Joe Barry and the Green Bay Packers are going to have their hands full on the defensive side of the football in Week 18. Going up against a dual-threat quarterback like Justin Fields is never easy. In the past, the Packers have had some issues containing the Chicago Bears’ young quarterback.
With a trip to the playoffs on the line for the Packers in Week 18, the defense must come through with a big game.
Last week against the Minnesota Vikings, the defense finally looked like the elite unit that many thought it could be prior to the start of the 2023 season. All year long, the Packers have given up big plays and struggled to get stops, even against the worst offenses in the league like the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
If the Packers want to get into the playoffs, they’ll need Barry and the defensive unit to bring their best.
Green Bay Packers’ Joe Barry Has Bold Take On Justin Fields
Coming into this week’s game, Barry spoke out about the Bears’ quarterback. He talked about how the team must play against him in order to slow him down.
“You just have to stay alive with this guy constantly. Then you have to stay conscious with not only your rush lane, but also with your buddy and his rush lane. The play is never over with this guy.”
While it’s easy to say those words, game-planning against Fields will be much more difficult. The Packers have had trouble finishing plays all season long. They have also had issues against the run in many games.
The Packers have struggled to put a consistent pass-rush on the field from week to week. Putting pressure on Fields is a must, but Green Bay also must be conscious of Fields’ ability to get out of the pocket and run. It will be a tall task, but the Green Bay defense performed admirably against him in Week 1 of this season.
It will be interesting to see how this week’s game unfolds. Should the Packers be able to contain Fields and eliminate big chunk plays, they should be in a good position to pick up a win.
