By: Marques Eversoll
Two weeks away from the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, it’s clearly time to take a closer look at the Green Bay Packers’ schedule and make win/loss predictions for the upcoming season. Hopefully, you sensed the sarcasm.
These predictions are subject to change, considering the Packers of April 24 will likely look far different than the Packers of May 24 or August 24. But either way, it’s time to start talking about actual football games rather than potential player acquisitions for the first time all offseason.
So, here goes nothing.
9/4 @ Seattle Seahawks 7:30pm (Thursday Night)
It’s certainly a tough way to open the season against the Super Bowl champions and their dominant defense. But just as they did last season for the San Francisco 49ers, the Packers will go into Seattle prepared for anything. Neither Golden Tate nor M.D. Jennings will be playing in this game. It just won’t be the same. Most will chalk this up as a loss without hesitation. But I’ll pause … and think for a while. And then I’ll say the Seahawks win a close one. I think. (Loss 27-20)
9/14 vs. New York Jets 3:25pm
While the Jets should be better offensively with Chris Johnson and Michael Vick in the fold, they’re still not nearly as talented as the Packers. This should be a win, and the Packers will likely be starving for a win after a hard-fought battle in Seattle. This is one I won’t waver on; the Packers should handle the Jets at Lambeau. (Win 24-16)
9/21 @ Detroit Lions 12 Noon
As good as any offense in football, the Lions will be able to score with the Packers. This could be an early-season shootout in the temperature-controlled confines of Ford Field. Divisional games usually figure to be a tossup, and the Lions are far from a pushover. To me, this is a coin-flip game. I’ll have to see who not named Morgan Burnett is playing safety for the Packers before I make a definitive prediction, but for now, it’s the Packers. (Win 35-34)
9/28 @ Chicago Bears 12 Noon
Last season ended with the Packers beating the Bears in dramatic fashion at Soldier Field. Aaron Rodgers found Randall Cobb for a touchdown in the last minute of the game, and the Packers moved to 8-7-1 and onto the playoffs. Just like the previous week in Detroit, this is another tough game. Weird things happen at Soldier Field, and they always seem to favor the Bears. (Loss 30-27)
10/2 vs. Minnesota Vikings 7:30pm (Thursday Night)
Regardless of the state of the NFC North, three division games in a row make for a tough stretch. The Vikings still don’t know who their quarterback will be Oct. 2, but they will have Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings and a budding superstar in Cordarrelle Patterson. This could be the game that the Packers retire Brett Favre’s No. 4, but I think that will have to wait. Either way, this is the Packers’ second surefire win in five games. (Win 34-20)
10/12 @ Miami Dolphins 12 Noon
Travelling to Miami could be somewhat of a trap game, but the Packers are simply much better than the Dolphins. I’m sure the Packers would have preferred to take this Miami trip a little later in the season as the weather gets cooler, but whether it’s played in September or December, the Packers should beat the Dolphins nine times out of 10. (Win 28-20)
10/19 vs. Carolina Panthers 12 Noon
Behind only the Seattle Seahawks, the Panthers had probably the second-best defense in football a season ago. And if Cam Newton continues to develop, Carolina’s future looks bright. However, I’m of the belief that the Panthers are in for a big step back this year after a surprise 2013 season. This is another game I don’t think I’ll consider changing before the season; it’s a Packers win. (Win 27-24)
10/26 @ New Orleans Saints 7:30pm (Sunday Night)
The last time the Packers played the Saints in New Orleans in a primetime slot, the Saints hung a 50-burger on the Packers and won easily. It was in 2008 – Aaron Rodgers’ first season as the starter – and New Orleans flat out embarrassed the Packers. This Green Bay team will be better prepared, but I’m pretty certain this will stay as a predicted loss for me by the time the season starts. (Loss 38-31)
11/2 BYE WEEK
This is the Bye Week most NFL teams hope for, as it cuts the season into two equal halves of eight games. For head coach Mike McCarthy, it slices the season perfectly into halves, so the first two “quarters” of the season will be played before the bye and the final two “quarters” will be post-bye. Interesting that it’s sandwiched between two Sunday Night games against two playoff-caliber teams. (RECORD AT BYE: 5-3)
11/9 vs. Chicago Bears 7:30pm (Sunday Night)
The Bears will not sweep the Packers. If the Packers beat the Bears in Chicago, then I’d consider picking the Bears to win at Lambeau Field. But I just can’t see the Bears sweeping the Packers because, quite simply, the Packers are the better team. Julius Peppers picked off Seneca Wallace the last time these two teams met in primetime in Green Bay. The Packers defense feasts on Jay Cutler again. (Win 42-28)
11/16 vs. Philadelphia Eagles 12 Noon
It was hard on the eyes the last time the Packers hosted the Eagles. Seneca Wallace got the start for the Packers before giving way to Scott Tolzien on the second series of the game. With Rodgers in the lineup, this has the makings off a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair. During last year’s ugly game at Lambeau, I remember thinking the Packers would walk away with the game if Rodgers played. But I’m not sure that’s the case. Chip Kelly’s Eagles will have a good offense again; this is a tossup. (Win 27-24)
11/23 @ Minnesota Vikings 12 Noon
It wouldn’t shock me if the Vikings stole a game from the Packers, but I fully expect Green Bay to pull off the season sweep of Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers has no problem playing indoors … Oh wait, the Metrodome is no more. Rodgers and the Packers offense will be too much for a shaky Minnesota secondary. Still, the Vikings are capable of scoring with the Packers if they can add a quality quarterback between now and then. (Win 34-20)
11/30 vs. New England Patriots 3:25pm
Aaron Rodgers against Tom Brady for the first time; that will be fun. Part of me wanted to see this game as the Packers’ season opener, but an afternoon game at Lambeau Field in late November will be just fine. New England should have its typically dangerous offense, and I think the defense has enough talent to get back to its Super Bowl-winning ways. This would likely be a one-possession game no matter where it’s played. Tough call. The Patriots are really good on the road, and the Packers are pretty darn good at home. For now, I’ll go with Mr. Brady in the clutch. (Loss 31-30)
12/8 vs. Atlanta Falcons 7:30pm (Monday Night)
They may have been terrible last year, but the Falcons stick out like a sore thumb (along with the Houston Texans) among the team’s picking in the Top 10 of next month’s NFL Draft. Their roster, specifically the offense, is loaded with talent. But coming to Green Bay on a Monday night in December will be tough to overcome. Looks like another Packers win to me and smells like the day the Packers retire No. 4. (Win 31-27)
12/14 @ Buffalo Bills 12 Noon
One of the easier games to predict on the Packers’ schedule, I just can’t see the Bills taking down the Packers no matter where or when it’s played. It could be a bad weather game in Buffalo, but the packers will be prepared for that. And with a physical ground game riding on Eddie Lacy, the Packers offense can run efficiently in sloppy conditions. (Win 28-17)
12/21 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12 Noon
This will be a fun road trip for Packers fans looking to for a warm pre-Christmas vacation down south. Lovie Smith’s Buccaneers could be one of the league’s most-improved teams this year, as I think they were far better than their 2013 record suggest. They’ll pick seventh in next month’s draft, but they’re closer to a 10-6 roster than a 6-10 roster in my opinion. Still, the Packers will be playing for playoff seeding. Packers win. (Win 31-20)
12/28 vs. Detroit Lions 12 Noon
After ending last season against the Bears, you had to figure the Packers would end this year against the Lions one way or another, as most consider the NFC North to be a three-team race for the title. This could be for the division, although I don’t think it will be, and I’m fairly confident in saying the Packers will be in much better position than the Lions. And plus, the Lions haven’t won in Green Bay in forever. (Win 34-24)
Overall: 12-4 (1st place in the NFC North)
The Packers lose three games on the road to playoff-caliber teams (Seattle, Chicago and New Orleans) and one home game to the always-tough-on-the-road New England Patriots. Typically, a 12-4 record is good enough for a first-round playoff bye, but who knows. Just as it was last season before the injury bug bit, I think the Packers enter the season as strong as they’ve been offensively during McCarthy’s tenure. If key players can stay healthy, a berth in the NFC Championship could be on the horizon. Perhaps even more.
You can hear Marques on SportsLine Monday through Friday 4:00-6:00pm, and on the Saturday Morning Showcase at 8am. You can follow him on Twitter @MJEversoll or email at [email protected]
