The Packers have been a little up and down on offense, as they average 20.2 points per game.  The Packers running game is improving, but it still is only averaging 100.2 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry.  The passing attack has been pretty good so far, averaging 241.8 net yards passing per game.

The defense has been pretty awful this season allowing 27.0 points per game.  The run defense has actually been pretty good, allowing 96.3 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry.  The pass defense has been absolutely pathetic!  The Packers allow 293.3 net yards passing per game and allow 60% of the opponents passes to be completed.

The Packers played a solid football game Sunday and got a good win on the road.  Brett Favre completed 19 of 35 passes for 206 yards and 2 TDs.  RB Ahman Green gave the offense a huge lift and brought balance to the offense.  Green had 18 carries for 118 yards (6.6 ypc) and a TD.  Donald Driver had a good game catching 10 passes for 93 yards and a TD.  TE David Martin caught 2 passes for 31 yards and a TD.

Rookie LB AJ Hawk led the way on defense with 11 tackles, a sack and a pass defensed.  LB Nick Barnett had 9 tackles, 2 passes defensed and an interception.  CB Charles Woodson had his best football game in a long time against the Dolphins.  Woodson had 4 tackles, a sack, a pass defensed and an interception that he returned 23 yards for a TD.  The Packers held the Dolphins to 67 yards rushing on 17 carries (3.9 ypc).  The Dolphins completed 33 of 62 passes for 381 net yards passing, but the Packers picked off 3 passes!

The Packers got a solid win to build on, now they have to keep up the good work.

The good news for these two teams is…..someone has to win this week.  The Packers (1-4) and Dolphins (1-5) have been two of the worst teams in the league this season.  It was expected that the Packers would struggle, but many had projected the Dolphins to be a Super Bowl dark horse.

The Dolphins have a stingy defense, but they can be passed on and I think that will be the Packers gameplan.  The Dolphins only allow 171.7 yards passing per game, but opponents are very efficient against them posting a QB rating of 94.3.  The offensive line has blocked much better than Brett Favre could have imagined in his wildest dreams, only allowing 7 sacks so far this season.  If they block that well against the Dolphins and keep Jason Taylor (5 sacks) away from Favre, he should have a good game throwing the ball.  WRs Donald Driver (26 rec, 343 yards) and Greg Jennings (20 rec, 364 yards) will cause major match-up problems for the Dolphins secondary.  RB Ahman Green should be back this week, which should also help Favre, because he likes to throw to him out of the backfield.

Look for the Dolphins to lean towards the pass more this week than the run.  The Packers defense is allowing 275.8 net yards passing per game!  Joey Harrington just needs to relax and hope that when he hits his receivers in the hands that they catch the ball.  Two of Harrington’s INT bounced right of WRs hands.  Chris Chambers could have the breakout game the Dolphins have been waiting for.  Chambers is only averaging 10.4 yards per catch, which is weak for him.  Look for Wes Welker (33 rec, 355 yards) and Randy McMichael (24 rec, 269 yards) to have good games too.  RB Ronnie Brown needs to balance the offense out and keep the clock running.  Brown has 405 yards rushing and 153 yards receiving so far this season.

I think the Dolphins are the better team, but that doesn’t mean they will win.  The Packers do have a huge edge at QB, so you never know. 

 

WR Koren Robinson has been suspended for the rest of the season as expected.  Second year undrafted free-agent Ruvell Martin will be the new #3 WR for the Packers.  WR Robert Ferguson will miss the remainder of the season with a LisFranc injury to his foot.  This is a hard injury to come back from and has ended a few players’ careers lately.

The Packers defensive ends have done well so far this season.  Aaron Kampman is playing like a man possessed!  Kampman has 24 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.  The other end, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila only has 14 tackles but 2.5 sacks.  Expect Gbaja-Biamila to rack up alot more sacks in the near future.