Patriots - Packers, Who Has the Razor's Edge? Key Matchups
 Tim Wright and Rob Gronkowski give the Patriots a dynamic 1-2 presence in the red zone. (USA TODAY Images) |
The New England Patriots travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. and will be televised on CBS with their top announcing crew of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the call. This is the third game this season that CBS’ top crew will announce a Pats game.
The Patriots (9-2) continue their red-hot streak and have won seven in a row, last week rolling easily over the Detroit Lions 34-9. QB Tom Brady threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns, and LaGarrette Blount added two touchdowns on the ground.
Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner spearheaded another stellar effort by the New England secondary holding the dangerous duo of Golden Tate and Calvin Johnson out of the end zone while the Lions could only manage three field goals on the day.
The Packers (8-3) won a tough divisional matchup on the road against the Minnesota Vikings 24-21 as Aaron Rodgers tossed two touchdown passes to lead the offense. The GB win coupled with the Lions loss in New England, the Packers vaulted back to the top of the NFC North and now hold the #2 seed in their conference.
The Lions win over Chicago on Thanksgiving now puts the pressure back on the Packers to win and keep ahead of Detroit in the division.
Series History:
The Patriots and Packers have met only 10 times in their history and the series all-time is knotted up 5-5. Green Bay holds a 2-1 advantage in games played at home although this will only be the third time New England has played at Lambeau, a 1988 game was played in Milwaukee.
The teams last met in 2010 a Sunday Night Football matchup in Foxboro that Aaron Rodgers missed due to concussion. The Patriots won 31-27 as Dan Connolly returned a kickoff 71 yards, the longest return by a lineman in history.
Here is a look at some of the PatsFans.com “Razor’s Edge” key matchups of the game this week:
Patriots RBs vs Packers Front Seven- Razor’s Edge Patriots
The Patriots just a couple of weeks ago were missing the size and physicality of Stevan Ridley to run the ball inside. Two weeks ago they used Jonas Gray against the Colts and he responded with 200 yards and four touchdowns. Last week they snatched LaGarrette Blount off the street and he scored twice against the Lions and averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
Green Bay hasn’t defended the run well all season allowing 136.7 yards per game. They were forced to move Pro Bowl LB Clay Matthews inside to help stem the tide. Expect the Patriots to run the ball a lot against this front seven and with success.
Patriots WRs vs Packers Secondary-Razor’s Edge Patriots
Tom Brady has been spreading the ball around during the Patriots winning streak. In the seven games that they’ve won, they’ve had six different players leading the team in yards from scrimmage.
During the seven-game winning streak the Patriots are averaging 39.5 points per game and much of that has to do with the mismatches created by TE Rob Gronkowski. Gronk has been virtually impossible to cover one-on-one and when teams double team him, it opens up other avenues for Brady to exploit.
Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell have had excellent seasons to date. TE Tim Wright has been a red-zone presence with six touchdown receptions. Throw in RB Shane Vereen out of the backfield and Brady will have plenty of places to look.
Green Bay has had an extremely opportunistic secondary that has picked off 15 passes this season and returned three for touchdowns. They have two very good edge rushers in Matthews and Julius Peppers and both will have to be accounted for.
Look for Brady to find Gronkowski in the middle of the field on early downs, if Green Bay doubles him up, Shane Vereen will play a big role out of the backfield. Protection of Brady and the football are the keys here.
Packers RBs vs NE Front Seven- Razor’s Edge Patriots
The Packers want to remain balanced now that the wintry weather has arrived and just like last year, RB Eddie Lacy is heating up at just the right time. Last week he ran 25 times for 125 yards against the Vikings and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) to pace the offense. Low to the ground and tough to bring down, he’ll be a big test for the NE front seven.
The Patriots have solidified their rush defense in the second half of 2014, after getting gashed early in the season and then losing Jerod Mayo in the middle, they’ve rebounded well, Dont’a Hightower has more than held his own in the middle and Vince Wilfork and Alan Branch have been very good at stopping the running game at the point of attack. Dominique Easley and Patrick Chung have provided good run support.
Against what will probably be a lot of nickel coverage, Lacy should have the opportunity to run well. But in the past three games against similar offenses (Indianapolis, Denver and Detroit) New England has given up only an average of 51 yards per game.
Packers WRs vs NE Secondary- Razor’s Edge Packers
Rodgers is in the midst of perhaps his best season throwing 30 touchdowns against only three interceptions. He has Jordy Nelson on one side, Nelson should be in the running for All-Pro status and Randall Cobb on the other. Nelson is big (6’3,217) and particularly good at reading opponents coverages and while not a burner, can go deep on anyone at any time. He’s on pace for a 100 catch, 1600 yard, 14 touchdown season.
Cobb is built more for the slot but has been very productive hauling in 58 passes for 837 yards (14.4 average) with 10 touchdowns. Lacy provides good production out of the backfield with 29 catches, 335 yards and three TDs.
The key against Rodgers is bring pressure up the middle and not allow him to break containment outside where he will bury you with his feet or deep plays down the field. Look for Collins and/or Hightower to bring some double “A-Gap” pressure this week.
The Patriots secondary is deep and talented and they have the pieces to mix and match with just about anyone. Revis and Browner have given Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia the flexibility to attack opponents rather than sit back and react. How they propose to do that against a GB offense averaging 48 points a game in their last three home tilts will be the chess match of the day.
Special Teams- Razor’s Edge Patriots
This will be a key area to watch as the Patriots STs units have been playing extremely well. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski has been superb, his only FG this season occurring on a bad snap. Ryan Allen is turning in a solid season with a 46.4 yard average. Danny Amendola has been red hot in the kick return unit and Julian Edelman last week had a punt return for a TD called back.
Green Bay has the solid Mason Crosby doing the kicking and Tim Masthay doing a good job in the punting game averaging 45.8 yards per punt. Green Bay’s return game hasn’t been great but Micah Hyde returned a punt 75 yards for a TD two weeks ago against the Eagles.
Prediction: This is one that I’ve had circled for a loss since the schedule came out. Green Bay at home is unbeaten and blowing people out. They’ve also started incredibly fast and put opponents on their heels.
But this Patriots team has made incredible strides in all three phases of the game and can play with anyone, at home and on the road. They can win fast or ugly and are a physical football team.
They won’t stop Rodgers and Co., no one can do that, but they have the pieces to slow them down enough. The running game with Jonas Gray and Blount I think will have a big day and keep the offense on the field. Look for Matthews to blitz some up the middle on early downs to disrupt things. Gronkowski is the force multiplier for NE as he makes everyone around him better. Patriots in a very close one 31-28
Patriots Player to Watch- Rob Gronkowski
This is a game tailor made for him, cold weather, with a focus toward running the ball which will open up play-action passing and he’s a threat to catch and run inside, outside or down the seam.
Green Bay doesn’t have an answer to cover him one-on-one so if he has a big game, the offense will follow suit. And I think he does this week.
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