Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins: Complete Week 6 Preview for Green Bay
Outscoring divisional opponents 80-27 in their last two games, it would appear as if the Green Bay Packers got an early start on their October dominance.
Green Bay has won 14 of its last 15 games played in the calendar's 10th month, the lone loss coming at the hands of Andrew Luck's Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 of the 2012 season.
The Packers (3-2) will look to make it nine straight October wins when they travel to Miami Gardens to take on the Dolphins (2-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. There they will see a familiar face, former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, entering the contest with a 17-19 record in his two years and some change as the head coach. Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provided Philbin's thoughts on the upcoming matchup:
"Philbin on coaching vs #Packers: "It's a big game. They've got the team playing extremely well. It's an important football game."
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) October 8, 2014"
Miami has the good fortune of playing its ball in the relatively weak AFC East, sitting just a half-game back of the division-leading New England Patriots, whom they already beat in Week 1.
Packers Week 5 Recap
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This one was over before it got started.
With the hapless Christian Ponder starting in place of the injured Teddy Bridgewater, the Packers defense smothered Minnesota's offense, holding the Vikings scoreless until a garbage-time touchdown run from Ponder.
Ponder's six-yard scamper on the first play of the fourth quarter ended a streak of 62 unanswered points for the Pack.
Aside from the defense's stellar play—featuring 16 quarterback hits—the most impressive takeaway was Eddie Lacy and the running game's effectiveness. Green Bay's offensive line opened huge holes for the second-year back, and Lacy took advantage with a season-high 103 yards on just 13 carries.
Julius Peppers made his first Lambeau Leap after a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter, becoming the first player in NFL history with 100 sacks and 10 interceptions.
News and Notes
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Hot Stuff
The forecast for Miami on Sunday calls for mostly sunny conditions and a high of 86 degrees, and it'll feel a lot hotter on the field with the added humidity. But the Packers center is looking forward to it, per Dunne:
"Will be double the temps Sun. Corey Linsley all for it: "I like it because I feel like the hot, you get delusional. You just stop caring."
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) October 8, 2014"
Rodgers' Checklist
Miami is just one of a handful of teams that have not fallen victim to the right arm of Aaron Rodgers in the regular season. Pittsburgh, New England, Kansas City and Cincinnati are the others.
Knowshon Returns
After dislocating his left elbow in Week 2, Dolphins running back Knowshon Moreno is listed as probable and should see a return to the playing field, writes the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.
Goodbye Brad Jones
Jamari Lattimore has supplanted Brad Jones at the inside linebacker spot, according to the team's website.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| David Bakhtiari (Back) | OT | Probable |
| Sam Barrington (Hamstring) | LB | Questionable |
| Josh Boyd (Knee) | DT | Probable |
| Jarrett Boykin (Groin) | WR | Out |
| Datone Jones (Ankle) | DE | Questionable |
Described as a potential star-in-the-making by Bleacher Report's Justis Mosqueda, Datone Jones' availability for Sunday's game will likely be a game-time decision. The second-year defensive lineman was not able to practice all week due to an ankle injury, but the team's website reports that he will practice in some capacity on Saturday.
With Davante Adams' improved play and earning praise from his MVP quarterback this week, Jarrett Boykin no longer holds claim to the No. 3 wide receiver spot, especially with his groin injury keeping the former Virginia Tech Hokie off the field.
Bakhtiari has been a rock at the left tackle spot, though his run blocking has left something to be desired. A back injury shortened the career of another Packers left tackle, Chad Clifton. Let's hope that this is just soreness for Bakhtiari and not a chronic condition.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Knowshon Moreno vs. Packers run defense
Wanting to keep Rodgers and his weapons on the sideline, we're likely to see a steady diet of carries for Moreno and Lamar Miller.
Miami's rushing offense has been particularly effective through four games, averaging 142.3 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry, figures that rank as fifth- and third-best in the league, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, the Packers' 163 rushing yards allowed per game ranks dead last.
Mike Wallace vs. Sam Shields
The fastest players on each team will likely line up across one another early and often during Sunday's game.
Shields had an up-and-down performance vs. Alshon Jeffery in Week 4, tallying three passes defensed and an interception but also overpursuing on a Jeffery touchdown reception. Wallace has seen his targets diminish through the first four games (7-5-5-3), though he has scored a touchdown in every game but one.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Dolphins secondary
Miami's pass defense has played admirably this season, holding opposing quarterbacks to an 85.2 passer rating, 10th-best in the league. Rodgers, though, will be the first top-10 quarterback faced since Tom Brady in Week 1 (Week 2, EJ Manuel; Week 3, Alex Smith; Week 4, David Carr). Rodgers is lighting up the league with 12 touchdown passes and just one interception through five contests.
Mike McCarthy vs. Joe Philbin
How much will Joe Philbin's time with the Packers help him game-plan against his former team? Or will it work in McCarthy's favor? Odds are the two's familiarity with one another won't be apparent other than the pregame and postgame handshakes, but it's something to keep an eye on.
Prediction
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You just don't bet against Aaron Rodgers when he's feeling it.
In the last two games, Rodgers has passer ratings of 151.2 and 138.7, and it took a garbage-time touchdown to end the team's string of 62 unanswered points.
Miami is coming off a bye week after a Week 4 win in London over the Oakland Raiders, but the Packers had a mini-bye of their own after their Thursday night win over Minnesota.
Without a stockpile of offensive weapons, the Packers defense should be able to load the box and force Miami's offense into unfavorable down-and-distance situations. Ryan Tannehill has yet to prove worthy of his top-10 draft status, and Green Bay's opportunistic secondary should take advantage when tested.
Green Bay will start fast and finish strong, going wire-to-wire with a comfortable victory.
Prediction: Green Bay 34, Miami 20
Odds via Odds Shark: Green Bay (-2.5)
Follow me on Twitter @PeterSowards.
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