Apparently, the key to beating the 2017 Green Bay Packers is having a high-powered offense.
In Week 1 the Seattle Seahawks, having invested 60% to 70% of their salary cap on a crushing defense, lost to the Packers 17-9. But in Week 2, Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons took their lumps, gave up some points, but ultimately out-scored Aaron Rodgers and his crew 34-23 to set the Pack back to 1-1.
The Cincinnati Bengals, set to face Green Bay at Lambeau Field on Sunday, do not have a high-powered offense. But they do have a new offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, put in place after a dreadful 0-2 start.
A writer for a world-famous sports book joked that this game will take place on the “frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.” Well, maybe not frozen – it’s September. But the Bengals offense is coming in ice cold.
Who: Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday, September 24th, 4:25 PM EST
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Lines: Cincinnati (+9) at Green Bay (-9) / O/U Total: (45)
The Packers lost on the road to the defending NFC champs in Week 2 – no shame in that. But it puts pressure on the squad to get cracking and set off on the right foot in 2017. Star receiver Jordy Nelson is back from injury and practicing, along with mega-needed RT Bryan Bulaga.
Can Cincinnati produce a pass rush to threaten Rodgers? Geno Atkins has produced 3 sacks from his spot on the interior defensive line, but the Packer OL is healthy up the middle. The rest of the Bengal rushers have produced a grand total of 1 sack on opposing QBs so far.
Offense will be an even bigger issue for the visitors. Andy Dalton, a pure passer with little to no running ability, is completing less than 55% of his passes, and has an abysmal 0-4 TD-INT ratio. A.J. Green is having a decent season at WR so far, but Joe Mixon looks like a total bust at tailback with less than 3 yards per carry.
Finally, there’s a still-larger problem in Cincinnati…morale. Marvin Lewis is to be commended for coaching the same NFL team since before Sony invented the Playstation, but his comments this week seem almost unhinged. The HC took a gratuitous shot at departing OC Ken Zampese and used it to threaten the team with a promise of more red slips. That reeks of desperation and a coach who has played himself out with a demoralized roster.
This is a no-brainer. Take the Packers to cover at (-9) points.
When a bad team on its way into the NFL cellar travels to play a great QB and a big, fast, experienced playoff team on their home field in a crucial contest, it’s not a 9-point differential in the final score. This should be an epic beat-down by Green Bay and an easy win for an ATS wager on the favorite.