Green Bay Packers: Prepare For A Shootout Against the Panthers

(98) celebrates after a sack in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports photograph

– Defense –

It was a tale of two halves last Sunday.

First half was excellent for the Packers. The second half was pretty awful.

The losses of Tramon Williams and Sam Shields will be felt throughout the course of the coming weeks that they are not available.

With both of those guys, the Packers had great depth, but now they will have to rely on special package guys to take over the reins.

The pass rush also took a hit last week with the Packers only bringing down Ryan Tannehill one time.

Which brings us to Cam Newton and the Panthers.

While the Panthers don’t have a major threat at the RB position, Newton is probably the best QB in the NFL at running the read-option.

The Packers history against the read-option does not bode well. Miami exploited the Packers front seven with players less capable than the Panthers.

Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin also pose as big threat for the banged up secondary. The Packers usually struggle with athletic tight ends and Olsen is just that. Benjamin, on the other hand, is slowing becoming a, dare I say, Calvin Johnson-like talent. He’ll get his catches, the goal will be keeping him out of the end zone.

All in all, I think it’s a long day for the Packers defense.

Standard Scoring Projection: 2 points