Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Predictions

The Green Bay Packers enter the 2010 regular season similarly to 2009: An exciting preseason where they dominated the Super Bowl runner-ups in the third preseason game. Now, fans are prematurely chanting "Super Bowl!"

Hold on!

This is a brief week-by-week preview at what I expect the Packers to do during the 2010 regular season. What are my predictions on certain games and out comes? Of course, this is a preseason preview and it'll certainly change once we get a look at other teams and their injury reports.

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 1 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles
The Packers have one of the NFL's most intriguing games in week 1 as they travel to Philadelphia. Philadelphia regularly fields a playoff caliber team and is a hostile environment.

The Eagles enter the 2010 season with Kevin Kolb as their starting quarterback. The Eagles have speedy receivers that could pose big-play problems against the Packers secondary. However, Kolb will be getting his first look at a high-pressure 3-4 defense. Expect the Packers defense to make some critical plays that'll help them prevail in week 1.

Packers (1-0)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 2 Prediction: Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers
If the Packers can contain C.J. Spiller and limit offensive turnovers, then it's hard to imagine that the Bills offense can keep up with Green Bay.

Packers (2-0)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 3 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are desperate for a successful 2010 season. They must start the season off right. Add on a prime-time home game against Green Bay, and I expect the Bears to play one of their most spirited games of the season. There's usually some games that you wouldn't expect a team to lose... for the Packers, I expect this to be it.

Packers (2-1)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 4 Prediction: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Short week, but the Lions haven't won a road game against the Packers in nearly 2 decades.

Packers (3-1).

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 5 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins
Washington had many close calls in 2009. In 2010, they'll be under a new coaching regime and a roster packed with veterans. They've always had a stout defense. Now, they hope that McNabb gives them enough firepower to win close games.

I expect this game to be close, but the Packers should pull it off.

Packers (4-1)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 6 Prediction: Miami Dolphins at Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers start a series of 4 difficult games against the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys before having a bye week. Fortunately, three of the four games are home games. The Packers probably need to win at least 2 of these games if they're going to be a playoff competitor this season.

Miami will be coming off a bye week. They're also my pick to win the AFC East in 2010. Green Bay could be looking ahead to the Vikings the following week. Not expecting the Packers to go 8-0 at home this season, and I think this could be a trap game.

Packers (4-2)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 7 Prediction: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
If the Packers want to defeat Brett Favre, they must do it here. They'd have enough trouble defeating Minnesota with Tavaris Jackson playing in the Metrodome.

If Dom Capers 3-4 defense plays to annihilate Favre (i.e. Saints), they can win. If they play soft like in 2009, expect another 38+ point performance

Regardless, I expect the Packers to split the games against the Dolphins and Vikings.

Packers (5-2)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 8 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at New York Jets
Not a believer in the Jets. Love their defense, but they need Darrelle Revis. After starting 3-0, they went 4-7 going into their final 2 regular season games against the Colts and Bengals in which they were basically given a playoff berth. Mark Sanchez was inconsistent enough in his first season and it could worsen into a sophomore slump. Releasing Thomas Jones could add unto the offense's woes in 2010.

Mark Sanchez biggest problem in 2009 was turnovers. Green Bay's defense was amongst the best and should improve under the 2^nd year of Dom Capers 3-4. Jets rushing offense should be somewhat stifled against the Packers rushing defense. Green Bay feels like a more complete team and a bad match-up for the Jets.

Packers (6-2)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 9 Prediction: Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
Last year, the Packers were minutes away from shutting out the Cowboys in Lambeau. The victory turned the Packers season around after a miserable 4-4 start that ended with a loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cowboys won't play their worst game of the season again. I also think Aaron Rodgers will be a little more effective.

Packers (7-2)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 11 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Historically, Green Bay hasn't fared well in the Metrodome. The Vikings should have Sidney Rice back from injury. The Packers have two weeks to prepare for this game, but I'd feel homerish taking Green Bay.

Packers (7-3)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 12 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
After traveling to Minnesota, the Packers have to go across country to Atlanta to play a Falcons team who should be a 10+ win team. Along with Minnesota, this could be the most challenging game of 2010 for Green Bay.

Packers (7-4)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 13 Prediction: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers

Favre rescued the Vikings from the 49ers stealing a victory in the Metrodome in 2009 . They'll be even better in 2010, and Green Bay isn't close to the home-field advantage that Minnesota is.

December weather could help the 49ers because they appear to be better built for it with their defense, running game, and Mike Singletary. If weather isn't a factor, Expect Aaron Rodgers to outduel Alex Smith in the battle of 2005 first round quarterback.

Packers (8-4)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 14 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
This could be a competitive game, but Green Bay should have way too much firepower.

Packers (9-4)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 15 Prediction: Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots
This will be the fourth road game in five weeks for the Packers. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers could be feasting off each other's secondaries. This game could be similar to the Steelers game last season where they lost an offensive shootout on the road to an out-of-conference opponent.

Packers (9-5)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 16 Prediction: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
These teams last met in the 2008 NFC Championship. Currently, I like the Giants to win the NFC East. This game should have playoff implications for both teams. I like Green Bay for the home field advantage, but it could go either way.

Packers (10-5)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Week 17 Prediction: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Don't like Mike Martz's offense in January weather. If the Bears are out of the playoff picture, expect a blowout. If they're in it, expect Cutler to throw interceptions galore.

Packers (11-5)

Green Bay Packers 2010 Regular Season Overview
Right now, The Packers look like a 10-11 win team. The biggest keys to a successful season will be the health of Aaron Rodgers, the second year adjustments of Dom Capers defense, and the special teams play, which has struggled throughout the preseason. If the Packers can improve their pass coverage against top-tier quarterbacks, they should be considered amongst the elite teams of the NFC. They must steal one game from Minnesota to win the division.

Check out my other sports articles and predictions HERE.

REFERENCE
2010 Green Bay Packers Schedule