The Green Bay Packers are in must-win mode. That’s not a position we’re used to seeing them in during the Aaron Rodgers era, but their season is on the line when they travel to FedEx Field to take on Washington on Sunday Night Football.
Packers vs. Washington live stream: How to watch ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup online
The Packers are desperate to turn their season around as they face Washington on the road.
NBC viewers will be hearing a different voice in the announcer booth this week, as Mike Tirico relieves Al Michaels after a bizarre back-and-forth over whether he can call any NFL games this season. He’ll be paired with Cris Collinsworth and fans can stream the game online at NBC Sports’ website.
The Packers fell to 4-5 after yet another listless performance, getting routed by an average Tennessee Titans team. They’re not out of contention in a weak NFC North, but the team hasn’t been playing well lately and head coach Mike McCarthy is firmly on the hot seat. Despite having Rodgers in his prime, the Packers have consistently underachieved in recent years and missing the playoffs could be the final nail in McCarthy’s coffin.
Green Bay’s latest embarrassment happened in Nashville last week, where the Titans jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and cruised to a 47-25 win. The defense had no answers for Marcus Mariota, who threw four touchdown passes. DeMarco Murray also had a field day against the Packers, racking up 123 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Rodgers did what he could, but he threw two interceptions and McCarthy waved the white flag in the fourth quarter, bringing on Brett Hundley for garbage time duty.
Washington found itself in early trouble with an 0-2 start to the season, but the team has since rebounded and enters Week 11 with the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs, holding a 5-3-1 record. It hasn’t always been pretty, but Jay Gruden keeps squeezing results out of his squad.
The team bolstered its playoff position with a 26-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings, who are the only team in the NFC North with a faster collapse than Green Bay. Despite missing DeSean Jackson, Kirk Cousins kept the offense on schedule with 262 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions on 22-of-33 passing. Gruden also switched up the running game, naming rookie Rob Kelley the starter while making Matt Jones inactive. It seems to have paid off -- Kelley had a productive game with 97 rushing yards on 22 carries.
The NFC East is so competitive this year that Washington is in third place despite the winning record. They have little hope of catching the Dallas Cowboys in the division standings, but a wild card spot is there for the taking if they keep playing sharp, mistake-free football. Washington was a bit of a paper tiger last year, winning the division despite beating zero teams that finished with a winning record. They crushed that narrative this season, holding wins over the New York Giants (5-3), Baltimore Ravens (5-4), Philadelphia Eagles (5-4), and Vikings (5-4).
The next step for Gruden’s team is to hold serve at home over a Packers team that’s in disarray right now, but still has the talent to pull off wins if they can only get out of their own way.
How to watch
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Place: FedEx Field, Landover, Md.
TV: NBC
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya
Online: Sunday Ticket, NBC Sports Live
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