Game 2: Jets at Pack

[MickeyDavis]

From the JS:



When: 3:25 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Lambeau Field.

Television: CBS.

Radio: AM-620.

Series: Jets lead, 8-3.

Line: Packers by 8.

Weather: Low 60s, mostly sunny.

Surface: DD GrassMaster.

Coaches: Green Bay's Mike McCarthy (88-51-1, .632) vs. New York's Rex Ryan (47-40, .540).
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

MAMMOTH MEN: The Jets will confront the Packers with probably the biggest and one of the best three-man fronts in the NFL. NT Damon Harrison (6-2½, 350) is flanked by DE Muhammad Wilkerson (6-4, 315) and three-technique DT Sheldon Richardson (6-2½, 294). NT Kenrick Ellis (6-5, 330) plays extensively, and the backup ends are T.J. Barnes (6-6½, 364) and Leger Douzable (6-4, 284). "Wilkerson is their best," an executive in personnel for an AFC team said. "He's big, long versatile. A threat both in the pass and run game. Good athlete. Strong. He can bend. Stays on his feet. He batted down four or five balls against Oakland....Richardson wins with quickness, technique and effort. He has a plan when he's attacking the offensive line. He's not just going. He has good upper-body strength. He's got really good speed for that position. Real athletic guy. He's an impressive player....Harrison is able to get his body in positions to knife through some small holes for such a big man. He's pretty relentless with his pursuit and his effort. He's been really productive. Solid player, especially in the run game. He's got a lot of power."

ON THE RISE: QB Geno Smith is coming off an 82.1% completion day (96.6 passer rating) against Oakland. "You can tell he has a good feel for what they're doing offensively compared to last year," Packers safeties coach Darren Perry said. "You could almost say he's similar to Russell Wilson in terms of his maturity from year to year. You can see him going through his progressions. He's not lost. You can tell he's got a good grasp. There's a reason why (Michael) Vick is behind him right now." The next step for Smith, a second-round draft choice in 2013, is to play better on the road. Last season, he was 2-6 with a lowly rating of 59.3 in away games and 6-2 with a rating of 73.5 at home. "He's getting better, he really is," cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said. "He has a live arm. He's still a young quarterback but he's going to be good....He's not a runner like Vick. I would compare him more to Aaron (Rodgers) as a runner. This guy isn't (Colin) Kaepernick or Cam (Newton), a runner on that level. He can hurt you running but he's not really a runner."

FIRST TEST: Rookie FS Calvin Pryor, the 18th pick in the first round, will be playing his first regular-season game against a top quarterback. "He takes good angles to the ball," tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot said. "He's got good intuition. He seems to see a lot." Alex Van Pelt, who coaches the quarterbacks, said he has yet to see Pryor out of position. "He does stand out," said Van Pelt. "Downhill player. You can see the aggressiveness. Comes up to support the run well. Seems to have good instincts." Pryor was selected three slots before Green Bay took FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. "Both of them will be real solid players," one scout said. "This guy Pryor will light you up. This guy will take your head off. He's a playmaker. He's a real physical player who's very aggressive as a blitzer. He's also got some solid man cover ability."

KEY PLAYERS: Probably the three best players on the Jets' offensive line are LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, C Nick Mangold and RT Breno Giacomini. "(Ferguson) trusts his athleticism," said Mike Trgovac, who coaches the defensive line. "Good player." Mangold, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, has been starting with Ferguson since 2006. "Sometimes it doesn't look like he's firing out or coming hard," Trgovac said. "But once he gets a grab on you he's got a powerful lower body. He does a good job with fundamentals. Gets his hands inside and keeps his feet alive." The Packers drafted Giacomini in the fifth round in 2008. After releasing Giacomini just before the '10 opener, they signed him to the practice squad only to have Seattle sign him to their 53-man roster. "He's an aggressive guy," said Trgovac said. "He's a fighter on the field and fits their scheme well. He's turned into a nice player. Sometimes it takes guys a little bit longer than others."

DOUBLE TROUBLE: The Jets figure to play three running backs but most of the snaps will go to former Saint Chris Ivory and former Titan Chris Johnson. "He's going to gain extra yards after contact and keep moving the pile forward," one scout said, referring to Ivory. "He can bounce some runs outside. He's definitely got that strength to break arm tackles, and for a big guy he's got some elusiveness with pretty quick feet. He's a real violent guy. He's a nice complement with Johnson." Johnson, a 2,006-yard rusher in 2009, is a far better receiver than Ivory. "Obviously, he doesn't get the opportunities he had when he was in Tennessee," said Perry. "He's splitting time now with another back (Ivory) that's pretty doggone good. But it's still there. He's still explosive."

Bob McGinn
VIEWS OF THE GAME

BOB McGINN,

Packers beat reporter

The Packers haven't started 0-2 since Mike McCarthy's first year. They've had 10 days to simmer and stew about Seattle. Problem is, the Jets are physical and no pushover. Can the Packers achieve sufficient offensive balance to take the edge off Rex Ryan's unpredictable defense? Yes, they can. Now it's time to do it.

TOM SILVERSTEIN,

Packers beat reporter

The Packers will get a bump from having 10 days off and a home crowd and that should be enough to get them past the Jets. The defense is a work in progress, but if the offense doesn't wake up then the Packers have problems. This will be a test of their prowess.

Packers 31, Jets 20

TYLER DUNNE,

Packers beat reporter

Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory could be a problem for the Packers' run D, but can't see Geno Smith knocking off Aaron Rodgers. The Packers quarterback historically bounces back in a big way after tough losses. This should be no different.

Packers 24, Jets 16

LORI NICKEL,

Packers beat reporter

The Jets have a solid offensive line and a good running attack to go with a good defensive front. It will be interesting to see how much the Packers — and specifically Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers — call passing plays to try to exploit any liabilities in the secondary, given that they have a healthy, post-concussion Eddie Lacy.

Packers 31, Jets 27

RICK KLAUER,

Packer Plus Editor

Give rookie center Corey Linsley credit for a nice performance in his NFL debut against the Seahawks. But what happens to the Packers' offensive line if Derek Sherrod is forced to start in place of Bryan Bulaga at right tackle?

Packers 27, Jets 20

[ReasonablySober]

I don't think the Jets score 20. I think the Packers score more than 20.

[WiscSports1]

Hopefully Lattimore runs with this opportunity. Like Barnett/Bishop all over again.

[Ayt]

Hopefully Lattimore runs with this opportunity. Like Barnett/Bishop all over again.

I was hoping we'd see Barrington. Maybe he'll get some snaps as well.

[Ill-yasova]

Hopefully Lattimore runs with this opportunity. Like Barnett/Bishop all over again.

I was hoping we'd see Barrington. Maybe he'll get some snaps as well.

No way! AJ Hawk is just too solid and steady with his assignments as a coverage guy.

[Mags FTW]

Usually the team with the All-Pro QB beats the team with the below average QB unless something goofy happens.

[emunney]

Hopefully Lattimore runs with this opportunity. Like Barnett/Bishop all over again.

I was hoping we'd see Barrington. Maybe he'll get some snaps as well.

It'll be interesting to see if it's Hawk or Barrington in the dime.

[GB_Packers]

@TomSilverstein: #Packers inactives: QB Tolzien CB Demetri Goodson LB Bradford LB Brad Jones T Bryan Bulaga WR Jeff Janis LB Jayrone Elliott

Sherrod to start. Oh God.

[Ayt]

I'd bet on Sherrod bouncing back.

[Sky High]

Why is Elliot inactive?

Hope Lattimore wins the job over Brad Jones. This is his shot. It's going to be hard to be much worse than Jones.

I think Rodgers has a monster game.

[Ayt]

Why is Elliot inactive?

Hope Lattimore wins the job over Brad Jones. This is his shot. It's going to be hard to be much worse than Jones.

I think Rodgers has a monster game.

Because he's behind Matthews, Peppers, Perry, and Neal.

[trwi7]

Let's waste these fools.

[WiscoKing13]

lol during this week, we thought it was a good idea for chewy to be on the field?

Rob Demovsky ‏@RobDemovsky 49s
Frank Winters and Mark Chmura standing side-by-side in the alumni line. Two-thirds of three amigos.

[KidA24]

Did we fire Slocum yet?

[Ayt]

Harris is a terrible KR.

[Ayt]

LOL

[chuckleslove]

Well ****

[trwi7]

lol

[BigDee]

****!

[Dwade03]

lol