Your Absolute Favorite Week 7 Preview: Green Bay Packers (3-3) at Washington Commanders (2-4)
Week 7 Preview: Vegas Line – Packers -4.5 (41.5 O/U)
- Packers have hit the under 4/6 games this year
- Vegas predictions so far would make them 5-1
Week 7 Preview: Rundown
Packers lead the series 22-16-1
The Washington Commanders brace themselves for the traveling Green Bay Packers this Sunday. This matchup dates back to 1932 when the Commanders were named the Boston Braves. Nowadays, the Packers are 4-3 against the Commanders with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Rodgers has some pretty solid all-time stats against the Commanders: 67.4% completion, 1858 yards, 14 touchdowns, one interception, 5.9% touchdown rate, and a 109 passer rating. Unfortunately, the Packers have lost the last two games, the first time in the Matt LaFleur era, as the offense and defense struggle to gain momentum. Packers fans hope that the team can snap the streak Sunday.
Week 7 Preview: What to Watch For
How Will the Packers Respond to Consecutive Losses?
The media and Packers fans alike are wondering: how will the Packers respond to consecutive losses? Matt LaFleur believes the team is responding well to the adversity. “I do like the mindset of our guys. Our guys are locked in and ready to go,” he says. “No one is hanging their head.” This is good; we want spirits to remain high despite the hardship the team is facing. However, if the players aren’t having fun, they will end up getting frustrated and lose focus.
The Packers have added a few players to the roster. T Luke Tenuta was claimed off of waivers, while S Innis Gaines and WR Kawann Baker are signed to the practice squad. These signings indicate that the team may be trying different things with personnel.
The Packers will have to adjust their offensive line in week seven. The signing of Tenuta was most likely a result of Green Bay trying different things in practice. When asked about offensive line changes, he said it’s “something we are trying to feel out right now and see where we are at come Sunday.” Royce Newman was pulled from the game last week only to rejoin the game due to his replacement, Jake Hanson, injuring his bicep. Newman has allowed a league-high four sacks so far in 2022. Aaron Rodgers was constantly under pressure last week, so the coaches need to figure out something quickly.
Green Bay will have to become more aggressive in their defensive playcalling. The defense is barely forcing any turnovers, with only four on the year. However, with the inefficiency of the offense and the inability to turn the ball over, the defense is entirely gassed by the end of the game. Taylor Heinicke rushed for nearly 100 yards last time these two teams met, so a fresh defense is essential against a mobile quarterback.
What Are the Commanders’ Chances Without Wentz?
Carson Wentz gets a lot of hate. His fans hate him; his teammates hate him, his ankles hate him, etc. He tricks people with a good performance once in a while to mask how he is really not a good NFL quarterback and then gets injured. He is out for 4-6 weeks due to a fracture in one of his fingers. He is pretty much the same Carson Wentz in 2022.
Taylor Heinicke is once again stepping in to play. It seems obvious that a team like the Commanders should have gone with Heinicke at quarterback from the get-go. He’s not a super elite quarterback, but he is mobile and he can make some good passes. Matt LaFleur says he is “scrappy” and that the Packers need to do “a very good job at containment”.
The Commanders have hit some serious slumps with Wentz at quarterback. This might be what the Commanders need to turn the direction the team is heading around. I think the Commanders will be better off without Wentz. His teammates do hate him.
My Week 7 Preview Predictions
Packers win 17 – 14
Week 7 Preview: Injury Report
Packers
LP – OT David Bakhtiari (knee), G Elgton Jenkins (knee)
DNP – WR Randall Cobb (ankle), G Jake Hanson (biceps), WR Christian Watson (hamstring), TE Marcedes Lewis (vet day)
Commanders
LP – T Sam Cosmi (finger), WR Jahan Dotson (hamstring)
DNP – TE John Bates (hamstring), WR Dyami Brown (groin), CB Tariq Castro-Fields (knee), CB William Jackson III (back), TE Logan Thomas (calf), QB Carson Wentz (finger), RB Jonathan Williams (knee)