Good morning, everyone. We are finally in Week 18 of the NFL season. This is not the first time that the NFL has had this many weeks in a regular season. In 1993, they experimented with 2 bye weeks back when there were 16 games. When they added a 17th game this season, I thought that there was going to be a bye week added. The Green Bay Packers were able to survive this season despite having played without some key players at some points. Those players include Za’Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander, Robert Tonyan, Randall Cobb, and Elgton Jenkins. The fact that the Packers already clinched the top seed with one game to go is an astounding one. Speaking of that one game, they still have to play it. They will be playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Yes, the Lions have won only 2 games, but they have played tough almost every week. Head coach Matt LaFleur has said that the starters will play as normal. In my opinion, if the Packers have a commanding lead at halftime, LaFleur will pull Rodgers and some other starters out of the game to rest for the playoffs. Regardless of how long the starters play the game, I pray that no one gets hurt in a meaningless game. With all of that out of the way, I am here to give you my thoughts on what Green Bay needs to do to finish the regular season at 14-3.
On offense, the Packers need to have a balanced attack. It all depends on the performance of the offensive line, which has been coached masterfully by Adam Stevavich. In the running game, the O-Linemen need to continue their role of creating the holes for Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, and Patrick Taylor to run through. The most important thing for the running backs to do is to not fumble the ball while running with it. I have no doubt that the backs will either evade or truck defenders on their way to big gains and touchdowns (as long as they follow the holes made by the O-Line). Running the ball well, as usual, should help relieve some pressure off of either Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love. I have a feeling that both of these QBs will play on Sunday. As always, the offensive line needs to protect the quarterback from getting hit and sacked too many times. I have no doubt that Rodgers and Love will be kept upright throughout this game. Both quarterbacks have plenty of receivers to throw accurately to, including Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown, Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree, Marcedes Lewis, Tyler Davis, and Josiah Deguara (plus the running backs). Those receivers, in turn, need to catch each pass from the quarterbacks, other than throwaways or balls thrown to the ground. Third down conversions and no turnovers at all will help the Packers sustain long drives that should end in a touchdown each time (especially in the red zone). I am sure that Rodgers and Adams will take care of business with breaking records and, in Rodgers’ case, close out the MVP race. In Adams’ case, he only needs 22 yards to break Jordy Nelson’s franchise mark of 1,519 receiving yards in a single season. After Rodgers and Adams hopefully gets a couple of touchdown connections, I have a feeling that they will rest for the playoffs. I am sure that Matt LaFleur will have a game plan set for both Rodgers and Love at quarterback. Hopefully there are no wasted timeouts during the game.
On defense, the key for the Packers is to make the Lions one-dimensional on offense. The running backs need to be tackled for minimum gain by the likes of Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Krys Barnes, De’Vondre Campbell, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Darnell Savage, among other players. In both run and pass plays, the Packers defense needs to keep the chunk plays to a minimum and not allow any ridiculous plays like last week against Minnesota. In that game, Adrian Amos hit the receiver while popping the ball out in the process. The Vikings center, Garrett Bradbury, caught the ball and ran for 21 yards. Stuff like that can’t happen, even though it was funny in hindsight. I have no doubt that the defense will keep the ground game in check and get after the quarterback in the process. Whether it’s Jared Goff or (former Packer) Tim Boyle under center, the pass rush needs to get off the blocks and get after him early and often. For Rashan Gary, he is 0.5 sacks away from 10 sacks on the season. Against the Lions O-Line, he, along with Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, and Preston Smith, among others, will have no problem getting sack after sack. Even if they don’t get the sack each time, pressuring the quarterback enough times can force him to throw passes easy for the picking. It is up to guys like Rasul Douglas, Adrian Amos, Chandon Sullivan, Eric Stokes, and Darnell Savage (plus any other players) to catch those passes for the interception. The defensive backs can’t let any of the Lions receivers get any easy catches and run for plenty of yards after the catch. For defensive coordinator Joe Barry, he needs to have a game plan in which the defense does not play 8 yards off on a fourth and 1. There has been evidence of this not working, especially against Baltimore and Cleveland. Hopefully he gets his unit to play hard and force Detroit to punt plenty of times, plus get some turnovers in the process. Like on offense, I pray that nobody gets injured right before the postseason.
On Special Teams, all the Packers need to do is avoid crazy mistakes from happening. An example of such a mistake is allowing the Lions to have a long kick and/or punt return for a touchdown. The easiest way to keep this from occurring is for Mason Crosby and Corey Bojorquez to kick each ball in the end zone for a touchback. Seeing that the game is being played in a dome, I have no doubt that every kickoff on both sides will be a touchback. In any other situation involving kick and punt returns, the coverage unit needs to make sure the returner is tackled before he goes for a lot of yards. On the flip side, the returners for Green Bay, including David Moore (who should be back from the COVID list by Sunday), need to make the most out of the return opportunities, following the holes made by the blockers in the process. Most importantly, they red to make sure that the ball is secure while running with it or during a fair catch. On field goal and punt attempts, Steven Wirtel needs to snap the ball accurately to Corey Bojorquez and the line needs to protect the kicks from getting blocked. In addition to punting each ball deep in Lions territory (if he is called upon), Bojorquez needs to secure the hold on field goals and extra points. It is then up to Mason Crosby to make each kick, which he has done as of late. The Packers have to look out for any trick plays done by Detroit on Special Teams, whether they be fake punts or fake field goals. If those plays happen, they need to be stopped by Green Bay. Here’s to praying that no one gets hurt on any Special Teams play.
Overall, this should be a game that the Packers win handily. They have to look out for any tricks that the Lions have on their sleeves on Sunday. As long as the Packers keep the mistakes to a minimum, I have no doubt that they will win by at least 2 touchdowns. Regardless of the outcome, I pray that nobody gets hurt on either team, especially when the playoffs are next for Green Bay. I’ll be back with my postgame thoughts on either Monday or Tuesday. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. Go Pack Go!
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