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Game-by-game predictions: Green Bay Packers

Give the NFC North title to the Green Bay Packers for the fifth straight year. There's no one else in the division that's a worthy contender. But with the NFC West on the schedule this season, the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs will be tough to come by. The Seahawks, 49ers and Cardinals could account for three of the Packers' losses this season.

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, at Chicago, 1 p.m. ET

It doesn't matter who's coaching the Bears, they can't seem to beat the Packers with Jay Cutler as their quarterback. He's 1-11 against the Packers, and it's hard to imagine John Fox's coaching will change that. Packers 38, Bears 17. Record: 1-0.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, Seattle, 8:30 p.m. ET

The Packers have lost seven straight games combined against the Seahawks and 49ers, including the playoffs. The NFC Championship Game collapse will be fresh in the Packers' minds, but it won't help them a bit in this rematch. Seahawks 32, Packers 18. Record: 1-1.

Week 3: Monday, Sept. 28, Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. ET

Aaron Rodgers hasn't lost back-to-back home starts since Weeks 13-14 of 2008, so look for the Packers to bounce back from the Week 2 loss to the Seahawks. Packers 34, Chiefs 14. Record: 2-1.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m. ET

See Week 2. The 49ers have accounted for four of those seven straight Green Bay losses to San Francisco and Seattle. Colin Kaepernick has made Swiss cheese out of Dom Capers' defenses. 49ers 23, Packers 20. Record: 2-2

Week: 5: Sunday, Oct. 11, St. Louis, 1 p.m. ET

The Packers might be a little sluggish after their return from the West Coast, but they have won four straight against the Rams, and coach Mike McCarthy has never lost to them. He's not about to start now. Packers 21, Rams 7. Record: 3-2.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18, San Diego, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Chargers got a break by not having to come to Green Bay in the cold, but it won't help them. The last time they beat the Packers anywhere was before Brett Favre took over as quarterback. Packers 45, Chargers 38. Record: 4-2

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1, at Denver, 8:30 p.m. ET

This is a matchup of the top-two scoring teams from last season -- the Packers were No. 1 and the Broncos No. 2 -- so expect a shootout, right? Maybe not. In those types of games, the Packers sometimes can't measure up. Broncos 49, Packers 23. Record: 4-3

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8, at Carolina, 1 p.m. ET

Home or away, the Panthers have never given the Packers much trouble. Green Bay has won six of the last eight, including last season's win at Lambeau. Under McCarthy, the Packers have never scored fewer than 30 points against Carolina. Packers 38, Panthers 17. Record: 5-3

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15, Detroit, 1 p.m. ET

The Packers have won 24 straight home games against the Lions, including one playoff victory. Why would that streak end this season? Packers 30, Lions 20. Record: 6-3

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, at Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET

The Packers never liked playing in the Metrodome and found TCF Bank more accommodating last season. Another year at the University of Minnesota's stadium will treat the Packers well. Packers 24, Vikings 21. Record: 7-3

Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 26, Chicago, 8:30 p.m. ET

Lambeau Field will be electric with Brett Favre's No. 4 unveiled on the stadium façade, and as long as Cutler is still quarterbacking the Bears, it's another Packers win. Packers 26, Bears 7. Record: 8-3

Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 3, at Detroit, 8:25 p.m. ET

The Packers have lost their last two at Ford Field, although Rodgers didn't play in the 2013 game because of his broken collarbone. Detroit's defense has always given them problems there. Expect the same this time to snap a Packers winning streak. Lions 19, Packers 7. Record: 8-4

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13, Dallas, 4:25 p.m. ET

Including the playoffs, the Packers have outscored Dallas 88-35 in the last three games played at Lambeau, but this one won't be a blowout. Packers 26, Cowboys 21. Record: 9-4.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20, at Oakland, 4:05 p.m. ET

This is the Packers' first trip to Oakland since 2003, the Monday night game after Favre's dad died. Including that game, the Packers have won six straight against the Raiders. Make it seven after this one. Packers 41, Raiders 7. Record: 10-4

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27, at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. ET

The Packers usually have a big crowd in warm-weather places, but given that the Cardinals should be a playoff contender, maybe their fans will keep tickets away from the Cheeseheads. Arizona had the fifth-best scoring defense last season and could keep Rodgers and Co. in check. Cardinals 20, Packers 13. Record: 10-5

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET

McCarthy is 8-1-1 against the Vikings at Lambeau Field, and the tie came without Rodgers in 2013. With or without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings rarely win in Green Bay. Packers 42, Vikings 10. Record: 11-5