3 Key Matchups to Watch between Green Bay Packers and Patriots
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers OL vs. Deatrich Wise and Matthew Judon
Through three games, the Green Bay Packers offensive line, specifically the tackles, have had to go up against some very good edge rushers, including Za’Darius Smith, Danielle Hunter, Robert Quinn, and Shaq Barrett. That trend will continue Sunday, going up against Deatrich Wise and Matthew Judon of the Patriots.
The Patriots’ 10 sacks on the season are the seventh most by a team in the NFL, and Wise and Judon account for seven of them. In terms of pressures, Judon ranks tied for 12th among 115 edge rushers, while Wise ranks 28th—although as a team, the Patriots haven’t generated a ton of pressure.
The good news for the Packers is that Elgton Jenkins is back at right tackle, although he is still shaking the rust off with six pressures allowed, and we saw David Bakhtiari back in a rotation at left tackle with Yosh Nijman. However, it remains to be seen what capacity Bakhtiari will be utilized in this Sunday.
As it always is, finding success on the ground, or at the very least sticking to the run game, will be important for the Packers, as it will keep them balanced, and it is one way to neutralize a pass rush. Green Bay will also continue to lean on the quick passing game, for the reasons mentioned on the previous page, but that also makes it more difficult for the pass rush to get home before the ball is out of Rodgers’ hands.
At the end of the day, the name of the game for Green Bay remains keeping Rodgers clean in the pocket.