The Packers Must Exploit A Key Carolina Weakness To Avoid A Trap Game

Head coach Matt LaFleur wasn't entertaining the idea when reporters asked him about it on Wednesday.

LaFleur has no time for the thought of Sunday's showdown against the Carolina Panthers — sandwiched between a date with Aaron Rodgers and an upcoming clash on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles — being a trap game.

If the Packers want to avoid such a fate, they need to start fast against a Carolina defense that has been vulnerable early in games.

The Panthers have definitely improved in the second year of the Dave Canales era. After starting 1-7 a year ago and benching former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, Carolina is 4-4 this season after winning just 5 total games a year ago.

A running game that ranks fifth in the NFL, averaging 136.9 rushing yards per game, has spearheaded their offensive attack. The Panthers have had successes this year, but they pale in comparison to the rest of Green Bay's schedule lately.

After a playoff-like atmosphere in Pittsburgh against Rodgers this past week, the Packers have a "circle it when the schedule comes out" game next Monday night in prime time again when the Eagles come to town. When stacking up appetizing matchups, Carolina doesn't quite fit the bill.

However, when a reporter asked LaFleur about the trap game theory on Wednesday,

To avoid what would absolutely be a head-scratching loss, the Packers are currently a near-two-touchdown favorite. Green Bay needs to start quickly against a defense that has opened the door early in games.

One could argue that the Buffalo Bills were in a trap-game spot against the Panthers last week. The Bills were coming off a bye and this week play host to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. Instead of coming out lethargic, Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense came out swinging. The Bills led 19-3 at halftime and coasted to a 40-9 blowout victory. They didn't give Carolina any hope, sucking the life out of the Panthers in the first 30 minutes.

It's a recipe Carolina's opponents have often used against them this year. The Panthers are 28th in the NFL in first-half points allowed per game at 15.5. Carolina has given up at least 17 first-half points in four of their last five games. Meanwhile, Green Bay's defense has been rock solid early in the season. Jeff Hafley's defense is allowing less than a point per game in the first quarter. At 0.9 points allowed on average in the first 15 minutes, the Packers rank first in the league.

However, lately, Green Bay’s offense has had trouble shaking off the cobwebs early in games. Green Bay had only seven points in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night; the week prior, it entered halftime in Arizona with six. Even three weeks ago, while the Packers led the Cincinnati Bengals 10-0 at the break, the offense failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities.

Now Jordan Love and Co. will face a defense that's been hemorrhaging points early. If ever there was a week to snap out of the early-game funk, it's this week against this opponent.

On the other hand, we don't know whether Young will return from an ankle injury to start on Sunday, or if it will be the grizzled veteran Andy Dalton getting another nod. Neither should instill a lot of fear in Green Bay's defense, especially with the numerous injuries up front on Carolina’s offensive line.

LaFleur may not give the trap game any thought. He's right to dismiss any notions of that occurring on Sunday. He's saying all the right things on the matter.

The trap game isn't some made-up phenomenon. You know there are players in the Green Bay locker room who are well aware of who is up next on the schedule. The Eagles beat the Packers in Week 1 in Brazil last year, ended their season in the playoffs, and then blew out Kansas City in the Super Bowl.

It's human nature to be aware of what's looming on the horizon. It's LaFleur and the rest of the Green Bay staff's job to make sure the team is locked in on their opponent this week.

The defense has done its job early on in games, chewing up and spitting out one opposing offense after another in the first quarter. It's time for the offense to do the same this weekend and quickly wipe away any notion of Green Bay falling into a trap.