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In 2016, the Green Bay Packers had a 4-6 record when quarterback Aaron Rodgers proclaimed the team was able to lead the table. At the right time, the Packers won six straight victories to qualify for the playoffs, before moving on to the NFC championship game.
This season, the Packers are 3-4-1 for Sunday's home game against the Miami Dolphins. They are in the middle of a game of five games played at the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots, at home against Miami, and are back on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks and the Vikings of New England. Minnesota.
Green Bay lost the first two legs of this crucial stretch. If this is to bounce back and make a race for a playoff spot, it will be up to Rodgers to play much better than he did against New England.
While Rodgers threw 15 touchdowns against an interception, he ranks near the bottom of the league as a percentage of completion. In a 31-17 loss to New England, Rodgers completed only 24 passes out of 43 (55.8%). When the offensive had to score in the fourth quarter, she could not even get to the middle of the field.
"I think we need to play better, always 60 minutes, to try to eliminate some of the lulls we've experienced," said Rodgers. "We have to play with confidence and reach the level at which we are able to play."
The Dolphins will be a daunting challenge, even if they go from the heat of Miami to a projected 32-degree day at Lambeau Field. Miami leads the NFL with 15 interceptions. Four of them won the 13-6 win last week against the New York Jets.
"Maybe he will change this game," joked Dolphins head coach Adam Gase about Rodgers' ability to avoid interceptions.
Gase perfectly understands what is obvious and here is how we know it:
"Aaron Rodgers," says Gase, "is a little different from Sam Darnold."
Rodgers, of course, is a former Super Bowl MVP and a quarterback of the Pro Bowl six times for the Packers. Darnold is the first-round pick of the Jets, a quarterback beaten in Miami last week with four interceptions.
So … yes, dolphins definitely have a bigger challenge this week.
However, the Packers have just experienced their first season of defeats since 2008 and are struggling this season with a record under the .500 mark and two consecutive losses.
The plus point for the Packers is that they have a 3-0-1 record at home this season. Another factor to consider is that Green Bay started 4-1 last season before Rodgers injury.
The Packers went from 3-8 at the end of the match, with Rodgers playing only one game in that sequence.
Rodgers' completion percentage this year is 60.6%, which would be the lowest number of his career since he became a starter in 2008. But he has already spent 2,542 yards this season and his hit rate at interception is remarkable at 15 -1.
Miami's ability to force interceptions allows for an exciting match. Also fascinating, Joe Philbin, former Dolphins head coach, made his return to Green Bay this year as the Packers offensive coordinator.
The Dolphins will surely pay close attention to two Packers targets – wide receiver Davante Adams and forward Jimmy Graham. Adams has collected 19 touchdown passes since the beginning of 2017. Graham, a former Miami Hurricane player, has 12 TD passes over the same period. However, Graham missed training on Wednesday due to a knee injury.
When the Dolphins are on the offensive, they will be without quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who will miss his fifth straight game due to a shoulder injury. Brock Osweiler is 2-2 at the quarterback since replacing Tannehill.
For the Packers, who occupy third place in the NFC North and tenth place in the NFC, it 's practically a match to be won. As head coach Mike McCarthy likes to say, there's no reason to discuss the playoffs until a team wins the # 10 win. For that Green Bay get 10 wins, he must pass 7-1 in the last straight.
"It's always good to be at home," McCarthy said. "You have to take care of your field advantage.It's something that's part of our priorities this week.In reality, being at home has the benefit of repeating itself. especially when you arrive at the end of the week.You must make sure that you enjoy it.To play in front of your audience, it's something that we have always liked.We also know what who will follow, too. "
The Dolphins held the Jets without touching goals last week, but Sunday's challenge against the Packers will be much more difficult. The Miami defense could have a hard time containing the Green Bay passing match. Offensively, the Dolphins offensive line allowed four sacks last week and the unit failed to open holes or bring anyone into the end zone.
The Miami attack will probably be much better this week to follow Rodgers and the Packers.
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