Five Packers to watch vs. Lions in key Week 6 game
By Jesse Fry
The Green Bay Packers have a chance at a sweep of the first round of NFC North foes. Which players need to raise their game to ensure a win?
The Packers have a chance to gain some early separation in the race for the NFC North. After two victories over their first two division opponents, the Packers can make it three-for-three Monday night. That would be 3-0 in the NFC North and 5-1 overall with every other team having at least one division loss and two overall on the season.
The Packers are just percentage points higher than the Lions with Detroit having a Week 1 tie versus the Cardinals. A win on Monday, and the Packers are at least a game better than every other team in the North and with tie-breaking wins over all three.
When Mike McCarthy took over in 2006, he made retaking the NFC North his priority. And for McCarthy’s 12 seasons at the helm, he did just that, going 52-21-1 during the regular season and 2-0 in the playoffs.
Matt LaFleur has the opportunity to get off to a fast start in his NFC North coaching career and be just as dominant, if not more, than his predecessor.
After not winning in the state of Wisconsin in over 20 years, the Lions have won two in a row and four in a row overall against the Pack. Granted, Aaron Rodgers didn’t finish the game or play in three of those four games, but that is still a trend the team needs to reverse.
In order to do so, these players need to be key contributors.
1. Marquez Valdes-Scantling/Geronimo Allison
When Davante Adams went down, there was a large void to be filled by the young talented receivers on the roster. Three catches for 46 yards isn’t exactly filling a void.
If not for Aaron Jones‘ big day, the play of Geronimo Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling might be highlighted more. The running offense stole the day and allowed for an efficient showing in the passing game be the call of the day.
The Packers will need more than that on Monday. Even if Adams is healthy enough to return to the lineup, there’s no telling how his toe will affect his play.
Coach LaFleur did a nice job against the Cowboys working in the tight ends and running backs into the pass game to make up for the loss of Adams. But while this offense is improving, it’s nowhere near where it could be with a second legitimate threat at wide receiver.
Adams’ toe injury could affect him all year, and if that is the case, he will not have the same explosiveness we are used to seeing. A second viable threat will make that problem minimal.