San Diego Chargers vs. Green Bay Packers: What's the Game Plan for Green Bay?

The Green Bay Packers will look to remain one of the league's only unbeaten teams on Sunday when the San Diego Chargers visit Lambeau Field for a Week 6 cross-conference matchup. 

The Packers (5-0) are off to their best start since 2011 and have handily won their last four games by double digits. Meanwhile, the Chargers (2-3) are fresh off a devastating home loss to the Steelers, which they dropped on the last play of the game Monday night.

Both teams began the season with playoff aspirations—and both could very well wind up there at the end of the year.

For now, though, Sunday represents a meeting of two squads hoping to leave Lambeau with a victory. 

Unfortunately for the visitors, Green Bay has won its last 12 games at home and owns bragging rights in the head-to-head series—9-1 all time, including wins in the last six meetings. 

Let's look ahead to the offensive and defensive game plans the Packers could use on Sunday against San Diego in Week 6.

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Offensive Game Plan

As good as Aaron Rodgers has been this season, he shouldn't have to carry the offensive load every game—and a matchup with the Chargers might just be a blessing in disguise. 

The Chargers have conceded the fourth-most rushing yards per game (132.4) and the most per attempt (5.1) in the league in 2015. In addition, their defense has allowed three opposing running backs to run for 100 yards or more in the first five weeks. 

For any team with an above-average tailback facing San Diego, a dedication to the run game would be ideal. Green Bay—with Pro Bowler Eddie Lacy in the backfield—should do just that.

Still, Lacy has yet to gain 100 yards in a single game this season and was limited to just 27 on 13 carries against St. Louis' porous rush defense in Week 5.

In his defense, Lacy's early-season struggles may be a result of the sprained ankle he suffered in Week 2—an injury that's forced him to split time with James Starks in recent weeks. According to the Journal Sentinel, though, the third-year back could finally be healthy, as he's practiced with less tape on his usually bundled up ankles ahead of the Chargers game.

Here's more from Tom Silverstein and Michael Cohen of the Journal Sentinel:

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The significance is that it's much harder to make the cuts a player wants to make when his ankle is wrapped that tightly. Lacy said there is a big difference in feel without the tape job, which he said mostly provides stability and not a guarantee he won't reinjure it.

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If Lacy is indeed back to full strength, it couldn't come at a better time. The Packers should have their entire starting offensive line healthy for Sunday's game. 

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who missed three games this season with a knee injury, will be back for the second straight game, and guard T.J. Lang is expected to play after leaving Week 5's game with a knee injury of his own.

A healthy ankle with familiar faces blocking in front against one of the league's worst run defenses could be the perfect recipe for a breakout game for Lacy.

Defensive Game Plan

If the Packers want to stop the Chargers' high-powered offense, they must dedicate to shutting down the pass—more specifically, the Philip Rivers-to-Antonio Gates connection. 

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San Diego is among the league's best through the air—second in the league with 318 passing yards per game—and among the worst on the ground—tied for 26th with 92 rushing yards per contest. 

With Rivers at the helm, it's clear the Chargers will live and die by the pass. The attack just got better too with the recent addition of Gates. 

Gates, who missed the first four games of the season through suspension, returned in a big way against the Steelers in Week 5. The veteran tight end finished the game with team highs in targets (11), receptions (9), receiving yards (92) and touchdowns (2) despite playing on just 56.6 percent of offensive snaps, per Adam Levitan of The Daily Fantasy Football Edge podcast. 

Solving the Rivers-Gates combo is easier said than done. The Packers have faced top receiving tight ends this season—most notably the Bears' Martellus Bennett, the Seahawks' Jimmy Graham and the Chiefs' Travis Kelce—but Gates presents a much tougher challenge. Rivers and his partner in crime are the fifth-most prolific scoring duo in NFL history.

Green Bay may also have to face that challenge without one of their best in the defensive backfield. Starting safety Morgan Burnett, who's played in just one game this season because of a calf strain, was listed as questionable on the team's most recent injury report, released on Friday. 

Although Burnett practiced on a limited basis, he's still a big question mark for Sunday's game. If he can't go, the Packers will likely use a combination of safeties Micah Hyde and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix on Gates. 

It'll certainly be a tall task for the young defensive backs. 

Players and Matchups to Watch

WRs Randall Cobb and James Jones vs. Chargers CB Jason Verrett

If Davante Adams doesn't play—he's listed as questionable for Sunday—Aaron Rodgers will yet again rely on his two top receivers in the passing game, Randall Cobb and James Jones.  

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The only issue? San Diego shutdown corner Jason Verrett will likely be matched up man-to-man with one of them on every play. 

In Week 5, Verrett was tasked with covering the Steelers' Antonio Brown for the entire game and limited him to just three receptions on six targets for 45 yards. He's the clear No. 1 cover man in San Diego's secondary, and he'll try to force Rodgers to throw elsewhere. 

Obviously, Verrett can't cover both Jones and Cobb at the same time, but he could switch around depending on where each lines up. The Packers have used Cobb in the backfield, in the slot and out wide, while Jones primarily stays outside.

If either receiver starts to heat up, we could see Verrett move back and forth to cover the one getting the most targets.

CB Sam Shields vs. Chargers WR Keenan Allen

Covering and stopping Antonio Gates should be the Packers' first priority on defense, but Rivers has other weapons at his disposal—in particular Keenan Allen.

The speedy wideout leads San Diego in every major receiving category through five games this season and has almost 200 more receiving yards and 20 more catches than the next closest Charger. 

Come Sunday, the Packers will likely put their top corner on Allen, and the matchup should be a fun one to watch. 

Sam Shields has the most passes defended for Green Bay this year and is tied for the team-lead in interceptions with two. At 5'11", Shields does give up about three inches to Allen, but a height difference hasn't stopped the six-year vet from competing with opposing No. 1 receivers in the past. 

Game Prediction

The Chargers are a different team with Gates in their passing game. It showed in Week 5, as the Steelers had no answer to the veteran's limited but effective presence. On the other hand, a good matchup for Lacy could lead to the breakout game the Packers have been waiting for. 

However, this Week 6 tilt could ultimately come down to how well each team protects the ball. Green Bay's plus-five turnover margin is tied for fifth in the league. San Diego's minus-three mark is tied for 20th.

When you consider the Packers are coming off a four-interception game and pair that with Rivers' five picks thrown this season, we could see some defensive fireworks on Sunday.

Still, two major injuries might make a big difference in a part of the game we haven't talked about. 

Starting nose tackle B.J. Raji and linebacker Nick Perry were listed as doubtful on Friday and probably won't be healthy enough to suit up. The losses could ultimately mean the Chargers make a concentrated effort to establish the run, with rookie Melvin Gordon beginning to see more carries. 

When it's all said and done, though, this game might just come down to Aaron Rodgers' ability to lead touchdown-scoring drives, no matter what personnel he's dealt. Pay attention to Green Bay's first possession of the first and third quarters—that's where the team's quarterback has excelled in killing clock and marching his team down the field for momentum-swinging scores. 

Final Prediction: Packers 31, Chargers 20

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