Predicting the Packers’ record versus the NFC South this season
By Nile McNair
Predicting the Packers’ record versus the NFC South in 2020.
Every year the NFL schedule has divisions playing one another. Both the Green Bay Packers, and the entire NFC North, will face-off against the NFC South this season. For the Packers, they’ll face majority of the NFC South in the first half of the season.
In Week 3, the Packers will play the New Orleans Saints, then in Week 4, they’ll be against the Atlanta Falcons. After the Week 5 bye, Green Bay will pay a visit to the newly revamped Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lastly, in Week 15 the Packers will face the Carolina Panthers.
Here are predictions of how Green Bay will fare in its four games versus the NFC South this season.
Week 3 at Saints
Coming off two divisional opponents in the first two weeks of the season, Green Bay’s schedule gets no easier in Week 3 as it travels to New Orleans. It’s known league-wide the Saints have one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL.
This could’ve been an NFC divisional-round matchup in last year’s playoffs had New Orleans won during wild-card weekend. However, New Orleans’ offense will differ from the one that lost in the playoffs last season. New Orleans added a key piece in wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
With Sanders, the Saints now have two receivers who could be the number one option. Green Bay will have to pick and choose when to double Michael Thomas. Not to mention, the Packers will have to deal with Alvin Kamara coming out of the backfield.
New Orleans possesses the balanced offense that gave Green Bay issues last season. It will be a high scoring affair, but New Orleans will win with a score of 31-24.
Prediction: Loss
Week 4 vs. Falcons
Following a predicted loss to the Saints in Week 3, the Packers will be looking to bounce back versus Atlanta. They will do just that and get a victory. One reason being that Green Bay has more continuity than Atlanta.
The Falcons have been injury-riddled the past few seasons, especially on defense. While on offense, they will still be trying to learn how to best use Todd Gurley.
With so much offensive firepower, Atlanta will keep the game close. Yet, its defense will be its downfall in this matchup. In the Falcons’ last trip to Lambeau in 2018, they allowed 34 points.
Atlanta was a bottom-third defense last season. Allowing 355 yards per game, 110 of those yards coming in the rushing game. Expect Aaron Jones to flourish against Atlanta, leading the way to a 28-20 Packers win.
Prediction: Win
Week 6 at Buccaneers
Week 6 on FOX, Green Bay and Tampa Bay will play in “America’s Game of the Week.” The reason being Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady will be going head to head. But for the first time as NFC foes.
For the second year in a row, the Packers have a difficult road opponent coming off their bye week. Last year it was San Francisco, this year it’s Tampa Bay. Nonetheless, this year the Packers will win their game after the bye.
Unlike New Orleans, Tampa Bay doesn’t have a star in their backfield making them a more one-dimensional offense. Green Bay is well equipped to face a high powered passing offense. The strength of the Packers defense lies in their secondary and edge rushers.
Green Bay was third last season in interceptions with 17 and number five in opposing quarterbacks passer rating at 81.1.
Assuming Brady and the Buccaneers will be pass-heavy, the Packers’ defense will make it difficult for them. Led by a dominant defensive performance, the Packers win 20-14.
Prediction: Win
Week 15 vs. Panthers
The Carolina Panthers were the only team of the four NFC South teams that the Packers played last season. Green Bay controlled the game throughout, but Carolina gave Green Bay a scare at the end. It took a goal-line stand in the final seconds to beat the Panthers 24-16.
Aaron Jones had a great performance with 13 carries for 93 yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers kept the game close with their backup quarterback Kyle Allen under center. Even after acquiring Teddy Bridgewater in the offseason, Allen’s 300 yards passing will be hard to duplicate on the Packers defense.
In Week 15, another snowy game between the two wouldn’t be a surprise. Jones will once again be the key to the game. He could have a bigger game than he did last season, given that Carolina lost star linebacker Luke Kuechly to retirement this offseason.
With Jones being effective on the ground, Aaron Rodgers will able to make chunk plays in the passing game to Davante Adams and other receivers. Green Bay will win for the second year in a row, just by a larger margin of victory this time. With a score of 27-13, the Packers will defeat the Panthers.
Prediction: Win