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Green Bay Packers: 3 Matchups to watch in week seven

By Kenny Jilek

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 23: Outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith #55 of the Green Bay Packers and linebacker Kyler Fackrell #51 of the Green Bay Packers celebrate after a sack against the Minnesota Vikings during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 23: Outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith #55 of the Green Bay Packers and linebacker Kyler Fackrell #51 of the Green Bay Packers celebrate after a sack against the Minnesota Vikings during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Green Bay Packers are looking to bounce back from an ugly loss to the Buccaneers, and they’ll need to win these three matchups to do so.

Football is all about matchups, and winning 1-on-1 battles is crucial to winning games. You can make great schemes and plays that look perfect on the chalkboard, but if the guys on the field can’t win against their man, it becomes a lot harder to have success. The Green Bay Packers had lots of matchup wins in their first four games, and they need to get back to that this Sunday.

In the loss to the Buccaneers, a lot of the offensive linemen lost their battles, which led to lots of pressure on Aaron Rodgers. Conversely, the Green Bay pass rushers couldn’t get to Brady, and he had all day to throw the ball. Some of that is on defensive coordinator Mike Pettine for not having more blitzes drawn up to manufacture pressure, but when you invest money, and high draft picks into the Smith Brothers, Kenny Clark, and Rashan Gary, they have to be able to make it on their own.

On the outside, there has been some concern since last season about the Green Bay Packers’ receivers being able to win and get open. Outside of Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, no one has consistently shown that ability. Thankfully, Matt LaFleur’s playcalling has gotten guys into open space and put them in positions to succeed.

This week, it will be about stopping the few Texans’ stars that they have left, now that they’ve traded away possibly their biggest one in DeAndre Hopkins and Green Bay having guys that they’ve invested in getting back to doing what they do best.

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