Packers schedule: Predicting every 2021 game with and without Aaron Rodgers
The Green Bay Packers schedule for 2021 is out and we have predictions for every game this season if Aaron Rodgers plays and if he doesn’t.
Nothing else has been going on with the Green Bay Packers recently, right? Everything was business as normal when the team’s 2021 schedule was released — if business as normal includes Green Bay’s future Hall-of-Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, continuing to leave doubt about whether or not he’ll be with the franchise this season.
Though there are plenty of studs on the Packers roster, from wide receiver Davante Adams to running back Aaron Jones to cornerback Jaire Alexander to edge-rusher Za’Darius Smith and so on, Green Bay’s hopes of reaching their ceiling undoubtedly lie with Rodgers.
Sure, the organization drafted Jordan Love in the first round in 2020 — part of Rodgers’ displeasure with the team — and recently signed Blake Bortles as part of their contingency plan if they can’t appease the reigning NFL MVP and bring him back. But their 2021 season is going to look much different with Aaron Rodgers than it will without him.
Subsequently, we’re looking at both sides of the coin as we dive into the Packers schedule. We’re going game-by-game with predictions with and without Rodgers at the helm to see what Green Bay’s final record could be for the 2021 NFL season.
Week 1: Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
The Saints aren’t exactly a team that’s coming into the season with sure footing. Drew Brees’ retirement has the potential to throw the offense into disarray as both Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill have some obvious limitations that almost surely will cause the offense to take a step back.
Subsequently, this game looks like a comfortable win if Rodgers is in Green Bay. If it’s Love or Bortles at the helm, though, New Orleans still has a strong defense that could cause either quarterback problems. Thus, we have our first differentiation right off the bat.
Prediction with Rodgers: Win | Prediction without Rodgers: Loss
Week 2: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (MNF)
It’s hard to be optimistic about the Lions in their current state. Jared Goff at quarterback inspires little confidence, even if he does have D’Andre Swift and a strong offensive line. The wide receiver group is severely lacking and the defense remains a work-in-progress. Point blank, it would be shocking if Detroit wasn’t one of the NFL’s worst teams in 2021.
This game is almost surely going into the Packers’ favor no matter who’s at quarterback, largely thanks to the strength of the Green Bay defense.
Prediction with Rodgers: Win | Prediction without Rodgers: Win