2013 NFL PREDICTIONS!!! (TYLER)

CHEESE HEAD NATION!

For Day 23 of my 2013 NFL Predictions i will break down the GREEN BAY PACKERS!

For years the Packers have been the franchise that everyone looks up to as an example of how an organization should be run. Not only that but they have regularly been in contention for their division. Last year's division champ Packers led by QB Aaron Rodgers made it into the Playoffs but didn't really make a splash. The offense lost the services of WR Greg Jennings and Donald Driver and are left with WR Jordy Nelson and TE Jermichael Finley to spread the field, also look for WR Randall Cobb to make more of an impact on offense. On the defensive side of the ball S Charles Woodson is no longer on roster, but don't fret Packer fans, you still have somebody in the backfield? i think. at Linebacker Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk are awesome and do a lot of work. DT B.J. Raji has to be looked at to solidify the defensive line, but whether he will or not is a question mark. Overall the Packers need help on defense and on offensive line. Let's see how the Packers drafted... did they help themselves?

ROUND 1: Datone Jones DE (UCLA)

ROUND 2: Eddie Lacy RB (Alabama)

ROUND 4: David Bakhtiari OT (Colorado)

ROUND 4: J.C. Tretter OT (Cornell)

ROUND 4: Johnathan Franklin RB (UCLA)

ROUND 5: Micah Hyde CB (Iowa)

ROUND 5: Josh Boyd DE (Mississippi State)

ROUND 6: Nate Palmer LB (Illinois State)

ROUND 7: Charles Johnson WR (Grand Valley State)

ROUND 7: Kevin Dorsey WR (Marlyand)

ROUND 7: Sam Barrington LB (South Florida)

Yes they did help themselves. Datone Jones will probably start Day 1 and DE along side B.J. Raji. I LOVE the picks of Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin at RB for the Packers, James Starks just hasn't got the job done and let's be real here, the Packers haven't had a good running back since Ahman Green... look for Lacy and Franklin to carry the workload on offense. A couple of Offensive Tackles in the 4th round should help bolster an offensive line that has struggled holding a pocket for Aaron Rodgers. I predict CB Micah Hyde to start this year even though he is a 5th round pick, this kid is very talented. The last couple of years have proven to me that good quarterback play goes a long way to improving all players on offense, Aaron Rodgers is fantastic, because of that keep an eye on the big WR's Johnson and Dorsey... they will make plays. Overall how will the Pack fare this year you say? Let's take a look.

OPPONENTS                                  W/L
@ SAN FRANCISCO                         L
WASHINGTON                                  W
@ CINCINNATI                                   L
BYE WEEK
DETROIT                                           W
@ BALTIMORE                                 W
CLEVELAND                                     W
@ MINNESOTA                                W
CHICAGO (MONDAY)                       L
PHILADELPHIA                                 W
@ NEW YORK GIANTS                   W
MINNESOTA                                     W
@ DETROIT (THURSDAY)               L
ATLANTA                                          W
@ DALLAS                                       W
PITTSBURGH                                   W
@ CHICAGO                                     L

FINAL RECORD                            11 - 5

Analysis: Usually i don't like having an early Bye Week but i think the Bye plays into the Packers season perfectly, Tough road games early against San Fran and Cincinnati will test the new play-makers for the Packers so the Bye week 4 will help to make adjustments early and re-align the team in the right direction which i have them doing. Another interesting note is that the Packers are (i think) the only team in the NFL this year that does not have back-to-back road games, obviously that i going to help this team. Look for Aaron Rodgers going to the playoffs again. I have them in the Wild Card because of losses to division rival Chicago. This team has the potential to make plays in the playoffs, but i think this year is going to be a major stepping stone for even better things to come in the next year or two.

What do you think readers?