The Green Bay Packers' offensive line has been rough in its first three games of the year. This is no surprise. However, the Packers' opponents haven't helped, and that could be changing in the coming weeks.
The Packers have allowed quarterback Jordan Love to be hit or sacked 27 times, the most for any quarterback through three games in the last 17 seasons. All metrics show the team is struggling to block in the run and pass games, and while that is certainly a talent issue, they've also faced some tough defenses.
Week 1 saw the Packers travel to Minnesota against a Brian Flores-led Vikings defense that loves to blitz, and blitz they did. We've all heard it by now, but the Vikings blitzed Green Bay on almost 80 percent of their dropbacks.
In Week 2, Green Bay faced the New York Jets, a team stacked with first-round talent all over the defensive line. While the Packers held up admirably, they still struggled to protect Love.
Last week, the Atlanta Falcons came to town and didn't make things any easier. The Falcons ranked 31st in blitz rate entering the game, but still managed to sit inside the top three in pressure rate thanks to their talent up front.
That showed against the Packers. According to Next Gen Stats, via ESPN's Mina Kimes, the Falcons recorded 15 "quick pressures" on Love, the second-highest mark of the NFL season, behind only the Vikings' Week 1 efforts against Green Bay.
While this isn't pointed out to absolve the poor play of the Packers' offensive line, it does show just how tough a matchup they've had in three weeks. Luckily for them, that looks to be slowing down a bit.
Packers will finally face less ferocious pass rushes in the weeks ahead
The Packers' next two matchups, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears, are huge. The team is looking to get back to winning ways and will potentially have two new linemen out there, having signed Laken Tomlinson and Mekhi Becton.
However, the Packers should face at least a somewhat easier time doing so for a few weeks.
According to PFF's grades (via Packers Wire's Zach Kruse), the Buccaneers are the second-worst pass-rushing team in the NFL through three weeks, having just a 30.8 percent pressure rate.
The Bears, whom Green Bay hosts in Week 5, have the worst in the league as of now, at just 28.4 percent. Simply put, both teams are having trouble generating pressure, which might be music to the ears of an offensive line that can't stop giving it up.
Of course, the Packers' offensive line still has to prove it can stop even a bad pass-rushing group. As of right now, they've given no indication they're able to do that. If they can't over the next two weeks, all hope might be lost. However, on paper, the unit has a chance to get its feet under itself, so to speak, and right the ship that's been going severely off course to start the season.
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