Predicting Packers’ final three games of regular season 2021

Week 16: Cleveland Browns (Christmas Day)

The first of two consecutive home games for the Packers takes place on Christmas Day.

With this game taking place on Saturday afternoon, it’s a short week for both teams, but an even bigger challenge for the Cleveland Browns. Whereas the Packers played on Sunday afternoon, the Browns’ game with the Las Vegas Raiders was postponed to Monday evening. That gives them just four days of rest in between games, along with travel, which isn’t much better than a Thursday night game.

Add in the roster issues the Browns have due to COVID-19 — there are 19 Browns players on the reserve/COVID-19 list currently — and it could be a real challenge for them on Christmas Day. They could get some players back from the COVID list before then, but how many will be able to return remains to be seen.

The Packers are on a roll offensively having scored 30 points in each of their past four games. It’s hard to pick against Green Bay at the moment considering how the team has been playing, especially with its perfect home record this season.

Not an easy game by any stretch — the Browns are playoff contenders — but the Packers are too good right now and get the win at home.

Prediction: Green Bay 31, Cleveland 21 (12-3)