Two games down, one to go. The Green Bay Packers are in the midst of their stretch of three games in 11 days.
This week, they’ll have a Thanksgiving night showdown against Tua Tagovailoa and the high-powered Miami Dolphins’ offense.
In a scheduling oddity, this is the second meeting between Matt LaFleur and his friend Mike McDaniel, the first of which came on Christmas Day in 2022, when the Packers won 26-20 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
This time, the two teams are in different places.
Both entered the season as contenders, but the Dolphins lost their quarterback to another concussion, which kept him out for over a month.
The Dolphins struggled during that stretch, falling to 2-6 on the year.
They did, however, score a big win against the Los Angeles Rams earlier this month.
The Dolphins, when they are healthy, are as talented as anyone on offense in the NFL.
These are the keys for the Packers keeping that offense under wraps.
Tyreek Hill
For whatever reason, when the discussion of who the best receiver in football is comes up, Tyreek Hill’s name is rarely mentioned.
It’s unclear as to why. One thing that is clear, is Hill is still the fastest man in the NFL and can break a game open at any moment.
Hill’s numbers suffered without Tagovailoa this season. He scored a touchdown in the first game of the year, but he did not score again until the team’s Veterans Day showdown with the Rams.
Jeff Hafley has liked to play a lot of cover-1 since taking over as the team’s defensive coordinator, which can leave a cornerback singled up with Hill.
That’s a dangerous way to live, because Hill can run by anyone. Whether it is Jaire Alexander or any of Green Bay’s other cornerbacks, Hill can break the game open at a moment’s notice.
This game could feature more of a shell defense, trying to force the Dolphins to run the ball more and, more importantly, keep their fast receivers in front of them.
De'Von Achane
Miami is fast, and they’re fast everywhere.
Devon Achane is the guy who stirs the drink in their backfield.
If the Packers are going to trip and keep a lid on their defense with Hill and Jaylen Waddle standing on the other side, it’ll be up to their front to slow down Miami’s run game with fewer men in the box.
Achane can make any run defense look silly, and Green Bay has been up-and-down for most of the season.
The physical element of football can be more prevalent with a short turnaround as well.
The Packers are coming off a physical battle against a San Francisco team that gets off the bus trying to establish their run game.
Miami is coming off a divisional game against a physical Patriots team.
Whoever handles this physical confrontation could go a long way toward winning the game.
Once you get past the physicality, you could blink and miss Achane running by you.
He’s a big play waiting to happen. The Packers need to do a good job of keeping explosive plays to a minimum. That starts with the two guys who are highlighted first.
Packers’ Pressure vs. Tagovailoa
Pressure is the ultimate equalizer in the NFL, and Tagovailoa is no different when it comes to quarterback play.
When Tagovailoa has time, he can dice up any defense in front of him.
When he’s pressured, he’s more prone to mistakes. Miami’s offensive line has struggled recently. Rams’ rookie Jared Verse had his way with Miami’s offensive tackles in their 33-15 win over the Rams.
Miami’s offense can be potent, but the easiest path to slowing them down is putting their quarterback under pressure.
Tagovailoa struggles pushing the ball to the boundaries of the defense, and some of his passes have a tendency to float.
If the ball floats, there could be a big opportunity for a defensive backfield that is hungry for more takeaways.
TIME AND DATE: 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28
LOCATION: Lambeau Field
TV: NBC
RADIO: Flagship WRNW-FM Milwaukee — 97.3; Packers Radio Network includes WIXX-FM Green Bay — 101.1, WRLO-FM Antigo — 105.3, WLST-FM Marinette — 95.1, and WSAU Wausau — 550 AM and 95.1 FM
2024 RECORDS: Packers 8-3, Dolphins 5-6.
HISTORY: The Packers and Dolphins have met 16 times with the Dolphins holding a 10-6 edge in the series.
The Packers do, however, have a three-game winning streak in the series.
The Packers won the most recent matchup between the two teams, coming on Christmas Day in 2022.
Three second half turnovers from Tua Tagovailoa helped power Green Bay to a 26-20 victory, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
The last time these two teams met at Lambeau Field, Mike McCarthy was the head coach in Green Bay.
Mike McDaniel was still in San Francisco.
The Packers won 31-12 in what might have been the best game in an otherwise forgettable 2018 season.
Of course, there was also the unforgettable game in Miami in October 2014, where Aaron Rodgers faked a spike in the house of Dan Marino. He’d finish off the drive with a touchdown pass to Andrew Quarless to give the Packers a 27-24 victory.
COACHES: Packers – Matt LaFleur, fifth season, 64-30. Dolphins, Mike McDaniel, third season. 25-20.
PACKERS SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6 at Philadelphia, L 29-34
Sunday, Sept. 15 vs. Indianapolis Noon W 16-10
Sunday, Sept. 22 at Tennessee Noon W 30-14
Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Minnesota Noon L 29-31
Sunday, Oct. 6 at LA Rams 3:25 p.m. W 24-19
Sunday, Oct. 13 vs. Arizona Noon W 34-13
Sunday, Oct. 20 vs. Houston W 24-22
Sunday, Oct. 27 at Jacksonville W 30-27
Sunday, Nov. 3 vs. Detroit 3:25 p.m. L 14-24
Week 10 BYE
Sunday, Nov. 17 at Chicago Noon W 20-19
Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. San Francisco W 38-10
Thursday, Nov. 28 vs. Miami 7:20 p.m. NBC
Thursday, Dec. 5 at Detroit 7:15 p.m. Amazon Prime
Sunday, Dec. 15 at Seattle 7:20 p.m. NBC
Monday, Dec. 23 vs. New Orleans 7:15 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, Dec. 29, at Minnesota Noon FOX
Week 18 vs. Chicago TBD
NFL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Nov. 28
Chicago at Detroit, 11:30 a.m.
NY Giants at Dallas, 3:30 p.m.
Miami at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 29
Las Vegas at Kansas City, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1
Houston at Jacksonville, Noon
Indianapolis at New England, Noon
LA Chargers at Atlanta, Noon
Seattle at NY Jets, Noon
Tennessee at Washington, Noon
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, Noon
Arizona at Minnesota, Noon
LA Rams at New Orleans, 3:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 3:05 p.m.
Philadelphia at Baltimore, 3:25 p.m.
San Francisco at Buffalo, 7:20 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 2
Cleveland at Denver, 7:15 p.m.
Green Bay needs to halt Dolphins’ speed players
