A Look Ahead to Week 7 – Browns at Packers

As the Monday night game is closing in on halftime, week six in the NFL  has almost come to a close.  After spending last night and today analyzing the heartbreaking loss to the Lions, it’s time to look ahead to week seven and the Green Bay Packers.

Dec. 18, 2011; Glendale, AZ, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Phil Taylor against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 20-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It’s very easy to look at next week’s game in Green Bay and immediately chalk it up as an L in the win loss column.  While it’s never an easy task facing Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense, this week is a little different.  Two of Rodgers’ primary receivers are out with lower body injuries and they find themselves pretty thin at the wide receiver position.  Sure Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley are still going to be roaming the field, but it makes it much easier for Ray Horton to plan his scheme for the week.

With that being said, the Packers seem to have finally found their feature back in second round draft pick Eddie Lacy.  In four games played this year, Lacy has carried the ball 61 times for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns.  This week against Baltimore he was a workhorse, carrying the ball 23 times for 120 yards.  This week will be a little tougher for him to find room to run against this stout Browns front seven.

On the other side of the ball, the Packers have lost some key players as well.  Defensive stalwart Clay Matthews is out indefinitely with a broken thumb, and arguably the Packs best outside pass rusher.  If that wasn’t a big enough blow to the Packers, outside linebacker Nick Perry, who replaced Matthews this weekend, is also out after suffering a broken foot in their week six contest against the Baltimore Ravens.

Bottom line this weekend,  is if this Browns offense can put some points on the board against this depleted Packers defense, the Browns have a very good chance to not only compete with Green Bay, but possibly pull off a huge upset.  With all the injuries on the offensive side of the ball for the Packers, the Browns defense has a very favorable matchup.  If they can shut down Lacy and the running game, they can focus on Rodgers and his limited wide receiving corps.

It’s a very tough task to go into Lambeau Field and come out with a win, especially with Aaron Rodgers at the helm.  This week is a little different with the Packers nursing several injuries at some key positions, so stranger things have happened in this league.

As the old saying goes, “on any given Sunday, any team can beat any other team”

MR-@PuckElves