Green Bay Packers: 5 Players that must shine vs. Eagles in Week 4

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter during the game at Lambeau Field on September 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

3. Blake Martinez, LB

With Oren Burks out to start the 2019 regular season, Green Bay Packers linebacker Blake Martinez has had a lot of the onus of controlling the middle of the field put on his back. To his credit, he’s been fantastic when asked to step up. The veteran linebacker has 32 total tackles (23 solo efforts) to lead the way for the Packers defense by a wide margin through the first three weeks.

Having said that, if there’s been one area where the Green Bay defense has been a bit lackluster this season, it’s been in stopping the run. Part of that certainly has to do with playing Dalvin Cook and Phillip Lindsay in the past two weeks but, even then, the Packers should be better in that regard.

Green Bay has conceded 131 rushing yards per game through the first three games of the season. The good news for them is that the Eagles run game has been sporadic at best as the combination of Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders and Darren Sproles has combined for under 100 rushing yards per game to this point.

In what should be a favorable matchup, the Packers run defense needs to rise to the occasion. That means that Martinez will be in full focus. Yes, the defensive line needs to do their part for Green Bay as well but the linebacker needs to keep gains to a minimum in the middle of the field and continue racking up big tackles by being a flying-around force in this defense.

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