Packers Thrilled to Add Christine Michael to Backfield

The most glamourous game of the week is rightfully Philadelphia at Seattle; the 5-4 Eagles might be the third-best team in the NFC, but are stuck in the basement of the NFC East and facing a long climb up a very hard ladder. They should win big against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have struggled against elite competition.

Josh Norman is expecting big things from Aaron Rodgers when the Washington Redskins take on the Green Bay Packers this weekend.

As for Starks, coach Mike McCarthy was thrilled to see him back last week. The new running back also added that he met briefly with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. If the Redskins can exploit some of the better matchups, they will improve their chances of advancing to 6-3-1. However, the Packers didn’t draft many offensive players that could help this offense, and they didn’t really do much in free agency.

Without lead cornerback Sam Shields, starting corner Damarious Randall and slot corner Quinten Rollins (who has returned), the Packers lack speed and experience in their secondary and that compromises what Dom Capers can do in his play calls. If the Redskins can finish drives in the red zone, as Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota did in last Sunday’s 47-25 rout, it could be a season-high scoring day.

Although they got veteran backup James Starks back last week after he’d missed a month with a knee injury, the Packers have been in scramble mode at running back since starter Eddie Lacy – and his 5.1-yards per carry average – landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

The Packers are not playing up to their expectations this season, and there is a litany of reasons for the struggles.

The close games may have seemed excusable. Written by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the story probed the relationship between Rodgers and McCarthy, a relationship described as calamitous.

The Packers enter Sunday’s game losers in four of their last five games, dropping them to 4-5 on the year. And rookie Su’a Cravens provides a different form of versatility to a defense. Amidst a litany of injuries, players like linebacker Julius Peppers know that the defense will be able to get back on track.

That game was a point of emphasis for the Redskins this week, according to defensive coordinator Joe Barry. To take down a talented Washington team in primetime, he’s going to have to get some assistance. Despite an incredible 11-year run as the head coach for the Packers, it’s easy to suggest that McCarthy may be losing the locker room.

“Plaster” or “plastering” have been popular words among Redskins defenders this week as they prepare for Rodgers, who remains one of the NFL’s best at pocket movement and extending the play.

The Packers need to revamp their coaching staff and their team.

After the failed Knile Davis experiment earlier in the season, the addition of Michael comes as a surprise to those familiar with the typical frugal style of General Manager Ted Thompson.

WASHINGTON’ red-zone problems continued in Week 10, as they settled for 3 FGs on 4 redzone trips. He changed planes and arrived at Lambeau Field in time for practice at 11:45 a.m.

Only Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans and Jordy Nelson of Green Bay (eight) and Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown (seven) have more touchdown catches in the National Football League than Matthews, who is tied with four others.