Green Bay Packers v. Washington: 5 Big Questions Ahead of Matchup
By Paul Bretl
Will Terry McLaurin play?
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin has been a playmaker since he entered the NFL. As a rookie in 2019, he tallied nearly 1,000 yards at 15.8 yards per catch with seven touchdowns. In Year 2, he posted 1,193 receiving yards with four touchdowns, according to PFF ($$).
He is the focal point of this Washington offense with 57 targets in 2021–which is tied for the fifth-most in football. He has 428 receiving yards with some up and down quarterback play and three touchdowns as well.
While overall, this Washington offense is nothing to write home about, McLaurin is someone who can give the Green Bay Packers defense fits—especially without Jaire Alexander.
However, the reason that I ask this question is because he is on the injury report this week with a hamstring injury. He did not practice on Wednesday and was a limited participant on Thursday. This is certainly something worth monitoring, and either way, it will impact Sunday’s game.
Will the Green Bay Packers defense finally get a red zone stop?
Overall the Green Bay Packers defense has played well this season, minus the season opener against New Orleans, and has improved each week. But there’s one area — and it’s an important area — that has given them fits all season, and that would be the red zone.
As I’m sure you’re all aware, Green Bay is yet to get a red zone stop this season, allowing a touchdown on all 15 of their opponents’ trips. Now, if you’re looking for a silver lining, they only allow 2.5 red zone trips per game, which is tied for the fourth-fewest in football. But at some point, they need to start forcing turnovers or field goals.
"“Everything happens faster in the red zone; everything is condensed,” Joe Barry explained last week via ESPN. “The speed of an NFL football game is incredible, but the closer you get to the goal line it speeds up even more. But it’s definitely an area that we constantly are talking about and working on. It does have to improve, absolutely, because we’re doing a lot of things really well, but that’s something we absolutely have to improve on.”"
Washington averages only 2.7 red zone trips per game, but when they do reach the opponents’ 20-yard line, they leave with a touchdown on 62.5 percent of their trips–this ranks 14th.