Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said this week it was time for him to “get hot” and set the tone on offense.
Sunday’s trip to New York to play the Giants offers up a strong opportunity for Rodgers and the Packers passing game to get back on track to start December.
In games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, Rodgers threw two touchdown passes, took 10 sacks, averaged 5.1 yards per attempt and produced a passer rating of 81.9.
Those were fast, pressure-centered defenses with talented front fours. This Giants defense can’t dream of comparing.
James Bettcher’s group doesn’t have the edge rushers, the quick-twitch inside linebackers or the cornerbacks to replicate what the Chargers, Panthers and 49ers accomplished against the Packers during the month of November.
This is a “get right” game for the Packers passing offense. Rodgers should have time in the pocket, and the receivers should be able to win one-on-one matchups on the perimeter and in the middle of the field.
Other notes from watching the last few games of the Giants:
– Veteran Janoris Jenkins is still a competitive battler on the perimeter, but young cornerbacks Deandre Baker, Corey Ballentine and Grant Haley look like big liabilities in man-to-man coverage. It’s possible the Giants will use more of second-year cornerback Sam Beal on Sunday. They need a spark in coverage.
– The Giants’ run game isn’t impressive. Saquon Barkley sure looks like he’s lacking the same kind of instant acceleration that made him great as a rookie, and the Giants get little push from the interior of the offensive line. Everything they do in the run game looks laborious. Kenny Clark could have a big game against center Jon Halapio.
– The Packers still can’t underestimate Barkley. He’s lost some juice, likely due to a lingering ankle issue, but he’s still really tough on first contact.
– Receiver Sterling Shepherd could be dangerous. He’s a subtle route runner and really quick on in-breaking routes. Matchups against Kevin King on the outside could be trouble for the Packers. Darius Slayton has some big-play ability, but he looks like an inconsistent young player.
– The Giants don’t do a lot well on defense, but the interior of the defensive line is solid. Dexter Lawrence, B.J. Hill, Dalvin Tomlinson and newcomer Leonard Williams are strong at the point of the attack and can push the pocket at times. All four are plus players against the run. Running the ball inside might be difficult for the Packers.
– However, if Aaron Jones can get to the second level a few times, explosive runs are possible. The Giants aren’t good at inside linebacker.
– The Giants’ edge pass-rush is almost non-existent. Former Cardinal Markus Golden is probably their best rusher. Even if Bryan Bulaga doesn’t play, the Packers should have time to throw the football Sunday. The Giants often have to blitz to make up for their lack of a rush, and the shaky secondary behind the front often gets burned because of it. The Packers should be expecting plenty of stunts up front on obvious passing downs.
– Aaron Rodgers has to be comfortable throwing to the middle of the field. The Giants don’t have great cornerbacks, and the Packers will like the matchups out wide, but the easiest completions will likely come between the hashes. Watch for Jimmy Graham up the seam and Davante Adams running routes from the slot. Allen Robinson did a lot of damage in the middle of the field against the Giants.
– Daniel Jones and the Giants passing game left a lot of yards on the field against the Bears. There were big plays to be made but the whole operation was always just a little off. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Giants came into Sunday with some confidence about their passing game, even though Golden Tate and Evan Engram won’t play. If they would have finished a few big-play opportunities last week, they likely would have beat the Bears in Chicago.
– The Giants tried to counter the Bears’ pass-rush with a bunch of play-action rollouts. They were hit or miss. Jones moves pretty well but his accuracy is spotty on the move.
– Aldrick Rosas, the Giants kicker, is on his last strike. He missed wide right and then wide left in the first half against the Bears. Neither kick looked good coming off the foot. He’s also missed an extra point in three of the last four games.
– Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith need to come in swiping on Sunday. Daniel Jones is prone to holding the ball, and he hasn’t been good at protecting it against edge pressure. If the two Smiths get around the corner, they should be targeting the football. Jones will make it available.
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