I gotta admit, on Monday and Tuesday I was worried about the Green Bay Packers losing to the Carolina Panthers this week.
Sam Shields and Datone Jones are out. Tramon Williams might also be out. Cam Newton is one of the best running quarterbacks in the league, and we all know what happens when the Packers encounter a running quarterback. Luke Kuechly is like Brian Urlacher and Patrick Willis rolled into one player.
But when you dig into this matchup, you don’t have to dig too far before you realize the Packers are the better team. With the exception of middle linebacker and maybe defensive line, the Packers have the advantage at every position group on the field.
Normally I use the intro to these “5 Reasons” posts to endlessly mock and ridicule the Packers’ opponent. But are the Panthers, a two-player team, really worth mocking and ridiculing? Not really.
After today, the Panthers will be just another pelt on the Packers’ 2014 wall.
Here are five reasons why this Packers victory is already in the bag:
Not your 2013 Panthers
Remember the 2013 Panthers and their hard-hitting, almost-as-good-as-Seattle’s defense? Those days are long gone. The freaking Bengals nearly racked up 40 points on the Panthers’ D, and that was without A.J. Green. Pass-rushing nightmare Greg Hardy is suspended and standout safety Mike Mitchell is in Pittsburgh. As long as Kuechly doesn’t go completely crazy, the Packers’ offense should have a big day.
No-name WRs
If rookie WR Kelvin Benjammin misses the game with a concussion, the Panthers might just run the ball 75 times, 70 of which will be some type of option play or scramble with Cam Newton. Beyond Benjammin, I have no idea who the Panthers WRs are. Usually when I don’t know something while I’m writing a blog post, I look it up. But this is the Panthers WRs we’re talking about. Who cares about the Panthers WRs? Not me, so I’m not going to look up who they are. If Benjammin is out, the Packers won’t care, either.
Always-injured RBs
Jonathan Stewart says he’ll start today. He also predicted he’ll play an entire game without getting injured for the first time since 2008. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Aaron Rodgers TD-INT ratio
Aaron Rodgers has 15 touchdowns and one interception. Repeat: Aaron Rodgers has 15 touchdowns and one interception. He also has the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the history of the NFL. Everyone in the entire world is impressed by those stats, expect this weird Dolphins homer over at fivethirtyeight.com who thinks Rodgers needs to throw more interceptions. Seriously, that’s what he thinks. Dolphins fans, man.
3-WR threat
It’s been fun to watch Davante Adams develop and help bring back a true three-WR threat to this Packers’ offense. Adams still has a long ways to develop, and his week-to-week production is far from a guarantee, but defenses at least have to pay attention to him now.
Whoa, Adam! You’re always cocky and tongue-in-cheek overconfident in this weekly column, but today you’re especially flippant and dismissive of the Panthers. The Packers could be without their two starting CBs. Cam Newton might run for 200 yards. Luke Kuechly might make 73 tackles. This game is far from a gimme for the Packers. Am I right?
Two players
Yes, ominous voice of reason who always types in italic font, you are right. Newton and Kuechly are both amazing players capable of taking control of games and carrying their team to victory. It could happen against the Packers. I doubt it will happen, but it could (see, I can type in italic, too).
Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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I hope you’re right, go Pack!
Just win baby!
According to Adam Czech,the one reason for the Packers losing is a two player combo of Newton and Kuechly,though I cannot offer a reason to debate such,I’ll simply pinch open the slats of the window blind for this peak outside.
Lets not rule out a very buried yet important reason that has yet to be shed from this team,it’s propensity to play,not only down to a lesser teams level but at times a tad lower.
I’m not convinced and neither should any Packer fan,be so blindly convinced they can’t/won’t yet again,and though the writer suggests a Panther team of no one other than the mentioned two for worry, 2 vs 22 or 1 on 11 on each side of the ball shouldn’t be close.
I hope the proverbial rug isn’t hiding the trap door and we can see it and step over it as the reasons/excuses for such could/would be unbearable to swallow.
A single digit win today will not move the needle away from the team being unable to dominate the inferior. 🙂
I wouldn’t be so dismissive of this Panthers team that, in its decimated state, went into Cinci (also decimated) and played them to a tie last week.
I think the Packers win, but it would help a ton if they could start fast this week.
Bottom line the Pack wins this game if Matthews finally comes back from vacation! He is the man that needs to shadow Newton and if he plays like he has the first six games then Newton gashes this defense for a big day running and passing the ball. With that said Aaron id another one that needs to be on top of his game if he can put up 38 points then it should be enough but if the Detroit/Seattle Aaron shows up it will be a long day for this team.
I guess the reasons for a possible Panther win has now moved up to three,if one was to include mine from the below comment and with the announced active participation of one Kelvin Benjamin…..the Panthers have a WR of note now…and does he now make the Panthers a less inferior team for the Packers and a possible to make some begin writing their hero/goat reasons/excuses depending on outcome….how easy some scales can be tipped. 🙂
GO PACK GO!!!