Packers enter must-win game against Dolphins in Week 10
The Green Bay Packers are in the middle of the toughest stretch of the schedule, but they now enter a must-win game against the Miami Dolphins.
With just three wins halfway through the season, the Packers are in a position we’ve rarely seen with Aaron Rodgers as the starter. Sunday’s game against the Dolphins is a likely a must-win.
Usually at this stage of the season, the Packers have somewhere between five and six wins with a target of at least 10. Something that, with Rodgers, they usually have no trouble hitting.
But this season, much like two years ago, this team has made a worryingly slow start. In 2016 it was a 4-6 record that left the Packers needing a miracle run-the-table 6-0 finish to hit the 10-win mark. They did, and went all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
It’s potentially going to take something similar this year.
At 3-4-1, the Packers need to win at least seven of their remaining eight games to hit 10 wins. They might get lucky and make the playoffs with nine, but that would still require a 6-2 finish from this point on.
Starting Sunday against Miami, Green Bay has four games at home, four more on the road. Realistically, the Packers will have to go a perfect 4-0 at Lambeau Field to finish with a 7-0-1 record at home. They’ll then need to win at least two of their remaining road games (at Seattle, at Minnesota, at Chicago, at NY Jets) to reach nine wins.
Their four home games are against Miami, Arizona, Atlanta and Detroit.
Consider this week’s game one the Packers can’t afford to lose.
It’s unclear yet whether Ryan Tannehill will be back at quarterback for the Dolphins, but for now there appears to be a good chance it’ll be Brock Osweiler.
This season, Osweiler has thrown for six touchdowns and three interceptions in five games, including four starts. Miami is 2-2 in those four starts, with victories at home against Chicago and the NY Jets.
The Dolphins defense is ranked 26th in the NFL, giving up 394 yards per game. They have struggled against the run, allowing 136.1 rushing yards per game, fifth-most in the NFL.
Despite all of that, they are finding ways to win games and enter this contest at 5-4, second place in the AFC East.
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Unlike in recent weeks, the Packers will need to make the most of their opportunities to win this game. If they can win and win well, maybe it’ll give the team the confidence it needs to make a similar run to 2016.
It all starts with a victory against the Dolphins.