The Green Bay Packers (0-1) are headed back on the road and hoping to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start when they take on the currently undefeated New York Jets (1-0) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Packers haven't won a regular game since early December of last year. Can Matt LaFleur's team shake off the disappointment of last week's meltdown and end the torturous six-game losing streak? The Packers haven't started 0-2 since 2006. The Jets, who are preparing for their home opener, will provide a real test after easily beating the Tennessee Titans on the road to open the season.
Five things to watch and a prediction for Week 2:
1. All starts up front
Aaron Glenn isn't Brian Flores, but expect the aggressive tendencies of the former Detroit Lions coordinator to be on full
display after the Packers got steamrolled up front in Week 1. You are what you put on tape, and right now the Packers are a team vulnerable to pressure and blitz packages. Can the offensive line and pass-protecting units rebound? It remains unclear if Aaron Banks will play, but the starting five up front has to respond against a talented defensive front featuring Will McDonald IV, top pick David Bailey and former Packer Kingsley Enagbare, among others. MetLife Stadium isn't nearly as loud as U.S. Bank Stadium, so communication up front should be easier. Sunday could help answer an important question: Was Week 1 a blip on the radar, the result of a perfect storm against a madman blitzer? Or the start of a troubled season along the offensive line?
2. Finishing in the red zone
In many ways, the Packers weren't able to "finish" in Week 1 because they failed too many times in the red zone and left the door open for the Vikings. Incredibly, the Packers were able to turn a league-high nine explosive plays (run or 10 or more yards, pass or 20 or more yards) into only 22 points in Week 1. Why? Because the offense managed to score just one touchdown from inside the 20 and finished with only 10 total points on the four trips inside the red zone. Finishing remains the theme for the Packers, both in the scoring area and at the end of games. Explosive plays are great, but only if the drive ends with scoring seven points. No more leaving points on the field in the scoring area.
3. A test for the defense?
The Packers defense played surprisingly well for a team that allowed 39 points in Week 1. Up next is a fascinating matchup against veteran quarterback Geno Smith, a rebuilt Jets offensive line and a pair of excellent weapons in running back Breece Hall and receiver Garrett Wilson. Smith was excellent in the opener, completing 19 of 24 passes while not taking a sack. He was barely pressured. Hall went over 100 rushing yards and Wilson caught six of seven passes. As always, keep an eye on the line of scrimmage. Young offensive tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou looked good as pass protectors in Week 1, and guard Dylan Parham received an elite run-blocking grade from PFF. At center is former Packer Josh Myers, who might be the weak spot of the line. The Jets will provide a nice test for the Micah Parsons-less Packers front. Pressuring Smith -- who has had success against Jonathan Gannon in the past -- will be paramount.
4. A test for Trey Smack?
Rain is in the forecast, and the variable wind inside MetLife Stadium always makes kicking a challenge, even in mid-September. Rookie kicker Trey Smack made a 59-yard field goal in his NFL debut last week, but he was kicking indoors in controlled conditions. Not on Sunday. Lucas Havrisik found out the hard way how difficult kicking at MetLife can be last season. The wind might not be as fierce on Sunday, but rainy conditions are a hurdle all its own. Can the Packers avoid the one or two special teams blunders that hurt them last week? One missed extra point from Smack and one blown kickoff return coverage helped turn the game in Minnesota, and former Packer Chris Banjo coordinates an excellent special teams group in New York.
5. Who can be the run stopper?
In this context, "run stopper" doesn't mean a defensive player who stops the run game. It's a player who can stabilize a team when things start to go awry. Bad things are going to happen in football games. The opponent will inevitably create a stretch of good play, and momentum will shift, especially on the road. So, who is going to be the run stopper for the Packers? Micah Parsons was an excellent closer last season, but he won't be back until next month. The Packers have to find a leader on the field who will step up to the challenge of big moments and swing the momentum back to Green Bay's side when adversity hits. Far too often, the Packers haven't been able to find a counterpunch when they get hit. Jordan Love is an obvious answer, but the quarterback can't do it alone. The other leaders of the team, like Tucker Kraft and Xavier McKinney, need to be reliable playmakers when the going gets tough.
Prediction: Packers 25, Jets 19 (1-0)
I don't love the idea of playing in a rainy, potentially sloppy game on the road against a team coming off a big Week 1 win, but any team trying to rebound from a disappointing finish to the season opener better show real mettle in Week 2 or the season can spiral out of control quickly. The Packers are talented. Now it's time to show some physical and mental toughness. It's time to go to MetLife Stadium, rebound along the offensive line, finish the game strong on both sides and put the last six games behind them. Winning ugly would be fine. The Packers must leave the Meadowlands at 1-1. I'm anticipating a weird game in the rain, and a narrow Packers win that features a late defensive stop.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Jets: 5 things to watch and a prediction for Week 2
