USA TODAY believes Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will finish the 2022 season by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Glendale, Arizona.
In his annual league-wide predictions, Nate Davis of USA TODAY (subscriber-only content) guessed that the Packers will go 11-6, win the NFC North and then get hot in the playoffs, beating the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get to Super Bowl LVII.
The final prediction? The Packers will beat the Buffalo Bills to be champions of the 2022 season.
Davis believes the Packers will be a “less predictable team” that could “get hot” late and is better built for an “extended run in January.”
At 11-6, the Packers would be the No. 3 seed in the NFC. Davis predicted four teams to win more games than the Packers, but still picked Green Bay to survive the playoff gauntlet and win the title.
The Packers have enjoyed regular-season success under Matt LaFleur – winning an NFL-high 39 games over the last three seasons – but getting to the Super Bowl has been elusive. Green Bay lost back-to-back NFC title games before dipping out in the divisional round last year.
Could this finally be the year that adversity from September to December helps fuel the January run?
The Packers might be without Davante Adams entering 2022, but this is still a team with great talent and an MVP quarterback. And with Rodgers entering his age-39 season and unable to commit to playing past this season, it’s once again Super Bowl or bust time in Titletown.
Summer is officially over. If I think your team stinks, no offense intended. Now, onward to my annual #NFL record projections … sorry, but you’ll have to click for the playoff forecast! https://t.co/lY7XzpcGgK pic.twitter.com/jb6sOWc6K0
— Nate Davis (@ByNateDavis) July 26, 2022