Packers-Redskins stats that pop: Green Bay's next problem might come from special teams

Alex Novick

Packers-Redskins stats that pop: Green Bay's next problem might come from special teams image

Both the Packers and the Redskins enter Sunday night's game in need of a win, but for different reasons and with different levels of desperation.

Despite its struggles — for which coach Mike McCarthy, injuries and unfair expectations may or may not be to blame — Green Bay is alive and well in the NFC North. Washington will struggle to keep up with Dallas in the East, but it's in a tight wild-card race that might include its Week 11 opponent.

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This is a rematch of last season's wild-card playoff game, which the Redskins hosted but lost to the Packers, 35-18. Aaron Rodgers threw for 480 yards and four touchdowns in that game; Kirk Cousins wasn't bad, either, with his 329 passing yards and two scores (one rushing).

But the numbers say Rodgers shines brighter than Cousins in a situation like this: under the lights on national TV.

Here are those numbers.

Green Bay: Won six of last seven matchups vs. Washington dating back to 2001; lead all-time series 20-14-1 including three playoff games

Green Bay defense: 119.4 opponent rushing yards per game over last five games; 42.8 opponent rushing yards per game over first four games

Green Bay defense: 47 points allowed last week was most since allowing 51 to the Saints in Week 12 of 2008

Washington: Only win vs. Green Bay since 1988 was in 2010; won 16-13 in overtime with Donovan McNabb at QB

Washington offense: 12 sacks allowed is second best in NFL; 6.2 yards per play is tied for second best

Rodgers: 73-22 TD-INT ratio, 101.4 passer rating and 21-17 career record in night games

Jordy Nelson: Tied for NFL lead with eight TD catches; 314 receiving yards per game over last three weeks is second most in NFL

Davante Adams: 35 receptions and 403 receiving yards since Week 7 are both second most in NFL

Kirk Cousins: 9-8 TD-INT ratio, 85.2 passer rating and 1-5 career record in night games

Robert Kelley: 97 rushing yards in his second start last week was more than any game he had in college (26 rushing yards per game at Tulane)

Jamison Crowder: Leads NFL with 16.9 yards per punt return; 76 receiving yards per game and three TDs since Week 6

FANTASY: Week 11 start or sit lineup advice

PACKERS-REDSKINS GAME INFO

Contributing: Tadd Haislop

Alex Novick

Alex Novick Photo

Alex is an assistant managing editor at The Sporting News.