Sunday’s matchup will look very different from the one eight years ago, save for the fact that Rodgers and Crosby are still Packers. Green Bay enters the game riding a two-game winning streak thanks to strong defensive efforts against Chicago and Tampa Bay. New England, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after a crushing loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
New England, like Apple, relies heavily on the performance of a Mac. Unfortunately for the Patriots, quarterback Mac Jones is out for Sunday’s game because of a lingering ankle issue. In his place will be Brian Hoyer.
Hoyer began his career in New England in 2009 and has moved around the league ever since. He served as the starting quarterback for the Browns in 2014, the year that Cleveland finished 4-12. He was the starter for the Houston Texans the year after, winning an AFC South championship but losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Hoyer has appeared in one game against the Packers in his career, completing 4 of 11 passes in a losing effort.
For Green Bay, the situation at quarterback is a lot more cut and dry. Aaron Rodgers is set to take on New England for the fourth time in his career. He has only beaten the Patriots once in his career.
The questions arise when talking about who is surrounding Rodgers. Wide receivers Allen Lazard and Christian Watson participated in practice on Friday, meaning they will likely play, but offensive tackle Yosh Nijman was listed as questionable Saturday night after contracting an illness.
#Packers T Yosh Nijman (illness) has been added to the injury report & is questionable for #NEvsGB on Sunday.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 2, 2022
Nijman split time with David Bakhtiari last week, as Bakhtiari makes his return from a knee injury. On Sunday, the Packers announced that Nijman is active, but it is unclear how much he will feature.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers will be without cornerback Jaire Alexander. He is listed as questionable with a groin injury and was limited in practice on Friday. On Sunday, the team announced he would not play.
#Packers CB Jaire Alexander will not play vs. the Patriots. #NEvsGB inactives list
https://t.co/tQ94wBxVhW
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 2, 2022
Green Bay’s all-time record against the Patriots is 6-6, including a pretty big win at the Louisiana Superdome in 1997. In that game, Brett Favre completed 14 passes for two touchdowns and ran in for a third as the Packers took home their third Super Bowl.
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