Happy Bears week to Packer fans everywhere. Fresh off a bye, Green Bay will look to sweep the season series against their bitter division rival. They were winners back in week 6 at Soldier Field. Aaron Rodgers tossed for two touchdown scores while rushing for another score in a 24-14 victory. Matt Lafleur’s group is looking to keep pace for the number one seed in the NFC playoff race. The group is battling with the Arizona Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Already holding two tiebreakers in the form of head-to-head victories over the Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams, the team will close out the remainder of the 2021 regular season with three home games during their last five contests. Mixed in with a trip to visit the Baltimore Ravens in week 15 and a trip to Detroit to battle the Lions in week 17, here is my Green Bay Packer’s Rest of Regular Season: Win-Loss Predictions.
Green Bay Packers Rest of Regular Season: Win-Loss Prediction
Week 14: Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers
The Packers can lock up their third straight NFC North title with a win and a loss by the Vikings. Winners just twice at Lambeau field since 2008, the Bears head into this one surrounded by question marks. They have lost six of their last seven games since beginning the season 3-2. In danger of falling entirely out of the playoff picture, Chicago currently holds onto the tenth seed in the conference. Trending in completely opposite directions, Matt Nagy’s offense has limped through the last month of the season.
The group ranks 30th in the NFL in points per game while averaging just 17 over their last three contests. Banged up at the quarterback position, Justin Fields will return after suffering a rib injury to make the start. Stout at home all year long, Joe Barry’s defense has allowed just 14.4 points per matchup. Needing to battle Rodgers if they hope to find success on Sunday, a banged-up supporting group will make it challenging for the Bears rookie signal caller.
Prediction: Chicago Bears 14 Green Bay Packers 30
Week 15: Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens
This will be the first meeting between these two teams since the 2017 season. Without Rodgers at the time after he suffered a collarbone injury, Brett Hundley started the game under center for Green Bay. Unable to move the ball all afternoon long, the Ravens defense used five turnovers to shut out Green Bay 23-0. One of the most banged-up teams across the league, John Harbaugh’s team, will head into this one without their two top cornerbacks in Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey.
Already without several key playmakers, the team has begun to struggle on the offensive side of the ball. Failing to eclipse the 20 point mark during their last four contests, Lamar Jackson was also sacked seven more times in week 13, bringing his season total up to 37. Likely to be a dog fight, with the one-time MVP bringing a unique challenge for the Packers on the defensive side of the ball; look for both teams to be fighting for playoff seeding. However, with the Ravens continuing to play tough on both sides of the football, a hard-fought loss on the road against an uncommon opponent drops them to four losses in our Win-Loss Predictions.
Prediction: Green Bay Packers 20 Baltimore Ravens 24
Week 16: Cleveland Browns vs Green Bay Packers
In a rare Christmas day game, the Browns will travel to Green Bay for the first time since the 2013 season. A different-looking Cleveland team at the time, Brandon Weeden, was unable to go score for score with the high-powered Packers passing attack. Never close in a 31-13 victory, Jarrett Boykin led the team with eight receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. Lauded by many as a threat to head to the AFC title game prior to the start of the season, Kevin Stefanki’s group has struggled mightily over the last month.
Hindered by injuries to quarterback Baker Mayfield and many other key players on the roster, they are sitting in the basement of the ultra-competitive AFC North. Likely to be fighting for their playoff lives in week 16; look for the group to give Matt Lafleur and company all they can handle. Possessing the two-headed rushing attack to control the clock and keep Rodgers and company on the sidelines, perennial defensive player of the year candidate Myles Garrett and the rest of the Browns pass rush will provide the Packers with a big test. In a game that could go either way, Rodgers will out duel Mayfield in a classic.
Prediction: Cleveland Browns 20 Green Bay Packers 28
Week 17: Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
Green Bay will look to avenge the bitter defeat they suffered back in November. The Vikings handed them their second loss in as many weeks. Battling back after falling behind 17-3, a late touchdown pass from Rodgers to Marquez Valdes-Scantling tied the game at 31 all. However, after being unable to slow down the high-powered wide receiver duo of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson all afternoon long, a late drive by Kirk Cousins set up a game-winning 29-yard field goal by Greg Joseph. Largely known as a Jekyll and Hyde team during their 2021 campaign, Minnesota is currently sitting on the outside looking in the NFC playoff picture.
Fresh off a disappointing loss to the winless Detroit Lions, Mike Zimmer’s group has now lost by one score in all seven of their defeats. Banged up heading into the final stretch of the season, both star running back Dalvin Cook and rookie tackle Christian Darrisaw and both shoulder and ankle injuries. Along with this, Thielen is also banged up. Expected to once again be another close contest in week 17, the Packers will likely have star cornerback Jaire Alexander, Za’Darius Smith, and David Bakhtiari all back for this matchup. Trying to keep a stranglehold on the first-round bye in the postseason, bank on another masterpiece in this all-time rivalry under the lights at Lambeau.
Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 24 Green Bay Packers 31
Week 18: Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions
For the second time in the last three seasons, Green Bay will close out its regular season at Ford Field. Looking to sweep the season series with the Lions for the third consecutive year, Dan Campbell‘s team has played nearly all of their opponents tough in 2021. Defeated by the Packers back in week 2, Rodgers and company used the matchup as a get-right game after being decimated by the New Orleans Saints in the season opener.
Trending in opposite directions as the season winds down, anticipate that Detroit will want to play spoiler for the Packer’s plans for a top-two seed in the NFC playoffs. Playing better on the defensive side of the ball, the Lions have allowed under 20 points in three of their last four contests. Along with this, the group has rushed for over 100 yards in four of their last six. Historically always a close game when these two teams meet in the motor city late in the year; the talent for Lafleur and company will take over late. They finish the season with just one loss in divisional games.
Daniel Mears, Detroit News
Prediction: Green Bay Packers 17 Detroit Lions 13
