Lombardiave staffers predict Redskins vs. Packers
Aaron Rodgers will be one of the major factors in a Packers victory today. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
It’s game day!
So, as per our weekly duty, we staffers here at Lombardiave take a closer look at today’s game and do our best to predict the final outcome. Sometimes we get pretty close, sometimes we’re off by a mile.
But that’s the fun of it all. Take a look below at what we have predicted and let us know how you feel. Leave a comment in the comment section below or on our Facebook page. You could also follow us on Twitter.
Either way, we’re hoping the Packers come out at the other end with a victory today.
Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson: I look for the Packers’ defense to come in with the same level of intensity — if not a higher level — as in Week 1, and to mostly contain RGIII. How much they contain him will depend greatly on the health of safety Morgan Burnett. If Burnett’s balky hammy is out of order come Sunday morning, Leonard Hankerson and Fred Davis could gut the middle of the defense the way Anquan Boldin did. Meanwhile, I expect Rodgers to again sling it all over the yard, for the Packers to get out to a two-touchdown lead in the second half, and for Eddie Lacy to approach or exceed 100 yards rushing as he helps grind out a win. Final score: Packers 34, Redskins 20
Tom Mrozla
Tom Mrozla: With the Redskins defense coming off a shaky loss at home I think the Packers offense will be too much for them. One question that remains for me is the reliability of our secondary to make sure an Anquan Boldin “happening” doesn’t make its way into the picture again. Nonetheless I say the defense steps it up this week and forces a couple of turnovers. I have to think Eddie Lacy will have a better game helping the Packers win the time of possession battle that will be crucial to the outcome. I say the Packers win the home opener at Lambeau, 31-24.
Eric Balkman
Eric Balkman: We all saw last week how vulnerable the Washington defense was to an up-tempo offense with a play-making quarterback but very few other weapons. The Redskins are going to have their hands full again this week with an even better quarterback and many more offensive threats than Philadelphia brought to the table.
Despite Washington not having many answers to head coach Chip Kelly’s offense in the first half, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan made several adjustments at halftime and only allowed a single touchdown in the second half. So while I do feel Green Bay will get out to an early lead, the Packers will have to ultimately survive the inevitable comeback from quarterback Robert Griffin III in the fourth quarter.
Green Bay 28, Washington 21
Dan Dahlke
Dan Dahlke: I’m going to stick with my original prediction I made in the podcast on Tuesday.
The game may be close for awhile, but I think Green Bay pulls away with the lead. I think they’ll get more production on the ground, and if the pass protection holds up, Rodgers will have a big day against a weak Washington secondary. I also think the Packers defense will do just enough to hold off RG3 and the Redskins offense.
Packers 31, Redskins 20
Luke Hanish
Luke Hanish: Credit the defense for stuffing Frank Gore the way they did last week. Of all players that seemed to make the biggest difference for the defense, Johnny Jolly had a huge impact along the line. Look for the same to continue this week as the defense will undoubtedly focus on stopping Alfred Morris.
The Packers will likely force Robert Griffin to beat them with his arm and after watching him Monday I’m not sure he will be up to the task. Morgan Burnett’s presence will help the secondary greatly, assuming he does play. Look for Griffin to exploit the secondary down the middle of the field.
Offensively, if Eddie Lacy can rack up almost 80 total yards against a stout Niners defense, there’s no reason to think he can’t at least have that good of a game this week. We already know what to expect out of Rodgers and it will simply be a matter of whether or not the Redskin offense can keep up with ours. I say they don’t.
Packers 34 Redskins 17
Bill Walton, left, with his family
Bill Walton: The Packers need to run the ball effectively and protect the ball in all facets of the game to win their home opener against Washington. I expect RB Eddie Lacy to pick up some righteous yards on the ground, WR James Jones to make some circus catches, LB Clay Matthews to announce his presence with authority, CB Tramon Williams to pick off RG III, and CB Micah Hyde and S Chris Banjo to have big games.
Wife and Rodgers-wearing Packers fan Deneen is calling this one a 35-13 Packers victory.
Son and Magnolia High School freshman John applied geometric logic to the equation and says it’ll be 42-35 Packers. I think the Packers take it 38-28 to even their record at 1-1.
Follow me on Twitter at @PackersTX and watch LombardiAve.com for my postgame analysis. Go Pack GO!
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard: There are three elements that I feel the Packers need to improve in order to defeat the Washington Redskins – the defensive backfield; the running game; and special teams.
If the Packers can get a decent pass rush on Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, it will go miles in helping the defensive backfield. Though at this writing it’s unclear whether safety Morgan Burnett will be back today, the cornerbacks and safeties clearly have to get on the same page. They cannot endure another outing like they had last week when Anquan Boldin made them look silly.
On the other side of the ball, if the Packers offensive line can open some holes for rookie running back Eddie Lacy and allow him to run for 80-100 yards, then this game will be easily decided by the offense. With that balance, Aaron Rodgers will pick apart a suspect Washington secondary and Green Bay will come out with more than 30 points. And frankly, even if there isn’t that balance, Rodgers will still pick apart that secondary – he’s that good.
As for special teams – they’ve got to be more consistent. I’m not so sure on this return-by-committee approach, but if Jeremy Ross can break off a couple of good returns, be they kickoff or punt – the Packers will be in good shape. The Packers also need to do a better job in tilting the field this week in their favor.
All in all, I believe the Packers come away with a big win – by at least two touchdowns.
Packers 34 Redskins 20
Darryl Krejci
Darryl Krejci: Last week it was the refs who helped hand the game to the Forty-Whiners. Sadly, Clay Matthews hit the wrong guy and should have taken out Jim “Cry Baby” Harbaugh with a vicious hit, decapitating him and ending the noise that emanates from his trap. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AWESOME!!! So what does this week hold? If history is any indicator we are in trouble, but in this case, history will not repeat itself.
On Oct. 10, 2010, Mason “I never crumble under pressure” Crosby clanked the game winning field goal attempt off the left upright from 53 yards with one second left. Washington went on to win the game in overtime. However, now that Lambeau Field has been completed and based on personal experience, I believe that the added noise, coupled with the burning desire to win at home, will propel the Packers to a resounding 48-31 victory.
Aaron Rodgers will throw for four touchdowns. Eddie Lacy will rush for two more and Crosby will hit on two field goals, both within 39 yards, where for his career he hits 90.1 percent of the time. Clay Matthews will have two sacks, Datone Jones will register three sacks himself and Special Teams will provide an average starting position of at least the Packers 32 yard line.
The Packers will push their home record over the last 50 games to 42-8. On a side note, I also predict that someone will gag Troy Aikman or at least sedate him so we don’t have to listen to his anti-Packers sentiments. I am also hoping that he finds himself in a cargo hold of a 747 and on his way to Antarctica.
Patrick Hughes
Patrick Hughes: The middle of the field is where my concerns lie as the Packers get set to take on the Washington Redskins.
Why the middle of the field? Because that is where the Packers defense was exploited last week. If the secondary can redeem itself and keep RGIII from dominating that space between the hash marks I think the Packers are set to seal up their first victory of 2013.
In addition to picking the Packers to win today, I am going to go out on a limb and predict that the 43-game streak of not having a running back break the 100-yard mark ends today. Eddie Lacy breaks the century mark.
Packers 30 – Washington 17
Davey Miller
Davey Miller: The Packers running game has a big day and the defense remains strong and solid.
Packers 31 Redskins 21