They could easily be 6-2 right now because the game in Detroit was a winnable one. There were moments in that game when the Lions put the contest on a silver platter for them to take, but the Packers hurt themselves and ultimately lost the game. Last week against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, I was giving them my side-eye because there were moments when they appeared to be struggling to put the game away. As usual, the running game struggled to get much of anything going, just as it has throughout the season. Alright, now that I’ve gotten the bad out of the way, let’s look at the good and what they were able to accomplish in that bounce-back win. First, Jordan Love was phenomenal, and he’s been on his A-game over the last few weeks. In that game, he completed 30 of his 41 pass attempts for 288 passing yards and three touchdowns. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden continue to develop into one of the league’s most exciting receiving tandems, and my biggest takeaway was that Jordan didn’t have to rely on just one receiver throughout the game. I was wondering how this defense would look without Micah Parsons, who’s still on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. However, the Packers’ defense has been playing well without him, keeping the team in games. I also think they can be a dangerous unit down the stretch if they can get healthy and remain consistent. This Sunday afternoon, the Packers make their way east for an interconference showdown with the defending AFC champions.

Patriots (5-3):

I’ll admit I was worried about them in that game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but two things came to mind. One, they always seem to have a tough time playing the Dolphins, especially in Miami, for some reason. Two, divisional games are always a challenge, regardless of who the teams are or where they stand in the standings. However, I must say that I saw a few things that a better team could exploit moving forward, starting with their secondary, which concerns me. I noticed communication issues in the back end, and they cannot afford these coverage breakdowns against elite quarterbacks. Next, there were too many penalties, which leads me to say that their discipline must improve. The first-half offense was disappointing, to say the least. The offensive line struggled to hold its blocks up front and protect Drake Maye, while the offense had difficulty finishing drives. But then came the second half, and I saw a different-looking football team. It started with the quarterback, and I feel Drake Maye has turned the page following his early-season struggles. On Sunday, I saw him demonstrate tremendous leadership. He never panicked when the offense struggled in the first half, the running game got jump-started in the second half, and the defense delivered when it mattered most down the stretch. This is still a good, resilient Patriots group that responds very well to adversity. The AFC champions return home on Sunday for a battle with Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.

Packers X-Factor: Christian Watson

My namesake, and what a season he’s been having! Christian has truly emerged as the number one receiving option for this Packers offense. I’m not saying he needs to score a touchdown every single time he’s on the field, but he does have the big-play ability to take what looks like a short completion and turn it into a 40- to 50-yard play. I can’t stress this enough: the Patriots cannot allow him to get behind their coverage, or he will make them pay. Christian’s speed forces New England to respect the deep ball, which will, in turn, open up the field for Tucker Kraft and Matthew Golden. He’s also a red-zone threat, with the size and athleticism that make him a difficult matchup for opposing defenders.

Patriots X-Factor: Milton Williams

Milton enters this game as one of the Patriots’ most interesting defensive players, which is exactly why I chose him as my X-factor for this matchup. He can change this game without necessarily recording a single sack. He’s the type of pocket pusher I often describe, and he can also apply pressure from the interior, which is more challenging to block than pressure coming from the edge. Milton will do everything he can to collapse Jordan Love’s pocket. If he can draw double teams, that opens up opportunities for other New England defenders to find more one-on-one matchups. On the other hand, if Milton isn’t doubled, he’ll have his share of favorable matchups.

Final Thoughts:

I can see this being the most entertaining game of Week Nine. Sunday will mark the first career meeting between Jordan Love and Drake Maye, two young quarterbacks in our league today. Both teams enter this game having won four of their last five games, and they also come into this matchup with identical 5-3 records. It will be key for the Packers to keep Jordan Love protected against New England’s pass rush, as Milton Williams and Christian Barmore can each make life difficult with their push up front. They also need to get Christian Watson the ball early and often. Allow him to use his speed to stretch the field because he can change the game with one explosive play. The final key is to make Drake Maye uncomfortable. Pressure him on third down, don’t allow him to extend plays, and force him to make difficult throws into coverage. For New England, establish Stevenson and Henderson in the running game. This is a Packers defense that has struggled to contain running backs this season, and I’d exploit that weakness as often as possible. Limit Christian Watson and force him to earn his yards underneath while allowing Maye to create plays downfield through the air. Most importantly, I need to see more discipline from the Patriots in this game. I don’t want to see a repeat of the first half against the Miami Dolphins.

Prediction:

Patriots 26, Packers 21