Eddie Lacy Is Key To Green Bay Packers Win Over New England Patriots
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick are one of the toughest teams to scheme for because you never know what they are going to do week-to-week. The one thing that is for certain, however, is that they have one of the best secondaries in the NFL. They have allowed the second-fewest receptions by wide receivers in the league and have only allowed seven touchdowns to receivers in 11 games. In order for the Green Bay Packers to go into Foxboro and upset the Patriots, Eddie Lacy will have to step up and have a big game, but not in the way you might think.
The one weakness for the Patriots’ defense this season has been running backs catching the ball out of the backfield. The Patriots have allowed the fourth-most receptions by running backs (64) and the second most touchdown catches (six). Lacy has come on lately after a slow start, but he still only has one game where he has received more than 20 carries. He has been doing most of his damage over the past four games through the air.
Lacy has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games. Over the past four contests, he has averaged four catches per game for 62.3 yards. Over the same time period, he has averaged 75.8 yards on the ground with two touchdowns and has emerged as a dual-threat running back out of the backfield for the Packers.
If the Packers want to stay in this game and defeat one of the elite teams in the AFC, they are going to have to exploit the best matchup advantage they have against a strong Patriots defense and find ways to target Lacy in the passing game to take advantage of a depleted Patriots linebacker corps.
Phillip Jacques is a Pac-12 Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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