The Green Bay Packers ran into the buzzsaw known as Brian Flores to finish Week 1, and now avoiding the 0-2 start will require going to New York and beating Aaron Glenn's 1-0 Jets on Sunday. The showdown is a noon kickoff, and rainy conditions are expected at MetLife Stadium. Can the Packers put the season opener in the rear-view mirror, play 60 minutes of quality football and improve to 1-1 with a much-needed win on the road?
Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 2 showdown with the Jets will go down:
Zach Kruse: Packers 25, Jets 19 (1-0)
I don't love the idea of playing in a rainy, potentially sloppy game on the road against a team coming off a big Week 1 win, but any team trying to rebound from a disappointing finish to the season opener better show real mettle
in Week 2 or the season can spiral out of control quickly. The Packers are talented. Now it's time to show some physical and mental toughness. It's time to go to MetLife Stadium, rebound along the offensive line, finish the game strong on both sides and put the last six games behind them. Winning ugly would be fine. The Packers must leave the Meadowlands at 1-1. I'm anticipating a weird game in the rain, and a narrow Packers win that features a late defensive stop.
Brandon Carwile: Packers 24, Jets 20 (0-1)
There are no must-wins in Week 2, but the Packers haven’t started a season 0-2 since 2006 and are in the midst of a six-game losing streak dating back to last season. Needless to say, a win on Sunday against the Jets would be meaningful, but it won’t come easy. Green Bay failed to shield Jordan Love from Minnesota’s blitz in last week’s loss. New York will pose another challenge with edge rushers Will McDonald IV, who has 18.5 sacks over the last two seasons, and David Bailey, whom they took with this year’s No. 2 overall pick. However, I don’t think that will be enough for the Jets to come out with a win. Love will have a big day against a secondary that will be without Minkah Fitzpatrick. I also think the defense will sell out against the run to contain Breece Hall, and Geno Smith will have a costly turnover that shifts momentum in Green Bay’s favor.
Mark Oldacres: Packers 24, Jets 17 (0-1)
Until everything went wrong late in Minnesota, Green Bay was producing against an aggressive Brian Flores defense, and Jonathan Gannon’s defense was locking down the Vikings on the other side. The Jets may not be as easy to sweep aside as many think with competency at quarterback in Geno Smith, a strong O-line and some talented skill players on offense, as well as a feisty defense which held the Titans to only 10 points last week (although the opponent must be factored in). The Packers should get right and end their 6-game losing streak, but with conditions set to be rough in New York on Sunday, this could be a game that feels too close for Packers fans’ liking.
Brennen Rupp: Packers 23, Jets 10 (0-1)
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 2 vs. Jets
