Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 4 vs. Falcons

3. Rashan Gary

After a two straight games with good production, Rashan Gary saw his playing time dip against the Saints. According to Pro Football Reference, Gary saw his playing time cut in half compared to the first two games.

I don’t know if that was by design or just the way it went, but Gary is showing why the team made him their first pick a year ago and has been the team’s best pass rusher and disrupter after Za’Darius Smith.

Smith will no doubt be the focal point to stop for the Falcons offense. No matter where he lines up, the protection will be shaded his way.

That means Gary should see his fair share of one-on-one blocking, especially if Kenny Clark is able to return this week.

Clark was practicing at the end of last week and is limited to start this week. Clark’s return will give Green Bay’s defense one more person for Atlanta to have to account for, opening up plenty of opportunities for Gary, and Preston Smith too, for that matter.

At some point, the defense may have to win the team a game. This could be the week.

The Packers have the players on defense to come up with a big-pressure game and Matt Ryan is not that mobile a quarterback. With injuries on offense, now would be a great time for the defense to catch up to the offense and come up with a big game.