Packers look to get back on track vs a good Carolina team

The Green Bay Packers are back at home after a two-game road trip and welcome the Carolina Panthers to Lambeau Field for a 3:25 (Central Time) start time after it was originally scheduled for Noon.

The Packers are 7-2 but lost 26-11 to the Los Angeles Chargers on the road last Sunday while the Panthers are 5-3, winning last week at home vs the Tennessee Titans 30-20.

Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton has been placed on injured reserve and it’s possible that we may have seen the last of the former MVP in a Panther uniform. Kyle Allen is the starter now and the team is 5-1 with him as the starter. The big offensive star for the Panthers is RB Christian McCaffrey, who has over 1,200 combined yards rushing and receiving. He has 881 yards rushing and has a chance to reach 1,000 rushing yards in this game. He is a legitimate MVP candidate. The Packers need to focus on at least slowing him down and force Allen to pass the ball. The Panthers still have veteran TE Greg Olsen, who can never be overlooked as he is still capable of making plays.

For whatever reason, Aaron Rodgers and the offense had quite a rough game vs the Chargers. A good way to start getting the offense back on track is to reestablish both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams in the running and passing game. Davante Adams is back and they now have a full week with him at practice after he was a game-time decision vs the Chargers. Luke Kuechly is a disruptive player and the Packers need to know where he is at all times. Shaq Thompson isn’t far behind. In fact, you could make a case that Thompson has had the better year so far. The Panthers have 12 interceptions so far this year. Only the New England Patriots (19) have more. Ball security is always important.

I want to dismiss any talk that the Packers are a better offensive team without Davante Adams. They are not. Adams has become one of the top receivers in the game and his presence will make things easier for the other receivers. Allen Lazard deserves more playing time with what he did in Adams’ absence. Jimmy Graham has made some plays and needs to continue getting open and making those tough catches. Matt LaFleur and the rest of the staff need to develop a good game plan now that Adams is back and maximize everyone’s potential. This offense is much better than what it showed vs the Chargers last Sunday. It’s time to go out there and show it.

I want to give a personal challenge to Mike Pettine and the defense. They have given up a bunch of yards this season, and to their credit, they were usually able to overcome it with sacks and turnovers. It wasn’t enough last Sunday. For the Packers to reach their goal, and we all know what that is, they need to not only continue getting sacks and turnovers, but they need to get stops as well. That means three and outs and getting off the field, creating good field position for the offense. I would like to see this defense in the top 16 at the end of the season. They are more than capable of doing that. They need to go out there and get the job done.

Cam Newton has won an MVP Award and made it to the Super Bowl, but he may have played his last game for the Carolina Panthers. He has a lot of talent but he has also been criticized for his maturity and for his presence in the locker room. It seems like they are more like a team with him out and Kyle Allen in at quarterback instead. The Packers could easily lose this game if they aren’t focused.

It was a very frustrating game last week for us Packer fans, but they have a great opportunity to get a win vs a quality opponent this Sunday. This game has been flexed to a late-afternoon start because of the quality of these two teams. Just look at it as having more time to tailgate and party before the game. It should have the feel of a playoff game at Lambeau Field this weekend.

Last Sunday didn’t go the way we wanted but we are now on to the next one. We never know what other teams will do from here on out. The Packers just need to win on Sunday and keep it going after that and see what happens. Let’s put the negativity behind us and get ready to cheer the team to victory, no matter where we may be. Let’s get it done this Sunday!

Get Loud Lambeau!

Go Pack Go!

@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GetLoudLambeau #GregGoshaw @gg901