K-town
10-31-2006, 03:19 PM
Packers could expose Bills' run D By Scouts, Inc.
Why To Watch
The Packers are coming off their second consecutive win. The Bills are trying to find answers after their bye week to what once was a promising early part of the season. These two teams need to make a stand in Week 9 or the season will slip away quickly.
The Packers have found a productive running game and quarterback Brett Favre is taking care of the ball. Both teams are desperate for a victory. Look for Buffalo to play tough at home and with an extra week to prepare.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: Green Bay's ground attack has been impressive, averaging over 115 yards per game with a 4.5-yard average. Featured back Ahman Green has averaged 110 yards in the last two games and has shown he still has good speed. The offensive line has played well, opening creases often to get the Packers' RBs to the second level of the defense.
The somewhat undersized Buffalo defensive line may have a tough time with the size and zone blocking of Green Bay in the trenches. (The Packers' line averages 320 pounds.) Buffalo's defense has yielded an average of 114 yards per game on the ground. A key for the Bills will be the health of All-Pro linebacker Takeo Spikes. The Bills' defense has been gashed vs. the run during the team's three-game skid. Look for Buffalo defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to have a few wrinkles ready to help slow down Green Bay's running game.
Passing: The Packers' air attack has been efficient. Favre's yards and completion percentage are down from a year ago, but he takes fewer chances. Favre will throw the ball away more often this year and he takes fewer sacks. The offensive line has protected Favre well, allowing only nine sackes. (Favre was sacked 27 times in 2005.). The Packers' receiving corps is led by Donald Driver (41 receptions), but the most dangerous target for Favre is rookie Greg Jennings. The second-round pick has shown excellent speed and good run-after-the-catch ability.
Favre will spread the ball around well and uses his tight ends often. Bubba Franks and David Martin are not deep threats, but they are big targets who can move the chains in crucial situations. Buffalo's defense has been inconsistent vs. the pass, and corners Terrence McGee and Nate Clements had a tough time in Week 7 vs. New England giving up several long passes. Look for the Buffalo defense to use more zone blitzes than all-out man blitzes as Green Bay's receivers may have the matchup advantage.
When the Bills have the ball
Rushing: Buffalo's running attack has stalled out recently, averaging only 76 yards over the last three games. When the Bills were playing well they established a ground attack early in the game and took the pressure off quarterback J.P. Losman. Featured back Willis McGahee averaged over four yards per carry early in the season, but he's struggled to find creases during Buffalo's skid. The offensive line has been somewhat maligned over the last three contests. Head coach Dick Jauron and his staff have made some changes with three line positions involving Jason Peters, rookie Terrance Pennington and Mike Gandy.
Green Bay's defense has been solid vs. the run, yielding only 95 yards per game. Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders uses a 4-3 front with two big defensive tackles that makes it tough to run inside. The Green Bay linebackers are stout vs. the run and move well inside out to the ball. Look for Buffalo offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild to try to establish the running game early with more plays off tackle and outside on the perimeter.
Passing: Buffalo's air attack has been very inconsistent in 2006. Losman is a good athlete and can move away from pressure, but the protection has been marginal, giving up 21 sacks in seven games. The Bills average a modest 162 yards through the air and their top three receivers have been in the end zone only three times. Lee Evans, Peerless Price and Josh Reed have averaged only 10 yards per reception, but the undersized Roscoe Parrish appears to have the most juice, getting 16.8 yards per grab. Look for Parrish to get more touches with short and intermediate routes when in the spread offense.
Green Bay's defense is last in the league in passing yards allowed with 270 yards per game. The secondary has been burned often and has given up several long passes. Look for the Packers' secondary to use a loose coverage scheme to keep everything in front of it and make Losman and the Bills go long.
Why To Watch
The Packers are coming off their second consecutive win. The Bills are trying to find answers after their bye week to what once was a promising early part of the season. These two teams need to make a stand in Week 9 or the season will slip away quickly.
The Packers have found a productive running game and quarterback Brett Favre is taking care of the ball. Both teams are desperate for a victory. Look for Buffalo to play tough at home and with an extra week to prepare.
When the Packers have the ball
Rushing: Green Bay's ground attack has been impressive, averaging over 115 yards per game with a 4.5-yard average. Featured back Ahman Green has averaged 110 yards in the last two games and has shown he still has good speed. The offensive line has played well, opening creases often to get the Packers' RBs to the second level of the defense.
The somewhat undersized Buffalo defensive line may have a tough time with the size and zone blocking of Green Bay in the trenches. (The Packers' line averages 320 pounds.) Buffalo's defense has yielded an average of 114 yards per game on the ground. A key for the Bills will be the health of All-Pro linebacker Takeo Spikes. The Bills' defense has been gashed vs. the run during the team's three-game skid. Look for Buffalo defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to have a few wrinkles ready to help slow down Green Bay's running game.
Passing: The Packers' air attack has been efficient. Favre's yards and completion percentage are down from a year ago, but he takes fewer chances. Favre will throw the ball away more often this year and he takes fewer sacks. The offensive line has protected Favre well, allowing only nine sackes. (Favre was sacked 27 times in 2005.). The Packers' receiving corps is led by Donald Driver (41 receptions), but the most dangerous target for Favre is rookie Greg Jennings. The second-round pick has shown excellent speed and good run-after-the-catch ability.
Favre will spread the ball around well and uses his tight ends often. Bubba Franks and David Martin are not deep threats, but they are big targets who can move the chains in crucial situations. Buffalo's defense has been inconsistent vs. the pass, and corners Terrence McGee and Nate Clements had a tough time in Week 7 vs. New England giving up several long passes. Look for the Buffalo defense to use more zone blitzes than all-out man blitzes as Green Bay's receivers may have the matchup advantage.
When the Bills have the ball
Rushing: Buffalo's running attack has stalled out recently, averaging only 76 yards over the last three games. When the Bills were playing well they established a ground attack early in the game and took the pressure off quarterback J.P. Losman. Featured back Willis McGahee averaged over four yards per carry early in the season, but he's struggled to find creases during Buffalo's skid. The offensive line has been somewhat maligned over the last three contests. Head coach Dick Jauron and his staff have made some changes with three line positions involving Jason Peters, rookie Terrance Pennington and Mike Gandy.
Green Bay's defense has been solid vs. the run, yielding only 95 yards per game. Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders uses a 4-3 front with two big defensive tackles that makes it tough to run inside. The Green Bay linebackers are stout vs. the run and move well inside out to the ball. Look for Buffalo offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild to try to establish the running game early with more plays off tackle and outside on the perimeter.
Passing: Buffalo's air attack has been very inconsistent in 2006. Losman is a good athlete and can move away from pressure, but the protection has been marginal, giving up 21 sacks in seven games. The Bills average a modest 162 yards through the air and their top three receivers have been in the end zone only three times. Lee Evans, Peerless Price and Josh Reed have averaged only 10 yards per reception, but the undersized Roscoe Parrish appears to have the most juice, getting 16.8 yards per grab. Look for Parrish to get more touches with short and intermediate routes when in the spread offense.
Green Bay's defense is last in the league in passing yards allowed with 270 yards per game. The secondary has been burned often and has given up several long passes. Look for the Packers' secondary to use a loose coverage scheme to keep everything in front of it and make Losman and the Bills go long.