Keys to the Game (Dec. 8)

The Green Bay Packers (9-3) host the Washington Redskins (3-9) at noon, Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. FOX televises the game.

Coaches

Green Bay — Matt LaFleur, first season (9-3). Washington — Bill Callahan, first season (3-4 as interim coach; 18-21 overall).

History

Packers lead 18-15-1 in the regular season and 2-1 in the postseason. Washington won the last two matchups, both at home, in 2016 and 2018.

When the Packers have the ball

Since Callahan took over, the Redskins’ defense has become much more effective. In his seven games on the job, Washington has allowed just 19.9 points per game. San Francisco, which beat Green Bay 37-8 and ranks second in scoring, eked out a 9-0 win. Minnesota, which ranks seventh in scoring, managed a 19-9 win.

Overall, Washington ranks 22nd in points allowed (24.2), 19th in total defense (361.4 yards per game), 27th against the run (but 16th in yards per rushing play) and 15th vs. the pass (but 24th in yards per passing play). It is a big-play unit, ranking third in interception percentage and sixth in sack percentage. In a 29-21 win over Carolina last week, it recorded two interceptions and seven sacks.

The Redskins’ base defense is a 3-4. Defensive ends Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis flank nose tackle Daron Payne. It’s quietly one of the top groups in the league.

The highly underrated Ioannidis, a fifth-round pick in 2016, leads the team with 7.5 sacks and nine tackles for losses and is tied for the team lead with 13 quarterback hits. Allen, the 17th pick of the 2017 draft, has five sacks.

“They’ve got Matt Ioannidis and they’ve got four other first-rounders on that defensive line,” LaFleur said. “I think you look at that D-line, they’re really, really talented. I went against those guys last year in Tennessee and that was a salty group. They’re a good defense. They’re very, very physical and you see the effort that all 11 play with on tape. It jumps off the screen.”

Perennial Pro Bowler Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat are the outside linebackers.

Kerrigan, one of five players in NFL history with at least 7.5 sacks in each of his first eight seasons since sacks became an official stat in 1982, is having a quiet season with 4.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. He was inactive for the Carolina game due to a concussion, snapping a streak of 139 consecutive starts. Sweat, a first-round pick with a freakish combination of size and athleticism, has five sacks.

Chris Odom, a former Packers backup, had two sacks against Carolina. Jon Bostic (83 tackles) and Cole Holcomb (78 tackles, two forced fumbles) are active inside linebackers.

Cornerback Josh Norman and safety Landon Collins are the big names in the secondary. Norman, however, was benched a couple weeks ago and played only five snaps against Carolina. They’re better off without him at this stage of his career.

Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau form the new starting tandem at corner and Jimmy Moreland mans the slot. Dunbar has four interceptions and Moreau has three — all in the last two games. They’ve each allowed only one touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus.

Collins is joined by Montae Nicholson at safety. Collins leads the team with 102 tackles and Nicholson has contributed a pair of interceptions.

“They really get after the passer,” Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “I think they’re playing better in the back end the last three or four weeks, for sure.”

When the Redskins have the ball

After feasting on turnover-prone rookie quarterback Daniel Jones last week, the Packers get another struggling offense and another rookie quarterback with Dwayne Haskins.

Washington is last in the league in scoring (14.4 points per game), total offense (262.4 yards per game), passing per game (163.0) and per play (5.60) and third down (26.5 percent conversions). At least it’s 31st in the red zone and 30th in sack percentage.

Haskins has started the last four games in place of veteran Case Keenum. He has not been good: 54.1 percent completions, two touchdowns and six interceptions. His 58.5 passer rating is by far the worst in the league and far worse than Keenum’s 94.8. Even in Washington’s two-game winning streak, Haskins has completed less than 50 percent of his passes.

For obvious reasons, the Redskins would like to lean on their running game. The backfield is deep and productive with veteran Adrian Peterson, young Derrius Guice and pass-catching Chris Thompson.

The ageless Peterson has a team-high 642 rushing yards (4.4 average). Guice, who spent eight games on injured reserve, has rushed for 203 yards (5.5 average). In the win over Carolina, Guice rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns and Peterson added 99 yards and one touchdown. Thompson, who missed five games due to injury, isn’t much of a factor as a runner but is tied for second on the team with 28 receptions and 291 yards.

Rookie Terry McLaurin, Haskins’ former Ohio State teammate, is the No. 1 receiver with 42 receptions for 646 yards (15.4 average) and five touchdowns. Paul Richardson, slot Trey Quinn and Kelvin Harmon round out the group. Richardson, a big-play receiver while with Seattle, is tied for second on the team with 28 receptions but for just 245 yards (8.8 average). Quinn is averaging only 7.6 yards on his 26 catches.

With productive veterans Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis on injured reserve, Jeremy Sprinkle has taken over as the starting tight end. He’s caught 19 passes for 196 yards.

Perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams is sitting out the season following a bitter dispute with the team. Veteran Donald Penn has filled the void. The 36-year-old has allowed five sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Ereck Flowers is the left guard, Chase Roullier is the center, Brandon Scherff is the right guard and Morgan Moses is the right tackle. Scherff is a stud as a run blocker and in pass protection; Moses has been the weak link with four sacks and 27 total pressures, according to PFF.

Special teams

Washington has one of the better special-teams units in the league. Punter Tress Way is averaging a league-leading 49.9 yards per punt. Opponents have returned half of his 60 punts with a 9.7-yard average, so the potential is there for Green Bay’s punt-return unit — with minus-8 return yards this season — to finally get into the black.

Kicker Dustin Hopkins is 19-of-24 on field goals, though he hasn’t made one from 50-plus yards. Steven Sims, an undrafted free agent, has averaged 25.6 yards per kickoff return with one touchdown. Quinn has been a nonfactor with a 4.9-yard average on punt returns.