Oakland Raiders: Keys to Victory Over Green Bay Packers

Dec 13, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) cannot catch a pass in the end zone while covered by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones (31) in the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Play Lockdown Defense On Randall Cobb

After being spurned by Cobb in the offseason, the Raiders should have more than enough motivation to want to shut him down. But the more practical reason is that Cobb is far and away, Green Bay’s biggest receiving threat and Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite target.

Cobb has 65 receptions for 737 yards and half a dozen scores on the season. He’s the receiver that Rodgers relies on to get the offense moving. The Raiders would do well to have David Amerson shadowing Cobb all day and force Rodgers to rely on other pass catching options.

Without Jordy Nelson, the Packers offense goes through periods where they slog and scrap to get things moving. Davante Adams has had an up and down season and has yet to really seem in synch with Rodgers and become a big, integral part of the offense. For the season, Adams has just 38 receptions for 355 yards and a score. It’s been up to Cobb to carry the load for Green Bay’s offense and he’s been fairly effective at it. Rodgers – and the Packers offense as a whole – have certainly come to rely on Cobb a great deal.

The Raiders have been playing better defense as of late, and their secondary seems to be finding a bit of a groove, giving up just 203 yards through the air per game over their last five contests. They’re going to need to match that effort against an elite passer like Aaron Rodgers.

But if they can do that, if the secondary can sustain the momentum they’ve been building and make Cobb a non-factor in the game, you have to like their chances a bit better.

Next: Rediscovering Their Form