While the Miami Dolphins have fought to stay relevant all season, the same can’t be said for their Thanksgiving opponent.
The Green Bay Packers have been a force all season and each of their losses was entirely justifiable. They lost to the Eagles in Week 1, the Vikings in Week 4, and the Lions in Week 9 – the three teams with the best records in the NFC.
Miami, on the other hand, has recently found its rhythm. The Dolphins are winners of three straight games, and they will need to look as dominant against the playoff-caliber Packers as they do against the Raiders and Patriots.
Here are five Packers players who could cause problems for the Dolphins in Week 13:
Running back Josh Jacobs
If anyone guessed who the Packers’ 2024 running back would be at the end of 2023, nine out of ten people would have guessed Aaron Jones. But Green Bay made a shocking signing, parting ways with Jones and bringing in former Raiders Josh Jacobs.
They certainly don’t regret this decision.
Jacobs has been one of the best running backs in the NFL this year and even had his first career touchdown. He’s not quite able to eclipse his 2022 campaign in which he totaled 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns, but it was his second-best year.
He currently has 202 carries for 944 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns. Jacobs has been a problem, and he faces a Dolphins who will likely be without starting linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.
Jayden Reed
Packers receiver Jayden Reed has become Mr. Consistent for the Green Bay offense. Not because of consistent week-to-week production, but because of his presence as the offense’s No. 1 receiver.
Reed is only in his second season, but he appears to be one of the best young pass catchers in the NFL.
So far this season, he has caught 41 of 52 targets for 669 yards and four touchdowns. While he has three games with more than 110 receiving yards, he also has five games with less than 30.
He’s primarily a slot receiver, so Dolphins defensive back Kader Kohou will likely spend the most time opposite him, unless Miami defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver decides to use Jalen Ramsey in this role.
Zach Tom
Green Bay’s offensive line is playing very well as a whole right now, and franchise quarterback Jordan Love can tell that. Love was only sacked 10 times in his nine appearances.
Right tackle Zach Tom has been a big reason why Love has stayed so clean. Tom is the second highest rated player on the Packers offense by Pro Football Focus with a score of 85.3. That’s sixth among tackles and 14th among all offensive linemen.
That’s where Dolphins rookie Chop Robinson comes in. He’s been the Dolphins’ primary source of passes over the past few weeks. But he’s still a developing rookie, so it’s hard to expect him to get too much of an edge on Tom.
Rashan Gary
Although he hasn’t started the season like he usually does, Rashan Gary, the Packers’ edge rusher, appears to be a problem.
Gary started the year with just six pressures in the team’s first five games. He is now pressured 28 times – 22 in the last six games. He’s finally getting some pressure, even if he hasn’t quite turned it into production yet.
Gary is still sitting at 4.5 sacks this season. But with right tackle Austin Jackson out for the year and Kendall Lamm in the lineup, as well as left tackle Terron Armstead not practicing this week, Gary could have an opportunity to add to his sack total .
Xavier McKinney
In addition to Jacobs, Green Bay made another of the NFL’s best free agency additions on the defensive end. Former Giants safety Xavier McKinney played better than the Packers could have hoped.
McKinney is having a career year in his first season at Lambeau. He has a career-high seven interceptions in just 11 games. He also has 54 total tackles and nine passes defensed.
McKinney excels when playing on the ball and putting a lid on defense, both of which could hurt Miami’s offensive attack. Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are best utilized when they have the ability to outrun the defense.
All it could take is one ill-advised throw from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and McKinney could swing the momentum at any moment.
This article was originally published on Dolphins Wire: 5 Packers players who could cause Dolphins problems in Week 13
