A lot of “experts” are picking the Ravens to win this game but I am not one of them.  The Packers are a very underrated team that is better than the Ravens on both sides of the football and it will show on the scoreboard Monday Night.  The Ravens would probably like to run the ball a lot on Monday Night but it won’t be easy as the Packers are only allowing 89.1 yards rushing per game and 3.6 ypc.  That means that Ray Rice and Willis McGahee will have to earn every yard they get on the ground.  Joe Flacco has padded his stats this season with short throws to his backs but the Packers have the linebackers to match up with them.  Flacco will have to be very careful when throwing the ball down the field as Derrick Mason will likely be shadowed by Charles Woodson who already has 7 interceptions this year.

The Packers probably won’t have a lot of success on the ground against a Ravens’ D that is only allowing 97.6 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry this season.  But, if Aaron Rodgers has the time to throw the ball he will likely have a field day against a Ravens’ D that is allowing 211.3 yards passing per game.  Rodgers has been sacked 44 times this season but the Packers will likely have the WRs and TEs run shorter patterns to protect him.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 24, RAVENS 16

The Packers are finally playing an opponent that won’t beat the hell out of Aaron Rodgers who has been sacked 43 times already this season.  The Lions only have 18 sacks but they should at least attempt to blitz Rodgers because he has time to throw the ball he will torture the Lions’ secondary which is allowing 275.3 yards passing per game and opposing QBs have a 110.3 Rating against them.  Donald Driver and Greg Jennings could both have monster games for the Packers who will likely come out throwing the ball in a attempt to break the Lions’ will tomorrow.  If the Packers jump to a big lead then it will be Ryan Grant time against the Lions’ D which is allowing 116.2 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  Either way the Packers decide to attack the Lions they will probably excel.

The Lions are really banged up on offense with Matt Stafford likely out with a dislocated left shouler and Calvin Johnson gimpy with multiple injuries.  But the Packers also have had injuries hit them as Al Harris and Aaron Kampman are both out for the year.  The Lions will likely come out trying to fight fire with fire in the passing game.  Daunte Culpepper can still be effective if he has time to throw the ball but Lions’ QBs have been sacked 30 times already this year.  Look for Culpepper to go to Johnson a lot if he plays.  If he doesn’t play look for Dennis Northcutt, Bryant Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew to be the favorite targets of Culpepper.  Regardless, Culpepper must be careful when throwing to Charles Woodson’s side of the field.  Kevin Smith will also get his carries but the Packers have a stout run defense allowing only 90.7 yards rushing per game and 3.7 ypc.  Smith is a good receiver out of the backfield and that’s how the Lions might try to get the ball in his hands tomorrow.

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 42, LIONS 20

The Green Bay Packers (5-4) are coming off a great win over the Cowboys and need to build off that this week against the San Francisco 49ers (4-5).  The Packers need a win to stay in the Wild Card race for the NFC playoffs and if they get another performance like last weeks from their defense, they will be in great shape.  They nearly shut out the Cowboys, who are a much better offensive team than the 49ers.  Alex Smith has not been playing well at quarterback for the 49ers, so the Packers secondary needs to take advantage of any of his throwing mistakes.  Frank Gore is the engine that makes this team go though, so they need to key in on stopping his run.  Gore had a 104 yards and touchdown last week, so he is running the ball well lately.

The Packers need to be ready for an aggressive secondary who had five interceptions last week against the Bears.  Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler was making some terrible decisions though, and the 49ers defense gives up nearly 250 passing yards per game.  I expect Aaron Rodgers to find a lot more success than Cutler did last week, as Rodgers doesn’t throw the ball all over the place like Cutler.  Rodgers needs to be ready for pressure up front, but he is used to that by now as the Packers offensive line has been terrible at protecting him all season.  Rodgers has still found a lot of success despite his poor protection, and with Ryan Grant running the ball well lately (175 yards on 40 carries past 2 games) I think the Packers offense will do just fine against the 49ers defense.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Green Bay Packers 31, San Francisco 49ers 21

The Green Bay Packers (4-4) are hosting the Dallas Cowboys (6-2) Sunday and it should be an offensive shootout.  The Cowboys are playing as well as anyone right now and Tony Romo is the main reason.  If the Packers can get Romo to play more like he did in the beginning of the year, then they will have a much better chance.  Romo has 9 touchdowns and 1 interception in the Cowboys current four game winning streak and has been hitting Mile Austin for many of those touchdowns.  The Packers need to make sure Austin doesn’t beat them for any big plays, as that is pretty much all Austin has been doing.  He has 27 catches for 612 yards (22.6 yards per catch) and 7 touchdowns this year.

The Packers offensive line needs to figure out a way to protect Aaron Rodgers.  Rodgers has been sacked more than any other quarterback this year but has still been putting up very good numbers.  The Cowboys are going to score some points, so the Packers are going to need to keep up.  Rodgers has the ability to, if he gets enough protection.  Ryan Grant can help with that too.  If the running game can have a big day, Rodgers will have more time in that pocket to hit Donald Driver and Brandon Jennings.  I expect this to be an exciting offensive game, but with the way the Cowboys have been playing lately I am not betting against them.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  Dallas Cowboys 34, Green Bay Packers 30

The Packers really need this game on Sunday and they are mad after getting dumped on for the second time by Brett Favre.  They will likely take out their frustrations on the poor Tampa Bay Buccaneers and this game won’t likely be too pretty.  Like they did against the Browns they will likely lean on the running game a little bit more than usual.  Ryan Grant will be taking aim at a Bucs’ D that is allowing 162.4 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  The Bucs don’t have the pass rush to likely bother Aaron Rodgers much despite the fact that he has been sacked 31 times already this season.  Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and newly found TE Spencer Havner could all have big games against the Bucs on Sunday.

This game could get ugly quick as Josh Freeman is making his first start of his NFL career this Sunday.  The Bucs should try to lean on the running game against the Packers on Sunday.  Cadillac Williams should get a lot of work in this game in an attempt to protect Freeman.  But the Packers have a good run defense as they have only allowed 99.4 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry so it won’t be easy for Williams.  Look for Freeman to lean on Kellen Winslow in the passing game as he should avoid taking on Al Harris and Charles Woodson. 

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 38, BUCCANEERS 7