Predicting the winner of every single 2023 Packers game
Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is officially underway, so why not kick things off by predicting the winner of each game on the Green Bay Packers' schedule?Even without Aaron Rodgers, the team still has six primetime games on the docket, which only adds to the fun and amplifies the spotlight this young team […]
Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season is officially underway, so why not kick things off by predicting the winner of each game on the Green Bay Packers' schedule?
Even without Aaron Rodgers, the team still has six primetime games on the docket, which only adds to the fun and amplifies the spotlight this young team is dealing with heading into 2023.
What're we waiting for? Let's dive in.
Week 1: Packers at Bears
- Final Score: Packers 21, Bears 19
The Packers have a tough matchup right off the bat with the Bears and I expect it to be a low-scoring affair for an NFL game in 2023. That's mainly due to both teams' pre-existing knowledge of the offensive systems, which are very similar since Bears OC Luke Getsy hails from Green Bay, obviously.
I think Jordan Love and the offense do just enough to pull out the win and the Packers defense frustrates Justin Fields and what is supposed to be an improved Bears offense.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: Packers at Falcons
- Final Score: Falcons 31, Packers 27
Yep. This is the first "hiccup" for the Packers. But at the same time, it's against an improved Falcons team that could ultimately win the NFC South.
The Falcons' rushing attack is too much for the Packers run defense, which is still improving and finding its footing. The rushing success will allow Arthur Smith's offense to operate at full capacity and that's hard for any defense to stop.
Two straight games on the road is never easy, either, and it's a speed bump this young team can't get over.
Record: 1-1
Week 3: Packers vs. Saints
- Final Score: Packers 23, Saints 16
The Packers ruin Jamaal Williams' return to Green Bay by playing good defense and solid offense against the Derek Carr-led Saints.
The Saints coaching staff, like the Packers', faces a lot of questions in 2023 and I'm not sure they'll find answers. I honestly think this one comes down to the guys standing on the sidelines and Matt LaFleur/Joe Barry find a way to out-scheme Dennis Allen/Pete Carmichael Jr.
Record: 2-1
Week 4: Packers vs. Lions (TNF)
- Final Score: Packers 24, Lions 23
Love gets his first game-winning drive as Packers QB after pulling off a last-minute upset against the rival Detroit Lions. It's not an easy game, as it's a Thursday Night Football matchup, but the friendly confines of Lambeau will help ease that.
Jaire Alexander also comes up with a couple of crucial interceptions to keep Jared Goff's awful road streak alive and the Packers, as a whole, gets revenge from 2022's loss that kicked them out of the playoffs.
Record: 3-1
Week 5: Packers at Raiders (MNF)
- Final Score: Packers 31, Raiders 20
Remember in Week 3 when when a faulty coaching staff factored into a Packers win? Well, that will be the case, again, with the Raiders.
Josh McDaniels simply isn't meant to be a head coach in the NFL. He's a great offensive coordinator, but he can't cut it at the top level. That, along with a subpar Raiders team in general, propels the Pack to its first road win of 2023.
Record: 4-1
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: Packers at Broncos
- Final Score: Packers 16, Broncos 14
The Packers come away with a hard-fought, intense win over the Broncos in Mile High Stadium thanks to their extra week of preparation.
Broncos defensive coordinator had a helluva game plan ready for the Packers offense, but Rashan Gary and co. come up with clutch plays on defense that give Anders Carlson a shot at the first game-winning field goal attempt of his career.
And. It's. Good. For. The. Win.
Record: 5-1
Week 8: Packers vs. Vikings
- Final Score: Vikings 19, Packers 13
If this game were earlier in the year, I'd lean Packers. But in Week 8, Brian Flores' defense has had plenty of time to gel and figure out what it's good at/what it's not so good at and the mad scientist will have things rolling when they travel to Lambeau.
It's another confusing, complicated defense for the Packers offense and that'll be a factor throughout the year. However, the final result isn't the big picture – it's how they respond next time that matters most.
Record: 5-2
Week 9: Packers vs. Rams
- Final Score: Packers 32, Rams 23
Who knows what happens with Cooper Kupp, but this should be a relatively easy win -and rebound from a two-game losing streak- for the Packers.
The Rams are still dealing with the fallout of all the moves they made during their championship run and there's not just not a lot of talent on the roster. I've mentioned coaching matchups a few times, already, and this one will be big, too. But, I think LaFleur one-ups his old pal and extends his record to a perfect 4-0 over Sean McVay.
Record: 6-2
Week 10: Packers at Steelers
- Final Score: Steelers 22, Packers 10
Going to Pittsburgh and pulling out a win is never easy, especially in mid-November.
The Steelers defense will be it usual self and the offense should take a nice step forward under Kenny Pickett in Year 2. The Steelers front seven shuts down the Packers' run game and Love can't figure out the passing attack well enough to warrant a win.
Record: 6-3
Week 11: Packers vs. Chargers
- Final Score: Chargers 34, Packers 30
The Packers are really going to have to turn it up as they start to deal with their toughest stretch of the schedule and guys like Justin Herbert aren't going to make things easy, at all.
The Chargers usually find ways to screw things up, but they don't in this game and it results in the Packers' fourth loss of the season.
Record: 6-4
Week 12: Packers at Lions (Thanksgiving)
- Final Score: Lions 23, Packers 18
I don't think there is one clear-cut favorite to win the NFC North, but every team certainly has a chance. If there is a "favorite", so to speak, the Lions do make the most sense.
I'm not entirely sold on them, but they definitely have a good roster and they showed last year they are more than capable of beating the Packers. Dan Campbell and co. get their vengeance for the Week 4 loss in Lambeau on Thanksgiving.
Record: 6-5
Week 13: Packers vs. Chiefs (SNF)
- Final Score: Chiefs 28, Packers 17
The Chiefs are the last team you want to face on a three-game skid, especially in primetime. But, unfortunately for the Packers, that is the hand they've been dealt – so they have to make due with what they have.
Patrick Mahomes and co. are simply too much for any team to handle, but the kicker here is star defensive lineman Chris Jones should be on the field by the time this game kicks off, which seals the deal for the Packers and hands them their fourth-straight loss.
Record: 6-6
Week 14: Packers at Giants
- Final Score: Giants 17, Packers 9
Say what you want about the Giants offense, it certainly has plenty of questions. Even if Daniel Jones just got paid $40 million per year (hint: that's part of the problem).
Regardless, it's not Jones and the Giants offense that's the focal point, here. It's Wink Martindale's defense that stymied the team in London last year and the unit looks poised for another solid run in 2023. That'll be the difference maker in this one.
Record: 6-7
Week 15: Packers vs. Buccaneers
- Final Score: Packers 29, Bucs 16
The Buccaneers are the perfect remedy to end the Packers' five-game losing streak. The Bucs offense is going to be one of the NFL's worst units and the defense has all kinds of depth concerns.
The Packers may not be an elite team or even a great team, but they're certainly better than the Buccaneers and they'll prove that in Wee 15 with a resounding victory.
Record: 7-7
Week 16: Packers at Panthers
- Final Score: Packers 22, Panthers 13
The Panthers defense should be respectable, but the offense is going to be a big question mark all year long with rookie Bryce Young at the helm.
It won't be an easy day for the offense, but there should be enough big plays from Jayden Reed and co. -as well as some big mistakes from Young- that keep the Packers on the winning track heading into the final two weeks of the season.
Record: 8-7
Week 17: Packers at Vikings
- Final Score: Packers 20, Vikings 16
Like last year, the Packers get revenge later in the season against the Vikings. It's another low-scoring game thanks to both defenses that should be top-10 in the NFL, by this point.
Record: 9-7
Week 18: Packers vs. Bears
- Final Score: Bears 31, Packers 28
A 9-7 record should have the Packers in position to make the playoffs with a win over the Bears, but the group can't get it done against an NFC North rival for the second year in a row, unfortunately.
Chalk this one up to a young Bears team finding its way throughout the season and becoming a good team, in its own right. It won't be anything against the Packers, for the most part, and more a credit toward the Bears. That won't be any consolation prize, at all, but it still represents the truth, which is important.
Final Record: 9-8
Will 9-8 be enough to get into the playoffs? 25% of playoff teams won at least eight games since the NFL expanded to 17 regular season games in 2021 and two divisions were even won with an 8-9 record (2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and a 9-8 record (2022 Jacksonville Jaguars).
So, yes, it can be done. The Packers can make the playoffs with a 9-8 record.
It's simply all about whether they actually do it, or not.
Three bold predictions for the Packers’ 2023 season
The start of the NFL season is right around the corner so let’s go ahead and make some bold Packers predictions.
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