I can’t say I’m happy with the start, but after week one I think the 2013 Green Bay Packers’ schedule is one of the best I’ve ever seen. At least in the way it looks on paper. The fact that they don’t have to play back-to-back road games for the first time in 92 years makes it unique to say the least.
I had a feeling the Packers would open on the road but I find it curious that they open at Frisco. The Packers were beaten handily by that team twice so why would that be an attractive game for national TV? I can’t see any way the Packers win that one so for me the season starts in earnest against the Redskins in week two, which will bring the Packers record to 1-1. No way they lose their home opener after getting embarrassed again by San Francisco.
At Cincinnati is no gimmie but after playing the read-option two weeks in a row the Packers will welcome a normal NFL offense for a change. Then comes the bye and then a second bye when Detroit visits Lambeau Field October 6th. Now, I know the the Packers’s 21 game home winning streak against the Lions has to end at some point, but they are so bad I just can’t see it happening this year.
I think loss number two will come in Baltimore. The Ravens might be reeling a little after MLB forced them to open on the road and probably costs them a win so they will be tough to beat at home.
The 3-2 Packers then move to to 4-2 with a home win over the improved Cleveland Browns and head to Minnesota for a Sunday night national TV game. The Packers still have a score to settle with the Vikings for ending the Packers NFC North winning streak and costing them home field advantage in the playoffs. Not to mention how embarrassed they were by Adrian Peterson at the end of last season. Packers win this one.
The Bears and Eagles in Lambeau are up next and both should be wins. I am glad the Packers don’t have to play the Bears early in the year. I think the Bears are going to come out guns blazing but by week nine the league will have enough film to shut down the same offense that got Marc Trestman run out of the NFL in the first place.
The then 7-2 Packers then head to New York on a Sunday night that I think can go either way. I’ll give the nod to the Giants.
The Vikings then come to Lambeau and Greg Jennings gets booed much like Brett Favre and the Packers win easily.
I think the Packers catch a break by playing their Thursday game in Detroit on Thanksgiving. As a fan I hate the Thursday night games and I bet the players aren’t too fond of them either. I have to go with Green Bay here, 9-3.
The Packers can’t wait to get the Falcons in Green Bay so that should be 10-3, but I get worried after that. The Packers never win in Dallas, not including Super Bowls, and the Steelers are going to be fighting for their lives and weather is no factor for them. Then the Packers close in Chicago against a team that will be fighting for it’s playoff life.
I could see 1-3 down the stretch but I’ll go with wins over the aforementioned Falcons and Bears for 11-5. The Packers will make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.