We’ll learn a lot about the 2022 Packers on Sunday.
Will they go into Washington and beat a team they should beat and head into Buffalo next Sunday night with a little momentum? Or will they get pushed around again, drop their third straight, and be staring at a possible 0-3 road trip and a 3-6 hole that might be too deep to climb out of?
The defense figures to be up to the challenge, though I’d rather see Carson Wentz under center. In Taylor Heinicke, the Commanders’ stagnant offense gets a little shot of adrenaline. Heinicke can’t sling it downfield like Wentz, but he can actually move around in the pocket, and you get the feeling he’s a much better leader than Wentz. Remember the game at Lambeau last season? If not for a couple of red zone snafus, that game could have gone either way.
Heinicke knows this offense better than Wentz; this is his third stop with OC Scott Turner after stints in Minnesota and Carolina, and if the Commanders can move it on the ground with rookie Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson, Heinicke can serve up a heavy dose of play action, where he excels. After Jaire Alexander shut down Garrett Wilson last week, let’s hope he gets to follow Terry McLaurin around. He’s their top wideout, and Heineke targeted him on 25% of his passes last season. If they can handle McLaurin, Rasul Douglas will need to deal with Curtis Samuel in the slot, which might be tricky.
With a few extra days to prepare, Washington has had some time to put in looks that favor their backup and that the Pack hasn’t been able to scout. They figure to lean heavily on their backs and third-down guy J.D. McKissick. This needs to be a game where De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker step up their games, wrap up and get their guys on the ground. Heinicke will be using his legs too, and the Packers will need to be ready for that.
As for the offense, we’ve rarely seen an offensive line get dominated like the Pack’s did last week, and they have to deal with another team that can really get after the quarterback. Chase Young is still out, but the Commanders’ D-line is littered with top-ten picks, and they must be licking their chops.
We all presume the Packers will send right guard Royce Newman to the bench, but who will replace him? My guess is rookie Zach Tom…I find it hard to believe they’d move Elgton Jenkins inside. He’s expecting to get paid tackle money in the offseason, and a move to guard would likely not be handled well — he just needs to get a whole lot better at pass-blocking. The line may be best served by using Yosh Nijman at right tackle, but it would be a surprise to see the whole right side switched up.
Is this the week that Aaron Jones actually gets at least 15 carries? I mean, the Pack barely ever loses when he does, and you can run on Washington. I think we’re all getting tired of hearing Matt LaFleur bemoaning the fact that he didn’t give No. 33 enough touches in his post-game presser. With half of the wide receiver group injured, this has to be a week where they lean on Jones, sprinkle in some AJ Dillon, and take shots at whoever draws corner Kendall Fuller, who’s been statistically the worst corner in the NFL this season.
I want to believe what I’ve heard from the players this week. That it’s been a great week of practice, and they’re locked in on proving they’re better than what they’ve shown in the last six quarters. I want to believe that a little adversity and getting knocked around has gotten the attention of a talented roster that understands what it will take to climb into contention in the NFC.
I want to believe that Washington, even with a few days extra rest, is a dumpster fire whose owner is hated by fans as well as many of his fellow owners (and probably most of the players). But I think the Commanders offense will wake up a bit behind Heineke, and I think the Pack will be in for a 60-minute dog fight.
Packers 24
Commanders 23
