Experts share their picks for the Patriots Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Mike Reiss, ESPN:
Pick: Patriots 33, Packers 30 (OT)
Anyone up for another overtime game? All week, Patriots players have said this will be a 60-minute game likely to come down to the wire. That would be fitting in a matchup pitting Brady vs. Rodgers, and with the Packers 0-3 on the road, the edge goes to the home team.
Rob Demovsky, ESPN
Pick: Patriots 27, Packers 24
The Packers nearly upset the Rams in Week 8, but do they have anything left mentally? Could their best performance be a galvanizing moment that turns their season around? Aaron Rodgers won the only previous meeting in 2014 at Lambeau Field, but Tom Brady gets the nod this time in what could be their final head-to-head showdown.
Mike Golic, ESPN: Patriots
Seth Wickersham, ESPN: Patriots
Mina Kimes, ESPN: Patriots
Trey Wingo, ESPN: Packers
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports:
Pick: Patriots 37, Packers 33
This will be a treat to watch since it's just the second meeting between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. It could be the last as well. So enjoy it. I will. I think both quarterbacks will light it up through the air, but the Patriots at home coupled with the Packers playing consecutive road games will make for a tough go for the Packers. Patriots will take a close one.
Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports: Patriots
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Patriots
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Packers
Elliot Harrison, NFL.com:
Pick: Patriots 34, Packers 30
The stellar group of researchers at the NFL West offices -- Jack Andrade, Bill Smith, Eric Lemus and the gang -- put together a book of knowledge on the Aaron Rodgers-Tom Brady faceoff that rivals the booklet that used to be offered on late-night TV by the guy in the Riddler suit promising that the government could bankroll your life. Well, this Packers-Patriots game is so money, it knows it's money -- NBC will hype it up to Madden-Favreian proportions. And the truth is, this matchup is special. Green Bay came a deeper kickoff away from potentially knocking off the undefeated McVays last week. And when the Pack and Pats last faced off, Green Bay pulled out one of the top games of 2014, with a 26-21 win at Lambeau. Both Rodgers and Brady posted passer ratings north of 100 in that contest. Because these two reside in separate conferences, as well as Rodgers' injury history, the future first-ballot Hall of Famers have only played against each another as starters that one time. This is Meeting 2.0 -- similar to Joe Montana and Dan Marino, who only duked it out twice. Ditto Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. Hopefully this Rodgers-Brady bout replicates the Packers-Colts classic from 2004. Since 2014, Brady paces the NFL in touchdown passes; Rodgers is second on that list. More relevant is that Brady is 9-2 during that span at home in prime time, while Rodgers is 3-6 on the road.
Non-QB intrigue: How does Green Bay handle James White? If the Packers play in dime coverage, White won't necessarily have the advantage of beating linebackers to the spot Brady is throwing to. White might be the key figure in this game, especially if Sony Michel can't go.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 30, Packers 21
Aaron Rodgers may be the better quarterback, but Tom Brady has much better support around him. And Brady is playing at home. And Brady won't want to lose to a guy who hasn't won on the road all year.
Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 31, Packers 21
The Packers' secondary is down a starting safety after the Ha Ha Clinton-Dix trade, and I think Tom Brady will know just where to attack.
Paul Perillo, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 34, Packers 27
Brady, offense bounce back against Pack.
Andy Hart, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 38, Packers 27
New England pulls away with a late score in another pass-happy shootout.
Erik Scalavino, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 33, Packers 30
Like the Kansas City game earlier this season, this matchup has been much-hyped, and will likely live up to its billing. The game might come down to whichever team has the ball last. If that's Brady and the Patriots, I like their chances at home.
Don Banks, Patriots.com NFL Columnist:
Pick: Patriots
I give the Packers a more than decent shot to pull the upset in Gillette and I'll be surprised if Green Bay doesn't push New England to the limit in what should be a fascinating game. The Packers put forth their best performance of the season last week in losing at the Rams, and they'll play another strong game against a Patriots team that had a short week. But in the end, Tom Brady will out-do Aaron Rodgers in the game's key moments and keep New England rolling with a sixth consecutive win.
