The Green Bay Packers will open up on the road in Week One of the 2016-17 NFL season, as they travel to Florida to square off with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM ET and set to air on CBS in regional markets. The Packers come in as runner up for the NFC North finishing 10-6 in 2015. For the Jaguars, things appear to be on the upswing although the Jaguars finished with a record of 5-11 in 2015.
Statistically Green Bay sported one of the most inefficient passing defenses in all of the NFL in 2015. Now Green Bay opens up their season with a very difficult errand. The Packers must handle not just one, but two 1,000 yard receivers that play for the Jaguars. This of course is a reference to both Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson. The dynamic duo have caused fits for many defensive backs and the question remains how the Packers will address the issue and whether or not they can keep up with this potentially explosive attack.
Aaron Rodgers has not appeared like the quarterback that has won MVP honors in previous years. Many proclaim that Rodgers didn’t have his playmaker receivers at full health for a full season. Now with the team rested and recovered, the Packers are not just a NFC North favorite but a potential Super Bowl contender with this comes fanfare and hype that is often unfounded. Bottom line, the Packers are a tough team to bank on until we can confirm that their offense has the same explosiveness we have seen in years past.
A remarkable 82% of the public money is on the Packers spotting nearly a touchdown to the host, Jacksonville. In Moneyline markets, the numbers echo a similar narrative as 88% of the consensus are on the Packers laying substantial juice at -230, opposing the option of taking the Jags at +190. In Over/Under markets, 63% of the public fancies the over at 48 points.
