Lombardiave predictions: Green Bay Packers vs. N.Y. Jets
Here we are heading into the Green Bay Packers Week 2 matchup and home-opener against the New York Jets … and with it comes Lombardiave.com staffers predictions.
Take a look below and don’t forget to leave your own predictions in the comments below …
Jerry Bulone
Jerry Bulone: I think this is the game where you really see what the 2014 Packers are made of. Do they bounce back and run the Jets out of the stadium, or does the Capers defense disappoint again, and put the offense behind the 8 ball enough to actually go 0-2?
First off everyone was probably disappointed in the defense, except me. It was exactly what I expected. I have absolutely zero faith in Capers and his schemes. The more he tries the worse the defense gets. The only difference is now with Finey, Jones, and Jennings gone and replaced with unproven rookies, the offense no longer has the horses to make up for a Capers led “D”.
There is little doubt to me that the Jets will control this game on the line of scrimmage. They will run early and often, and I do not see the Packers being able to stop it. The difference in this game is the Packers are at home, and the disparity between Rodgers and Geno Smith is just too large for the Jets to make up. However this one will be much closer (not just in score) than people think.
Packers 20 Jets 16
Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson: The big question heading into Week 2 for the Green Bay Packers is: Can the defense figure out a way to stop the run?
It gets a bit easier this week, but not much, as Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson combine for a fairly lethal one-two punch that knocked out the Raiders in Week 1.
This could be a prove-it game for the Packers’ front seven – or it could be a situation where Aaron Rodgers and the offense will have to exploit the Jets’ secondary and simply score more points.
I think it will be somewhere in between and the Packers will pull out an uneven victory.
Packers 26 Jets 20
Darryl Krejci
Darryl Krejci: Home openers are always tricky to predict.
Does the team come out too pumped up and lay an egg? Or do they come out and dominate?
Take into consideration the poor play of the defense last week and the nagging injuries, I think this game is going to be a lot closer than many will predict.
In the end, Aaron Rodgers will throw for two touchdowns and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will get his first pick-six.
Packers 21 Jets 17
Kevin Dickens
Kevin Dickens: I think this week we can look forward to the Packers being a very focused football team.
An 0-2 start is not a great recipe for a team that, coming into the season, had the highest aspirations for a championship.
Last week, Seattle humbled the Packers. Now they must try to use that as motivation for a Jets team looking to make a statement, not only in the AFC, but in the NFL.
With a healthy Eddie Lacy, James Starks and DuJuan Harris, the Packers will need to pound a very good front seven of the Jets. A very healthy dose of the run game will create plenty of downfield opportunities for Aaron Rodgers.
He will need to take advantage of a suspect Jets secondary.
On the other side of the ball I would hope McCarthy and Capers make some changes up front. Letroy Guion was blown off the ball too many times. I would hope to see Josh Boyd solidify himself going forward as the nose tackle in B.J. Raji‘s absence. And with Geno Smith’s turnover proneness, I expect the Pack to come away with at least three turnovers against the Jets.
Packers 31 Jets 13
Luke Hanish
Luke Hanish: The Packers are still a formidable offense despite a less-than-stellar performance at Seattle.
Expect Aaron Rodgers to have more of an Aaron Rodgers-esque day on Sunday against the New York Jets.
While the Jets’ run defense is quite stout, the Packers will still undoubtedly try to establish the run with a healthy Eddie Lacy.
Defensively, the Packers are in desperate need of a rebound performance after the opener. Look for a focus to stop the run and force a yet-unproven Geno Smith to beat them.
The team, as a whole, still feels as if they have a lot to prove after putting only 16 points up last week.
Packers 31 Jets 13
Dan Dahlke
Dan Dahlke: The Packers will struggle to stop the run for the second week in a row. With Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson in the backfield, the Jets’ ground game will get plenty of production on the day.
However, I think the Packers offense will have a good day, especially with Lacy and Bostick returning from injury, and Green Bay’s defense will do just enough to keep the Packers ahead.
Green Bay wins at home over the Jets.
Packers 27 Jets 20.
Kenn Korb
Kenn Korb: I see the Packers stepping up in all facets to erase last week, with every position group making a decent impact.
Rodgers will have a big game (300+ yards, multiple TDs, no turnovers), the WRs will all make a strong impact, and the RBs will do enough to keep the Jets defense honest.
The defense will step up and slow the running game of the Jets to force them to pass and cause turnovers from there.
Packers 20 Jets 10
David Burdette
David Burdette: This Packers-Jets matchup is going to be quite the game.
Aaron Rodgers is going to have a chip on his shoulder from the way he looked at Seattle and should come out swinging. Eddie Lacy should in part feel the same way and look to thrash the Jets front seven.
The defense, on the other hand, needs to get themselves in order, and they better hurry or it could be another lost season.
The Jets will ride the Geno-coaster and hope they are still climbing high once the game ends. They’re at least happy to see how Seattle ran, given the 2 runners they have in Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson. Defensively they have to hope their front seven attacks well because if Rodgers gets time he will make these half-rate corners pay.
Ultimately, Rodgers does his thing.
Packers 27 Jets 17
Coalter Hansen
Coalter Hanson: How will they respond?
The Packers got pushed around last week and should be poised to wipe that taste from their mouths.
Aaron Rodgers should be able to attack a young, unproven Jets secondary. Eddie Lacy will hope that the line can handle the strong front seven of the Jets.
I think the Packers will get out early and wont look back.
Packers 31 Jets 17
Patrick Hughes
Patrick Hughes: On Thursday’s Packers News and Views podcast I said the Green Bay Packers would win 24-17.
I’ll hold firm with that.
But … I don’t know if it’s the Worthy Brewing IPA doing the typing or if I am just straight confident that Aaron Rodgers and company will take out their week one frustrations on Sexy Rexy’s New York Jets.
I am concerned about the middle of the Packers’ defense and the Jets’ potent running attack. The J-E-T-S, Jets! put up 207 yards on the ground in week one against the hapless Raiders. But not by accident, the Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson tandem is no joke.
Starting inside linebacker Brad Jones is out with a quad injury, so in an addition by subtraction situation Jamari Lattimore has an opportunity to earn his way on the field.
Call me crazy but I think the Packers defense does as Coach Mac would say, “Takes a step.” Here we go Pack! This should be a fun game to watch.
Go Pack Go!
Packers 24 Jets 17
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard: I’ve got one foot off the plank on prediction today, but like Patrick Hughes, I, too, made my prediction on Thursday’s Packers News and Views podcast … and I’m sticking with it. Because we all know how Aaron Rodgers performs coming off of a bad game. That chip on his proverbial shoulder becomes a pain in his backside and motivates him to be his best.
The Packers are home for the first time today at Lambeau Field, the crowd will be primed and the Packers, I believe, will come out and lay the wood to the Jets. I have a gut feeling that this game will be much like last year’s home-opener when the Packers destroyed the Washington, Redskins.
Green Bay was embarrassed last week on national television. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t like that; Mike McCarthy doesn’t like that; Packers fans don’t like that.
Something’s gotta give today … and it won’t be the Packers. I see them winning big.
Packers 42 Jets 14
Josh McPeak
Josh McPeak: The Packers come out of the gate hungry in week two. Avenging somewhat of a blunder in week one, Aaron Rodgers goes for 350 yards and 3 TDs.
Peppers and Matthews make it a long day for Geno as the defensive unit tallies 5 sacks and 3 total turnovers. Packers shake the rust and begin to click …
Packers 31 Jets 13