Packers need Alexander to be on top of his game today

By GERY WOELFEL

Jaire Alexander is the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL.

If the Packers are going to upset the heavily-favored Bills today, Alexander will simply have to perform like the best DB in the league.

Alexander, in all likelihood, will be given the unenviable assignment of tracking Bill star receiver Stefon Diggs. While Diggs doesn’t get the national notoriety like some of the other elite receivers in the league — i.e. Cooper Kupp or Davante Adams — he is unquestionably one of the premier players at his position.

Heading into today’ game, Diggs ranks second in the NFL in receiving yards with 656 (Miami’s Tyreke Hill is first with 773) second in touchdown receptions with 6 (Kansas City’s Travis Kelce is first with 7) and fourth in receptions with 49.

In six games this season, Diggs had had five with seven or more receptions, including 11 against Tennessee and 10 against Kansas City.

Diggs, now in his eighth pro season, is clearly one of the biggest reasons the Bills are 5-1 and 11-point favorites over the Packers.

In the two games Diggs struggled this season, so did the Bills.. He had only four catches and no touchdowns against Baltimore and the Bills barely won 23-20. When he had seven receptions and no touchdowns against Miami, the Bills lost 21-19.  

That’s why it’s absolutely imperative for Alexander – and the rest of the Packers secondary — to prevent Diggs from taking over the game — like he did against Kansas City two weeks ago when he had 10 catches for148 yards and a touchdown and like he did against Tennessee earlier this season when he had 12 catches for 148 and three touchdowns.

If Alexander, who has elite cover skills, does his job and can, at the very least, neutralize Diggs, the Packers could make things quite interesting tonight and perhaps even spring an upset.

Prediction: Bills 24, Packers 20.