Dolphins Opponent Breakdown: Green Bay Packers

The Miami Dolphins will look to finish their three-game shedding streak and transfer to 9-6 on the season once they face the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Exhausting Rock Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

This would be the fourth of 4 video games towards NFC North Division for the Dolphins, who misplaced at dwelling towards the Minnesota Vikings and gained on the highway towards the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. The Packers will go into the sport with a 6-8 file and in tenth place within the NFC standings following their 24-12 victory towards the Los Angeles Rams on Monday evening.

To get some solutions on 5 main questions associated to the Packers, we turned to Invoice Huber, Writer of Fan Nation sister website Packer Central.

1. With back-to-back victories, are the Packers getting nearer to the staff most anticipated them to be or did they simply reap the benefits of two unhealthy groups (Bears, Rams)?

BH: In all probability somewhat of each. I do assume the Packers have made some strides. From Recreation 10 via Recreation 13, the Packers had been sixth in scoring throughout that four-game stretch of Dallas, Tennessee, Philadelphia and Chicago. There’s three playoff groups in that bunch. Within the chilly on Monday evening, they solely scored 24 however they took a knee on the 1 so may have gotten to 30 once more. They’ve run the ball effectively for many of the season. With the emergence of rookie receiver Christian Watson and with four-fifths of the offensive line having began the final six video games collectively, the expansion is actual. That being stated, the Bears are in sixteenth place within the NFC and the Rams are in fifteenth place. Inexperienced Bay took care of enterprise and gained these video games however hardly appeared like a high-quality staff.

2. The place would you say Aaron Rodgers’ sport is lately?

BH: Rodgers is an above-average starter. It’s been a problem this yr. They traded Davante Adams and changed him with way-past-his-prime veteran Sammy Watkins and three draft picks. Between the upheaval at receiver, the uncertainty on the offensive line with studs David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins coming off knee accidents, and a damaged thumb sustained in Week 5, it’s been a wrestle in comparison with his 4 MVP seasons. However the rookies have gained some crucial seasoning, the road has discovered some stability and the thumb not is a matter. Rodgers was actually sharp towards the Rams on Monday evening. I’d assume the NFC’s playoff contenders shall be cheering for the Dolphins on Sunday. With a doubtlessly highly effective offense and the momentum from what can be a five-game successful streak, I don’t assume any staff would need to face the Packers within the postseason.

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3.  Who’s the offensive participant (in addition to Rodgers, in fact) with whom the Dolphins most have to be involved?

BH: Watson. Keep in mind that No. 6 rating in scoring? That’s largely on the energy of the rookie’s unbelievable four-game stretch of eight touchdowns. No rookie receiver in NFL historical past scored so many touchdowns over such a brief time period. A star at North Dakota State, the Packers traded as much as get him with the thirty fourth general decide of the draft. He’s simply so large and quick. A couple of weeks in the past at Chicago, he scored the successful landing on a jet sweep. The participant who made the important thing block, Watkins, began celebrating when Watson was on the 40. The Bears defender in pursuit beat 4.40 within the 40 at his professional day. By comparability to Watson, it appeared like he was operating via moist concrete. The Rams put Jalen Ramsey on him for an honest chunk of Monday’s sport. Watson caught solely 4 passes however drew two penalties (and there ought to have been a 3rd for holding/interference/tripping). He’s going to be a star.

4. How effectively outfitted, if in any respect, is the Inexperienced Bay protection to cope with the Dolphins passing sport and all that velocity at large receiver?

BH: The Packers have top-of-the-line cornerbacks within the NFL in Jaire Alexander. An All-Professional in 2020, he missed most of 2021 with a shoulder harm however was named to the 2022 Professional Bowl staff this week. I don’t know that he’s going to shadow Tyreek Hill however these shall be some must-see snaps. He’s received the velocity, expertise and mentality to go up towards anybody. The opposite nook is Rasul Douglas, who’s a extremely good participant however velocity is just not his sport. Keisean Nixon has taken over within the slot; he’s received loads of velocity however doesn’t have an abundance of expertise. An ideal cross rush would assist however the Packers don’t have that; their high rusher, Rashan Gary, suffered a torn ACL at midseason. I’d assume defensive coordinator Joe Barry can have his corners play a mile off Hill and Jaylen Waddle and hope the Dolphins shoot themselves within the foot sufficient so it’s area targets as an alternative of touchdowns.

5. What do you see as probably the most real looking means the Packers can win at Exhausting Rock Stadium on Sunday?

 BH: The Packers must run the ball, which they’re effectively outfitted to do with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Run the ball, management the clock, keep out of third-and-long (and away from the Dolphins’ cross rush) and strike on play-action. After all, that’s everybody’s system, proper? That’s proper out of the “Soccer for Whole Idiots” playbook. Hear, I’m not evaluating Watson and fellow rookie Romeo Doubs to Hill and Waddle. Due to accidents, Watson and Doubs had performed solely 52 snaps collectively the primary 13 video games. With Doubs again from an ankle harm towards the Rams, they shared the sphere on 13 snaps. Rodgers was 7-of-7 passing on these performs and the Packers picked up eight first downs. The sector-stretching risk of Watson opened up some simple completions to Doubs. If the Packers can run the ball and get that kind of effectivity within the passing sport, they’ve received an actual probability.

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