The Green Bay Packers are returning home this weekend to face off against A New England Patriots team without their starting quarterback.
in huge and exciting news – All-Pro offensive tackle David Bakhtiari is off the injury report for the first time in nearly two years and is overshadowed by an opposing player not available in this contest.
Second-year quarterback Mac Jones is out in this contest due to a high ankle sprain. The quarterback was expected to make a massive leap in his second season, especially after earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie. However, the Patriots have sputtered to a 1-2 start, and now the quarterback is out in this contest, and in his place will be veteran backup Brian Hoyer.
The Packers should have the upper hand in this contest, and the only significant player that may not be available in this one (albeit a big one) is cornerback Jaire Alexander who is carrying a questionable tag Into this matchup due to a groin injury.
After a nail-biting victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week three; the Packers are returning to Lambeau field; the home field advantage always pays huge dividends for the Pack, and was the venue for the thrashing of the divisional rival Chicago Bears.
Brian Hoyer is the name to monitor here, and this is why the Packers are significant favorites here. The veteran backup has a career record of 16-23 and has lost his last 11 starts at quarterback. The Packers would be favorites even if Jones was available in this contest, but facing the backup quarterback makes the Vegas odds even more in favor of Green Bay.
Last week we were treated to something that has not been on display so far in the young season, and that was the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers in his young receivers; or should we say “young receiver” in rookie Romeo Doubs.
With fellow rookie Christian Watson healthy and returning to the lineup, we might see the passing game open up even more and Rodgers might finally start looking the way of his inexperienced but talented young core of receivers.
The running game will surely be the star of the show in the trustworthy hands of backs Aj Dillon and Aaron Jones, and this is the expectation for the Packers going forward on a week-to-week basis, even if the arrival of Doubs and a string of solid performances from veteran receiver Allen Lazard have restored some faith in the passing game.
Getting to 3-1 would be huge for the Packers before they travel to London next week and face off against the New York Giants in a European trip that is never an easy feat due to the time change and climate.
The defense of the Packers has also been a key portion of their winning ways as of late and is one of the top defenses in the league. Look for star pass rusher Rashan Gary to continue his sack streak in this one.
Keep an eye on the run game also of the Patriots. With a veteran backup who never truly was an accomplished passer, the Patriots will likely look to get to pound the ball on the inside. This could be a run-dominant game and the Patriots are always a wildcard and never out of any game with the gameplan of one of the best head coaches ever in Bill Belichick.
Green Bay should take this game for a variety of reasons, and it would be utterly disappointing to not only lose this to fall to .500 but also a team that is without their quarterback Expect the Packers to win big in this AFC-NFC clash.
