http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25907471/ns/sports-sunday_night_football/
It is finally official and everybody is talking about how the Green Bay Packers are essentially dead as a doornail with the Texans awaiting them on Sunday night.
Green Bay is done and Aaron Rodgers is overrated a a quarterback, right?
Wrong!
While a 2-3 record was not in the October plans for the ‘Lambeau Leapers’ all is not lost for a team that on paper still possesses elite talent when healthy.
Losing Cedric Benson (lisfranc) for perhaps the season (minimum eight weeks) and Greg Jennings for at least this game (ankle), could end up hitting them like a ton of bricks.
Even B.J. Raji (ankle), D.J. Williams (hamstring) and Jermichael Finley (shoulder) are nicked up as well and they all remain ‘questionable’ heading into their heavyweight battle with the undefeated Texans.
Aaron Rodgers is still the same machine that puts up 48 total touchdowns a season and average 40 PPG at home. They have not even been able to average 25 per game at home (24.33) and that is certainly a concern.
However, no need to completely fret since the pieces are still in place to give the Texans everything they got.
James Jones is getting a ton of looks in the slot and he can shred a Texans secondary that struggled to slow down the Jets receiving corps at times.
Jordy Nelson is being blanketed with bracket coverage on the top since he is playing on the outside every snap nearly, and the lack of a running game has allowed the opposition to pin their ears back against an offensive line that has given up more sacks than all but one team in the NFL (Cardinals).
Rodgers is throwing off his back foot and is running for his life with the lack of protection he has and this team have been unable to land the play maker to its opponents yet.
This is not exactly the contest to do such with the way J.J. Watt has been able to destroy offensive tackles.
Rodgers is still an accurate and just needs the likes of Finley (avoid dropsies), Driver (get open) and Nelson (find better ways to beat double/zone coverage).
I am banking on the Packers to put together a tremendous performance, but their defense will once again be the calling cards.
Their secondary was burnt by Reggie Wayne as if he was going up against Rutgers circa late 90s and the Texans have a solid trio (Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, Kevin Walter) that are even better than what the Colts had out there.
Look for a few lead changes in this one, but ultimately Foster means touchdowns in America.
Network: NBC
Time: 8:30 p.m. Eastern
Experts Pick: Texans by 6
Danny V’s Pick: Texans 24, Packers 23
