respective teams for years to come, barring injury.

What is your prediction for Sunday’s game?

A. Last year the Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers on the road in week 1 and then came back in their home opener to destroy the Washington Redskins. I have a feeling that something like that could happen again.

Aaron Rodgers is known for coming back strong after laying an egg; I feel that maybe he comes to life this week. I’m not dissing the Jets, because they have a phenomenal defense.

But it’s the success Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ offense will have that will make it that much better. I’m sticking my neck out a bit here by saying that this one could be over by halftime.

Packers 38 Jets 20