Welcome to the weekly Zone Coverage Packers mailbag, where I try to answer all your burning NFL and Green Bay Packers-related questions, submitted via Twitter to @m_widmeier.
I think the Packers will finish the season 5-0. What’s your prediction?
Green Bay has definitely escaped the hardest part of their schedule. Some may roll their eyes at a 5-0 prediction the rest of the way but, looking at the schedule, it’s very possible. The Packers will host the Chicago Bears then hit the road to take on the Baltimore Ravens. They will then go back to Lambeau Field to welcome in the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Day, followed by the Minnesota Vikings. They finish on the road at the Detroit Lions.
It’s hard to envision them losing to the Bears or Browns at home or on the road against the Lions. That leaves the Ravens and Vikings.
I’ll hedge and say Green Bay goes 4-1 and loses to either the Ravens or Vikings. I always lean towards a split with Minnesota, and the Vikings took Game 1 this year. Baltimore’s secondary has given up plenty of big plays, and it’s hard to get a read on them overall as a team. But Lamar Jackson is still as lethal as ever. Don’t let last week fool you.
If the Packers do go 4-1 down the stretch, it would almost assuredly put them in the top two of the NFC standings.
If you could only choose one between David Bakhtiari, Jaire Alexander, or Za’Darius Smith to return this year, who would you pick and why?
This is such a good question, and there’s a legitimate case to be made for all three.
I’ll take Jaire Alexander. Here’s why:
Looking at what teams will likely make the playoffs in the NFC, one thing becomes very apparent: There are top-tier wide receivers everywhere, and plenty of them.
The Dallas Cowboys have Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup. The Arizona Cardinals have DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, and Christian Kirk. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown when he returns. It’s absolutely loaded in the NFC.
Green Bay’s secondary has been really good this year, but getting Alexander back would take them to another galaxy.
Bakhtiari comes in a close second for me because they could really use him up front, especially with Elgton Jenkins out for the year. If this is strictly based on need, Bakhtiari is a clear choice. If it’s encompassing everything involved, I’ll take the return of Alexander.
Za’Darius Smith would be a sight for sore eyes as well. It would give Joe Barry plenty of options to work with if Za’Darius, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary are all in the mix.
Who is the biggest threat to the Packers in the NFC?
The Buccaneers and Cardinals are the two teams that pose the biggest threat for Green Bay.
Yes, the Packers beat Arizona shorthanded on a short week in the desert, but a second go-around would be difficult, even with a healthier Green Bay team.
Kyler Murray was bottled up for most of that first matchup, and it would be hard for the Packers to recreate such a performance, even with their defense proving to be one of the best in the league.
As for the Buccaneers, it’s self-explanatory. They beat Green Bay twice last year, returned every starter from their Super Bowl-winning squad, and have Tom Brady.
Personally, I still feel confident about the Packers’ chances against either, but those are the two most likely threats.
Dallas seems a step or two away, Matt LaFleur has the Rams’ number, and it’s hard to see a team like the San Francisco 49ers or Washington Football Team coming into Lambeau Field and emerging with a playoff win this year.
What are the chances Rodgers repeats as the league MVP?
Typically, the voters like to mix it up. It’s rare to see an MVP winner go back-to-back in the NFL. It hasn’t been done since Peyton Manning did it in 2008 and 2009.
Rodgers was well off the mark early this year, but he’s closed the gap recently.
Tom Brady is the current favorite (+200), according to odds shark. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is behind him at (+450), and then Rodgers chimes in at (+600).
Those are the current live odds. As for the chances of Rodgers repeating, the schedule sets up favorably down the stretch.
It’s odd because the offense hasn’t totally clicked yet this year, at least not at the level they did a year ago. There were signs of it in the games recently against the Vikings and the Rams.
Rodgers won’t post quite the jaw-dropping numbers he did a year ago, but the race this year seems far more wide open. I’ll say he ends up not winning it if only because voters want to steer elsewhere.
