Two Historic Franchises Battle It Out In Preseason
With summer near the end and kids returning back to school, it only means one thing... NFL preseason! Believe it or not, it is already Week Two of the preseason, or three weeks in if you count the Hall-of-Fame game on August 3rd.
One of the most anticipated matchups will be the Packers' Jordan Love, who is taking over the reins after Aaron Rodgers' departure from Green Bay, while the Patriots' Mac Jones is hoping to keep his job as starting quarterback despite competition from standout rookie Bailey Zappe.
This gameday preview will detail what to expect, who will likely be playing, and who could win using statistics and trends. Although this game may seem meaningless, fans rejoice that football is on and most players are still fighting for a roster spot, on these two playoff hopeful teams.
Saturday, August 19th at 8:00pm held in Lambeau Field
Networks: Packers + Patriots local TV networks, NFL+
Who To Expect For New England Patriots
The Patriots continue to monitor Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. Although Jones' job seems safe for the moment, Zappe played well in the few starts he had last season and could still come away with the job if he has a good preseason. Last week, he threw for 79 yards and completed 85% of his passes in the 20-9 loss to Houston.
But it was rookie Malik Cunningham who stole the show, as he showed flashes rushing for 34 yards and a touchdown drawing comparisons to Lamar Jackson. He was the leading rusher for New England in the loss.
While nobody really stood out for the Patriots in the receiving room, Tyquan Thorton lead the team in receiving yards. The second-round pick has lots to prove after an injury-plagued rookie season.
On the defensive side, rookie first-round pick Christian Gonzalez made his NFL debut and showed flashes including forcing a fumble. He should be very successful in an elite New England defense this season. Veteran defensive back Jalen Mills had an interception and defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale also notched a sack. On special teams, punter Bryce Baringer looked solid averaging 50 yards a punt.
The Patriots will look to get their first win of the preseason after last week's blowout. Look for a big game from Keion White, the rookie edge rusher who should be rewarded with more snaps after a good game last week. Another player who should get more time is Cunningham. If he keeps it up, he could battle for Zappe's backup position.
Who To Expect For Green Bay Packers
One of the most exciting games in preseason last week was in Cincinnati, where the Packers defeated the Bengals in a high-scoring game. Green Bay played most of its starters, including Jordan Love, who had everybody's attention. Despite missing a wide-open receiver on the first drive, Love answered back with a sharp touchdown drive.
Despite being older than Love, the Packers drafted Sean Clifford to be a good backup in case Love would get injured. He showed his inner Brett Farve by throwing two picks and a whole lot of yards but was the type of quarterback Green Bay was hoping for. Completing 20 of his 26 passes, the former Penn State quarterback threw for 208 yards and a touchdown and even ran for 27 yards as well.
Last season's battle for RB3 continued as Patrick Taylor and Tyler Goodson duked it out to make the final cut. But it was undrafted rookie Emanuel Wilson who stunned everybody by rushing for 111 yards on only six carries including an 80-yard touchdown. The 24-year-old added two touchdowns as well and was easily the player of the game. Can he keep up and steal the RB3 job?
Romeo Doubs hyped fans once again after his beautiful touchdown grab from Jordan Love. But it was Tyler Davis who made headlines in their receiving room. The tight end caught his first and only touchdown of the 2023 season. He suffered a serious injury later on and was ruled out for the entire season. Green Bay might be in the market for a new backup tight end and special teams player.
On defense, star kick returner Keisean Nixon reminded fans that he is also a very good defender, as he added a sack to his resume. The best defensive player of the night was Carrington Valentine, who was all over the field. He picked up his first career interception, as the 7th round-rookie looked like a stud.
Jordan Love should start again for the Packers for at least two drives, while Sean Clifford looks to have another solid game. Can Wilson keep up his lead for RB3? Finally, will Green Bay's offensive explode for another 30+ point game?
GameDay Predictions:
Malik Cunningham gets more snaps than Bailey Zappe
Emanuel Wilson rushes for 50+ yards and a touchdown
It will be a lower-scoring game
Score Prediction:
Green Bay Packers 19, New England Patriots 17
New England and Green Bay battle it out on August 19th at 8:00pm!
Do you play fantasy sports? Check out Trophy Smack for your next league prize!
If you enjoyed this article, try the SR Original shows on our Youtube channel, and subscribe!
Also, possibly give our socials (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok) a follow, all of which also have great content!