Game 8: Pack at Jets

[MickeyDavis]

Jets coming off a bye and have won 5 in a row. This will be a tough one to win. Need to stop LT. Sanchez doesn't worry me much. No Harris or Bigby this week. Now Nance is hurt too (no loss).

Silversteins 10 keys to the game:

1. Can NT B.J. Raji stand up to all-pro center Nick Mangold? Raji has to gum up the middle in the run game so that the linebackers behind him aren't getting blocked. Raji may line up in the gaps so he can take advantage of the Jets' weak link, G Matt Slauson, but he's going to get a steady diet of Mangold all day. This will be a big test of how far Raji has come.

2. Will CB Darrelle Revis be 100% and does it really matter? The Jets could match Revis on WR Greg Jennings all game long, but they're so confident in him and CB Antonio Cromartie that they might just let the Packers dictate the matchups. Revis has had two weeks to let his hamstring heal and he should be close to being himself.

3. Can the Packers WRs take advantage of man-to-man coverage? The receiver group likes to say it welcomes bump-and-run coverage, but be careful what you ask for with this group of corners. Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones will have a chance to prove they're an elite receiving corps Sunday.

4. Will Jones play like he's more than an inconsistent No. 3? He better. He'll probably get the most favorable match-up against nickel back Dwight Lowery, who has replaced first-round pick Kyle Wilson as the third corner. Jones has to play more physical than he has and make the Jets pay for blitzing and leaving him on a safety.

5. Will the Jets let RT Damien Woody block LB Clay Matthews by himself? Doubtful. The Jets are so good on the offensive line that they can slide protection toward Matthews and not miss a beat. They can also devote a back to make sure Matthews is contained.

6. Will the Jets absolutely dominate the Packers on special teams? There's a strong possibility they will. Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff is one of the best in the business and his return units this year have been outstanding. This could be a complete whitewash in the Jets' favore.

7. Will LB Desmond Bishop flourish in this type of game? You would think that Bishop's physical nature would be a perfect fit for a game where the Jets are expected to pound the ball left, right and to the middle. If Bishop doesn't have 10 or more tackles, the Packers are probably in trouble.

8. Is this the game WR Santonio Holmes breaks out? Holmes has been slow out of the gate since coming back from a four-game suspension and should be ready to make an impact. The best matchup for the Packers would be CB Tramon Williams, but he doesn't play in the slot, so there's no guaranteeing he'll be on Holmes.

9. Who is going to cover TE Dustin Keller? Keller is averaging 14.3 yards per catch and has five touchdowns. LB Brandon Chillar will be available, but he's not great against the run and might be limited in the number of snaps he gets. The best way to stop Keller is to get to QB Mark Sanchez.

10. Can a team weakend so badly by injury win on the road against a 5-1 team? Doubtful. The Packers are going to have to make the Jets one-dimensional on offense by stopping the run, and that's going to be hard if DEs Ryan Pickett (ankle) and Cullen Jenkins (calf) don't play. It's a tough task with those two; it's daunting without them. This is the kind of game where QB Aaron Rodgers has to rise above everybody else for the Packers to win.

[chuckleslove]

This is our third straight game against a team coming off of their bye week. Talk about the NFL schedule giving us no favors.

[MickeyDavis]

I don't know why they don't have byes by division. All 4 teams get a bye the same week, then they play each other the following week.

[Marley2Hendrix]

I can't remember a time when so many experts and media types had overwhelmingly gone against the packers, pretty much no one expects the team to win this week and many have called this the lock of the week (not saying I necessarily disagree with the logic behind this). But, I think we all know what happens when everyone backs one side - either a massive blowout or the underdog sneaks out a victory. Let's see what this team can do with a "backs against the walls" mentality.

[chuckleslove]

jasonjwilde Jason Wilde
Ryan Pickett (ankle), Cullen Jenkins (calf) on the field at the New Meadowlands with Dr. Pat McKenzie and trainer Bryan "Flea" Engel.

[Marley2Hendrix]

jasonjwilde Jason Wilde
Ryan Pickett (ankle), Cullen Jenkins (calf) on the field at the New Meadowlands with Dr. Pat McKenzie and trainer Bryan "Flea" Engel.

fingers crossed.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

MD with the most depressing game thread ever.

[chuckleslove]

I don't know why they don't have byes by division. All 4 teams get a bye the same week, then they play each other the following week.

My guess would be ratings. People are more likely to watch a game that isn't their team if it has a direct impact on their teams standings.

[chuckleslove]

packers Green Bay Packers
Inactive for Green Bay: Nance, Underwood, Johnson, Briggs, Tauscher, McDonald, Newhouse and Pickett.

Jenkins active, Pickett out.

[Marley2Hendrix]

packers Green Bay Packers
Inactive for Green Bay: Nance, Underwood, Johnson, Briggs, Tauscher, McDonald, Newhouse and Pickett.

Jenkins active, Pickett out.

TomSilverstein: GB vs. Jets: Cullen Jenkins is on the field and warming up as though he's going to play. No official word yet.

Even though he is active, ugh, I really hope it is an 85+% ready to go type of active and not, emergency fill in active or "will play a few series before reaggravating his hammy" injury.

Let's get it on e're body!

More from old silvy:

Jenkins is definitely active; so is LB erik Walden (SQUEEEL!!!) and NT Howard Green (WOOOOO!!!); C.J. Wilson starts for Pickett (no squeel...); Bryan Bulaga for Tauscher (mild cheer).

[MadCityBucky]

Oy last night was crazy, yeah this was like the first time I couldn't find one person picking the Packers

Hopefully this team can pull this off somehow, Go Pack Go!

[chuckleslove]

Oy last night was crazy, yeah this was like the first time I couldn't find one person picking the Packers

Hopefully this team can pull this off somehow, Go Pack Go!

Silverstein picked the Packers

[Marley2Hendrix]

Oy last night was crazy, yeah this was like the first time I couldn't find one person picking the Packers

Hopefully this team can pull this off somehow, Go Pack Go!

Silverstein picked the Packers

High five for silverstein though, YOU KNOW IT!

[ReasonablySober]

Expecting a loss. Just glad it's an early game.

[Mags FTW]

This is one of 4 games we can lose (NYJ, NE, NYG, MIN) and still finish 9-7. A win would be awesome, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[rilamann]

This is the first game of the season I feel we have no to chance to win.

[Marley2Hendrix]

This is the first game of the season I feel we have no to chance to win.

I like GB over NYJ because it is the win that we all would least expect. That, and peyote.

[Mags FTW]

Why is the London game never televised nationally? So dumb.

[Kerb Hohl]

Why is the London game never televised nationally? So dumb.

Because the teams in it suck.

[Dwade03]

Not looking forward to this possible beatdown