Patriots-Packers Week 13 Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- The 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV sports teams make their predictions for Sunday's Patriots-Packers game at Lambeau Field.
Scott Zolak, 98.5 The Sports Hub
The biggest weakness in this game is the Packers' defense. Clay Matthews had been kicked inside with Dom Capers, who is of Pittsburgh decent and the Dick Lebeau school of defense. The Patriots have exploited that in the past by spreading the Steelers out and throwing. Look for the Packers to run that same type of scheme, and the Pats will attack that through the air. Then when the game gets into the later hours and the temp drops to single digits, they'll hand the ball to Blount to pound it and switch things up.
Read: Patriots-Packers Preview
I just don't see how Aaron Rodgers and the Packers score more than 25 points against a pretty good Patriots secondary and a defense that is hitting on all cylinders.
Patriots 31, Green Bay 20
Andy Gresh, 98.5 The Sports Hub
This is the remaining danger game on the schedule. It's a tough beginning to what will be an eight-day road trip for these Patriots, and I think this is the close one they lose.
I just don't like the fact they're going on the road. I recommend they run the ball and pound the Packers, then work it to Gronk. The bottom line is, funny things can happen in Lambeau and I think the Patriots will lose a close one.
Packers 31, Patriots 28
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
The Patriots have their toughest road test of the season on Sunday when they travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers.
Back in 2006, Tom Brady and the Pats shut out the Pack 35-0 at Lambeau, but Sunday's game won't be as easy with two of the top offenses going head to head. But the Patriots' defense has taken their game to a higher level, and the secondary is just suffocating opponents.
Patriots 34, Packers 27
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
I'm hoping this is a special game between two of the best teams in the NFL.
I think the Pats are the better team on all three phases of the game right now. Aaron Rodgers has his Packers rolling on offense, and will likely keep rolling on Sunday, but I have to believe the Patriots will do the same.
Watch: Dan Roche, Levan Reid's 3 Keys For Pats vs. Packers
Patriots 38, Packers 31
Watch: Roche & Reid's 3 Keys For A Pats Win
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the Pats win, and here is my reasoning.
Both teams have the great quarterbacks and at the end of the day, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are going to put on a show. Everyone who watches will be glad they tuned in.
Brady is relentless. He keeps plugging away and finding ways to win. That could just be because he's seen every defense teams have had to offer. But he won't stop; he's one of the best competitors the game has ever seen and right now he's on a roll.
Aaron Rodgers is the same way, but with mobility. He's a gamer who has quietly become the game's most complete quarterback. He has an arm like a cannon, can shred defenses and even run for a first down. He's playing in his prime right now.
So where does this game make a turn? On the defense. The Pats secondary has won games for this team. They have beat on receivers and forced them into submission. It hasn't had anything to do with the quarterbacks.
Two weeks ago, Andrew Luck played well, but Reggie Wayne and TY Hilton both packed it in. Last week it was Matthew Stafford who continued to play, but Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate did not. How will Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson handle the contact? How will they handle the hands and the hits during the game?
The Packers will have to establish the run but the Pats are going to stuff the box and force the Packers to pass. They are actually going to give Green Bay the pass, but I don't think Aaron Rodgers and his boys are going to be successful.
Patriots 34, Packers 17
Tune in to Sunday's Patriots-Packers game on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV -- the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on WBZ-TV at 11:30am with Patriots GameDay, with Patriots 5th Quarter on myTV38 following the game. The Sports Hub begins coverage at 1:30pm, with three full hours of postgame coverage following the game!
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