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Friday, December 20, 2013

Who I like, Green Bay version

OK, we now know that Aaron Rodgers isn't going to play this week for the Packers.

That's a substantial thing because as well as Matt Flynn played last week at Dallas, it was, after all, Dallas, which would have issues stopping some major college football teams.

Flynn had four touchdown passes against the Cowboys after a horrible first half that saw the Packers fall behind 26-3.

And even with that game, in four games for the Packers, he has six touchdowns and three interceptions. Green Bay might run the same plays with Flynn as they do Rodgers, but it's not the same offense.

Snow, however, will be a factor. Green Bay is expected to get hit with three to six inches of snow Saturday night into Sunday.

That will favor the team that runs the ball better. The Packers have an edge there with Eddie Lacy, but it's not as big an advantage as you might think.

Though the Packers average 4.6 yards per carry this season, they also allow 4.6 yards per rushing attempt. In fact, defensively, the Packers stink. They allow 12.6 yards per catch - and 26 touchdown passes - as well. Those numbers are 4.2 and 11.5 for the Steelers and everyone is talking about how bad their defense is this season.

Green Bay's never been a defensive stalwart but the one thing the Packers always used to have was players in the secondary who took the ball away. They don't do that any longer, either. The Packers have just nine interceptions this season. That's one more than the Steelers, but it's still not good.

Without Rodgers to help compensate for that shoddy defense, the Steelers should win this game.

The snow won't affect their short passing game all that much and Le'Veon Bell should have some success running the ball against a soft defensive front.

The Steelers are 2 1/2-point underdogs, but I expect them to win this one, 23-17.

3 comments:

John Kang said...

So sad Aaron Rodgers isn't playing. It would have been the closest thing to our Super Bowl this year.

Anonymous said...

"our" Super Bowl was the 2nd ravens game. We lost, and I'm still not over that s***! F'n rat birds!! Steelers born, steelers bred, and when I die I'll be steelers dead

Anonymous Brian said...

Packers - 31 Steelers - 25

Huh?