Morning Buzz: All the pressure is on the Packers

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Pete Dougherty’s latest column which looks at the pressure around the Packers not to be the first team this season to lose to the Cleveland Browns.

From Pete:

The Browns are the undisputed worst team in the NFL. They’ve won only one of their last 31 games.

The Packers, playing on the road with a backup starting at quarterback, are a 3 ½-point favorite. That’s nothing like the 13-point favorite they were in '97, but it’s the first time they’re been favored in three road games with Brett Hundley at quarterback.

Yes, if the Packers don't beat the Browns, they'll be ridiculed nationally and vilified locally. It would confirm the worst take on their team: that they’re nothing without Rodgers.

It doesn’t matter that they’ve already won two games with Hundley at quarterback. A loss Sunday would be unforgivable.

From a psychological standpoint, coach Mike McCarthy is fortunate this is essentially a must-win game for his 6-6 team – a loss all-but-mathematically would knock them from the playoff race. That urgency could move Cleveland’s winless record from front-and-center in his players’ minds.

In what is a serious blow to the Packers' defense, the team placed rookie cornerback Kevin King on injured reserve Wednesday:

Aaron Rodgers put on a bit of a show throwing the ball at practice Wednesday:

Jamaal Williams knows he’s “the thunder”

Michael Clark was surprised he got the call up to the 53 -man roster:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell signed a 5-year contract extension:

Elsewhere, the Playbook crew previews Sunday’s game against the Browns:

I joined the Locked On Browns podcast to give them the lowdown on the Packers:

The Power Sweep looks at the curious use of Jeff Janis and Trevor Davis:

Rob Demovsky looks at the play of Randall Cobb:

Zachary Jacobson looks at the talented Packers backfield:

Dean Lowry joined some rare company this past Sunday:

Ike Taylor looks at the overtime drive against Tampa Bay:

The Packers Wire looks at the lack of impact from the defensive rookie class:

Brian Baldinger breaks down the final play against the Bucs:

David Bakhtiari is stumping for Pro Bowl votes:

Blake Martinez did some nice work against Tampa Bay’s screen game:

Clay Matthews will have family in the house on Sunday: