Watch Packers vs Giants: TV Channel, Live Stream, Start Time, Key Matches for Week 5 London Game

The first game in London between two top teams naturally involves the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay enters its first trip to London with a 3-1 record, but things aren’t going so well at home. The Packers needed 60 minutes plus overtime to beat the New England Patriots (who were playing a third-string rookie quarterback) at home last week, prompting quarterback Aaron Rodgers to challenge his young receivers at the start of the second quarter of the season.

Green Bay is averaging just 18.8 points per game this season, the fewest in the Rodgers era and the first four games since 2006. The Packers have won three straight games as Rodgers has a 105.6 passer rating in that streak while the defense allowed 15.3 points per game. Rodgers is averaging 233.8 passing yards per game, the lowest of his career as a starter.

The New York Giants have the No. 1 rushing offense in the league, averaging 192.5 yards per game. The rushing offense is led by Saquon Barkley, who leads the league in rushes (84) and rushing yards (463) – averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Daniel Jones will start (ankle), but his mobility will be limited. The Giants will also lose three receivers in Kenny Golladay (knee), Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Wan’Dale Robinson (knee).

How can the Giants and Packers each go 4-1? Here’s the plan for each team to claim a win, plus where to watch Sunday’s showdown in London.

How to watch

When: Sunday October 9 | Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London)
TV:
NFL Network | Flow: fuboTV (try for free)
Follow: CBS Sports app
Odds: Packers -8, O/U 42 (courtesy Caesars Sportsbook)

How the Giants can beat the Packers

The Packers’ pass rush is dangerous enough for the Giants to avoid Daniel Jones backing off and running for his life on a bad ankle. New York has the best running offense in football and Saquon Barkley should get at least 25 runs. Green Bay is giving up 4.97 yards per carry (22nd in the NFL), which is the only hole in its aggressive defense. The Giants are averaging 5.7 yards per carry (second in the NFL) and are a great run-blocking team, creating enough lanes for Barkley to reach the second tier.

How will the running game be affected by Jones’ limited mobility? The outside zone may not be there without the threat that Jones (6.2 yards per carry) can move the ball on the ground, so the short passing game may need to come into effect. The Packers are 27th against the pass on first down (115.6 quarterback rating) and 24th against the rush (4.91 yards per carry), so there is an opportunity to create third-and-run situations and to move the chains on the ground.

Green Bay is a zonal heavy team, playing in zonal coverage 76.7% of the time. Jones is 55 of 86 (64%) for 538 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions against yard coverage (79.5 rating), targeting wide receivers 58.1% of the time. With Toney and Golladay out, even if they weren’t playing or were ineffective, the Giants quarterback will have to find a way to connect on the short wide throws he has (Richie James and David Sills).

How the Packers can beat the Giants

The Packers have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, but this team is still trying to figure out all the rotating pieces on offense. Rodgers trusts Allen Lazard in the red zone and wants to make Romeo Doubs a more important player in attack, but dropped balls have plagued the rookie. Christian Watson doesn’t look ready to be a significant contributor on offense just yet, leaving Rodgers tossing the ball to familiar faces in Lazard, Randall Cobb and Robert Tonyan.

Green Bay leads the NFL in yards after catch, so the Packers have plenty of passing plays over 20 yards (17) as a result. Where Green Bay struggles is in the red zone, converting just 9 of 15 (60%) while traveling in the red zone — 13th in the league. Not bad is not it ? On goal situations to go, Green Bay is last in the NFL (one touchdown in three attempts). Scoring touchdowns in the red zone will be essential for the Packers if they want to put the game out of reach for the Giants.

The Giants run man covers 41.3% of the time, the second highest rate in the NFL. Rodgers is 22 of 35 (62.9%) for 233 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions (96.5 rating) against man coverage, which should benefit him with tackle David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins playing. There are big game opportunities for the Packers if the Giants decide to test Rodgers.

Comments are closed.