Green Bay Packers: 3 Key X-Factors Against Carolina
By Paul Bretl
Here are three key X-Factors for the Green Bay Packers when they take on the Carolina Panthers this Saturday.
The NFC North has been clinched, and after some help from Philadelphia, who was able to knock off New Orleans last week, the Green Bay Packers are now the NFC’s one seed and control their own destiny. Aaron Rodgers has been to four NFC Championship Games but has never played in one at Lambeau Field. And I’d say it’s time for that to change.
If Green Bay is going to lock up the top seed, it beings this week by beating the 4-9 Carolina Panthers. But don’t let the record fool you; this is a well-coached team under first-year head coach Matt Rhule with plenty of talent.
So in order for the Green Bay Packers to avoid the upset, what players need to step up? Well, as I do each week, I’ll be going through my three X-Factors for this upcoming matchup. Let’s dive on in.
Kevin King
Kevin King is coming off what I think is safe to say, his worst performance of the season against Detroit. When it was all said and done, he allowed four completions on six targets at nearly 15 yards per catch, and Matthew Stafford was able to take advantage of King downfield a bit. This week Green Bay will be up against a Panthers team with Robby Anderson and DJ Moore, two productive downfield threats.
We know that Jaire Alexander will have his side of the field locked up, but what about King? Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t push the ball downfield a lot, but when he does, he’s fairly effective. Out of 50 eligible receivers, Moore ranks fifth with 382 deep passing yards — passes that travel at least 20 yards downfield — while Anderson ranks 22nd with 238. For reference, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has 302 yards, and Davante Adams has 331.
While Curtis Samuel doesn’t have the same number of downfield targets as Moore or Anderson, he has been very efficient when targeted, hauling in six of eight passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
The Green Bay Packers have been very good at limiting the big play this season, but King is going to have to perform much better than what he did a week ago, or Carolina will take advantage.