Updated Packers Predictions for Every Game on Schedule, Including vs. Lions

On Aug. 14, I predicted the Green Bay Packers would finish the season with a 9-8 record and miss the playoffs.

At the time, the Packers looked closer to a last-place team than a first-place team. The Detroit Lions went 15-2 last season and handled the Packers twice. The Minnesota Vikings went 14-3 and handled the Packers twice. The last-place Bears, who almost beat the Packers twice, addressed their biggest problems by hiring a new coach (Ben Johnson) and buying an offensive line.

The Packers? Well, a suspect pass rush and suspect cornerbacks isn’t a great formula for success.

Micah Parsons, of course, changes everything. Good players help win games. Great players help win big games. Parsons is a great player.

So, with the Packers set to kick off the season against the Lions on Sunday, let’s reboot our season predictions. Games marked with an asterisk mean an updated prediction.

Week 1: Detroit Lions

The Lions have won three in a row at Lambeau Field, aka Ford Field West to the Lions fans who will form a large percentage of the 78,000 fans on Sunday. If this were Week 3, I’d pick the Packers. However, because of injuries during training camp, how much chemistry will be missing between Jordan Love and his receivers? Between the offensive linemen?

Meanwhile, Parsons hadn’t done any full-speed football activities since Week 18 of last season until his first practice with Green Bay on Monday. The defense will be a work in progress as Parsons learns the scheme and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley adds wrinkles.

So, I’ll stick with Detroit.

Prediction: Loss (0-1).

Week 2: Washington Commanders

Even with the expanded playoff field, an 0-2 start is practically a death sentence in the NFL. Especially with both losses at home.

The desperate team almost always wins in the NFL, and being at home on a short week is an advantage for Green Bay.

Prediction: Win (1-1).

Week 3: at Cleveland Browns

Joe Flacco is a statue in the pocket. Here come Parsons and Rashan Gary.

Prediction: Win (2-1).

Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys

If only there were a storyline for this game. The Cowboys looked solid in Week 1 and Dak Prescott is a heck of a quarterback. But Parsons is going to be a man on a mission against the team built by Jerry Jones, who forgot Parsons’ first name after the trade.

Prediction: Win (3-1).

Week 5: Bye