Key Battle for Packers vs. Texans

Is the Packers' secondary as good as they looked against Philadephia? They have to be in order to keep their playoff chances alive.

Ah ah ah ah, staying alive, staying alive!

The Green Bay Packers were left for dead a while back by all but the most dedicated fans (most of which live here and have secret meetings led by Corey Behnke) but here we are in Week 13 and the Packers are very much alive.

Some of that has been due to the implosion of the Minnesota Vikings and the inconsistent play of the Detroit Lions, but some of it has been that the Packers are suddenly playing good football.

One place where they need to continue to improve is in the secondary. As much as they played well last week (and as good as it was to see Damarious Randall return to the lineup), that was against a mediocre group of receivers.

This week they see DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Will Fuller. Fuller has cooled off after a nice start but is finally healthy again, while Hopkins is always dangerous.

Unfortunately for Houston, they are held back by the albatross which is Brock Osweiler. The Texans gave the former Denver quarterback a $71 million contract and while we know Denver was in the ballpark with their offer, it looks a lot like the Broncos dodged a bullet that ended up hitting Houston.

I broke Osweiler down this past week at Pro Football Weekly and he brings to the game a combination of no velocity on his throws and poor decision-making. It has lowered the ceiling for his receivers considerably and made Hopkins look pedestrian.

Seriously, Ryan Fitzpatrick watches Osweiler and winces.

That being said, the Packers aren’t exactly a shutdown group in the secondary. Neither are the San Diego Chargers, but the advantage they have is they lead the NFL in interceptions. The Packers are mired in the lower-middle of the pack on that score.

The Chargers were able to turn that habit into a back-breaking effort against Osweiler. Can the Packers do the same?

Last week the Packers did well against the Philadelphia Eagles and rookie Carson Wentz holding him to 211 net yards passing and one interception with no passing touchdowns. Wentz did run a score in, but the Packers contained the Eagles otherwise, holding them to 13 points. After letting up 89 points over the course of the two weeks before, that was a huge step forward.

Those previous two weeks will loom large, though, and the Packers remain vulnerable to deep passes. If the front seven can’t get after Osweiler, and he finds a way to hook up with DeAndre Hopkins deep, the Packers could be in for some trouble.

0 points
 

Comments (15)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
NickPerry's picture

December 02, 2016 at 06:12 am

The Texans have Lamar Miller who I think will be a huge part of the game plan and hopefully Hopkins doesn't have a coming out party this week. Osweiler is a big guy so if/when the Packers pass rush gets there, they need to actually WRAP UP and get him to the ground. None of this hitting him with the shoulder thinking that will be enough to knock him down, he's to big for that.

The best Defense for the Packers will be a game plan much like last week. If the Packers can get out front again and make the Texans try to keep up, make Osweiler try to keep up.

Use Montgomery and Michael. Starks isn't doing anything remotely special where some of his snaps can't be split up. If the Packers really believe they can "Run The Table", then I'd hope they begin trust some other players to get what Starks really isn't getting done.

0 points
0
0
Tundraboy's picture

December 02, 2016 at 07:22 am

"The best Defense for the Packers will be a game plan much like last week. If the Packers can get out front again and make the Texans try to keep up, make Osweiler try to keep up."

Dead on NP. Here's hoping they play the same way for a second week in a row. Only change I would like to see is more Monty, and Rip and that they actually involve Michael. I mean what's the point of a couple of carries. That was absurd.

0 points
0
0
NickPerry's picture

December 02, 2016 at 07:26 am

Totally agree on Michael. With 3 weeks in the system he should have a number of plays he could run and McCarthy be comfortable with it. I couldn't believe it last week when he was on the field for 2 plays.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

December 02, 2016 at 07:45 am

I'd like to see more Michael too.
However, I ASSume (and I know the risks there) that his limited usage thus far has to do with limited understanding of the audibles and blitz pickups. Hate to see 12 get his head ripped off because Michael missed a blitz pickup when he went the wrong way.

0 points
0
0
sheppercheeser's picture

December 04, 2016 at 06:12 am

...oh I dunno. MM seems just fine risking AR's life and limb when he puts Barclay in there...

0 points
0
0
Tundraboy's picture

December 02, 2016 at 09:08 am

Totally bizarre isn't it. He always follows it up, saying, each week, whether it's Monty Cook and now Micheal that we need to get them involved more. . He's the HC, he's in charge of everything and everyone. Does he have to check with someone first. Yet no problem getting plenty of snaps and plays for RRodgers and lately Starks.

0 points
0
0
dobber's picture

December 03, 2016 at 07:55 pm

I don't know how bizarre it really is...when was the last time TT or MM said anything to the media that meant anything?

0 points
0
0
Tundraboy's picture

December 04, 2016 at 11:28 am

I know. But lately it's been a broken record of the same nonsense each week.. Then again that's always the case too. Nonsense.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

December 02, 2016 at 07:49 am

Yeah, i agree with you.

0 points
0
0
Lphill's picture

December 02, 2016 at 06:51 am

Wentz was the tougher challenge , the Packers should be able to contain the Texans offense , I think we see an improved running game this week from the Pack.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

December 02, 2016 at 07:27 am

Osweiler is the QB that gives me hope that someone will be willing to give up a 1st or a couple of 2nds for Hundley when the time comes. Osweiler was pedestrian as a starter on a Super Bowl winning team last year.

If a team is willing to give Osweiler that kind of money to play like this, I'm sure there will be teams looking to come get Hundley. (assuming Hundley's play keeps elevating).

0 points
0
0
Tundraboy's picture

December 02, 2016 at 09:12 am

I think even now we could get half the Jets D for Hundley That's how desperately the Jets need a QB and how good Hundley could be.

0 points
0
0
Bearmeat's picture

December 02, 2016 at 07:29 am

Michael and Ty need to be the RBs from now on. Starks is done. I hope MM sees that.

Assuming ARod and the WRs continue their play quality, the only chance this team has to run the table lies at the feet of the pass rush and secondary working in tandem. They have the players to be ok - not great. At least not great without Sam and Julius aging and PED3 getting hurt over and over.

1 game at a time. Beat the teams you should beat guys.

0 points
0
0
RCPackerFan's picture

December 02, 2016 at 07:48 am

The key battle in this game:

Packers vs themselves?

Can the Packers come in with the right game plan? Against the Falcons they came out and played a game very similar to the one they played against the Eagles. Short quick passes to get the ball out fast. The very next week they decided to attack the Colts with the TE's. Getting away from what worked the previous week.

Will the Packers come out with the same type of game plan that worked against the Eagles or are they going to go away from what worked?

McCarthy said yesterday that he wants to get Montgomery and Michael more involved. Well that is great, but he has been wanting to get Montgomery more involved for a while now and hasn't done it. Getting them more involved and taking away some time from Starks would be a good thing.

0 points
0
0
Tundraboy's picture

December 02, 2016 at 09:14 am

Good point RC. Packers versus themselves. MM versus himself.

0 points
0
0