Green Bay Packers vs. Washington Redskins: Lombardi Ave predictions
The Green Bay Packers have to win this one. Can they overcome Washington on the road?
After three straight defeats, four in the past five games, the playoff outlook is gloomy in Green Bay. Winning this one is a must for the Packers to stay afloat in the NFC.
Clay Matthews and Jared Cook are expected to return, giving both the defense and offense a boost.
Will the Packers get a much-needed win? The Lombardi Ave staff weigh in.
Freddie Boston: Will we finally see a sense of urgency from this Packers team? Let’s hope it doesn’t take being down three scores for that to happen.
Getting Clay Matthews back helps, and Jared Cook could give the offense a boost, but I don’t see Green Bay overcoming a more talented team on the road. Washington’s offense can bully the Packers, and too many mistakes will prevent the offense keeping up.
Another loss for the Pack. Mike McCarthy’s seat heats up.
Redskins 38, Packers 24
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Brad Miller: Jared Cook should give Aaron Rodgers that much needed weapon in the middle of the field that he has missed for most of the year. Let’s see if Cook can deliver.
Clay Matthews has been missed for three games now and his contributions were not offset when he was out. Deep threat DeSean Jackson could sit out but he doesn’t seem to be missed all that much. Washington’s offense seems to work the system with the players available.
Washington is playing pretty good football right now and are in-line for a wild-card spot if they follow true to form. Their defense is getting on a roll with the addition of former Panther’s DB standout Josh Norman along with All Pro DeAngelo Hall.
Look for the Packers defense to have a solid game on Sunday night. They will play well enough to keep the Packers in the game. Now, which offense will show up? It is hard to predict what kind of division is happening in that locker room, if any, but if the offense doesn’t look good for another week there is going to be massive uproars going on in there and around the league.
I do not have faith that the Packers offense can figure it out and find a groove in Washington. This will be a low scoring affair with the home team doing enough to win the game.
Redskins 23, Packers 20
Kenn Korb: Green Bay is coming off their worst performance of the year to fall to 4-5; meanwhile, Washington beat Minnesota to get up to 5-3-1. The Packers defense has fallen off multiple cliffs due to injuries and ineffectiveness, and likely will struggle against another top-10-quality offense here.
The Green Bay offense will hopefully have more room to work with both on the ground and through the air; if they don’t fall in yet another early hole this could be a shootout rather than a blowout. I just don’t feel like these Packers will be able to do enough with the ball to make up for their defensive deficiencies at this point, and will fall short.
Redskins 38, Packers 34
Ralph Mancini: The Redskins defense doesn’t scare anyone and the Packers should be able to light up the scoreboard…and the same can be said about Green Bay’s defensive unit that has allowed three out of their last four opponents to score 30 points or more.
The visiting team’s back seven cannot defend the tight end position and this week, the Packers are up against one of the most explosive weapons at the position in former Florida Gators pass catcher Jordan Reed.
Making matters worse is the fact that Washington’s top deep threat, DeSean Jackson, put in a full practice on Friday and seems to be on track to play in the prime-time contest.
Mike McCarthy’s sinking 4-5 group have their backs against the wall and will be competitive, but its battered defense is missing too many pieces to stop the opposition’s multitude of weapons in the passing game.
There’s no doubt that this can—and certainly should be—an entertaining back-and-forth game, but expect the Burgundy and Gold to be the ones with more points up on the scoreboard.
The silver lining to yet another loss is that McCarthy will be one step closer to getting the boot in about five weeks.
Redskins 34, Packers 31
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Joe D’Aloisio: The Green Bay Packers are on a three game losing streak and it seems they have hit rock bottom. They continue to play without energy, lack focus and have been outcoached. A road game against the Washington Redskins won’t help them get back on their feet.
The Redskins are currently ranked third in the NFL in pass yards per game (294.4) and Kirk Cousins and company will be able to successfully march up and down a weak Packers defense.
Redskins 31, Packers 20