Prediction
If there is one quarterback in the the NFL that can pull his team out of a midseason funk, it’s Rodgers.
While that is said, Rodgers and the Packers will have to play outstanding football to defeated a tough Redskins team that has more grit than their record will show. Washington is clearly a better home team having won nine of their last 13 regular season home games and after a week of beating the Vikings, the momentum is absolutely in their favor.
The return of Matthews for the Packers is huge, especially when the left tackle spot is currently manned by Ty Nsekhe, who is filling in for original starter Trent Williams being suspended four games for violation of the substance abuse policy. Packers head coach Dom Capers has a rotation of pass rushers in Matthews, Perry, and Julius Peppers that will definitely test Nsekhe.
A safety valve for Cousins has been the reliability on Reed at the tight end spot and the offense has involved Vernon Davis as well as another threat at the position. Davis is having an ok season with 26 catches and two touchdowns this season. This facet is worth monitoring with the Packers allowing 647 yards and four touchdowns this season to tight ends.
Ultimately, this will come down to which front-seven can make plays. While the Redskins have trouble stopping the run, as mentioned earlier, they can get after the QB and are just slightly more trustworthy than the Packers front seven who have battled injuries and have not been back to full strength just as yet. You also have to wonder about the mental psyche of this team. In the past three weeks, Packers had a lifeless second half in a loss to Atlanta, dug a hole early against Indianapolis and could not recover, and just got whipped by a balanced offense in Tennessee. The Redskins get this Packers team at a perfect time and takes advantage.