Keys to the Game: Packers-Colts

The Green Bay Packers are back on the field this week to take on the Indianapolis Colts.

After a start in South America, this game will be played at Lambeau Field as the Packers celebrate their home opener.

The Packers were entering the season as potential Super Bowl contenders after a strong finish to their 2023 season, but things took a drastic turn late Friday night. Jordan Love was injured with a sprained MCL. He will more than likely miss this game.

Malik Willis is likely going to be the starter, after the Packers acquired him via trade at the end of training camp.

The Colts are 0-1 after a close 29-27 loss to the Houston Texans on their home field.

Here are our keys to the Packers avoiding an 0-2 hole, and getting a win in their home opener.

1. Josh Jacobs/ run game vs Colts Run Defense

It’s safe to say with a backup quarterback, the Packers are going to rely more on their run game to move the ball.

The good news for them is they’re facing a team that was just clubbed in the run game with an inferior running back.

With all due respect to Joe Mixon, he’s not the payer that Josh Jacobs is.

Jacobs finally started to get rolling in the second half of Friday’s 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jacobs was averaging less than a yard per carry in the first half. There were not many, if any holes for him to run through.

As the Packers run game started rolling, so too did their offense. Jacobs is going to be a focal point of this team when Jordan Love is healthy.

That is even more true with Malik Willis or anyone else that will step in at quarterback as well.

The Colts’ run defense just allowed Mixon to rumble for just under six yards-per-carry.

Emanuel Wilson had a nice night against the Eagles as well.

An underrated key to this game could be some of the ancillary parts of the run game.

Jayden Reed had one carry on Friday night for 33 yards and a touchdown.

In addition to Reed and the receivers, Malik Willis could be a factor with his legs as well.

As the team tries to build things in its passing game, they’ll be relying heavily on its run game.

That starts with Jacobs, but everyone will have to contribute.

2. Pass Rush vs Anthony Richardson

For all the pomp and circumstance surrounding Green Bay’s pass rush, they were awfully quiet in Friday’s game against the Eagles.

Jalen Hurts was sacked twice, but both sacks have obvious caveats to them. Rashan Gary’s sack came on a play Lane Johnson clearly thought was blown dead.

Keisean Nixon’s sack was on a play that was a scramble drill.

There was not a traditional sack, and there was not much pressure put on Hurts either.

Maybe that was by design as the Packers were looking to keep Jalen Hurts in the pocket, but that’s going to need to be better this week as the team faces Anthony Richardson.

Pressure can make any quarterback jumpier in the pocket, but that can be true with Richardson, who is prone to inaccuracy and turnovers.

He threw one interception on Sunday against the Texans, but there were some near misses for the Texans’ defense as well.

This also simply comes down to what the Packers have spent their money and draft capital on.

There are too many players being highly-paid or that have high expectations for them to struggle as much as they did on Friday night.

Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Preston Smith, and Lukas Van Ness were either priority free agents, or first-round picks.

The Packers need more from their high-dollar players in Sunday’s game.

3. Packers vs Red Zone

Remember in 2020 when Nathaniel Hackett made “The Gold Zone” famous?

Of course you do. The Packers’ offense was awesome in the red zone that year.

They were very good in goal-to-go situations a year ago as well.

Their first game of the 2024 season was a disaster.

They had four possessions in the red zone. Only one of which came away with a touchdown, thanks to a 2-yard strike to Christian Watson.

The other possessions all ended in field goals. That includes two possessions early in the game that were set up by turnovers.

A fumble recovery by Devonte Wyatt and interception by Xavier McKinney were not taken advantage of by Green Bay’s offense.

They easily could have led by two scores early in the game, instead they let the Eagles hang around.

Those points they punted on ended up costing them dearly.

That cannot be the case this week. With a backup quarterback, the margin for error is thinner than it is with Jordan Love.

When the Packers get inside the 20, they need to put seven points on the board

Related: 3 Ways the Packers Can Help Malik Willis