On numerous occasions, the Green Bay Packers stated they were looking for a veteran quarterback to add to the roster. Despite all the current drama, the Packers have signed Blake Bortles for that position depth.
The former Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams quarterback will spend his eighth season in Green Bay. Bortles will be reunited with Nathaniel Hackett, Green Bay’s offensive coordinator. They were together in Jacksonville in 2017, where the team was fifth in scoring that year.
Say things go south, and Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return to the team, whether he’s traded or sits out. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst recently said that second-year quarterback Jordan Love has “a long way to go” when it comes to development.
If that is true, and Rodgers isn’t at Lambeau Field as the regular season approaches, that means Blake is starting under center. So what would that season look like?
Week 1: Packers at Saints – Sept. 9, 3:25 PM
This year, there will be no Rodgers vs. Brees matchup. Drew is now retired, which means there is a quarterback battle between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. It will probably end up being Winston, with Hill having a similar role to the one he played with Brees. Let’s hope he fumbles another ball that leads to Green Bay controlling the game again.
Even if Bortles is the starting Packers quarterback Week 1, they have a solid team. Davante Adams and Aaron Jones have a couple of scores each. The defense only gives up around 17 points. The New Orleans Saints are a solid team but struggling to find an identity without Drew Brees as their leader. Amari Rodgers has an impressive debut and puts the Packers in good field position after every kick-off and punt.
Green Bay wins 35-17 and starts the season 1-0.
Week 2: Packers vs. Lions – Sept. 20, 7:15 PM (Monday Night Football)
This is still the Detroit Lions. That being said, it’s a division game, and those are never pretty. The Packers might have some drama going on right now, but the Lions have been in way worse shape for a while now. They traded their starting QB, cleaned house, and are still looking to get back on track.
I predict a low-scoring game, with Green Bay still coming out on top. They win in the Frozen Tundra with a score of 20-10. They leave Week 2 undefeated.
Week 3: Packers at 49ers – Sept. 26, 7:20 PM (Sunday Night Football)
Week 3 will not be pretty. I don’t know who will be the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, but it probably won’t matter. San Francisco will be healthy, and they are a dangerous team. The defense takes care of business for the West Coast team.
Bortles is sacked way too often and gets a bit flustered. He throws two interceptions, and Aaron Jones isn’t able to get going with the running game. Packers lose 27-17 and are 2-1.
Week 4: Packers vs. Steelers – Oct. 3, 3:25 PM
Green Bay does not recover well from their Week 3 loss. The Steelers are tough, and Big Ben comes to Lambeau to make a statement. Bortles has two playoff victories since 2017. Do you know who also only has two? Aaron Rodgers. Ben Roethlisberger only has one. Several articles have been written about that, and I don’t think the Steelers quarterback enjoys that.
The Steelers are just too good and too much for Green Bay. They win 35-21, and the Packers fall to 2-2.
Week 5: Packers at Bengals – Oct. 10, 12:00 PM
Joe Burrow should be good to go for the 2021 season, and he’s now joined by former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase at wide receiver. The Bengals have a pretty good offense, but their offensive line and defense still are not where it needs to be.
I believe Green Bay’s roster and Bortles’ experience help win this game. The defense does most of the work, but Bortles throws two touchdowns and runs in for a score as well. Packers win 28-17 and are 3-2.
Week 6: Packers at Bears – Oct. 17, 12:00 PM
I am assuming the Bears will still have Andy Dalton starting at this point. Will he make it to Week 6 without injury? Let’s hope, for the Packers’ sake. Justin Fields might not be ready this soon, and we all know what Packers and Bears fans want. They’ve always wanted Bortles vs. Dalton at Soldier Field!
I see this game being fought in the trenches and defense dominating. I think the Bears take an early lead, but Bortles makes a tremendous comeback and heartbreak, including a screen pass to AJ Dillon that goes 40 yards to seal Chicago’s fate.
The Packers win 31-24 and are 4-2.
Week 7: Packers vs. Washington – Oct. 24, 12:00 PM
Surprisingly, I see Washington winning this game. Fitzmagic is back under center after Taylor Heinicke is out from a Week 6 concussion. With another season under the belt of players like Antonio Gibson, Terry McLaurin, and Logan Thomas, the Football Team steals one from Green Bay.
Bortles does not have a great game and ends up with two interceptions and a fumble. The Washington defense is just too much for Green Bay, and they win 24-14. The Packers are now 4-3.
Week 8: Packers at Cardinals – Oct. 28, 7:20 PM (Thursday Night Football)
The short turnaround time is not kind to the Packers. DeAndre Hopkins is unstoppable in this one and scores two touchdowns with almost 150 yards receiving. Davante Adams tries to counter with a couple of scores of his own, but it just isn’t Green Bay’s night.
The Arizona Cardinals’ defense at this point is among the top five in the NFL, and it shows in prime time on a Thursday. The Cardinals are contenders; they have the pieces and a young quarterback to make a run. The Packers lose 42-24. The team is now 4-4.
Week 9: Packers at Chiefs – Nov. 7, 3:25 PM
During the games in Week 8, both Patrick Mahomes and Blake Bortles suffer minor injuries, and it is announced they will not play. The game, which was billed as Rodgers vs. Mahomes originally, turns into Chad Henne facing off against Jordan Love in his debut.
Love pulls it off. He uses his speed and legs to confuse the Kansas City Chiefs defense. There is a lot of running from the Packers, and eventually, it wears Kansas City down. Green Bay pulls off the upset with a score of 31-28. Packers are 5-4.
Week 10: Packers vs. Seahawks – Nov. 14, 3:25 PM
Bortles is still nursing an injury, and Love gets another start. This week does not go well. The pressure of debuting at Lambeau against one of the best teams in the NFC is just too much.
The Seattle Seahawks win this one pretty easily. A valiant fourth-quarter comeback attempt falls short when a late pick from Love secures it for the Seahawks. Packers lose 28-20 and are 5-5.
Week 11: Packers at Vikings – Nov. 21, 12:00 PM
That’s right, we are still not at the bye week. Bortles is back, but Green Bay is stinging from the injury bug. Both Smiths are banged up, and a couple of offensive linemen are out. The Packers do well against Dalvin Cook and the run, but Kirk Cousins has a career game against Green Bay, and the Minnesota Vikings are starting to push for the NFC North.
Green Bay loses to Minnesota 28-21 and drops to 5-6.
Week 12: Packers vs. Rams – Nov. 28, 3:25 PM
Thanksgiving and a division loss have gotten this team going. Bortles has become a cult favorite for Green Bay and the fans, and some confidence starts to build with head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense. Aaron Jones has a heck of a game and ends up with two scores and over 100 yards rushing.
Matthew Stafford is too familiar with the outcome against the Packers. Green Bay gets a much-needed win a 31-17 score. Back up to .500 at 6-6. It’s also finally the bye week.
Week 14: Packers vs. Bears – Dec. 12, 7:20 PM (Sunday Night Football)
This is sadly the worst point of the season for the Packers. They don’t play well. Justin Fields is now the quarterback and has an impressive game. He isn’t great, but the Packers crumble. They lose at home 27-13, and fans wonder if heads are going to start rolling for the Green Bay staff and front office. Their record is now 6-7.
Week 15: Packers at Ravens – December 19, 12:00 PM
The spotlight is on this Packers team. This is where their winning streak begins to end the season. They beat the Baltimore Ravens in a low-scoring upset. Packers 17-10, and now they’re 7-7.
Week 16: Packers vs. Browns – Dec. 25th, 3:30 PM
Green Bay doesn’t lose at home on Christmas Day. Bortles and the team are riding high after the Ravens win, and they continue for another victory. Davante Adams has another impressive day, and newly drafted cornerback Eric Stokes has a pick-six. Green and gold win 28-24 and get above even again at 8-7.
Week 17: Packers vs. Vikings – Jan. 2, 7:20 PM (Sunday Night Football)
The Packers keep on rolling. They get their division revenge game against the Vikings at home. The offensive line injury bug has hurt Minnesota, and Cousins gets sacked six times. Bortles has another solid start.
Packers win 29-18. Their record is 9-7 going into the final week of the season.
Week 18: Packers and Lions – Jan. 9, 12:00 PM
The Packers are battling for a playoff spot or can tie for the NFC North with a win over Detroit. Sadly, this doesn’t happen. Bortles throws three picks, and Green Bay loses a close one. The Lions win 28-21.
Green Bay ends the season with a record of 9-8. They get into the playoffs and play in the Wild Card. Sadly, they lose to the Arizona Cardinals pretty easily. Everyone is waiting for the “Glass Break” Stone Cold Steve Austin music to hit and have Aaron Rodgers walk out to save the day. Alas, it doesn’t happen.
So how do you think they would do with Blake Bortles as their starting quarterback? None of this will probably happen. But it can’t be thrown out as an impossible scenario. I just hope you had some fun reading.
