Green Bay Packers have the best odds.

When the Green Bay Packers go south to face the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, they want to snap their two-game losing run. The Packers come into the game with a 6-8 record, while the Panthers have a 2-12 record. The Packers are coming off a humiliating 34-20 loss to the Buccaneers, while the Panthers are coming off a rain-soaked 9-7 victory against the Atlanta Falcons. Here are six important matchups that will determine who wins the Packers-Panthers game on Sunday.

In the regular season, the Packers lead the all-time series between these two clubs 10-6-0. In 1997, these two teams played for the first time during the regular season. The Packers won the most recent meeting 24-16 in Green Bay in 2020. The Packers won the sole postseason meeting, a 30-13 victory in the 1996 NFC Championship Game.

Here are six important criteria that will influence who wins Sunday’s game in Carolina:

Packers Key Matchups: First and foremost, get the defense back on track.
Non-elite quarterbacks have destroyed the Packers defense in the last two games. Joe Barry’s defensive plan has been inadequate, and he appears to have lost the trust of his players.

Playing soft coverage and giving receivers a seven-yard cushion on 3rd-and-4 makes no logic, but Barry continues to do so. His ideas, as well as his reluctance to modify when things aren’t going well, are just not working.

The Packers’ defense must perform well and reclaim some of their lost confidence. They can’t let Bryce Young be the next non-elite quarterback they turn into a Hall of Famer.

Key Matchups: Don’t Forget to Run the Football!
The Green Bay offense ran the ball on their first drive against the Buccaneers, and it worked. Aaron Jones assisted them in marching down the field, but the drive came to a halt at the Buccaneers’ four-yard line.

Jones ran the ball eight times for 44 yards on the first drive, but the Packers only used running backs seven times the remainder of the game.

The Panthers’ pass defense is weaker than their run defense. Carolina allows 117.9 yards per game, ranking them 20th in the league, while their pass defense ranks third.

In this game, the Packers must not abandon their running game. If Jones is on a play count and A.J. Dillon is still out or limited by his broken thumb, the Packers can go with Patrick Taylor or Emanuel Wilson if he is ready to return from the IR.

Changing things up and continuing to run the football exploits the Carolina defense’s flaws and sets up the play-action throw. It also gets Jones involved in the game, which really benefits the offense.

Packers Key Matchups: Get Pressure on Bryce Young at No. 3
Young is still struggling to adjust to the pro game. He’s had a couple solid games but, like most rookies, he’s inconsistent.

The Packers must apply pressure to Young and ensure that the first overall choice in this year’s draft does not outrun them with his legs.

Last week, the Packers sacked Mayfield five times, but when they didn’t, he picked apart the secondary. When the defense failed to stay in their rush lanes the prior week, Tommy DeVito eluded pressure and gained 71 yards rushing.

The Packers should employ Quay Walker to spy on Young and keep him from gaining valuable yardage.

The Panthers’ quarterbacks have been sacked 54 times by opposing teams. Guards have been ravaged by injuries and uneven play. This should allow Kenny Clark and Karl Brooks to provide pressure from the inside.

Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, and Kingsley Enagbare should all make it back from the brink of elimination.

Young is prone to making mistakes while under pressure, and the Packers need to get to the quarterback on Sunday to stop an inept Carolina attack.

Number four, don’t let the Panthers run the ball effectively.

The Packers’ run defense is still an issue. They come into this game rated 30th in the league, allowing 138.8 yards per game on the ground. Opponents average 4.6 yards per carry, ranking them 28th.

Chuba Hubbard is Carolina’s top runner. This season, he has gained over 700 yards and is averaging 3.9 yards per rush.

The Packers cannot afford to put Hubbard and the Panthers in second or third and short situations. Making Young beat you with his arm and shutting down the Packers’ running game are critical. Clark, T.J. Slaton, Walker, and De’Vondre Campbell should be up to the task.

Key Packers Matchups: Number Five, stop Adam Thielen

Former Vikings wideout Adam Thielen is the Panthers’ leading receiver. Throughout his career, he has performed admirably against the Packers, including two 12-catch games.

The Packers are hoping to see Jaire Alexander return to the lineup for this game. Eric Stokes returned last week but was repeatedly beaten by the Buccaneers receiving corps.

Safety Darnell Savage did not practice on Wednesday and is unlikely to participate on Sunday.

Thielen serves as Young’s safety net. He has 89 catches this season, which is more than double the next most prolific Panthers receiver. The Packers must keep Thielen in check and prevent him from making too many catches.

Matchups to Watch: Sixth, Score in the Red Zone
The Packers offense must improve its red zone efficiency. They scored two scores in five trips inside the opponent’s 20 last week.

The Packers are 22nd in the league, scoring touchdowns 50% of the time they enter the red zone.

Carolina’s defense is 31st in red zone defense, allowing touchdowns to other teams 71.1 percent of the time.

Jordan Love should have more choices now that Jones is back in the lineup when he gets close to scoring.

Prediction:

Is the defense ignoring Barry? Can they recover from two poor showings that made mediocre quarterbacks appear elite? The defense should improve, but it’s difficult to envision them dominating.

The Packers should win this game. They must win to keep their dwindling playoff aspirations alive.

They will complete the task, but it may not be nice.

Panthers 24, Packers 20