First half in two words: MVP Aaron. To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Aaron Rodgers' demise were greatly exaggerated. After a so-so 2019 season -- by standards projected on Rodgers -- the two-time NFL MVP has thrown himself right back into the MVP race, and he might be leading it. With 24 touchdowns and two interceptions, Rodgers has the second-most touchdown passes in NFL history through eight games by a quarterback with two or fewer interceptions. He's on pace to break his career high for touchdown passes in a season (45 in 15 games in 2011, his first MVP season), and he seems wholly in sync with coach Matt LaFleur as a playcaller. This despite not having a consistent No. 2 wide receiver behind Davante Adams.
Biggest question left to answer: Is Adams enough? His claim that he's the best receiver in the NFL is not without merit, but what happens if someone shuts down Adams? It hasn't happened yet, and GM Brian Gutekunst must have confidence that it won't because he didn't go far enough to add a receiver (the Texans' Will Fuller was one of the targets) before the trade deadline. Allen Lazard is expected back from core muscle surgery any day now, and perhaps he will pick up where he left off with his eight-catch, 146-yard game when he got hurt in Week 3. And maybe Marquez Valdes-Scantling will finally find the consistency to match his speed. But those are both questions at this point.
What is the toughest game left? While the Packers still have games against the top two teams in the AFC South -- at the Indianapolis Colts (5-3) in Week 11 and home against the Tennessee Titans (6-2) in Week 16 -- their fate could come down to the regular-season finale at the Chicago Bears. Yes, the Bears have fallen off because of their punchless offense, but they have the defense to give Rodgers & Co. fits. Speedy linebackers and a powerful front seven appears to be the recipe to slow down this offense, and that plays into the Bears' strengths. The Packers still have Chicago twice, first at home in Week 12, but it feels like there will be plenty at stake in terms of playoff seeding come Jan. 3 at Soldier Field.
Final record prediction: 12-4. This is a one-game improvement from the preseason prognostication. There's always a surprising loss (like home against Minnesota in Week 😎 and an unexpected road win (like at San Francisco in Week 9) from when the schedule first came out, and there certainly could be more surprises coming in the second half. But there's little reason to think the Packers won't continue on their current pace unless the injuries hit even harder than they already have. -- Rob Demovsky
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30256895/2020-nfl-midseason-report-biggest-questions-record-projections-all-32-teams
Rob Demovsky wrote: