Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 8 vs. Bills
The Green Bay Packers have a monumental task ahead in Week 8.
Can Matt LaFleur’s team go on the road, beat arguably the best team in the NFL, snap a three-game losing streak and win for the first time ever in Buffalo?
Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 8 showdown against the Bills will go down:
Zach Kruse (2-5): Bills 30, Packers 17
(2-5? WOOF!) The Packers need to play a near-perfect game on several fronts to win, which isn’t likely but is certainly possible, especially if the four-time NFL MVP quarterback plays a tick better and helps elevate everything around him. But everyone around the quarterback must execute at a higher level or the Bills could turn this proud football team into a smoldering pile of rubble by the end of Sunday night. Win or lose, this is a measuring stick game for the rest of the 2022 season. Can the Packers find a way to play four decent quarters on offense, defense and special teams? Or will they roll over and die at the first sign of adversity? The Bills can expose every weakness this team has, and it’s simply hard to imagine this Packers offense scoring enough points to keep up with Josh Allen in Buffalo in a big game. But this is still a chance to prove the Packers can punch back against the best team in football.
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Brandon Carwile (3-4): Bills 28, Packers 10
I actually think Green Bay can put up a decent fight, but I’m going with the reverse jinx and calling a blow out. The Packers are going to get overwhelmed early and never find the heart to fight back. The last three seasons, this would have been a great game. But Buffalo looks like a legit Super Bowl contender while Green Bay looks poised for a top 15 pick. The Packers have lost to Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson, and Taylor Heinicke in consecutive weeks, and now they have to Josh Allen. Is this defense ready to face an MVP candidate at quarterback? Their best chance would be to run the ball and try to dominate the time of possession battle. That would keep Allen off the field, however, the Bills have the number one run defense (and number one overall defense), which means the Packers will probably try to throw it all over the yard. Let’s hope Matt LaFleur concocts a masterful game plan to remind everyone that he is still one of the best young head coaches in the game. But with the reverse jinx, he will probably stick to what hasn’t been working all season.
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Paul Bretl (3-4): Bills 27, Packers 13
If the Packers are going to have any sort of chance, it begins with the play of the offensive line and the run game. Green Bay needs to control the clock to keep Josh Allen on the sidelines, and hopefully, some success on the ground can open up the passing game. This, however, won’t be easy against one of the NFL’s top defenses from front to back. Ultimately, Green Bay’s inability to move the ball against Buffalo will put too much stress on their defense, who is facing an explosive Bills offense led by Josh Allen.
Brennen Rupp (3-4): Bills 30, Packers 13
Green Bay will have to play mistake-free football on offense to keep pace with Buffalo. That doesn’t just mean no turnovers. It means no drops. It means Aaron Rodgers will have to play like an MVP. Forgive me for not having much faith. This isn’t a must-win game by any means. But if Green Bay can show a pulse against Buffalo’s defense it could be the jumpstart they need to go on a little run in the second half of the season. For now, I’m sticking with what the Packers have been through seven weeks of the season and that’s a bad offensive football team. Give me the Bills by 10-plus points.
Writer | Prediction | Score | Record |
Zach Kruse | Loss | 30-17 | 2-5 |
Brandon Carwile | Loss | 28-10 | 3-4 |
Paul Bretl | Loss | 27-13 | 3-4 |
Brennen Rupp | Loss | 30-13 | 3-4 |
