The Green Bay Packers enter another road game carrying plenty of questions with them. One week after watching a 22-10 lead disappear against the Minnesota Vikings, the Cheeseheads now travel to MetLife Stadium for a matchup with a New York Jets team that enters its home opener with a 1-0 record.
There are reasons to believe the Packers can respond. Minnesota was led by backup quarterback Carson Wentz, and Green Bay has not won a game since losing Micah Parsons to a season-ending injury last year. None of that guarantees the same problems will follow the Packers to New Jersey, but it does give the Jets some areas to attack.
New York also owns a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series and won the most recent meeting between these teams in 2022. With
the Packers facing another road test and the Jets looking to build on their victory over the Tennessee Titans, here are five bold predictions for Sunday's game.
Geno Smith throws two TD passes and throws for 300 yards
Geno Smith was efficient in his Jets return last week, but he didn't throw a touchdown pass or reach 300 yards. That changes Sunday. The Packers' defense should be tougher, but Green Bay also showed against Minnesota that it can give up big production when an offense finds the right matchups.
Smith should have chances to connect with Garrett Wilson and the rest of New York's playmakers, especially if Breece Hall and Braelon Allen establish the run. A 300-yard afternoon with two touchdown passes would give Smith an impressive first home performance since returning to the Jets and provide another indication that Frank Reich's offense has plenty of room to grow.
Breece Hall and Braelon Allen combine for 150 yards rushing and 30 receiving yards
The Jets should continue leaning on their backfield. Breece Hall rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in Week 1, and Braelon Allen gives New York a second capable runner who can keep the offense balanced and the defense on its heels.
Green Bay's defense should be tested repeatedly by a Jets rushing attack that doesn't need to abandon the ground game simply because the Packers are expecting it. If Hall and Allen combine for 150 rushing yards and add another 30 through the air, Reich will have done exactly what he wants: keep the offense balanced, create manageable situations and make Green Bay defend every layer of the playbook.
The Jets snag two interceptions on defense
At some point, the streak has to end. After the Jets failed to record an interception throughout the 2025 season and came away empty-handed again in Week 1, New York finally gets off the interception schneid Sunday. The prediction here is that it happens twice.
Jordan Love threw for 387 yards in the Packers' opener, but New York's defense has already shown an ability to generate pressure, and that could create opportunities for the secondary. With Aaron Glenn calling the defense and Green Bay potentially forced into difficult passing situations, the Jets could come away with the first two interceptions of the Glenn era. That would make the takeaways particularly timely with Minkah Fitzpatrick unavailable.
The Packers tally less than 300 yards of total offense
This is where the previous prediction becomes particularly important. The Jets' defense looked aggressive and disciplined against the Titans, and the Packers' offensive line gave Minnesota opportunities to disrupt Love. Green Bay finished with plenty of passing yards in the opener, but that production didn't prevent the Vikings from completely taking over late.
New York should be able to make things uncomfortable without needing to blitz at the extraordinary rate Minnesota did. If the Jets' front can generate pressure while the secondary forces Love to hold the ball, Green Bay could struggle to sustain drives and finish with fewer than 300 total yards.
The Jets survive an ugly slugfest to pull away late and win this one by double digits
This doesn't feel like a game that's going to be pretty for four quarters. Green Bay should be motivated after blowing a fourth-quarter lead, while the Jets are facing their first significant test after beating Tennessee.
There could be stretches when neither offense finds much rhythm, and the game may remain close deep into the second half. Eventually, though, New York's balance and defensive pressure should take over. The Jets get enough from Smith, Hall, Allen, and the defense to pull away late and protect home field. Prediction: Jets 27, Packers 17.
Worth mentioning: A 2-0 start would give New York its first such opening since 2015 and provide another early sign that Glenn's team may have something worth watching this season.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets vs. Packers: Bold predictions for New York's Week 2 home opener
