The Packers have been laying low lately but that will change on the field tomorrow. The Packers were 8-0 at Lambeau Field during the regular season. The Packers beat the Giants 38-35 just six weeks ago in New Jersey in one of the most exciting games of the year. The Giants have been talking a lot of smack, and they will get a chance to back it up on the field tomorrow. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball: The Packers don’t change for anyone. They are going to spread the field and attack the Giants down the field with the passing game. The key for the Packers will be giving Aaron Rodgers enough time to throw the ball. To help the offensive line in this game, I look for Rodgers to get rid of the ball extremely quick on short passes. As soon as the Giants sneak up to take away the short pass, that’s when Rodgers will go over the top to WRs Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. I also think that the Packers might run the ball a little more than usual to try to catch the Giants’ D sleeping. Ryan Grant and James Starks will likely split carries tomorrow.

When the Giants have the ball: The Packers are going to have to get a good pass rush on Eli Manning, as he was pretty damn good against them earlier in the year. He has an outstanding stable of WRs in Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks to throw to, but if he makes any mistakes….look for the Packers’ CBs to jump on them. The secret weapon of the Giants will likely be TE Jake Ballard as he has had a solid year. The Packers better also be ready to stop RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw as they are both hard runners coming off outstanding games against the Falcons last weekend.

PREDICTION: PACKERS 41, GIANTS 34

The Green Bay Packers have already locked up the #1 seed in the NFC Playoffs, so look for them to get their starters out of this game by the end of the first quarter.  They beat the Lions 27-15 earlier this year on Thanksgiving in Detroit.  The Lions have won three games in a row and they need a win or a Falcons’ loss to the Bucs to lock up the #5 seed.  Look for the Lions to play this like a regular game.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers’ offense is likely going to be the Matt Flynn, Brandon Saine and Randall Cobb show this weekend.  Aaron Rodgers will likely start this game, but he’s not going to play long.  Flynn will use this game as a showcase for himself as he will become a free agent next March.  The Lions are giving up 224.0 yards passing so far this year, but they have 39 sacks and 20 interceptions so far this year…so Flynn is going to have to be careful with the football.  The Lions are giving up 131.4 yards rushing per game and 5.1 yards per carry so far this year, so Brandon Saine could have a big day for the Packers.

When the Lions have the ball:  The Lions are going to air it out against the Packers’ secondary.  Look for Matt Stafford to look down the field to WRs Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson and Titus Young.  He will also be aiming for his TEs, Tony Scheffler and Brandon Pettigrew on the short stuff.  The Lions are going to be resting Kevin Smith in this game, so look for Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams to get a lot of work for them this Sunday.

PREDICTION:  LIONS 31, PACKERS 20

The Green Bay Packers lost their first game last weekend in K.C. against the Chiefs, so look for them to be very focused tonight against their bitter rivals….the Chicago Bears.  The Bears have lost four games in a row, but they can still make the playoffs if they win their last two games and the Falcons lose their last two games.  The Packers beat the Bears 27-17 earlier this year in Chicago.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to come out throwing the ball.  Rodgers is going to spread the field out tonight and move the ball around to his receivers.  Look for TE Jermichael Finley to have a big game as he is a mis-match physically for the Bears’ safeties.  WRs Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones and Donald Driver give Rodgers a lot of other options in the passing game tonight against a Bears’ D that is giving up 254.4 yards passing per game so far this year.  Ryan Grant will lend ground support for the Packers in this game.

When the Bears have the ball:  The Bears are going to be starting Josh McCown at QB and Kahlil Bell at RB tonight.  The Packers are going to need to gang up and stop Kahlil Bell, because the Bears’ gameplan probably is going to revolve around him tonight.  The Packers are going to be blitzing Josh McCown like a madman, as he has not started an NFL game since 2007.  He could get rattled easily with pressure tonight.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 38, BEARS 16

The Green Bay Packers head to Arrowhead Stadium on a roll.  They can’t overlook the Chiefs this weekend as they sometimes step up due to the home crowd getting behind them.  The Chiefs got whacked hard 37-10 last weekend by the Jets and it cost head coach Todd Haley his job.  Enter new head coach Romeo Crennel and new starting QB Kyle Orton.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are likely going to throw the ball to get a lead and then try to grind it out on the ground some with Ryan Grant.  Aaron Rodgers will be without Greg Jennings in this game, but he still has a lot of weapons in the passing game.  Look for him to spread the ball around to TE Jermichael Finley, WR Jordy Nelson, WR James Jones, WR Donald Driver and WR Randall Cobb.  The Chiefs are giving up 132.5 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry so far this year, so RB Ryan Grant should find plenty of room to run the ball this weekend.

When the Chiefs have the ball:  New head coach Romeo Crennel is likely going to institute an offense that runs the ball a lot more than the Chiefs have been.  That means that Jackie Battle, Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster are going to get a lot of work this Sunday.  The Packers’ front seven will have to step up as they can’t afford to give up the 4.8 yards per rush that they have allowed this year in this game.  Kyle Orton has a broken finger but he also has a decent set of  WRs in Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin.  So the Packers will have to get after Orton this Sunday with the pass rush.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 31, CHIEFS 20

The Packers are coming off a very hard fought win against the Giants.  They still have found a way to win every game they have played so far this year.  The Raiders are now tied with the Broncos atop of the AFC West, so this is a HUGE game for them.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to try to get this game over quickly.  Aaron Rodgers is going to be throwing the ball all over the field in this game, in order to build a big lead.  The Raiders are giving up 239.1 yards passing per game so far this year, but they do have 14 interceptions, so they can make some plays.  I still don’t see them offering must resistance to the Packers’ air attack.  James Starks and Ryan Grant will try to grind the game out late on the ground against a Raiders’ D that is allowing 141.2 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards per carry so far this year.

When the Raiders have the ball:  The Raiders like to run the ball and throw it deep.  RB Michael Bush is a good power running back, so the front seven of the Packers are going to have to tighten up the chinstraps.  The Packers must also watch out for FB Marcel Reece.  He doesn’t get the ball a lot, but he makes plays both running and catching the ball when he does get his chances.  The Packers are going to have to get after Carson Palmer, because he still has a good enough arm to get the ball deep to his WRs.  He doesn’t have a favorite receiver which makes the Raiders’ passing game hard to defend.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 37, RAIDERS 20

The Green Bay Packers are making a very serious run at a undefeated record in 2011,  and the Giants are likely the toughest game they will have the rest of the regular season.  The Giants have lost three games in a row, in which they have been outscored 93-54!  The Giants need this game in the worst way.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers aren’t going to change for the Giants, as Aaron Rodgers is going to come after them with his right arm.  The Giants have 31 sacks on the year, so they are going to be coming after Aaron Rodgers.  Rodgers will likely be getting rid of the ball quickly, using all of his WRs and TEs to catch shorter passes and make something happen with their legs.  The Giants just don’t have the depth in the secondary to cover all of Rodgers’ receivers effectively.  James Starks and Ryan Grant will give the Packers some ground support when they are called on.

When the Giants have the ball:  The Giants are likely to have Ahmad Bradshaw back in this game.  But, he’s likely going to be on a hit count, so Brandon Jacobs will also get his work in.  The Packers are giving up 4.9 yards per carry, so the Giants might have some success on the ground.  The Packers like to get after the QB, but the Giants’ O-Line has protected Eli Manning pretty well so far this year.  He has very solid weapons in WRs Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and TE Jake Ballard…..but the Packers have 22 interceptions this year, so they are going to be ballhawking in this game.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 33, GIANTS 30

This game is going to be a blast later today as the Packers and Lions average a combined 65.6 points per game.  The Packers can’t afford to let up on the gas if they get the lead in this game as the Lions are the first team in NFL history to win three games in a season in which they were losing by 17 points at one point in the game!  The Lions want to win the AFC North and they are going to have to win this game to have any chance at that.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers aren’t going to change anything today.  Aaron Rodgers is going to spread the field and look for the open man.  The Lions have a pretty decent pass rush (27 sacks), so Rodgers will likely have to move around in the pocket a little more than usual in this game.  He will have to be careful with the ball too as the Lions already have 15 interceptions this year and they are averaging 22.1 yards per return.  The Lions do have a soft run defense as they are giving up 134.7 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry.  Don’t be surprised if Ryan Grant has a big game today.

When the Lions have the ball:  The Lions are a pass first team, so the Packers are going to have to get after Matt Stafford.  Stafford has a nice set of receivers to throw to in Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Titus Young, Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler.  That is going to put pressure on the Packers’ secondary as they are giving up 289.3 yards passing per game so far this year.  RB Kevin Smith exploded last weekend against the Panthers and he will make the Packers’ D pay if they gang up to stop the passing game of the Lions.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 34, LIONS 31 IN O.T.

The Green Bay Packers just seem to keep getting better as the defense is starting to play up to their ability as of late.  The Packers are winning by an average of 14.9 points per game so far this year.  The Buccaneers have lost three games in a row by a combined score of 88-43!  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to come out of the locker room throwing the football around the field.  Aaron Rodgers is the best QB on the planet right now and he will be attacking a Bucs’ D that is allowing 263.0 yards passing per game so far this year.  The Packers have too many good receivers for the Bucs to cover, so I don’t see any way that the Packers don’t move the ball at will this Sunday.  The Bucs can’t stop the run either (138.2 yards rushing per game, 4.7 yards per carry), so James Starks and Ryan Grant will get a few carries each this Sunday.

When the Buccaneers have the ball:  The Packers will try to gang up to stop RB LeGarrette Blount and dare the Bucs to try to beat them through the air.  Josh Freeman hasn’t looked right this year as he only has 9 TD passes to 13 INTs so far this year.  The Packers will take their chances with the WRs and TEs of the Buccaneers as not one of them strike fear into anyone’s heart.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 35, BUCCANEERS 13

The Packers are rolling as they are still undefeated on the season.  But, the Vikings gave the Packers a run for their money three weeks ago in Minnesota in a game the Pack won 33-27.  The Vikings have played much better with Christian Ponder at QB.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers throw the ball to set up the run.  Aaron Rodgers is likely going to pick apart the Vikings by spreading his receivers out and exploiting the mis-matches.  The Packers should be able to move the ball at will in the air against a Vikings’ D that is giving up 273.6 yards passing per game.  When the secondary drops back to deal with Rodgers’ passing, that’s when he’s going to hand the ball off to James Starks and Ryan Grant.

When the Vikings have the ball:  The Packers better be ready for a very heavy dose of Adrian Peterson in this game as he is likely going to get 25-30 carries in this game.  The Packers are giving up 4.6 yards per carry this year, so Peterson should have a very solid game.  WR Percy Harvin is the Vikings’ gamebreaker, so look for the Packers to give safety help over the top to whichever corner is covering him.  The other receivers don’t worry the Packers much.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 38, VIKINGS 20

The Green Bay Packers have had two weeks to get ready for the Chargers.  The Packers are not just winning games, they are pushing teams around as they are winning by an average of 12.7 points per game!  The Chargers are 3-0 at home this year where they have outscored their opponents 70-50, but they have not beaten a team near the caliber of the Packers.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The Packers are going to come out throwing the ball….and why not…..as they have the best QB on the planet in Aaron Rodgers.  The Chargers only have 13 sacks this year, so Rodgers should have plenty of time to throw the ball and that’s bad news for the Chargers.  Rodgers will likely spread the field out and the ball around to his very talented WRs, RBs and TEs in the passing game.  James Starks and Ryan Grant will also get some carries to keep the Chargers’ D honest tomorrow.

When the Chargers have the ball:  The Chargers are going to come out throwing the ball tomorrow.  Philip Rivers makes mistakes with the ball when he gets hit good a few times early in the game.  With that in mind, I expect the Packers to be blitzing like demons tomorrow in an effort to rattle Rivers.  Rivers does have an outstanding set of WRs and TEs to throw the ball to, so the corners and safeties better be ready tomorrow.  Malcom Floyd, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates and Randy McMichael will give the Packers a challenge tomorrow.  It looks like Mike Tolbert will be the main back for the Chargers tomorrow and he’s a hard charging runner so the Packers’ front seven will have to be ready for a fight.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 33, CHARGERS 24