USA TODAY International Edition
PACKERS’ D BRACES FOR PATRIOTS, BRADY
Two days after nearly handing the Rams their first loss of the season, the Packers surprised many by sending Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Redskins.
Trading away a starting safety and former Pro Bowl selection came across as an odd move for an aspiring contender. While general manager Brian Gutekunst said the franchise wasn’t giving up on this campaign by parting with Clinton-Dix, the transaction left many wondering about the team’s viability for the second half of the season.
How the Packers’ surging fifth-ranked pass defense (221.7 yards per game allowed) handles its responsibilities in a rare showdown between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady will go a long way toward answering those concerns.
The architect of that effort will be defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, a man accustomed to squaring off against Brady and Bill Belichick given his experience serving in the same position for both the Jets and Bills. While his aggressive units have given the Patriots passer trouble at times, Brady has come out victorious in eight of their 11 meetings (including the playoffs).
Blitzing Brady has historically been a dicey proposition, as the three-time MVP has repeatedly made defenses pay for trying to generate pressure with extra rushers. That could necessitate a shift in tactics for Pettine after his defense racked up five sacks and eight quarterback hits on the Rams’ Jared Goff last week thanks to his frequent overload blitzes.
Interior disruptors Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark, who had two sacks against Los Angeles, might be even more important than Clay Matthews and the rest of the edge rushers, as they will be counted on to provide a push and force Brady off his spot. New England could be especially vulnerable up front with guard Shaq Mason out.
The secondary, however, will also have to hold its coverage to help the pass rush out and prevent the easy gains that Brady is routinely ready to take. Perhaps the most crucial figure for the Packers will be rookie Jaire Alexander, who had five pass breakups last week and could be tasked with containing Julian Edelman. Cornerback Tramon Williams has been moved to safety and looks to get the first crack at replacing Clinton-Dix as he takes on the responsibility of handling Rob Gronkowski.
Here are three other matchups Sunday that will define Week 9 in the NFL. Rams OT Rob Havenstein vs. Saints
DE Cam Jordan: On an explosive roster dotted with stars, Havenstein might be one of the most overlooked factors in the Rams’ 8-0 start. After agreeing to a fouryear, $32.5 million extension in April, he has stepped up his play and stands as Pro Football Focus’ fifth-ranked offensive tackle through the first half of the season. His biggest value has been creating openings for NFL rushing leader Todd Gurley, though his pass game play has also been solid.
Jordan, however, is one of the league’s best run stoppers off the edge and has generated consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season. His ability to disrupt a game should come as no surprise to the Rams, against whom he recorded two sacks last year. If Havenstein can’t stave him off, Jordan could again create havoc for both Gurley and Goff. But if Los Angeles can provide proper protection, its aerial attack could make explosive strikes on the league’s 28thranked pass defense.
Steelers WR Antonio Brown vs. Ravens CB Jimmy Smith: Plenty has changed for Baltimore and Pittsburgh since the Ravens’ 26-14 win in the teams’ first meeting five weeks ago. Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were still out of sync at that point, and the four-time all-pro pass catcher recorded a relatively tame five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. In the Steelers’ subsequent three-game winning streak, however, he has notched 280 yards and five TDs.
Baltimore, meanwhile, has dropped three of its four games since then and is at risk of fading out of contention in the AFC North. Stopping Brown will again be the highest priority, but the Ravens might not be able to ask Marlon Humphrey to shadow the receiver for a second time given that the cornerback missed the last two weeks with a thigh injury and is listed as questionable.
The Ravens have fared well with Smith matched up against Brown, winning five of the seven regular-season matchups and holding the receiver to an average of 60 yards per game in those contests. But Smith has been beaten on several big plays since his return and can’t afford similar slip-ups. Chargers RBs Melvin Gordon vs. Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner: Gordon is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, and his status could be a crucial factor if the game is close late. Since Week 11 of last season, the Chargers are 11-0 when they have had a fourth-quarter lead. Gordon is a key figure in Los Angeles developing a finishing touch, as he is averaging 8 yards per carry in the fourth quarter this season. When he missed a Week 7 contest against the Titans, the Chargers managed just 47 yards on 16 carries and were held to their lowest scoring output (20 points) of the season.
Tackle Jarran Reed and linebacker K.J. Wright are among the contributors who will try to keep the Chargers’ ground game contained. But the Seahawks defense runs through Wagner, who helped limit emerging Lions rookie running back Kerryon Johnson to 22 yards on eight carries last week.