Green Bay Packers v. Rams: 5 Big Questions Ahead of Week 12 Matchup
By Paul Bretl
Can the Green Bay Packers pass rush get after Stafford?
Last week against the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers were able to generate 22 pressures, according to PFF ($$), their fifth-highest total in a game this season. However, there were a few instances where the pass rush was a split second too late, and it led to a big play from Kirk Cousins and likely Justin Jefferson.
This week, Green Bay will be up against Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp (more on Kupp shortly), and again, it will be imperative that they apply pressure. When Stafford has had time in the pocket this season, he ranks third in yards per attempt, fifth in passer rating, and 12th in completion percentage.
Some good news for the Packers is that they may be getting Rashan Gary back. He is again listed as questionable but was a full participant at practice on Friday for the first time since sustaining his elbow injury.
Gary’s presence will be greatly needed as Green Bay faces a Rams’ offensive line unit that is the highest-graded group by PFF, and they also rank second by ESPN’s pass-block win rate tool, and they’ve given up the least amount of pressures this season.
In a game earlier this season, we saw Tennessee have a lot of success at generating pressure up the middle against Los Angeles, so perhaps we see a similar approach from Green Bay with Clark and Gary–if he is available. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see more blitzing from Joe Barry just as he did a week ago.
This Green Bay Packers secondary has another tough task with Kupp, Odell Beckham, and others, and if Stafford has time in the pocket on Sunday, it is going to make that job all the more difficult.