Why Bills couldn't have asked for better timing to face Packers

lthough the Green Bay Packers could very well be one tweak or one adjustment away from figuring things out, right now, they're far from a dangerous offense. Sure, they can move the ball and are actually a Top 10 unit in DVOA. But Aaron Rodgers & Friends are not close to where they want to […]

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Buffalo Bills

lthough the Green Bay Packers could very well be one tweak or one adjustment away from figuring things out, right now, they're far from a dangerous offense.

Sure, they can move the ball and are actually a Top 10 unit in DVOA. But Aaron Rodgers & Friends are not close to where they want to be. When the four-time NFL MVP talks about his teammates making mental mistakes, he has a point.

So despite the quarterback's warnings for the Buffalo Bills, it's good the Super Bowl favorites are getting the Packers in this of all weeks.

Why? If Rodgers wants to bounce back this weekend, he'll have to do so shorthanded. Specifically, wide receiver Allen Lazard's expected absence is a massive blow for Green Bay. The wide receiver revealed he's not planning to play in Buffalo.

Lazard is one of only two receivers with more than 40% of offensive snaps. Rookie Romeo Doubs is the other one, who actually leads the position group in snaps. Not to mention, Lazard was pointed out by Rodgers as the only receiver on the team not making mental mistakes last weekend.

Let's look at the Packers' snap count leaders at wide receivers and their respective status ahead of the primetime showdown.

  • Romeo Doubs, healthy.
  • Allen Lazard, "probably not" playing.
  • Randall Cobb, out (IR).
  • Sammy Watkins, limited practice Wednesday and Thursday with hamstring injury. Expected to play.
  • Christian Watson, limited practice Wednesday and Thursday with hamstring injury. Unclear if he'll play.

No other wide receiver has played in over 10% of the snaps for the Packers.

For the Bills, that pretty much means one thing. Who are you going to prioritize on taking out? Doubs or Watkins?

Whatever the answer is – I'd lean Watkins based on overall experience and consistency and Rodgers' comments on getting him more playing time – Buffalo's secondary should do just fine against these two.

Of course, more than the Bills' secondary, this will be a game in which a shining linebacker group headlined by Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds will have to step up.

The Packers offense will challenge Buffalo's second-level group all game as they're clearly the bread and butter of their unit. Consider the crazy looking leaderboard for touches from Green Bay this season:

The Bills are not a team you want to face without weapons, which is probably why they're 11.5-point favorites right now.

If I had to bet, I'd put money on Green Bay figuring things out at some point. I'm not sure Buffalo will provide a chance to do, though.

Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Related Articles