Time to do the obligatory game-by-game predictions with idea who will be left on the final roster come September. So here goes.
| at Chicago – Soldier Field has been the Packers home-away-from-home pretty much since Brett Favre and Mike Holmgren joined the team in 1992. As long as Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler are quarterbacking this game the Packers will have the upper hand. 1-0.
| Seattle – The Packers have a score to settle and while a victory will not mean a trip to the Super Bowl it may mean playing in Lambeau throughout the playoffs. The Packers could have beaten the Seahawks the last two times they played them, the third time will be the charm. 2-0.
| Kansas City – The Chiefs are back on the right track with Andy Reid at the helm but Lambeau on a Monday night will be too much to overcome. They don’t have the firepower to outscore the Packers. 3-0.
| at San Francisco – Jim Harbaugh is gone and Colin Kaepernick is not the same quarterback that has owned the Packers in previous years. Still, I have a feeling the results will be more of the same. 3-1.
| St. Louis – Like the Chiefs, the Rams are getting better and might have a solid quarterback in Nick Foles for the first time in years. But like the Chiefs, I don’t think they have the firepower to beat the Packers in Lambeau, even with an excellent defense. 4-1.
| San Diego – With a chance to go into the bye week at 4-1 the Packers should be ready to play. Against the potent Philip Rivers and company they better be. Packers win a shootout. 5-1.
| at Denver – Rodgers versus Peyton Manning for the second time in Rodgers’ career. This could be a tough one but I just have a hunch Manning’s slide down the stretch last year had more to do with age than injury. Packers will win a squeaker. 6-1.
| at Carolina – The Packers simply destroyed the Panthers in Lambeau last year which will probably still be fresh on the Panthers’ minds. Carolina ended up winning their division and a playoff game last year and I think will be better this year. Road trips take their toll. 6-2.
| Detroit – The Packers will come back home and make mincemeat of the Lions, who they have beaten 24 times in a row at home. 7-2.
| at Minnesota – The Packers get caught looking ahead to the Bears and Brett Favre’s retirement ceremony. Late field gives the Vikes the win. 7-3.
| Chicago – Lambeau Field, the aforementioned Favre. Could be a repeat of last year’s 50-burger. 8-3.
| at Detroit – The Packers will make up for last year’s ugly showing in Detroit and for all intents and purposes clinch the NFC North again. 9-3.
| Dallas – The Cowboys come back searching for revenge. They won’t find it. 10-3.
| at Oakland – The long road trip can do strange things to a human body. But this time the Packers find a way to get a win on the Left Coast. 11-3.
| at Arizona – This could be a tough game but I just don’t think the Cardinals will be as good as they were last year. I could be wrong about that but even still, the Packers know what is at stake here. They will find a way to win. 12-3.
| Minnesota – I can’t see this game meaning anything more than home field advantage in the playoffs, and the Packers know the importance of that. Payback will be a bitch.
So there you have it. 13-3, division champs, home field throughout the playoffs. So it shall be written, so it shall be done.