The Green Bay Packers travel to Jacksonville Sunday to open their season against the Jaguars, who have been pretty much the consensus pick as the surprise team of 2016. The Jags were 5-11 last year but have enough young talent, particularly at quarterback with Blake Bortles, that many are even predicting playoffs for them.
The Packers come in at 5-and-a-half point favorites, which I think is little high, but the Packers generally get inflated lines due to their status as America’s Team. If you are looking for a better line, online casino gamblers have the best time as bookmakers can quickly alter odds to be more reflective of the team’s current situation. Fortunately the Packers are not looking at any injuries that could change the line one way or the other.
In fact, the Packers should be full go with their 22 starters, and first level of backups. Only the suspension of Mike Pennel really hurts. What the Packers have planned for their defensive line rotation Sunday is anybody’s guess. Of offense the return of Jordy Nelson and Ty Montgomery are the big stories injury-wise. Both are a full go Sunday.
The Jaguars were 19th on offense and 25th in defense last year but Bortles is getting better and has a receiver in Allen Robinson that might be in for a real breakout year after grabbing 80 balls last year. Same can be said for running back T.J. Yeldon, who missed four games last year but still gained 740 yards.
The Jags defense should be improved with return/debut of defensive end Dante Fowler and the addition of cornerback Jalen Ramsey, their first round pick last May. Of course, their other cornerback is former Packer Davon House.
I have been going back and forth on this game ever since I posted my season prediction. At times I think this is a 5-11 team the Packers should beat easily and other times I think this is the Jags Super Bowl and this is their chance to the show the world they are for real. Either way it is going to be a close game I think.
The reason I lack confidence in the Packers is I just don’t trust their offense. I just can’t believe that the loss of Jordy Nelson would send the offense to the bottom half of the NFL overnight. Something else has to be going on when you have supposedly the best quarterback in the league. We’ll see if the return of head coach Mike McCarthy to calling plays, the addition of tight end Jared Cook, the return of Nelson and Montgomery at wide receiver, and a rejuvenated Eddie Lacy are enough to turn this offense around.
With that said, I need to see it to believe it. I think we will see signs, especially from Lacy, who to me is the key to making the passing game go. I think the Packers’ defense will be pretty good this year and expect them to hold the Jags under 20 points. Guessing you know where I am going then. Jags 17, Packers 16.