Happy Kickoff Sunday, Packers fans!
It's finally arrived ... albeit among Covid-19 et al. Not sure whether there will be a full season for the Pack or not. But, with game time fast approaching (and with such a gap between posts...sorry!), let's just do what we've always done before the start of a season: make a season prediction. Today's game prediction vs. the ViQueens will be in a separate post.
We've always predicted a season using a quarters system rather than individual games. So let's break down the season quarter-by-quarter and give you our take on how the wins-losses looks to us...without benefit of any preseason looks, of course.
2020 1st Quarter
There are two home games and two away games, starting with the Vikes away, the Lions at home, Saints away and Atlanta at home. We're calling this quarter at 2-2. Basically, this first month is the preseason. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it's loaded with good teams who will also be working out the bugs. It's 50-50 here.
2020 2nd Quarter
The 2nd quarter of the season begins with the bye week in week #5. Yeah, not ideal. But after the bye comes two away games, at Tampa (vs. Tom Brady) and Houston, and then the Vikes again at Lambeau Field. We're going 2-1 here.
2020 3rd Quarter
As with the 1st quarter of the season, the Pack alternates away and home games, beginning with a road trip against San Francisco (revenge!), then Jacksonville at home, Indianapolis on the road, and Da Bearz at Lambeau. We'll go 3-1 here.
2020 4th Quarter (Extended)
Because of the bye week in week #5, this final (extended quarter, we call it) has 5 games, three at home -- Philadelphia, Carolina and Tennessee — and two on the road against NFC North Division opponents Detroit and finishing the regular season against Chicago. We'll go 3-2 here.
Summary
If the final math is correct (add, subtract, divide by 100, carry the 1...) we predict the Packers will go 10-6. Whether that wins them the NFC North or is good enough for a wild card, we expect the Packers to be in the playoffs.
How the season, if played in full plays out given this bizarre set of circumstances in which all the teams, and we, find ourselves remains a huge question mark.
But no matter... GO PACK GO!!!
