Lombardiave staffers predict Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots
Aaron Rodgers. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photogaph
Tom Brady. Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports photograph
Here we are heading into the biggest game yet this year and one of the biggest in some time for the Green Bay Packers.
Hosting Tom Brady, Gronk and the boys from New England, the bragging rights that will go to the winner from this one will be significant.
No doubt, the winner will be tagged “the best in the NFL.”
This Week 13 matchup against AFC powerhouse New England Patriots brings with it predictions … so, the following is what the Lombardiave.com staffers are saying.
Take a look below and don’t forget to leave your own predictions in the comments section … would love to hear from you.
The predictions …
Josh McPeak
Josh McPeak: I’m a homer when it comes to predicting Packers’ games, I won’t lie.
So far it has gotten me an 8-3 record. This week will likely tell us if Green Bay is a true contender or perhaps a pretender. One thing is for sure – the “mystique” of Lambeau Field is back.
The Packers are 5-0 at home this year.
Both teams come into this game red hot to say the least. The Patriots have won 7 in a row and the Packers have won 7 of their last 8.
New England locked down both Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate a week ago in a route of the Detroit Lions. Green Bay gritted out a tough 3-point victory at Minnesota. A game that seemed the defense took a step back.
Dom Capers will have to put a squad on the field capable of applying constant pressure on Tom Brady. If not, it could be a very long day. Mike McCarthy will also have to find ways to incorporate multiple receivers as well as tight ends into the passing game.
In the end, I’m not picking against the Packers at Lambeau.
I’ll take our #12 over their #12 any day. Look for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to make a key play on Rob Gronkowski that perhaps changes the game.
Packers 34 Patriots 31
Kevin Dickens
Kevin Dickens: In a game being pegged as a Super Bowl preview, both teams know they will have their hands full with their opponent. It’s not s showdown of Brady vs Rodgers but rather Belichick vs Capers.
With both 12s set to square off for the first time the defenses will need to prove who can be good enough to slow down such potent attacks.
Yes the Pats are on a roll. Winners of 7 straight. But so are the Packers being winners of 7 of their last 8.
Nobody is hotter than Aaron Rodgers. When you take a look at both offenses it just seems the Packers have more weapons in Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy.
The Pats are going to try to match that with Gronk, Brandon Lafell, and Julian Edelman?
Plus this is a New England team that runs by committee. The Packers are better at neutralizing teams that take that approach.
It’s usually one gifted runner that hurts the defense (i.e. Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte, etc.) Expect to see heavy doses of Legarette Blount and Jonas Gray to keep Rodgers on the sideline if New England is to be successful. But I don’t think that will be the trend.
This will be a game that the Packers defense will come to play.
Packers take over the #1 spot when it’s all said and done!
Packers 38 Patriots 27
David Burdette
David Burdette: This could be a kicker.
The game that vaults the Packers into the stratosphere or grounds them.
And to think I’m not even talking about winning the game.
This is all about the mindset the Packers have after this win or loss. It can define the season, and I think they will play a tough game.
Between Gronk and a tough Pats secondary it could be a long evening, but in a high scoring game I think Rodgers gets a last minute chance to pull a Brady for the win.
Packers 41 Patriots 38
Darryl Krejci
Darryl Krejci: Alright I am calling out all the stops on this game I am using the power of the tutu, the power of the cheese beads and anything else I can get my hands on …
because this is going to go down to the wire – one that I’m going to predict – will be the Packers in the end …
Packers 38 Patriots 31
Patrick
Patrick Hughes
: Are Packers contenders or pretenders?
This game will not be responsible for the final verdict, however it will be a significant piece of the puzzle.
Can the Packers go blow for blow with a team many believe to be the best in the NFL?
I believe they can, but they will need members of the supporting cast, i.e. Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers, Andrew Quarless, Datone Jones, Josh Boyd, Letroy Guilon and others, to step forward.
The Patriots will try to take Nelson, Cobb, Lacy out of the equation.
They will want to run the ball and batter the Packers often-porous run defense.
If the unsung heroes of the 2014 Packers step forward and play their hearts out, the Green and Gold wins.
It will be a nail-biter.
Packers 35 Patriots 30
James : Green Bay is for real, but the youth has hurt them, and continuity grew slowly.
When all smiles, they rock and cannot be stopped, but after a fumble lost… they don’t smile and before you know it, they’re down by 17, at which time Aaron seems to just goes through the motions.
If they can get a good break and get one first, they’ll roll and not look back. The biggest if, is defense.
Can the new “flush Matthews down the tank and see what kind of ___ he pulls out” defense continue?
You can bet on it.
Can GB win a close one?
Packers 37 Patriots 35
Dan VerDuin
Dan VerDuin: I have ZERO confidence in this Packers defense to stop Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck.
This game reminds me of the Saints where we played against a power offense with great coaching, and got romped.
Tom Brady and company have looked better and better each week, with the most obvious recent game being when Jonas Gray substituted for Blount to run for over 200 yards against the Indianapolis Colts.
With Capers already on the hot seat as a result of subpar defensive play, look for the Patriots to exploit that.
With that being said, the Packers have home field advantage, and a somewhat improved defense with the move of Clay Matthews to inside linebacker.
The play of Rodgers and company will be the largest factor on the outcome of the game.
However, with that said, I am interested to see how many chances Rodgers takes against Revis and Brandon Browner.
I expect a moderately scoring game for both teams with the edge going to the Packers for the ONLY reason of home-field advantage.
Packers 34 Patriots 33
Coalter Hansen
Coalter Hansen: I guess someone has to be “that” guy. I just can’t get behind the Packers defense, and defense wins championships.
I think Blount and Gray will be too much and the Pat’s will keep Rodgers and CO. off the field.
Until the Packers can prove they can beat a top team, I will bet against them.
Patriots 28 Packers 24
Ray Rivard
Ray Rivard: My head says that the Patriots have more experience in big games than the Packers and that could be a huge factor in the outcome of Sunday’s game.
My heart says the Packers can’t be beaten at Lambeau Field while being led by Aaron Rodgers.
Last week the Packers sneaked a win out of Minnesota – a game that Rodgers said was a character-builder.
I agree … and hope this team can gut out another win – this one on the tundra and in front of their fans.
This game has all the markings of an instant classic – two iconic quarterbacks, two franchises with strong roots in the league, the highest scoring teams in the league.
I have the feeling that this one comes down to the end …
Packers 35 Patriots 32