Patriots/Packers Final Prediction

My final prediction for today's Patriots/Packers game:

Score: Packers 38, Patriots 27

I don't expect there to be much defense in this one, but the Packers will still probably win.

Why?

Basically just because of the home field advantage. I know that's kind of an akward reason, but I think we can all agree that if this contest was in New England instead, we'd see things a lot differently. 

Hopefully I'm right about that, but then again, the Patriots are still good. I wouldn't be shocked if they found a way to come out on top, as much as I don't like to admit so.

Preview: Patriots at Green Bay Packers

It could be below freezing at game time but all the snow it going to be cleared away. Even for QB Aaron Rodgers, the extreme cold takes away some of his accuracy.

Shovelers currently getting @LambeauField ready for #Packers gameday. Live cam: http://t.co/izC6Kryk5G @Ariens pic.twitter.com/LrwlBvt7bh
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 29, 2014

While Football Outsiders has currently ranked these two teams overall as the No. 2 and No. 3 teams, I'm expecting one of them to establish themselves and take control of the game. As good as the Patriots have been playing lately, the Packers have been playing great football too. Either one of them could emerge, and both teams have the offensive firepower to stage a comeback. No lead will be safe.

When I've had doubts about the Packers this season, they've usually shown up with a dominant game and proved me wrong. But I do see two particular problems with the Patriots.

Rob Gronkowski. Don't spend too much time reading the articles on how to cover him. The short answer is that's nearly impossible. The guys who can run with him are too small and the guys with size can't keep up. The Patriots have had a lot of trouble in pass protection this season, though they've been playing better in recent weeks. The best way to stop Gronkowski is to pressure Tom Brady. The Packers will need big games from their top pass rushers: Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Mike Daniels.

Jonas Gray/LaGarrette Blount. Actually, any running back who steps onto the field for the Patriots. Their run game hasn't been that effective this season (ranked No. 20 by Football Outsiders) but they lined up RB Jonas Gray and a sixth offensive lineman early and often against the Colts and ran it down their throat. The Packer run defense has been better lately as some teams haven't had the luxury of being able to run the ball while getting blown out (Bears, Eagles) but I don't take that as a sign that they've solved their run defense problems. It can't hurt to have Clay Matthews at inside linebacker, but they need him to line up outside and rush the quarterback too. I don't have any faith in their run defense to get a stop.

I have no prediction because this game could go either way, but the Patriots have a couple of edges that the Packers don't seem to have. However, the one major edge the Packers have is home field advantage, which cannot be taken lightly. I'd lean Patriots on a neutral field, but their two losses this season came on the road and the Packers are a completely different team at home and that's why they'll win on Sunday.

Packers Injury Updates: Adams, Bostick Probable for Patriots Game

Some Packers injury updates for Sunday's game against the Patriots, courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

• OLB Nick Perry (shoulder) questionable
• WR Davante Adams (heel) probable 
• CB Jarrett Bush (groin) questionable 
• RG T.J. Lang (ankle) probable
• LG Josh Sitton (toe) probable
• TE Brandon Bostick (hip) probable

Speaking to the media today, team Head Coach Mike McCarthy said Perry is "making progress", and that more information on him will come tomorrow.

Perry has 12 tackles this season, the third of his career. He had 20 all of last year, so a good last five games could certainly give him a new personal best. 

Cobb: Packers and I May Negotiate New Contract During Season

While it's been the popular opinion all year that the Packers and Randall Cobb won't negotiate an extention until the season ends, the latter has come out and said otherwise.

"I think that [the Packers and my agent] could have conversations right now," Cobb recently told Cheesehead TV. "That's on them. That's the business side. He can handle all that. I've told him, hopefully things work out for the best, and I would love to stay here next year and be a part of this organization. But it's a business, and I understand that, and it works both ways. At the end of the day, (I) just have to make the decision that I feel is best for me, and the team is going make the decision that they feel is best for the team."

Cobb is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason, but considering the way the Packers have treated Aaron Rodgers, Clay Mattews, and Jordy Nelson recently, it seems unlikely he'll leave them. 

Let's hope that observation is right.

Packers Listed as 3-Point Favorites For Sunday's Patriots Game

The Packers have been listed as three point favorites for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

The Packers have won seven of their last eight after starting the season 1-2, including their last two contests at Lambeau by 30+. However, last week in Minnesota they didn't look too great, limping their way to a 24-21 victory. 

The Patriots, meanwhile, have a similar story. beginning the year roughly before going on a hot streak. They're currently 9-2 after being 2-2, and are 3-2 on the road.

Nonetheless, since the Packers are the ones with the home field advantage here it seems more likely they'll find a way come out on top, as tough as New England is.

Predicting What the NFC Playoff Picture Will Look Like With Five Games to Go

Why not? Let's guess what things will look like:

1. NFC North:

The Packers clearly have control of the North right now, having a winnable five games ahead of them. The Patriots may give them problems, as is the case with the Buccaneers and Bills (the two road teams they still have to play), but nonetheless, I expect them to eventually come out on top with a 13-3 record, beating the Lions in Week 17.

2. NFC South:

This division's terrible, with the Saints and Falcons currently leading it at 4-7 each. 

Still, since somebody has to win it I'll take the Saints at 8-8, as they seem to have the easier schedule.

3. NFC East: 

I'd like to see the Eagles take this one, but as long as Mark Sanchez is starting against the Seahawks, it just doesn't seem likely. Expect the Cowboys to claim it at 12-4.

4. NFC West:

The West will go down to the wire, but in the end, I see the 12-4 Cardinals emerging as its champs. The 49ers will be right behind them at 11-5, while Seattle will fall to 9-7.

Wild Card Teams

The Eagles, Lions, and 49ers will all be 11-5, so two of those three. I'm not sure exactly how they would decide that, so I'll just leave it there.

Leave your thoughts below.

The Ongoing Musical Chairs At Linebacker

The linebacker core is the one unit that always seems to be undergoing some sort of shuffle. While Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews have excelled this season, it's been terrible times for Brad Jones, Mike Neal and A.J. Hawk.

Top photos from Sunday's #Packers win: http://t.co/YLxg3qvMq9 pic.twitter.com/ZD6nlgNeiB
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 24, 2014

In my recap of the win over the Vikings, I wrote that it was a quiet game for Matthews, who seemed a step slow as he played and practices through a groin injury. It looks like he's feeling better now, but in case his groin injury remains a problem, they'll need DE Mike Daniels and Peppers to make plays against the Patriots.

According to the ESPN playing time breakdown, rookie Jayrone Elliott was given some meaningful snaps for only the second time this season, without making much of an impact one way or another. Unfortunately he was only taking away snaps from Matthews outside, as Neal played as many snaps (59) as he's played in any game this season and received his worst game grade of the season from Pro Football Focus. Hopefully Nick Perry feels better this week and can take away snaps from Neal.

It was interesting that Brad Jones played his first meaningful snaps (13) on defense since a terrible performance against the Dolphins a few weeks ago. Against the Vikings, he received a slight positive grade from Pro Football Focus, which is a massive improvement for him. I'm not expecting too much from Hawk, but he's looking slow in coverage against the tight end, and it's forced them to reconsider Jones, who has the potential to be their best linebacker in coverage though he's been awful this season. The Patriots rely heavily on their tight ends and the Vikings game might be a prelude to a bigger role for Jones next week.

Rodgers Admits He Didn't Mean to Throw Unusual Touchdown Pass to Richard

The unusual touchdown one-yard touchdown pass Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw to TE Richard Rodgers might've been cool, but that doesn't mean it was intentional.

Aaron admitted so to the Green Bay Press-Gazette yesterday.

"Well, that was a little bit of freestyle, if you will," he said. "The play is not designed that way. It's a play-action with (Andrew Quarless) as the first look in the right flat and there's only two guys in the route. Richie is the other option."

That's too bad, as it's fun to think that something like that could be on purpose. 

Still, the play was pretty unique, as the ball is said to have traveled 39.4 yards through the air on it.

Recap: Packers Hold Against The Vikings, 24-21

It was a very close game but the Green Bay Packers never trailed either. The best the Vikings could do was hang around. It never felt like the game got away from them.

#Packers improved to 8-3 overall & 4-1 in the division with today's win. Complete coverage: http://t.co/6PcjzkVDDO pic.twitter.com/4QLkJFAQ5t
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 24, 2014

The Vikings had a good game plan on defense. Their safeties played deep which allowed their cornerbacks to play tight coverage all over the field, knowing they'd have safety help deep if they got in trouble. It did leave them vulnerable against the run. Despite RB Eddie Lacy's illness, he was effective rushing for 5 yards per carry and dangerous as a playmaker who scored two touchdowns. They weren't able to get a lot of pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers either, who had an efficient game with a high completion percentage and no turnovers. It wasn't one for the highlight reel, since the Vikings did their best to take the deep passing game away, but he did took what the defense was giving him.

On offense, it was another game to learn from for LT David Bakhtiari, who struggled against DE Everson Griffen (as many have this season) and it also was a learning experience for WR Davante Adams, who isn't always on the same page as Aaron Rodgers. The Packers struggled early when Lacy wasn't as effective on the ground and WR Jordy Nelson was battling the Vikings's physical corners, so they might have sustained more drives if Adams could have gotten himself more involved in the passing game.

QB Teddy Bridgewater struggled badly with accuracy early on but he was able to sustain two long first half scoring drives with an effective running game (mostly when he scrambled) and some costly penalties. The Packers had been averaging 5 to 6 penalties per game this season, but they had eight in this one, including a costly hold by Micah Hyde that negated an INT. It was a quiet game for both Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews (no sacks, one QB hit for Matthews) though the Vikings struggled in pass protection the previous week against the Bears. Hyde ended up redeeming himself with a sack and an INT later in the game, and they needed that because he was the only stand out playmaker against the Vikings on defense.

I'd worry about a performance like this with the Patriots coming up next week, but the Packers are a different team at home this season. Just as the giant blowouts at Lambeau only count for one win, the same can be said for the close road victories. This one pushed them into the NFC North lead and the No. 2 seed for the playoffs (and the one seed moved closer because of Arizona's loss in Seattle). This was a very good weekend to give them some momentum before they face one of the best teams in the NFL next week.

Reaction: Packers Road Struggles Continue vs. Vikings, But They Still Win

The Packers didn't play that well today in Minnesota, but still, they won 24-21. Here are my takeaways from it:

1. Road Struggles:

They're not an illusion. This team is just not the same outside of Lambeau, and they need to fix that.

2. Eddie Lacy Can Make Big Plays:

On the last drive of this one, Lacy carried the ball five times in a row, and picked up the necessary two first downs to run out the clock. Not bad.

3. First Place:

With this and the Lions' 34-9 loss to the Patriots, the Packers are in sole possession of the top spot in the North for the first time this season. Finally.

On to the Patriots. 

Packers/Vikings Final Prediction

My prediction for tomorrow's Packers/Vikings game.

Score: Packers 34, Vikings 17

I've learned my lesson here. The Packers are better than good, and will play as such. They might not necessarily win by 30, but still, this one won't be close.

Why?

Because the Vikings just aren't a proven offensive threat. Since the Packers defense tends to struggle on the road, I wouldn't be surprise if they puts up 21+, but that still doesn't mean they'll win. The Packers will score at least 35, and that's being generous.

Leave your thoughts below on how accurate you think mine are.

Packers OL Tretter Fined $16,537 For Leg Whip Vs. Eagles

Packers Offensive Lineman J.C. Tretter has been fined $16,537 by the league for his leg whip late in Sunday's game against the Eagles, The Green Bay Press-Gazette's Weston Hodkiewicz reports.

Tretter swung his leg at Eagles LB Trent Cole with four minutes left to play Sunday after apparently missing a cut block. The move knocked Cole over, and drew a 15-yard penalty for unecessary roughness.

However, the league doesn't seem to think that that punishment was enough, taking away 56.8% of Tretter's weekly salary. Tretter, though, is expected to appeal.

This is the second time this season a Packer has been fined for an in-game incident. The first came back in Week 2, when Andrew Quarless was punished for grabbing the face of the Jets' Sheldon Richardson. 

Matthews: I'll Play Without Limitations Sunday

Packers LB Clay Matthews said that the groin injury that's limited him in practice this week shouldn't affect his involvement Sunday.

"I was a little sore after the game in regards to the injury with my groin and everything," Matthews told The Green Bay Press-Gazette today. "I was able to do a lot more today than I was yesterday and obviously we don't work on Friday, that's our rehab day. I feel good. So, I don't think there were will be any limitations going into this weekend."

Hopefully that statement is true, as Matthews has collected 13 tackles and two sacks in the team's last two games. He's also recorded three assists, helping the Packers stay undefeated at home.

What Should The Packers Expect From Teddy Bridgewater?

According to Football Outsiders, the Vikings offense is currently ranked No. 29 overall, which probably would be a whole lot worse if you pro-rated out an entire season's worth of QB Christian Ponder's performance for the Vikings in Lambeau back on October 2nd. QB Teddy Bridgewater has played in seven games this season, but this will be his first start against the Packers.

Bridgewater’s debut bout with Green Bay. Storylines that you HAVE to follow: http://t.co/Tcc7OC3VVJ pic.twitter.com/tVgdSZhWMZ
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 19, 2014

According to ESPN's QBR, Bridgewater's ranking for the season is a bad 40.9 but (not surprising from a rookie) he's been very inconsistent. He was very good in three games this season (Falcons, Buccaneers, and Team From Washington) and very bad in three others (Lions, Bills, Bears) with his game against the Saints in the middle. It's probably no coincidence that his three good games came against three of the four worst pass defenses according to Football Outsiders, though he stank last week against the Bears's 28th ranked unit.

The big problem for Bridgewater is that he's been struggling in the deep passing games. He missed a couple of potential big plays against the Team From Washington. It doesn't help him that the Vikings had to go with a conservative attack against the Bears last week because they can't pass block. It wasn't until former Packer draft choice WR Charles Johnson got active in the second half did Bridgewater get his wide receivers involved in the game plan at all. A short passing attack, which might be necessary if Clay Matthews is constantly running unblocked around the left tackle, isn't going to get it done against the Packers. Ponder averaged only 5.0 yards per attempt in their last meeting and it led to blowout.

The Vikings do have an effective running attack (Matt Asiata averaged 4.8 yards per attempt in their last meeting, with one fumble) but injuries to Asiata and Jerick McKinnon have forced them to claim Ben Tate from waivers as they search for a healthy body at running back. And Tate's been awful, averaging 2.2 yards per carry over the past few weeks for the Browns. I don't expect Dom Capers will show any sign of respect to their running game unless the Vikings can prove it's deserved. So there should be even more pressure on Bridgewater to move the ball through the air while the Packers are lining up an extra back or two in coverage.

Bridgewater might be fortunate to lead the Vikings on a meaningful scoring drive or two before the fourth quarter rolls around and it's Matt Flynn time. Even if that happens, Bridgewater hasn't shown the ability to lead the Vikings in a shoot out against a non-awful defense at any time this season.

Packers Listed as 9 1/2 Point Favorites for Sunday's Vikings Game

The Packers have been listed as 9 1/2 point favorites for Sunday's game at the Vikings.

The Packers have won six of their last seven, including each of their last two by 30+. However, they are just 2-3 on the road this season, with that pair of victories coming over the Dolphins and Bears.

The Vikings, meanwhile, have gone 4-6 this year, and 2-2 at home. They were blown out by the Packers at Lambeau 42-10 back in Week 5, but didn't have Teddy Bridgewater available to start that  contest.

Nonetheless, it's still unlikely that they'll find a way to come out on top this time around, regardless of how interesting Bridgewater may make things.

Packers Work Out Former Giants TE Travis Beckum

The Packers have worked out former Giants TE Travis Beckum, ESPN.com's Rob Demosky reports. 

Beckum, a native of Milwaukee and graduate of the University of Wisconsin, hasn't appeared in a meaningful game since Super Bowl XLVII, a contest in which he tore his ACL. That injury caused Beckum to miss all of 2013, before he hitched a ride with the Saints this past preseason.

Since then, Beckum has also worked out for the Bears and Jaguars. With the Packers, he'll look to get a job as their third-stringer, a role they need to fill right now due to the wound Brandon Bostick suffered in Week 10.

Rodgers Assures Media After Victory Over Eagles: "This Isn't Easy"

Many would agree, though, you make it seem so.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers told the media after yesterday's 53-20 blowout of the Eagles that what he and the team are doing right now isn't easy.

"This is not easy," he assured the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "This is a tough job. A lot of preparation goes into it, a lot of guys working together. It takes all 11."

Be that as it may, Rodgers is clearly one of the more important ones on the field. In Green Bay's last two games alone, he's thrown 9 TD and 0 INT, helping the Pack out-score their opponents 108-34.

Basically, the stats don't appear to support his modesty here, as necessary as it is.

Recap: Packers Rout Eagles 53 to 20

I was expecting a tougher game from the Eagles, but the Packers brought their "A game" while the Eagles must have left it back in Philly.

Full highlights from today's #Packers win, including this impressive Eddie Lacy TD: http://t.co/FEnmKzzCO5 #PHIvsGB pic.twitter.com/2Iybqa4i6Y
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 17, 2014

This two game stretch, with blowout wins against the Bears and Eagles, reminds me of the 2010 season (Super Bowl year!) when the Packers crushed the Cowboys and Vikings in consecutive home games and both teams fired their head coaches after the game (Wade Phillips and Brad Childress). Though I think Chip Kelly is safe (I'm not sure about Trestman).

I thought the Eagles would have some success, as I wrongly thought about the Bears too, pressuring QB Aaron Rodgers up the middle. Though LG Josh Sitton and RG T.J. Lang are unable to practice with their toe and ankle injuries, they're showing no signs of pain during the game. The Eagles couldn't get any pressure on him and their cornerbacks couldn't cover the Packers's receivers in single coverage. Aaron Rodgers is proving that when he has time to throw and his receivers are getting a step ahead of their defenders, he's unstoppable.

The move of Clay Matthews inside has seemed to rejuvenated him, though some of his biggest plays actually came when he was lined up outside. Instead of crashing down the line on one running play, he read the QB rollout for a sack, and forced a field goal attempt. On another play, he read Mark Sanchez on a pass out to the left flat and knocked it down even though Sanchez tried a pump fake. Matthews hadn't been making big plays like those earlier this season. Adding the true Claymaker to Julius Peppers's great season, along with their play making cornerbacks (Tramon Williams and Casey Hayward), has helped turn an inconsistent defense into a dominate unit over the past two weeks. Lets hope they can keep it up.

The Packers host three division leaders in their last three home games (Patriots, Lions and Falcons-I know the Falcons suck, but they lead their division) and I expect the Packers to be favored in all of those games. The Patriots are certainly capable of matching the Packers toe-to-toe, but that's the least important of these anyway since an AFC match-up has no bearing on playoff tiebreakers. On the road, where the Packers have struggled this year, they'll face three teams unlikely to make the playoffs (Vikings, Bills and Buccaneers). It's a manageable schedule and they'll be favored in all of those games.

The Packers pushed themselves into the discussion of whether they're the best team in the NFL, but more importantly they've moved themselves into a playoff spot because of Seattle's loss in Kansas City. With a 7-3 record in hand, a manageable upcoming schedule has made their path to the playoffs clear.

Reaction: Packers Blowout Eagles to Move into First Place Tie

The Packers walked all over the Eagles 53-20 today in a fashion most probably didn't see coming. Here are my takeaways from it:

1. The Packers are the best team in the North:

After today, that seems clear enough. I know Mark Sanchez was starting, but wow, 53 points.

2. Mason Crosby:

I know the Packers won here by 33, but that doesn't mean Crosby looked particularly sharp. He barely made two short attempts, missed a usually-automatic 50-yarder, and had an extra point blocked. Might be something to think about.

3. Now the Road:

If this team is as elite as they seem, they'll do this same thing next week in Minnesota. Just getting a close victory would prove they're only good at home.

Leave your thoughts below.

Eagles/Packers Final Prediction

My final prediction for tomorrow's Packers/Eagles game:

Score: Packers 31, Eagles 21

I've liked Mark Sanchez' play in recent weeks, but since the contest's still at Lambeau I just can't see his team winning. I think they'll make it close, but in the end, the Packers will end up emerging victorious for the second week in a row. 

Why?

Because Aaron Rodgers has been great lately and the defense has shown a lot of improvement. I expect Clay Matthews to record at least one sack, and for Green Bay to intercept at least one pass. Again, this one'll be close, but I just can't see the Packers suddenly losing on their home field.

Leave your thoughts below on how accurate you think mine are.