Packers vs. Dolphins: What Are Experts Saying About Green Bay?

The 3-2 Green Bay Packers will take on the 2-2 Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday. The Packers are coming off two dominating wins versus the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, while the Dolphins were on a bye last week after whipping the Oakland Raiders in London the week before.

The Dolphins head coach is Joe Philbin, who was on Mike McCarthy's coaching staff in Green Bay for several years, including a stint as offensive coordinator from 2006 through 2011.

The contest on Sunday will be an interesting battle, as both teams will try to continue their recent momentum.

A number of "experts" have given their take on the game, and I will give my opinion regarding their analyses of the battle in South Florida.

Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports NFL Insider: Can the Florida Heat Be the Equalizer?

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In his take on the game, Jason La Canfora said a number of factors could figure in the contest, including the hot and humid south Florida weather.

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Dolphins coach Joe Philbin gets a chance to face his former employer, where he was an offensive assistant, and does so coming off a bye. Which is good, because he's catching the Packers just as they hit their stride and he's going to need all the additional prep time he can get. Philbin knows Aaron Rodgers well, but probably not nearly well enough to sway the talent imbalance in this game. A win over the hapless Raiders in London won't cure all that is plaguing the Dolphins and we'll see how quickly Philbin goes back to undermining his starting quarterback. Would seem to be a spot here for Green Bay to continue its winning ways, but perhaps the heat and humidity that can be a way of life in South Florida this time of year have a way of sapping some of their momentum and energy. Weather can be the great equalizer.

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I would agree that Joe Philbin does know Aaron Rodgers well. No. 12 won his NFL MVP Award in 2011 when Philbin was offensive coordinator with the Packers. But a lot of things have changed since then. Rodgers is still a MVP-type quarterback, but he also has different weapons on offense.

The weather could indeed play a factor. Trust me, I know. I spent this past summer in Wisconsin, not too far from Green Bay, and the weather was very mild and cool. I came back to Florida a week ago and the heat hit me like a furnace as soon as I got off the plane.

The Packers need to make sure that they keep their players hydrated during the game to prevent cramping.

Marc Sessler, Chris Wesseling and Kevin Patra, NFL.com: A Green Bay Win

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The three analysts at NFL.com all agree that the Packers will win on Sunday.

Marc Sessler says, "I like to keep things simple. This is simple."

Chris Wesseling says, "Nobody has played better than Green Bay since Aaron Rodgers told the football world to R-E-L-A-X. The Packers are the better team, now clicking on all cylinders."

Kevin Patra says, "Is there a better place to R-E-L-A-X than Miami?"

Although I believe the Packers will win like these three analysts do, it won't be as easy as one might think. The Dolphins can run the ball quite effectively, as they are ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing offense.

Since the middle of the 2013 season, the kryptonite of the Packers has definitely been their failure to stop the run. Green Bay is dead last in the NFL in that category.

In addition to that, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 12 times, which is tied for eighth in the league. The Dolphins can bring quite a pass rush at times and have 11 sacks in four games.

The last time the two teams met in 2010, defensive end Cameron Wake had his way with right tackle Bryan Bulaga, recording three sacks and six quarterback hits.

I still believe the Packers will do enough to get a victory, but it sure won't be easy at times.

Mark Schlereth and Jerome Bettis, ESPN NFL Live: The Pack Will Roll

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On ESPN NFL Live, both Mark Schlereth and Jerome Bettis see the Packers winning.

Schlereth:

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Relax. They have shown that they can do that. They have gotten some of the health back on the offensive line. They have protected better. They have run the ball better. Eddie Lacy was dynamic (last week). He ran behind his pads. Aaron Rodgers has a great rapport with Jordy Nelson. Too much offense. Too much Packers. They win this one.

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Bettis:

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Ryan Tannehill, I'm still not sold on him. In London he quieted the critics, but I thinks this is going to be a game where it's going to rear it's ugly head that Ryan Tannehill still has a lot of development ahead. I'm going with Green Bay.

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I agree with both Schlereth and Bettis and their assessments, although I believe Tannehill has been improving each year he has been in the NFL. That being said, the fact that he has a new offensive coordinator this year in Bill Lazor has to have hindered his development a bit.

I think Schlereth's take is spot on with his points about the recent wins, the health and protection of the offensive line and the play of Lacy, Rodgers and Nelson. Bottom line, the Packers will have too much offense for the Dolphins when it's all said and done.

Michael David Smith and Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: The Pack Prevails

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On Pro Football Talk, both analysts also liked the Packers to win, but one of them thought the game would be close.

Michael David Smith:

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Both of these teams have been inconsistent this season, which makes this a tough game to call. I just don’t think Ryan Tannehill is playing well enough to exploit the weaknesses in the Packers’ defense, and that’s why I see this as a narrow Green Bay win.

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Score: Packers 21, Dolphins 20.

Mike Florio:

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Joe Philbin has had two weeks to get ready to face his old team.  It won’t be enough.  The Packers are finding their groove and racking up wins and trying to get some separation in the NFC North.  Plus, it’s Aaron Rodgers vs. Ryan Tannehill.  Plus, that big win for the Dolphins after a pair of losses came against the Raiders.

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Score: Packers 34, Dolphins 17.

I disagree with Smith about the inconsistency of the Packers, at least in the last game and a half. Since then, the Packers have outscored their opponents 59-10. I do agree with Smith that Tannehill won't be able to have a big game against the Packers.

The running game of the Dolphins is another story.

I concur with Florio's take on the battle between Rodgers and Tannehill. The Packers have a clear advantage with No. 12, as long as he is given time to take advantage of the Miami secondary. Among qualified candidates, Rodgers is second to only Philip Rivers in NFL passer rating with a mark of 114.8. Meanwhile, Tannehill has a rating of 81.2.

Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated: Can Misdirection Confuse the Green Bay Defense?

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Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated talked about how misdirection could confuse the defense of the Packers.

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Speaking of versatility, the Dolphins' game plan figures to test the Packers with the use of packaged plays on Sunday. New Miami offensive coordinator Bill Lazor brought a few of these calls with him from Philadelphia, where they are staples of the Chip Kelly playbook. More and more teams have taken to using them.

In essence, a packaged play gives a quarterback both a run and pass read on the same design -- almost an extended triple option. When Miami executes these calls well, they play right into what quarterback Ryan Tannehill can do as a decently mobile quarterback who is better when he is allowed to make simple throws.

The Dom Capers-led defense in Green Bay has been susceptible to misdirection plays in recent seasons, so these packaged plays could be just the ticket for Miami to get its offense moving on Sunday.

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Burke brings up a good point. That was also brought up by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Silverstein notes all the success the Bears had against the Packers running trap and draw plays.

The Dolphins run an offense similar to the up-tempo attack of the Eagles, which Lazor brought along to Miami. An offense like that can wear down a defense, especially in the heat and humidity in a location like south Florida.

The Packers need to read their keys correctly defensively and be sure of their assignments. The tackling has to be clean as well. If the Packers can negate the Dolphins running game, they will have a clear advantage if Tannehill has to throw the football more than he wants to.

The secondary of the Packers is the strength of their defense, as the team is ranked seventh in pass defense and second in passer rating allowed. Green Bay is tied for second in interceptions with seven.