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Green Bay Packers: 3 X-Factors in Pivotal Week 17 Matchup

By Paul Bretl

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 23: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers gestures at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 23: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers gestures at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 06: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field on December 06, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Eagles 30-16. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Green Bay Packers Offensive Line

By several metrics, the Green Bay Packers have had the best offensive line in football this season. They currently rank first by ESPN’s pass block and run block win rate metrics, and they’ve given up the fewest total pressures and the second-fewest sacks in the NFL as well.

They’ve done all this despite numerous injuries and constant shuffling along the offensive front. And now, for the second time this season, they’ll have to perform without star left tackle David Bakhtiari. However, this time it isn’t going to be against Houston, Minnesota, and an injured San Francisco team, but rather the NFC’s elite in the playoffs and this Sunday, a stout Chicago pass-rush.

At this moment, we don’t know who will be starting at left tackle this week, but the last time Bakhtiari missed time, it was Billy Turner who filled in for him with Lucas Patrick at right guard and Rick Wagner at right tackle.

This trio, along with Elgton Jenkins and Corey Linsley, of course, will have to face Khalil Mack, who has eight sacks and 56 total pressures, Akiem Hicks in the middle, who missed the previous matchup, and Robert Quinn. Chicago also has Bilal Nichols, who has three sacks in his last four games, and Roquan Smith at linebacker, who has 17 tackles for loss this season.

Against Tampa Bay and Carolina, we’ve seen what happens to this Green Bay offense when the offensive line struggles, and against this Chicago defensive front, if the Packers are going to win and clinch the top seed, then this Bakhtiari-less unit has to play well.

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