Green Bay Packers: 5 BIG Questions Ahead of Matchup with Colts
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers take on the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. Here are five BIG Questions heading into that heavyweight matchup.
It’s Week 11, and the 7-2, division-leading Green Bay Packers will be faced with one of their more difficult games of the season. On the road, they will take on a 6-3 Indianapolis Colts team that is very good in all three phases of the game. As far as seeing where this Packers team stands at just over the halfway point in the season, this game will be a great barometer.
But before these two heavyweights take the field on Sunday, as I often do, I have my five BIG Questions about this matchup. And whatever the outcomes end up being, they’re going to go a long way towards determining the winner of this game.
Can Green Bay Packers Slow Nyheim Hines?
Nyheim Hines is the exact type of running back that has and will give this Green Bay Packers’ defense problems. The Colts use him both in the running and passing games, but where he will really leave a mark on the game is as a pass-catcher. On top of that, he’s just not that easy to take down. That, of course, is worrisome for a Green Bay defense that is eighth in missed tackles.
With Phillip Rivers under center, the Colts offense uses a lot of quick passes, and Hines is a favorite target of his. This season, Hines has 33 receptions, which is the most on the team and ranks as the fifth most amount all running backs in the NFL. He also has 265 receiving yards, which once again, is the fifth most in the league.
At all times, the Green Bay Packers’ defense needs to know where Hines is and swarm to him when he has the ball. Otherwise, he’s going to burn you.