The two teams that I had pegged before the 2025 season opened for longshot Super Bowl winners kickoff today’s National Football League doubleheader when the Los Angeles Chargers host the Houston Texans with a 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time start. Tonight, beginning at 5:00 p.m., the Green Bay Packers entertain the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens will apparently be without the services of quarterback Lamar Jackson, and with Jordan Love clearing concussion protocol, I was liking the chances of the Packers in this one. Then, yesterday, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur announced he would sit Love.
What?
LaFleur, who made the worst coaching decision in NFL history when he kicked a field goal while trailing by eight points and in the redzone in a playoff game in the final minutes, now sits his starting quarterback with the division lead still within his team’s reach? The Detroit Lions loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas clinched a playoff berth for the Packers, but with a win today and next Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, coupled with two Chicago losses against the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions, Green Bay could win their division and a home game to open the postseason.
Is LaFleur so confident that the Bears can win at least one of their last two that he doesn’t give his team the best chance to overtake them in the NFC North Division standings?
I still think the Packers are going to win, but following his announcement to sit his starting quarterback, I’m not betting on it.