After two consecutive losses, the Green Bay Packers have a huge bounceback opportunity against the worst team in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers. And they need a win to keep their hopes alive in the NFC wild card race.

For that to happen, these five players need to perform at a high level.

Aaron Jones

The Panthers run defense is 27th by success rate, 31st by DVOA, and 32nd by EPA/rush. It's a big-time opportunity for the Packers to do exactly what they philosophically want: execute a run-centric offense, creating play-action opportunities for Jordan Love.

This has been a tough season for Aaron Jones. He missed six games because of hamstring and knee injuries, and has had the worst average of yards per rush of his NFL career.

However, he came back strong against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, averaging more than four yards per run, and now he has another chance against a much worse defensive front.

Elgton Jenkins

After two tough seasons with injuries and moving around the offensive line, Jenkins has had a stable year once again, going back to his original spot at left guard. However, he's been up and down, with three games being graded over 70 by PFF, and five games below 60. This year, the highest-graded Panthers player is defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is especially good against the run.

It's going to be a huge matchup of talented players, and if Jenkins is able to have advantage or at least neutralize Brown, it's hard to find a way for the Panthers defense to stop the Packers young offense.

Kenny Clark

The Panthers are one of the worst pass-protecting offensive lines in football, and rookie quarterback Bryce Young has paid the price for it. To get things worse for Carolina and better for Green Bay, it's a slow group of wide receivers. That combination is the big reason why the Panthers have the worst record in the league, and it's imperative for the Packers to exploit that.

Pass protection composites through week 15 pic.twitter.com/iTQMqDZs1c

— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) December 20, 2023

And one of the most effective ways of doing so is through the middle. Kenny Clark is second on the Packers roster in pressures, with 47 — just one fewer than Rashan Gary. The defensive tackle has had 6.5 sacks this year, and his production is significant even though he's probably not playing the best football of his life. Against a short quarterback, pressure through the middle can affect the game even more than the usual.

Quay Walker

The Panthers are 28th in dropback EPA, so the passing game is mostly lifeless. The running game is not exactly the San Francisco 49ers, as they are 25th in EPA per rush, and it's their best chance against the Packers defense. To prevent the Panthers from achieving success running the ball, Quay Walker will be a big factor.

De'Vondre Campbell has been through some tough moments — a neck injury, a bad performance against the Bucs, and some social media controversies. It's unclear if he will play, so Walker's role would be even bigger and more relevant.

So far, it's been hard to justify Walker's first-round selection in 2022. A game against the Panthers alone will not do that, but it could be a first step to alter the narrative around him.

Eric Stokes

Stokes hadn't played any defensive snaps in 2023 because of multiple injuries until the Bucs game. He did, playing 47 snaps, and it was bad. He allowed four receptions in four targets for 67 yards and a perfect 158.3 passer rating for quarterback Baker Mayfield.

But it was a tough situation all around against Mike Evans and a talented receiving core. Now, it's a bounceback opportunity against a much worse group — and with one game of action for him to get back to speed. It's uncertain if Jaire Alexander will play or not, but Stokes is a big factor for the Packers present and future regardless.

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