Schedule Preview – Packers
July 6, 2022
By Noonefromtampa
Washington’s week 7 opponent is another NFC North team, the venerable Green Bay Packers. The Packers hold the distinction of being the team in the NFL which has played in the same city with the same name for the longest period of time. Founded in 1921, the Green Bay Packers have not moved or changed their name since. They were named after the Indian Packing Company, a meat processor, who provided $500 for uniforms and equipment in exchange for naming rights.
The Packers have won 11 NFL championships and 4 Super Bowls.
Game Details
Opponent: Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday, October 23, 1:00 P.M.
Where: home game at Fed Ex Field
TV Network: Fox
2021 Packers
Record: 13-4
Offense: 10th [passing 8th, rushing 18th]
Defense: 9th [passing 10th, rushing 11th]
Points Scored: 10th
Points Allowed: 13th
Head-to-Head: 20-15-1 in the regular season, 2-1 in playoffs
Packers Coaching
Matt LaFleur is one of four assistant coaches who worked under former Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan who went on to be an NFL head coach, the other three being Kyle Shanahan (49ers), Sean McVay (Rams) and Mike McDaniel (Dolphins). In his three years as Packers head coach, LaFleur has gone 39-10 overall, winning 13 games each season. He is 2-3 in the playoffs, losing the conference championship game twice and once in the divisional round.
Adam Stenavich is in his third year with the team, but first as offensive coordinator. Previously, he was the offense line coach; later, the team added run game coordinator to his responsibilities. After Nathaniel Hackett was hired as the Broncos head coach, Stenavich was promoted to offensive coordinator.
Joe Barry is the defensive coordinator. Washington fans are very familiar with Barry, who served as the defensive coordinator under Jay Gruden in 2015 and 2016. Those defenses were both ranked in the bottom third of the league. Barry has fared better in Green Bay, with ninth ranked defense last year.
Packers Schemes
The Packers nominally run a west coast offense with several vertical concepts. Realistically, this is Aaron Rodgers’ offense, and he does pretty much whatever he wants. It will be interesting to see how the offense performs after the team traded away wide receiver Davante Adams, who was one of Rodgers’ favorite targets and a key cog the last several years.
The Packers run a 3-4 defense with the outside pressure coming from former Washington player Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, who had 9 and 9.5 sacks respectively. The secondary is led by cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was a Pro Bowl selection in 2020.
Roster Changes
Key Losses: WR Davante Adams (trade-LVR), OLB Za’Darius Smith (MIN), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC), G Lucas Patrick (CHI), ILB Oren Burks (SF), G Billy Turner (DEN), CB Chandon Sullivan (MIN)
Key Additions: P Pat O’Donnell (CHI), DT Jarran Reed (KC), WR Sammy Watkins (BAL),
Draft Picks: LB Quay Walker (1-22), DT Devonte Wyatt (1-28), WR Christian Watson (2-34), OL Sean Rhyan (3-92), WR Romeo Doubs (4-132), OL Zach Tom (4-140), DE Kingsley Enagbare (5-179), DB Tariq Carpenter (7-228), DT Jonathan Ford (7-234), WR Samori Toure (7-258)
Key Players Returning: QB Aaron Rodgers, G Jon Runyan, T Royce Newman, T Yosuah Nijman, WR Allen Lazard, RB AJ Dillon, TE Marcedes Lewis, WR Randall Cobb, CB Jaire Alexander, S Adrian Amos, S Darnell Savage, CB Eric Stokes, LB Preston Smith, Dt Kenny Clark, LB Rashan Gary, DE Dean Lowry
Conclusions
Washington has lost two straight games to Green Bay, both away games, last winning in 2018 at Fed Ex Field. Even though Green Bay had a good defense last season, they invested heavily in the offseason on the defensive side of the ball by signing Jarran Reed and drafting Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt. The big question is on offense where Devonte Adams was traded away, which leaves a big hole in the receiving corps. Sammy Watkins was signed to replace that production.
Noone’s Prediction
Even though the Commanders are playing at home, I’m taking the Packers to win this game 24-17. Green Bay has been playing at a consistently high level for a number of years while Washington has been mediocre at best. It will take a total team effort to beat the Packers.