The last time the Packers played the Panthers was 2020, when they jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead before cruising to a 24-16 win.

The Packers ran for 7.2 yards per rush (thanks to a 20 carry, 145 yard Aaron Jones performance) and Aaron Rodgers only needed to throw for 145 yards.

Teddy Bridgewater threw for 258 yards, which is more than the Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young has ever had in his career. 

One way or another, Joe Barry will have something to say about that today.

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL

The Panthers defense ranks 29th in points allowed and is dead last in takeaways.

At the same time, they rank 3rd in yards allowed.

Interesting, let's dig deeper.

Opponents have only attempted 397 passes on the Panthers (the fewest passes attempted against any team in the league), which is a big reason why they've given up the 3rd fewest passing yards in the league.

However, opponents have attempted 410 rushes against the Panthers, which is the 5th most in the league.

The lost to the Saints 28-6, despite giving up only 207 yards. They lost to the Colts 27-13, despite giving up only 198 yards.

How can these things happen?

Well, simply put, the Panthers are a bad team.

They make a lot of mistakes. They turn the ball over at inopportune times. They let opposing defenses score. They do all the things that let teams jump out to early leads. Then, their opponents get out to big leads, they just grind out the clock.

Teams don't need to put up huge numbers to win against the Panthers.

The Panthers defense isn't without talent, though.

Derrick Brown is a force in the interior offensive line and the Packers have struggled recently against Vita Vea and Dexter Lawrence. On the edge, Brian Burns is quick-twitch speed rusher that can bend the corner against any tackle. Jaycee Horn is a top-end cornerback who can compete with the best receivers in the game.

The Panthers have talent at each level of the defense... just not a lot of it.

Green Bay can run left and avoid Brown and Burns, who line up next to each other on the offense's right (which conveniently allows Love to read pressure sooner).

They can throw away from Jaycee Horn because the Packers don't have a #1 receiver that they need to force the ball to. They can spread it around and find the open man, like they have been doing successfully for the past month.

Jordan Love should be able to produce points against this bunch, but the offense can't rest with a lead.

This would be a great week to have AJ Dillon so the Packers could grind out yards with a lead, but that isn't likely. Aaron Jones isn't a run-out-the-clock kind of back either. Throw in the fact that Joe Barry didn't get fired this week, and it becomes clear that no lead is safe.

If the Packers can get a lead (and the should be able to), they cannot get complacent. They need to keep throwing the ball and they need to keep scoring to make absolutely sure this one doesn't get away.

WHEN THE PACKERS ARE ON DEFENSE

I think the Packers players are frustrated and fired up. That can either lead to a physical, dominating performance or a complete implosion.

I'm an optimist by nature, so I'm going with the former.

Not only do the Panthers rank 29th in points and 30th in yards on offense, they're dead last in starting field position.

So, they start with bad field position and don't get very far.

They haven't scored a touchdown since December 3rd.

And that's not unexpected with the talent level they have.

Chubba Hubbard, their top run threat, only broke 90 yards once this year and isn't much of a receiving option. He's a solid run threat, but not a game breaker. Old vet Adam Thielen is their best receiver and the only one who has really produced.

Rookie quarterback Bryce Young is not ready to elevate a team yet and it shows. The rookie, with a weak supporting cast, hasn't even thrown for 250 yards in a game yet and has just 9 touchdown passes to go with 9 interceptions. He's been held under 200 passing yards 9 times this year.

Enter Joe Barry.

The kingmaker has led a defense that gave career days to bottom third QBs in back to back weeks. Let's not count out Bryce Young and the Panthers just yet.

It seems like the players are frustrated and I hope that leads to positive change this week.

If they play solid up front up keep Bryce Young from running (the Packers have really let QBs break out on the ground the last couple of weeks), they should be able to simply double Adam Thielen and suffocate this underwhelming offense.

Should.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is the third week in a row where I feel like the Packers are clearly superior to their opponent and should win on talent alone.

The first two weeks didn't go so great.

Based on players social media comments and coaches press conferences, we have reached a bit of a tipping point. I think the Packers players and coaches, especially on defense, want to make a statement today. I have faith in them (against the worst team in the league, anyways).

If nothing else, the Packers should be able to lean on the offense to win this one.

It's been a roller coaster year, but the Packers have realistic playoff hopes and are facing the worst team in the NFL.

There's not much analysis needed - just quit playing down to the level of a bad teams and beat the league's doormat so we can all have a Merry Christmas.

Packers 22, Panthers 13