Week
15 Game Scout: Packers at Panthers
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[December 16, 2017]
The Sports Xchange
GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-6) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (9-4)
GAME SNAPSHOT
KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Bank of America Stadium. TV: FOX, Joe
Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews (field reporter).
SERIES HISTORY: 14th regular-season meeting. Packers lead series,
8-5. The first meeting came in the playoffs to cap the 1996 season
for Carolina, which lost at Green Bay. The Panthers won two years
ago at home, 37-29.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Aaron Rodgers will make his much-anticipated
return from a broken collarbone as the Packers cling to playoff
hopes.
The key word for Green Bay will be balance. Mike McCarthy, now in
his 12th season as the Packers' coach, has thrown the ball roughly
60 percent of the time in his tenure. With Rodgers sidelined,
though, rookie running backs Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones emerged
as big-time threats. Green Bay will want to protect Rodgers and keep
the Panthers honest. The best way to do that would be a 50-50
run-pass split.
The Panthers continue to realize the benefits of a strong rushing
attack, so they'll have to keep that mindset even with the Packers
perhaps hurting some in the secondary.
The confidence should be high for running back Jonathan Stewart, and
the team continues to show confidence in him. If Stewart gets going
early, that would give Cam Newton a better chance to break a key
play later, much like he did against Minnesota.
The Panthers have shown the ability to produce on offense without
huge numbers in the passing attack, and that ought to be the
priority again.
On defense, the Panthers have relished the ability to pressure
quarterbacks this season and the expected return of Rodgers puts
heightened importance on getting to the quarterback.
The Panthers have counted on the defensive line applying most of the
pressure, and they certainly don't want to expose their cornerbacks
any more than necessary in this game.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
--Panthers QB Cam Newton vs. Packers LB Clay Matthews. Will Matthews
spy Newton all game, or will the Packers turn him loose as a pass
rusher? Newton is averaging 61.9 rushing yards in his last eight
games, and the Packers can't afford to let him win the day with his
feet. So having Matthews spy Newton is certainly one option the
Packers can take. But Matthews has provided the only steady pass
rush the last few weeks, and Green Bay needs him to get after Newton
the passer, too. Matthews, of course, can't wear both hats, so
defensive coordinator Dom Capers must decide on the right role for
his standout linebacker.
--Packers QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Panthers DE Julius Peppers and
defensive front. The Panthers will want to give Rodgers different
looks and also apply plenty of pressure. Peppers spent the past
three seasons with the Packers before returning to Carolina this
year, so he's likely to be geared up for this game. The Panthers are
coming off a six-sack effort against Minnesota.
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FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
GREEN BAY PACKERS
--Out: CB Davon House (shoulder, back)
--Questionable: CB Demetri Goodson (hamstring), LB Nick Perry (foot,
shoulder), LB Jake Ryan (knee), T Jason Spriggs (hip)
CAROLINA PANTHERS
--Out: LB Shaq Thompson (foot), G Trai Turner (concussion)
--Questionable: WR Devin Funchess (shoulder), C Tyler Larsen (foot)
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Panthers LB Thomas Davis. This veteran linebacker
has had some productive outings against the Packers through the
years, including an interception the last time the teams met in
2015. Davis appeared to move better last week after dealing with a
hamstring injury; if LB Shaq Thompson remains out or limited, Davis
could be in line for another productive afternoon.
FAST FACTS: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has 1,230 passing yards (307.5
per game), 12 TDs and two interceptions in four career games at
Carolina. ... RB Jamaal Williams tallied 118 scrimmage yards (69
receiving) and two TDs last week. In the past three games, he has
376 scrimmage yards and five TDs. He aims for his fourth game in a
row with 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing TD. ... LB Clay Matthews
has five sacks in his past three games. He aims for his fourth game
in a row with a sack. Since entering the league in 2009, he is the
only player with 400 tackles (432) and 80 sacks (80). ... Panthers
QB Cam Newton had a 62-yard run in Week 14 and is the first QB in
the Super Bowl era with multiple 60-yard runs in a season. He has
five TD passes and one interception in his past two games at home.
He leads NFL QBs in rushing yards (585) and is tied for first in
rushing TDs (5). ... RB Jonathan Stewart rushed 16 times for 103
yards and a career-high three TDs last week and is the second player
in franchise history (Tim Biakabatuka) to rush for 100 yards and
three TDs on fewer than 20 attempts. He has nine career games with
two-plus rushing TDs, the second most in team history (DeAngelo
Williams, 11). ... DE Julius Peppers had a sack last week. In his
past four games against Green Bay, he has 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble
and an interception. He spent three seasons with Green Bay (2014-16)
and had 25 sacks. He has 9.5 sacks and can become the fourth player
to have 10 seasons with 10-plus sacks.
PREDICTION: Never sell the Packers short with Rodgers under center.
But, he was idle for two months, so there has to be some rust
involved, and the Panthers aren't the ideal opponent to face in a
return game with so much at stake.
OUR PICK: Panthers, 27-24.
--Bucky Dent
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