The Green Bay Packers eye a crucial win as the the Carolina Panthers' potent rush attack clashes with the Packers' stout defense. Can the Pack avoid a trap game?
This is a big Week 9 matchup for the Green Bay Packers, because it has all the makings of a trap game. The Packers are 5-1-1 and riding a three-game winning streak. They're coming off an emotional win over their old franchise quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and next week, they play the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In the meantime, the 4-4 Carolina Panthers are coming to town and, despite their record, this is a team the Packers must take seriously. Case in point? The Panthers beat the Dallas Cowboys a few weekends ago, 30-27. That's the same Cowboys team the Packers played to a 40-40 tie.
"Any Given Sunday" always applies in the NFL, but this is a Panthers team that is absolutely better than it's record would suggest.
The Packers have to feel like they're legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and they have the talent on both sides of the ball to do so. With that said, Super Bowl contenders don't lose games at home against inferior opponents, so this is a contest the Pack must win.
Below you'll find all the pertinent info you could need for this game.
Game Time:
12:00 PM Central
TV Channel:
FOX
Odds:
Packers -13.5, per ESPN BET, O/U 43.5
Packers -13, per BETMGM, O/U 43.5
Key Matchup: Panthers' rushing attack vs. Packers' run defense
The Panthers have one of the better rushing attacks in the NFL, and their franchise running back, Chuba Hubbard, has been banged up. Credit to undrafted sixth-year running back Rico Dowdle, who took the opportunity given to him and literally ran with it.
Dowdle has 605 yards and two touchdowns on the season and he's averaging 5.7 yards per touch. A few weekends ago against the Miami Dolphins, he rushed for 206 yards and a touchdown.
Both Hubbard and Dowdle will get touches against the Packers, and they're both a threat to gash Green Bay's defense. In the meantime, though, the Packers have the third-best rushing defense in the league, giving up just 78.9 yards per game on the ground.
Something will have to give in this one, but the odds are in the Packers' favor.
Key Quote: Packers head coach Matt LaFleur on Halloween
"[It's] Halloween, huh?" LaFleur said in the press conference, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "We've got a big discussion with my assistant Darryl. I was like, 'I don't give a s--- if it's Halloween, all right? We're trying to win a game. Period.'
Prediction:
Packers 42, Panthers 13