2021 NFL Week 3: Packers vs. 49ers Preview and Prediction

The Green Bay Packers did what they needed to do last Monday evening: beat the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Final score was 35-17. Our prediction was 34-24...so...close...somewhat.

But it's not about last week's game or prediction, it's all about tonight's battle on the West Coast, as the Pack meets the 49ers. Reminder, too, this is a "short" week for the Packers, plus the travel. For whatever reasons, the Packers haven't had what you'd call a great deal of success on these trips west. Reasons vary. But what about tonight's game?

The Preview

It's about player availability here as much as anything tonight. The Packers will be without LT Elgton Jenkins tonight on offense (not helpful) and Za'Darius Smith again on defense. Those are two key pieces for the Pack. We also just learned that DB Kevin King is out of tonight's game due to illness. This should give rookie Eric Stokes a chance to continue to show that he is the future at that spot; he had a great game against Detroit and, to our point of view, is a clear upgrade over King. So a blessing in disguise here, perhaps.

Conversely, the Niners will be down to about their sixth-string running back. They are hurting, too. Don't need to say any more about that. And expect San Fran to continue shuffling their veteran and rookie quarterbacks, which may present ongoing challenges for the Pack's defenders.

Having said that, we saw in last Monday's game that the Packers offense can, as expected, put up points...even with QB Aaron Rodgers overthrowing a couple long balls to Marquez Valdes-Scantling that would likely have been easy scores. But the Pack's defense continues to be a huge concern, particularly its lack of pass rush. New defensive coordinator Joe Barry's scheme hasn't come together. In apparently an emphasis to stop the run first, it has allowed the opposing quarterback to sit back in the pocket nearly untouched through the first two games. That has to end...soon.

Could special teams make a difference? Rookie running back / returner Kylin HIll has performed well in his returner role. Could he pop one today? Possible. But could the Packers special teams unit also give up a return? Yes. So we can't count on special teams to decide the game.

It will come down to Rodgers doing Rodgers-like things. More than once or twice. Perhaps even with the ball in his hands at the end of the game to determine the outcome. That would be a positive in our view.

The Prediction

The Niners are favored at the time of this writing by 3-1/2 points...a bit more than home field advantage. And given the Pack's historic performances in these contests, a bit surprised the spread isn't more than that.

In our season prediction, we had the Pack going 3-1 in the first four games. While we didn't make game-by-game picks at that time, instead looking at the overall opponents and schedule, this in actuality was the game we most expected the Packers to lose. While we thought the opener against the Saints would be a tough game, we never saw the team not getting off the plane to play.

While we hope we are wrong, we still see the Packers dropping this one, based off recent history as much as anything, plus the problems on defense.

We're calling this game 49ers 31 - Packers 27.

Still ... Go Pack Go!!!

2020 NFL Week 10: Packers vs. Jaguars Preview and Prediction

The Green Bay Packers have one of their rare meetings — only the seventh ever — with the Jacksonville Jaguars today at Lambeau Field. The Packers are 6-2 and the Jags are 1-7. But as we know, on any given day ... 

More on that in a moment. But first, a word or two about last week's trip to the West Coast to take on the Pack's nemesis from last season, the 49ers. While losing twice to the Niners last season, including in the NFC Championship game, this time around the Pack had the benefit of playing an injury-depleted Niners team. The result was a Packers win, 34-17. Perhaps not a fair test. But a win's a win, thank you very much.

Now, back to today's game.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers should have a big

day against an inexperienced Jacksonville secondary.

(Photo via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Packers will need to bring their own energy to Lambeau today with no fans in the stands, something they failed to do in their last home game against the ViQueens, resulting in a very flat performance and the team's second loss of the season. Hopefully, lesson learned.

This Jaguars teams is young and inexperienced, particularly at quarterback where 6' 6" and sixth round pick Jake Luton is behind center for only the second time this season. He has a big arm and also a very good, fast receiver in DJ Chark, whom he teamed up with last week on a 73-yard TD play. So the Packers secondary is going to have to be sharp, especially since Jaire Alexander and Kevin King will be out again for today's game. The Jags also have free agent rookie RB James Robinson who has had two productive running games coming into today's game. As Packer fans are all too familiar with, the Pack's run defense often leaves much to be desired, especially in a base three-across defense which coordinator Mike Pettine seems to prefer. One plus is that there will be a new center-QB combination today for the Jags, which might also disrupt things on their end a bit, as well as give Kenny Clark an advantage up the middle.

For the Packers offense, QB Aaron Rodgers — despite the strong winds and perhaps sloppy conditions — should be able to do what's needed against an inexperienced Jaguars secondary. The Packers running game should also be counted on today, particularly with the weather conditions. One would think the play-calling by head coach Matt LaFleur would tend towards a pass-run balance. But who knows? He'll take whatever the Jags will give him.

The Prediction

The Packers are 13-1/2 point favorites at the time of this writing. Seems about right, don't you think?

But we'll kick it up a notch. We're calling it Packers 38 - Jaguars 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

NFL Week 2 Review of Packers Win vs Vikings, NFL Week 3 Preview vs Broncos — Another twofer!

Hello, again, Packer fans! Once again, despite best intentions, we're doing a combo post: first, reviewing (quickly) last weekend's Green Bay Packers win at Lambeau Field vs. the Minnesota Vikings and then taking a peak at today's game at Lambeau vs. the Denver Broncos.

The Win vs. the ViQueens

Packers RB Aaron Jones had a big day against the Vikings.
(Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis)

Let's say that the Packers' offense did just enough — in one quarter — and, coupled with the second outstanding performance in a row of the young season by the defense. to beat a good Minnesota team 21-16. With Vikes' QB Kirk Cousins doing his best impression of Chicago's Mitch Trubisky, the Packers' defense took advantage of timely turnovers...especially an ill-advised pass to the endzone late in the game that was picked off by DB Kevin King to basically seal the win for the Packers.

The Packers' offense, as noted above, finally showed signs of what it might be able to do throughout the season if it's firing on all cylinders. For a quarter, the squad looked darn near unstoppable. RB Aaron Jones had a great day rushing the ball. When QB Aaron Rodgers was able to get the ball out quickly to his receivers, good things happened.

Let's now see what, if anything, this game's performance might mean for today.

The Broncos Come to Town

In one of those rare occasions when the folks from the Mile High City venture to Green Bay, we get to see a Joe Flacco-led team in the friendly confines of Lambeau today. Flacco isn't the QB he used to be. And he is also prone to making ill-advised passes. So if the Packers' defense continues to perform as in the two opening games, there should be at least one or two opportunities to get turnovers.

Still, Denver should have beaten Da Bearz last weekend. If it weren't for a horrible roughing the passer call in the closing minute of the game to extend Chicago's drive, the Broncos would have won that game.

Denver has potent defenders in the form of linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, the latter the victim of that horrible penalty call. But Denver's defense has been unable to register a sack through the first two games. Is it likely that streak will extend to three? Doubtful. Bryan Bulaga and David Bhaktiari will have their hands full, particularly if Rodgers holds onto the ball too long.

The Prediction

The oddsmakers have the Pack as 7-point favorites. That seems about right, although we think the Packers' offense will be able to get in gear more so than in the first two games. The defense will take care of itself.

We're calling this game 24-13 Packers over the Broncos.

Go Pack Go!!!

2018 NFL Week 13: Packers vs. Cardinals Preview & Prediction

Without beating a dead horse yet once again, the Green Bay Packers were unable to win again on the road last week, this time against the ViQueens, making the team's road record this season 0-6. Not good. At all. Especially when you consider that it's actually worse than that: the road loss streak extends back into last season. Oy.

There, that's' done. And with that loss at Minnesota, so, too, might be the Packers season. At 4-6-1 with five games left...the Pack is going to need a miracle of splitting-the-Red Sea proporations in order to somehow slide into the playoffs. (And, by the way, Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish sisters and brothers around the planet.)

Packers WR Jake Kumerow has finally been activated off IR. How much action he'll see, and what impact he'll have, remains to be seen today and for the remainder of the season.
(Photo: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis)

The Packers will once again be limited both offensively and defensively by injuries to key personnel. DL Mike Daniels and WR Trevor Davis have both been placed on the injured reserve list and are done for the season. Safeties Kentrell Brice and Raven Greene, along with RB Tra Carson, are all out today with injuries. At last notice (subject to change), OT David Bakhtiari, CB Kevin King, WR Randall Cobb, OG Lane Taylor and CB Bashaud Breeland were all listed as questionable.

If Bakhtiari is unable to go, the Packers might wind up having to give help to back up Jason Spriggs who was not able to hold up well last weekend in relief of Bakhtiari. It also became apparent how good Lane Taylor is week in and week out once he also had to leave the game last week.

The Packers opponent today, the Arizona Cardinals, have the 32nd-ranked rush defense in the league going into this game. That, combined with cold and snowing weather predicted for today's game at Lambeau Field, should be a recipe for a steady diet of RB Aaron Jones. But you still need an offensive line that can create those running opportunities...as well as keep QB Aaron Rodgers upright.

During preseason, WR Jake Kumerow was the talk of camp. He and Rodgers had seemingly developed a good rapport. Kumerow led in receiving yards until his celebratory shoulder dive into the endzone on a long-yardage reception and TD wound up knocking him out of the lineup until today. Given the injuries in the wide receiver group, Kumerow should get some action today. It was also hinted that he might get some return opportunities particularly now that Trevor Davis has been placed on IR. Let's just see if he and Rodgers have been able to rekindle that preseason magic; the Pack could sure use it.

The Prediction

Given that the warm-weather, 2-9 Cardinals will be coming into Lambeau led by a rookie QB and with issues offensively and defensively overall, it's no wonder that the Packers are 14-point favorites, albeit as "meh" as they have performed to this point in the season. The Pack hasn't lost at home yet this season. So at least there's that. This should be a game where, if the team isn't totally phoning it in at this point behind what seems more and more to be the lame duck tenure of head coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers should win this handily. On the other hand, the Pack has continued to find ways to self destruct and have yet to really play a complete game all season. So if the Packers don't come to play...anything can happen. 

We're hoping the Cards are exactly what the doctor ordered to at least get the Pack to 5-5-1 after today's game.

We're calling it Packers 34 - Cardinals 20.

Go Pack Go!!!

2018 NFL Week 11: Packers vs. Seahawks Preview & Prediction

The Green Bay Packers were home this past Sunday and, following their winning ways there, beat Miami 31-12. Our prediction had it 31-20, spot on on the offensive tally for the Pack but the defense really played extremely well, holding the Dolphins to field goals only, four of them, to be precise. Impressive performance!

Tonight, on the short turnaround of a Thursday evening performance made even shorter by having to play on the West Coast after a late Sunday afternoon game, the Packers take on the Seattle Seahawks on the road.

The road. Where the Packers haven't one a game yet this season. Seattle. Where the Packers haven't won in nearly a decade. Head coach Mike McCarthy is just 1-3 there. The losses, we don't need to remind Packers fans, have been extremely gut-wrenching. The horror...the horror... Weird things happen in Seattle. They just do. And usually not in the Packers favor.

But Seattle's famed Legion of Boom defense is no more. QB Russell Wilson is still dangerous outside of the pocket but not quite like he used to be. While there is a new offensive coordinator, the Seahawks have a very good running game and if the Packers aren't ready for that Seattle could rack up some big numbers there.

Packers RB Aaron Jones gets off to a fast start last Sunday against
the Dolphins on a 67-yard run. He'll need similar heroics tonight in Seattle
to help keep the Packers in the game.
(Photo: Dan Powers, Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis)

Conversely, the Packers have a good running game themselves emerging behind second-year RB Aaron Jones. McCarthy finally gave him the ball more than a handful of times against Miami and it resulted in an outstanding performance by Jones. Because the 'hawks secondary isn't quite what it used to be, McCarthy's penchant for the passing game may take him out of a more balanced approach. But the Pack needs to run the ball, run it well, and run it often to help take the crowd and the opponent down a notch or two. If you let Seattle take control or stick around, the crowd noise will also turn into an opponent, as has usually been the case in Seattle. And we know how that has typically worked out. Not well.

Prediction

The Packers are 2-1/2-point underdogs at the time of this writing, with the home field advantage being the difference between the 4-5 Seahawks and the 4-4-1 Packers. The Packers will be missing some key personnel this evening, with WR Randall Cobb out yet again, OLB Nick Perry out, S Kentrell Brice and CB Kevin King also out and apparently not even making the trip to Seattle. OG Lucas Patrick is doubtful with a concussion, with LB Blake Martinez and CB Bashaud Breeland listed as questionable. The Pack could definitely benefit from the play of the latter two. Seattle will likely be missing one if its better linebackers, K.J. Wright (listed as doubtful), as well as some secondary defenders who are listed as questionable.

But it seems as if the Packers' passing game is getting healthier along with QB Aaron Rodgers' left knee. He's got some good young receivers who are starting to make a mark and with whom he's developing a connection. With Jones in the backfield, Rodgers doesn't have to do it alone. If the Packers have a balanced game plan tonight, despite the travel and short turnaround time since Sunday, the Pack can come away with a win. They need it. While playoff hopes wouldn't be gone with a loss tonight, the window of opportunity definitely narrows. The Packers need to get this game in the win column.

We're calling it Packers 27 - Seahawks 24.

Go Pack Go!!!