The Green Bay Packers can take an important step toward true elite status as a Super Bowl contender if they handle their business against Carolina on Sunday.
Let me explain.
A win over the improved, 4-4 Carolina Panthers is expected; the Pack are nearly two-touchdown favorites, after all. But there is an element of “trap game” to this matchup, since it falls between the two highest-profile games on the schedule: prime-time games at Pittsburgh and Lambeau next week against the Super Bowl champs.
Players are human. They may see an average team coming off the Buffalo Bills spanking them at home and think they caught a break getting the Panthers this week. But this team is starting to figure things out. They had won three in a row before last week’s dud, where starting QB Bryce Young could only watch Andy Dalton’s ineptness from the sidelines. Earlier, they shut out the Atlanta Falcons and beat the Dallas Cowboys — these are not your usual Carolina doormats.
Of course, this team has given the Packers problems in the past. Remember that game two years ago? It took a last-second Anders Carlson field goal to escape with a late-season win as the Pack was making its playoff push. I say all this because if they have turned the corner and deserve to be considered a Super Bowl favorite, this is the kind of game you don’t fool around with. You take a lead early and don’t allow them to lean on their suddenly potent running game led by Rico Dowdle.
You make Young one-dimensional and force him into a few mistakes. And you take advantage of the fact that Carolina is down its starting center and two other linemen are questionable. Rashan Gary is in midseason form, and he’s playing alongside the reigning NFC defensive player of the month. This is the kind of offense you should dominate at your place on a cold, windy afternoon. Just make sure you keep an eye on rookie Tet McMillan, who’s a stud and commands most of Young’s attention.
Meanwhile, the offense needs to pick up where it left off in the second half in Pittsburgh. You know Matt LaFleur wants to get that running game established in what might be a timeshare between Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson. Let’s keep Jacobs’ calf as fresh as possible for next Monday night. Wilson keeps showing that the running game doesn’t miss a beat when he’s in there. Carolina had been decent against the run until James Cook torched them last week.
The passing attack should remain potent against a Panthers team that cannot rush the passer. The return of Christian Watson helped ignite this unit last week, with him and Tucker Kraft doing most of the damage. But Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden have entered the group chat and would like to remind everyone that Love has many viable options that command his attention. The passing game feels poised to take off.
Two injuries to watch: Quay Walker is questionable with a calf injury that popped up this week. After missing practice on Thursday, he returned on Friday in a limited capacity. His absence would be a big loss, but I’d like to see Ty’Ron Hopper get some snaps — he’s stood out in the limited action he’s gotten.
Brandon McManus is also questionable, though it sounds like he practiced all week. If he has another rough outing, and it’s possible on a windy day, we might have ourselves a bit of a kicker quandary. Lucas Havrisik is still on the roster, waiting in the wings.
Look, the bottom line is this is the easiest game left on the schedule on paper. You’re finally back home, playing just your second game at Lambeau since mid-September. You’re coming off a big boy road win against arguably the greatest Packer of all time, and you’re sitting atop the NFC with one loss in early November.
Great teams don’t take their foot off the pedal. They don’t scuffle around against a mediocre team and keep things interesting in the fourth quarter. Let’s see the Packers pass this test, one that may be more mental than physical.
I think they fall somewhere in between. I don’t expect a blowout, but I don’t expect to be on the edge of my seat in the fourth quarter. Call it a comfortable win, but the Pack doesn’t cover the 12 ½ point spread.
Packers 27
Panthers 16