By all accounts, it appeared that the Green Bay Packers’ third-year quarterback Brett Hundley was making strides. This despite the fact that the team wasn’t necessarily running off victory after victory. You will recall that in his first two appearances in relief of starter Aaron Rodgers, the former UCLA product had issues. Against the Vikings in Minnesota, he connected on just 18-of-33 passes for 157 yards and one score, but he was also picked off three times and sacked on four occasions. A week later at home against the New Orleans Saints, Hundley hit on less than 50 percent of his throws (12-of-25) for 87 yards and one interception.
Then came the split with the Detroit Lions (loss) and Chicago Bears (win) in which the three-year pro combined to hit on 44-of-63 passes for 457 yards and one touchdown, without a pick. Then came last Sunday’s visit by the Baltimore Ravens.
A step backward
In an ugly 23-0 home loss to John Harbaugh’s team, Hundley threw for 239 yards by connecting on 21 of his 36 attempts, but he was sacked six times and served up three interceptions. He ran only three times for 19 yards but also lost a fumble. All told, he committed four of the team’s five turnovers in the first shutout loss by the team since 2006. Have the rest of the Green Bay Packers and the staff lost confidence in their young quarterback?
That certainly doesn’t appear to be the case.
“I don’t see any of that,” said head coach Mike McCarthy earlier this week (courtesy of Mike Spofford of Packers.com). “Everyone knows what each man puts into this, what these guys do professionally. He’s here working out. Everyone respects him.
I don’t see any issues with that.”
What the Steelers’ defense presents
On Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers take on the current AFC North leader for the first time since 2013. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 8-2 and riding a five-game winning streak. We all know about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell, and wideout Antonio Brown, as well as receivers Juju Smith-Schuster and Martavis Bryant.
Mike Tomlin’s team features one of the most balanced attacks in the league. However, Hundley’s concern is a defensive unit that ranks fourth in the NFL in fewest total yards allowed per game and is ranked in the league’s Top 10 against both the run and the pass. Add in a pass rush that has produced 34 sacks and 16 takeaways in 10 games and the Packers have a lot of work ahead of them.
