The Green Bay Packers are set to face one of their toughest tests of the season so far when they take on the 5-1 Houston Texans on Sunday.
While Houston will be without top receiver Nico Collins, their offense still has plenty of firepower with CJ Stroud, Joe Mixon, Tank Dell, and Stefon Diggs.
Green Bay is coming off a dominant win over the Arizona Cardinals and would love nothing more than to secure a signature victory in Week 7. But to do so, they’ll need to protect Jordan Love from Houston’s pass rush, which already has 19 sacks this season.
If the Packers want to handle business on Sunday, here are three key matchups to watch:
DT Kenny Clark vs. Houston’s Interior O-line
Clark is still waiting for his first sack of the season, but he’s leading the team with 14 pressures through the first six games. This could be the week Clark breaks into the sack category with an advantageous matchup against a vulnerable Houston interior. Guards Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason have combined to allow four sacks. The second-year left guard has allowed two sacks and 25 pressures this season. Starting center Juice Scruggs has also surrendered a pair of sacks and eight pressures. Perhaps this will be a breakout week for Clark.
LT Rasheed Walker vs. Edge Will Anderson Jr.
Walker has held up in pass protection, allowing just one sack, but penalties are an issue, with six on the season. He’ll need to be sharp against Texans’ pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., who leads the team with 5.5 sacks and 26 pressures. Anderson has been a disruptive force, and with Zach Tom playing lights out, expect Anderson to line up against Walker for most of the game. The team put a lot of trust into Walker when they released five-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari during the offseason. Now, they need him to step up in a big way to protect Jordan Love’s blindside.
CB Jaire Alexander vs. WR Stefon Diggs
Jaire Alexander has a history with Stefon Diggs dating back to Diggs’ time with the Vikings. According to Pro Football Focus, in five career matchups, Alexander has dominated, limiting Diggs to just three catches for 21 yards on seven targets. With Collins out, Diggs will be Stroud’s top option, setting up a familiar one-on-one battle. Alexander needs to be ready whenever he is matched against Diggs, who is still dangerous in his tenth season.