Green Bay Packers
vs.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 1
NFL Pick
9/11/16
The Week 1 matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Jacksonville Jaguars provides some interesting storylines. The Packers are the much more veteran team with expectations every year of contending. The Jaguars have a lot of youth, but flashes of potential last year have fans in Jacksonville hopeful for the future. The Packers are favored by -4.5 with a total of 47 at 5 dimes sportsbook.
Aaron Rodgers returns for Green Bay after a year with some struggles in 2015. Rodgers was missing his favorite target from each of the previous two seasons, and a dominant attack in the running Game was never provided for his aid. Many people have considered Rodgers to be the best in the Game the last few years. He should return to form with the beginning of the 2016 season.
There will be much optimism coNCerning Rodgers return of performance because of the return of his top target from 2013 and 2014. Jordy Nelson is expected to be ready for the beginning of the 2016 season when the Packers take on the Jaguars. Nelson had improved his production each of the previous two season before tearing his ACL and missing 2015. In 2013 Nelson recorded 85 receptions, 1,314 yards and 8 touchdowns. Then in 2014 he caught 98 passes for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. If Nelson can even come close to his previous performances, Rodgers will have plenty of options to go along with Randall Cobb, Richard Rodgers and Davante Adams.
Blake Bortles is on the opposite end of the spectrum career-wise compared to Rodgers. Bortles has the talent. He has some talent surrounding him. But Bortles is entering just his third year in the league and still needs to show plenty of improvement. He made a big jump from his rookie campaign to Year 2. Now everyone in Jacksonville is expecting more. Bortles went from passing for 2,908 yards in 14 Games (13 as a starter) in his rookie season to 4,428 in 16 starts in his second year. He threw only 11 touchdown passes in 2013, but he passed for 35 last year. But, in two seasons, he’s also thrown 35 interceptions, leading the league with 18 last season. This number must come down if the Jaguars are expected to be a threat with any consisteNCy.
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Bortles does have weapons at his disposal. He has the luxury of returning his top 8 targets from last season. Leading the way were Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns who combined for 144 receptions, 2,431 yards and 24 touchdowns. The familiarity should help in the development of a young quarterback entering his third year with the team.
In the backfield, the Jaguars really need some production to help take some of the pressure off of Bortles. T.J. Yeldon was a rookie last season and ran for 740 yards in 12 Games. In the Jags’ 16 Games last year, they only had a rusher go for 100 yards or more twice. Yeldon ACCounted for both of those performances. Not a bad start, but Bortles was also the team’s second-leading rusher on the season. If Yeldon can stay healthy and supply a threat in the running Game, the Jacksonville offense could become very dangerous.
Prediction: Aaron Rodgers’ ability to throw the ball to Jordy Nelson should prove to be a big differeNCe-maker for the Packers, assuming Nelson’s health. Neither teams’ defense showed much to be impressed with in 2015. I expect the more experieNCed team to go on the road and beat the young developing Jaguars in this one. Packers -4.5
Packers 34, Jaguars 24.