The Green Bay Packers (6-8) rattled off wins over the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams but will now go on the road to play the Miami Dolphins in South Florida on Sunday. The showdown figures to be the toughest test yet on the Packers’ gauntlet of must-win games to end the 2022 season.
Can Matt LaFleur’s team extend the win streak to three games and provide real momentum entering the final two weeks? Or will the playoff chase all but end on Christmas Day?
Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 16 showdown against the Dolphins will go down:
Zach Kruse (7-7): Dolphins 37, Packers 28
The Packers are certainly capable of going to Miami and winning, but I think a bunch of factors will converge to make it really tough to do so on Christmas Day. The Dolphins can rush the passer, create explosive plays in the passing game and contain the run game, and Miami will be every bit as desperate for a win after dropping three-straight games on the road. Mike McDaniel cooking up run plays for Packer killer Raheem Mostert is also a terrifying thought. The Packers should score points, but there’s little confidence here in Joe Barry’s defense keeping the Dolphins from going up and down the field. Expect a good fight, but the Packers end up getting coal on Christmas Day.
Brandon Carwile (7-7): Packers 27, Dolphins 21
As much as I’d like an extra Christmas present in the form of a Packers win, I don’t like this matchup against the Dolphins. Rasul Douglas is going to have a really tough time matching the speed of both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Maybe Joe Barry will run a lot of Cover 2 to prevent explosive plays but then that opens the door for Raheem Mostert, who Green Bay fans need no introduction to. The defense will need to force a huge turnover or two, but the will be difficult against a team that does a good job of taking care of the ball (only 15 giveaways this season). Offensively, the Packers have had the most success with a balanced attack, but I foresee an air it out approach against this 27th-ranked Miami pass defense. That will be detrimental to Green Bay’s efficiency on offense and lead to their demise.
Paul Bretl (7-7): Dolphins 31, Packers 27
Green Bay will be going up against a Miami defense that has been susceptible against the pass this season, so with a fully healthy wide receiver room, I do think that the Packers have the opportunity to put points up on Sunday – as long as the run game still factors in as well. However, my concern is on the defensive side of the ball. This is a high-powered Dolphins’ offense that is second in big pass plays this season, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both among the best in downfield receiving yards and YAC. If the Packers are going to slow Miami, it begins with pressuring Tua Tagovailoa and limiting the number of big plays – I just don’t think they’ll be able to do either regularly.
Brennen Rupp (7-7): Dolphins 23, Packers 17
Everything about this game screams high-scoring affair. Aaron Rodgers with his full compliment of wide receivers going up against a porous Miami Dolphin secondary. The Dolphins and all that speed going up against whatever it is you want to call Green Bay’s defense. I actually think Green Bay will play the ball control game and ride Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Sustaining long drives to keep Tua Tagovailoa and Miami’s offense off the field. If the Packers are going to keep their season alive, they’ll need their secondary to play their best game of the season. Something I don’t see happening. Give me the Dolphins by six to spoil Green Bay’s playoff hopes on Christmas Day.
| Writer | Prediction | Score | Record |
| Zach Kruse | Loss | 37-28 | 7-7 |
| Brandon Carwile | Loss | 27-21 | 7-7 |
| Paul Bretl | Loss | 31-27 | 7-7 |
| Brennen Rupp | Loss | 23-17 | 7-7 |
