If you want to be a good team in the NFL, a big part of that is beating teams that you are supposed to beat. At 1-1, the Green Bay Packers are still finding out who they are, but if they are going to be a good team, they need to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Packers are dealing with a number of injuries to key players, there is no doubt about that. But Aaron Rodgers isn’t hurt. Neither is Clay Matthews. Davante Adams, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Morgan Burnett, Martellus Bennett, Ty Montgomery and other key players are all healthy and available. 

Certainly, the task becomes more challenging without both of your starting tackles, your best defensive player and maybe the second most important player on offense (Jordy Nelson). 

Nelson sounds like he might be able to go, but if not, the Packers still need to find a way to win this football game. If they can’t, even as injury riddled as they are, it won’t be a promising sign.

However, seeing as the game is at Lambeau Field and the Bengals aren’t playing particularly well right now, it seems like a good bet that Green Bay will win the game.

Here are a few reasons why that could happen:

A lot of people are questioning the Packers defense after it got toasted by the Falcons in Atlanta last week. But here is some good news: The Bengals aren’t the Falcons. In fact, they have yet to score a touchdown in two games this season.

Quarterback Andy Dalton has been sacked eight times, has zero touchdowns and four interceptions, as well as a passer rating of 47.8. In other words, he’s not Matt Ryan. He does have A.J. Green, who could present the Packers with some issues, but if they can get pressure on Dalton, they should be just fine. 

Good run defense is always important for the Packers and even though the Falcons were effective running last week, the Bengals, who are 23rd in the league in rushing yards, are a much better matchup.

Even without Mike Daniels, the Packers should have a good shot at making the Bengals offense one dimensional. If Green Bay can do that, it should be able to get to Dalton, which hopefully, which lead to some turnovers. 

Most teams play better defense at home for a number of reasons, but last season, the Packers pass defense was way better at home than on the road. Opponents threw 18 touchdowns and just seven interceptions at home, while throwing just 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in Green Bay. The passer rating was also 24 points lower and the completion percentage took a dip of more than seven points. Even average yards per pass was down from the 8's to the 6's. 

Playing at home, against a below-average offense, should allow the Packers defense to have a big day and that’s a big reason why Green Bay will win the game. Another of course, is Aaron Rodgers.

Just like every week, Rodgers gives the Packers an inherent advantage. But with two best offensive lineman and some other key players missing, Rodgers will need to take his game to another level. He will need to make quick decisions, be smart with the football and make a few of those plays that simply put, no one else can make. 

When Rodgers is at his best, the rest doesn't really matter, so in short, Green Bay needs his best effort. 

Why the Packers might lose:

As the old saying goes, the other guys get paid too. So the Bengals are more than capable of upsetting Green Bay. This team has been a consistent playoff contender and at 0-2, its desperate for a win.

Teams with their backs against a wall are always dangerous, especially with A.J. Green and a defense that ranks seventh in points and fifth in yards allowed, despite an 0-2 record.

One thing about the Bengals is that they know how to win ugly. If they can force the Packers to play an ugly game, they might just be able to grind out a win. 

That’s a big ask on the road, at Lambeau Field, but if a Bengals win is in the cards, the defense, the running game and a big play or two from Green will be the ingredients.