The Green Bay Packers were lucky to escape with a 29-29 tie against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, and Aaron Rodgers and company head to FedExField for a matchup with the Washington Redskins with a 1-0-1 SU record as a result. Sportsbooks opened the Packers as 3-point road favorites with a total of 46 for the contest.
- The Packers are 6-2 SU in their last eight games vs the Redskins.
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of the Packers’ last 12 games on the road (avg. combined score: 53.75).
- The Redskins are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five games at home in September.
Packers vs Redskins Game Center
Redskins haven’t been much of a match for the Packers of late
Rodgers clearly isn’t 100 percent after suffering a leg injury in the season opener with the Chicago Bears, but the star signal-caller still managed to go 30-for-42 with a touchdown and zero picks against a stout Minnesota defense. The University of California product was sacked four times in the game, however, so it’s going to be imperative for the offensive line to protect him. Rodgers is going up against a Redskins defense that ranks first in the NFL against the pass.
Green Bay’s ground game has been lackluster to say the least through two weeks, so the return of sophomore running back Aaron Jones from a suspension could provide a big boost for Mike McCarthy’s crew. Jones had 448 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 2017.
Just how good have the Packers been against the ’Skins in recent years? Green Bay is 6-2 SU in its last eight vs Washington, and 7-2-1 ATS in its past 10 vs the Redskins. The Packers are also 6-2 SU in their last eight road games after dropping the previous two away from home.
Can the Redskins bounce back after an ugly Week 2 showing?
While the Redskins looked great in a 24-6 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, they came back down to earth in a 21-9 home setback to the Indianapolis Colts last week. New quarterback Alex Smith went 33-for-46 without notching a touchdown or turning the ball over, but running back Adrian Peterson (20 rushing yards) was stymied by the improved Colts defense.
Green Bay’s defense sits 22nd in scoring defense with 26 points allowed per game, so the timing could be right for Peterson to put forth a better performance. Washington’s home loss to the Colts shouldn’t shock bettors, as the Redskins have had their fair share of troubles in Landover in September. The Redskins are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five home games in the month of September.
UNDER bettors who’ve been tailing the Redskins have been laughing all the way to the bank. After going below the closing total in each of their first two games to start the season, the UNDER is now a perfect 6-0 in Washington’s last six games dating back to last year, with an average combined score of 34 points.
Why I’m on the UNDER
Rodgers is clearly not fully healthy right now, and his mobility has been limited as a result. I don’t think it’s going to impact him getting the job done through the air, but the Packers offense is not as potent as it usually is right now. That coupled with the Redskins’ recent UNDER streak has me thinking this one should stay below the total.
