Green Bay Packers get ready to take on the Washington Redskins in their first home game in nearly a month. Aaron Rodgers implored the crowd earlier this week to be loud and rowdy at the start of the game. Part of me thinks that was by design. Washington is not a hyped opponent, and yes, there’s a very outside shot they win the NFC East, yet they’re a 13-point underdog coming to town. Rodgers wants people to bring the fire as if this was a playoff game in January. I don’t hate that approach and interested to see if it works when the game kicks off.

THREE STORYLINES I CARE ABOUT
1. Packers run defense versus Guice and Peterson – Washington is one of the only teams in football that wants to run the football more than pass the ball. It is an old school, bruising-type offense. Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson are a strong combination. Green Bay needs to slow them down on first and second down in order to get Dwayne Haskins into obvious throwing downs. If Guice and Peterson can help Washington control the clock, the Packers will be in for a fight.

2. Washington’s secondary hasn’t seen a guy like Rodgers this year – When you look at the teams that Washington went against this season, they’ve faced one elite quarterback. Tom Brady. What happened with Brady against this defense? He tore them up for 348 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers is likely licking his chops against an average to below-average secondary with big names yet they haven’t done much. Look for Rodgers to have another big day passing the ball.

3. Will the soft zones stop? – Green Bay Packers third down defense has way too many soft zones for anyone’s liking. They play these zones that do absolutely nothing and give away free yards to receivers. With how raw Haskins is as a quarterback, Green Bay can probably take some risks with their pass coverage. There is no reason to play these zones that haven’t worked for two months. It is unclear what it will take to get through to Mike Pettine.

SNOTAPWI PREDICTED PLAYER OF THE GAME
Kenny Clark – If Green Bay wants to slow down the running game of Washington, it starts and ends with Kenny Clark up front. Clark can slow down the attack at the line of scrimmage. The Packers defensive tackle came on strong the last couple of weeks. He stepped up when Christian McCaffery and a run-first Panthers team came to town. I expect similar things this Sunday.

PREDICTION
The more I think about this game, the more I think the Packers can win by two touchdowns. Washington does have some confidence, but they’ve played a lowly Lions team plus a team that was gassed from a dramatic division loss. Haskins has never played in an envioronment like Lambeau Field, and my guess is he will not handle well. Green Bay 30 Washington 10

Charlie.