Gridiron Prediction’s 2021 Green Bay Packers Preview

(Photo Credit – Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Aaron Jones, WR Davante Adams, WR Allen Lazard, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, TE Robert Tonyan, OL Jon Runyan, OT Billy Turner, DE Kingsley Keke, DE Tyler Lancaster, DE Dean Lowry, NT Kenny Clark, LB Krys Barnes, LB Rashan Gary, LB Preston Smith, LB Za’Darius Smith, LB Ty Summers, CB Jaire Alexander, CB Kevin King, CB Chandon Sullivan, FS Adrian Amos, SS Darnell Savage and PK Mason Crosby.

Key Players Departing:

RB Jamaal Williams (Lions), OC Corey Linsley (Chargers), OG Lane Taylor (Texans), LB Christian Kirksey (Texans), KR/PR Tyler Ervin (UFA), KR Darrius Shepherd (UFA) and PT J.K. Scott (UFA).

Key Players Added:

LB De’Vondre Campbell (Cardinals) and PT Corey Bojorquez (Bills).

Draft Picks:

Round 1: 
Pick 029 – CB Eric Stokes (Georgia)
Round 2:  Pick 062 – OC Josh Myers (Ohio State)
Round 3:  Pick 085 – WR Amari Rodgers (Clemson)
Round 4:  Pick 142 – OG Royce Newman (Ole Miss)
Round 5:  Pick 173 – DT Tadarrell Slaton (Florida)
Round 5:  Pick 178 – CB Shemar Jean-Charles (Appalachian State)
Round 6:  Pick 214 – OT Cole Van Lanen (Wisconsin)
Round 6:  Pick 220 – LB Isaiah McDuffie (Boston College)
Round 7:  Pick 256 – RB Kylin Hill (Mississippi State)

2020 Results:

W01  @ Vikings  W  43-34
W02  LIONS  W  42-21
W03  @ Saints  W  37-30
W04  FALCONS  W  30-16
W06  @ Buccaneers  L  10-38
W07  @ Texans  W  35-20
W08  VIKINGS  L  22-28
W09  @ 49ers  W  34-17
W10  JAGUARS  W  24-20
W11  @ Colts  L | OT  31-34
W12  BEARS  W  41-25
W13  EAGLES  W  30-16
W14  @ Lions  W  31-24
W15  PANTHERS  W  24-16
W16  TITANS  W  40-14
W17  @ Bears  W  35-16
DIV  RAMS  W  32-18
CONF  BUCCANEERS  L  26-31

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  13-3 (NFC North Champions)

Home:  7-1
Away:  6-2
North:  5-1
NFC:  10-2
AFC:  3-1

Head Coach:  Matt LaFluer

Green Bay:  26-6
Career:  28-8
Playoffs:  2-2

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Aaron Rodgers (372-526, 4299 yards, 70.7%, 8.2 avg., 48 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: 
Aaron Jones (201 car., 1104 yards, 5.5 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving:  Davante Adams (115 rec., 1374 yards, 11.9 avg., 18 TD)
Yards After Catch: 
Davante Adams (592)
TD’s Scored: 
Davante Adams (18)
Sacks: 
Za’Darius Smith (12.5)
Tackles: 
Adrian Amos (83)
Interceptions: 
Darnell Savage (4)
Pass Deflections: 
Jaire Alexander (13)
Tackles For Loss: 
Za’Darius Smith (16.5)
Forced Fumbles: 
Za’Darius Smith (4)
Kick Returns: 
Malik Taylor (9 ret., 167 yards, 18.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:
None
Kicking: 
Mason Crosby (16-16 fg/fga., 100%, 59-63 xp/xpa., 107 pts.)
Punting: 
None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  12  Aaron Rodgers
RB:  33  Aaron Jones
WR:  17  Davante Adams
WR:  13  Allen Lazard
WR  83  Marquez Valdes-Scantling
TE:  85  Robert Tonyan
LT:  74  Elgton Jenkins
LG:  62  Lucas Patrick
OC:  71  Josh Myers  |R|
RG:  80  Royce Newman  |R|
RT:  77  Billy Turner
KR:  32  Kylin Hill  |R|
PK:  2  Mason Crosby

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  94  Dean Lowry
NT:  97  Kenny Clark
DE:  96  Kingsley Keke
LB:  91  Preston Smith
LB:  51  Krys Barnes
LB:  59  De’Vondre Campbell
LB:  55  Za’Darius Smith
CB:  23  Jaire Alexander
CB:  20  Kevin King
FS:  31  Adrian Amos
SS:  26  Darnell Savage
PR:  8  Amari Rodgers  |R|
PT:  7  Corey Bojorquez

Team Grades

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  A
Punters:  A

Schedule:

09/12 
@ Saints  |  Green Bay leads the series 17-9.  The Packers are 3-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (17-26) was in 2017.

09/20  LIONS  |  Green Bay leads the series 64-44-4.  The Packers are 13-7 since 2011, and their last series home loss (0-31) was in 2018.

09/26  @ 49ers  |  Green Bay leads the series 23-17.  The Packers won (34-17) last season’s meeting between teams, and their last series loss (20-37) was in 2019.

10/03  STEELERS  |  Green Bay trails the series 5-10.  The Packers lost (28-31) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

10/10  @ Bengals  |  Green Bay trails the series 6-7.  The Packers won (27-24) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

10/17  @ Bears  |  Green Bay leads the series 67-42.  The Packers are 17-3 since 2011, and their last series road loss (17-24) was in 2018.

10/24  FOOTBALL TEAM  |  Green Bay trails the series 9-10.  The Packers won (20-15) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series loss (17-31) was in 2018.

10/28  @ Cardinals  |  Green Bay leads the series 12-7.  The Packers lost (17-20) the last meeting between teams in 2018, and their last series win (31-17) was in 2012.

11/07  @ Chiefs  |  Green Bay trails the series 5-7-1.  The Packers won (31-24) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

11/14  SEAHAWKS  |  Green Bay leads the series 14-9.  The Packers won (28-23) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series loss (24-27) was in 2018.

11/21  @ Vikings  |  The series is tied 54-54-3.  The Packers are 13-7 since 2011, and their last series road loss (17-24) was in 2018.

11/28  RAMS  |  The series is tied 20-20.  The Packers are 4-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (27-29) was in 2018.

12/12  BEARS  |  The Packers last series home loss (13-17) was in 2015.

12/19  @ Ravens  |  Green Bay leads the series 4-2.  The Packers lost (0-23) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

12/25  BROWNS  |  Green Bay leads the series 10-4.  The Packers won (27-21) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

01/02  VIKINGS  |  The Packers last series home win (21-16) was in 2019.

01/09  @ Lions  |  The Packers last series road loss (23-31) was in 2018.

Predictions:

11-6 (1st in NFC North – Eliminated in Divisional by the Seahawks)

Series Histories:  Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day. Meetings prior to 1966 are not included.  Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place.  For example, if a team won a wildcard game played in 2020, the game will be listed under the 2019 season.