The Green Bay Packers return home Sunday when the host the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field.  Green Bay enters this week’s game with a 5-1-1 mark while the Panthers are 4-4. The Packers scored a 35-25 win over the Steelers last week. The Panthers are coming off an embarrassing 40-9 loss to the Bills. Here are the keys to victory for the Packers in their Week 9 matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

The Packers lead the all-time series between these two teams 11-6-0 in the regular season. The two teams first met during the regular season in 1997. The Packers won the only postseason game between the teams when they beat the Panthers in the 1996 NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field.

Here are the keys to victory for Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field:

Packers Keys to Victory vs Panthers, Number One: Stop the Panthers Running Game

The Panthers offense is built around the running game. They rank 5th in the NFL with 136.9 yards gained on the ground. Rico Dowdle leads the way for the Carolian running game. He has gained 605 yards on 106 carries. That’s a healthy 5.7-yard average.

The Packers run defense ranks third in the league and has allowed just 78.9 yards per game. The speed of linebackers Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper helps the Packers shut down the run. The defensive line was strengthened by the return of Devonte Wyatt last week. Walker is dealing with a calf injury, so check his status.

If the Panthers can’t run the football, they will struggle to score. Stop the running game and stop the offense.

Number Two: Contain Tetairoa McMillan

When the Panthers do throw the ball, they overwhelmingly throw in the direction of rookie Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan already has 37 catches, nearly double the total of the next highest player on the team, Xavier Legette who has 19 catches.

McMillan has great size at 6’5” and will be a challenge for either Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine. Valetine’s physical style of play may make for a challenging matchup. Nixon has struggled the last two games and needs to bounce back against the Panthers.

McMillan can be dangerous, especially on short and intermediate routes. The Packers have to keep him in front of them and prevent game breaking plays. That’s something they’ve done well all season.

Packers Keys to Victory vs Panthers, Number Three: Pressure the Quarterback

The Panthers offensive line has struggled and is also dealing with injuries. The Packers pass rushing duo of Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary should be able to get some pressure on Bryce Young. Young has returned to practice this week and is the likely starter for the Panthers this week.

Don’t overlook the importance of Wyatt in the middle of the defensive line. His ability to get push up the middle helps keep quarterbacks in the pocket.

Jeff Hafley has also lined up Parsons behind the nose tackle on several plays per game to create doubt I the offensive linemen and mismatches. The Packers should be able to get pressure on Young on Sunday.

Number Four: Balance on Offense

Last week, the running game struggled in the first half. Josh Jacobs wasn’t productive so in the second half, Matt LaFleur got Emanuel Wilson more involved. Wilson gave the running game some spark.

The Packers need to establish a running game to keep balanced on offense. The Carolina run defense is right in the middle of the league at 16th in yards allowed per game. The Packers need to keep the Panthers honest and set up the play action passing game.

Packers Keys to Victory vs Panthers, Number Five: Contain Derrick Brown

Derrick Brown remains the Panthers top pass rusher. He leads Carolina with three sacks. The Packers tackles will have to contain him. Zach Tom remains on the injury report but is expected to play. Rasheed Walker hasn’t had the best start to the season but needs to be sharp against Brown.

With a clean pocket, Jordan Love should be able to move the ball through the air although Carolina has the 10th best pass defense in the league right now.

Number Six: Don’t Fall Into the Trap

The Packers are coming off an emotional, nationally televised win over the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers last week. Next week, they face the defending Super Bowl champions on Monday Night Football. But they need to concentrate on this week, when they face the Panthers.

Carolina isn’t the pushover they were in recent seasons. They’re now improving and solidly in the middle of the league. If the Packers take them lightly, they can lose this game.

This is a classic trap game, and the Packers cannot fall into the trap.

Prediction:

The Packers are the better team on paper. This is a game they should win. It’s time for this team to win an easy one, but that won’t be the case if LaFleur’s team takes the Panthers for granted.

If the Packers don’t turn the ball over and don’t beat themselves with penalties, they should win going away. It will be a challenge for the Panthers to score a lot of points on the Green Bay defense.

The Packers get the job done and they do it fairly easily this Sunday.

 

Packers 34, Panthers 17

 

 

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