5 Big Questions Green Bay Packers Face against New England
By Paul Bretl
Can the Green Bay Packers slow the New England running game?
With Mac Jones under center, the New England rushing attack was going to play a key role for the Patriots. Now with Jones out and Brian Hoyer taking over, that becomes even more true.
The Packers should be prepared for a heavy dose of Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris, who as a duo, are averaging just under 5.0 yards per rush this season. Just like the Packers want to avoid becoming one-dimensional and pass-heavy, so does New England.
Success on the ground for the Patriots will allow them to control the time of possession and keep Rodgers on the sidelines. It will also prevent this Packers defense from being able to pin their ears back in obvious passing stations. Green Bay ranks among the best in pressure rate this season, while Hoyer is a bit of a statue in the pocket.
This matchup for the Packers defensively gives them the opportunity to be aggressive, both in stopping the run and pressuring Hoyer, although I’m never sure how aggressive Joe Barry will be. Under Jones, the Patriots did like to take shots downfield, but it’s not as if they’ve had a ton of success moving the ball through the air.
At a minimum, we need to see all 11 players rallying to the football as they did last week to slow Leonard Fournette and the Packers regularly playing in their heavier, base 3-4 defense to be better equipped against the run.