The Green Bay Packers head east this week and visit the New England Patriots.  So much for a breather after a tough west coast trip and game at the Los Angeles Rams last week.

The comparisons between these two franchises never seem to rest from year to year.  Let's take a look at the match up in more detail.

The Past

These teams have only met 11 times, including Super Bowl XXXI following the 1996 season.  The Packers hold a slight 6-5 edge.

But starting with that Super Bowl match up, these teams have oft been compared to one another.  Well, to be honest, it's more Packers fans who compare their team to the Patriots ever since New England has gone on a Super Bowl spree over the last 17 years.

Between the longevity of both head coaches and the quarterback situations, many feel that the Packers have fallen way short in the Super Bowl appearance and trophy collection categories.

Head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have turned the Patriots into the NFL's gold standard.  No team has appeared in and won more championship games since the two paired up in the early 2000's.  The Patriots have appeared in a whopping eight Super Bowls and won five since 2001.

It seems so long ago, but the last time these teams met, in 2014, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy turned in what many believe was his single best coaching performance in his time in Green Bay.  It turned into a 26-21 win for the Packers at Lambeau Field and earned some nice accolades from Belichick during the post game handshake.

In his 10th season in the league, that was quarterback Aaron Rodgers' first start against the Patriots.  During the previous meeting in 2010, Rodgers was held out after having suffered a concussion in Detroit the week prior and didn't play.  Back up Matt Flynn kept the Packers close and still had a chance to pull out a win late before a sack/fumble ended Green Bay's efforts.

Prior to that, the most recent games between these teams came in 2006 and 2002. 

The Patriots shut out the Packers in Green Bay in '06 and knocked both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers out of that game.  It was one that New England later admitted to using illegal methods to learn Green Bay's calls and tendencies.

In 2002, following New England's first Super Bowl win, the Packers blew the Patriots out of their own building.

That we still haven't seen another Packers-Patriots Super Bowl to date seems like a crime but it easily could have and should have happened in 2007 and 2014 were it not for rough losses by the Packers in the conference championship game.

The Present

This game is being pushed hard by NBC and they even had Michael Jordan do a promo spot, talking about settling the debate over who the greatest quarterback in the game is.  More on that later.

After starting 1-2, the Patriots have won five straight and sit at 6-2.  They are unbeaten at home this season.  One of those wins handed the Kansas City Chiefs, seemingly New England's top competition in the AFC, their first loss of the season.

The Packers dropped back to .500 with last week's loss to the Rams and are now 3-3-1.  Green Bay had its chances to notch a huge win and re-establish themselves as contenders in the NFC but couldn't withstand a second-half surge and a late-game gaffe cost them a chance to drive and score.

Two full-time starters were moved from the Packers this week and will mean changes for how the Packers line up on Sunday night. 

Running back Ty Montgomery was "traded" to the Baltimore Ravens after his idiotic kick return/fumble and subsequent comments afterward.  The Packers easily replace his production on offense and special teams with a combination of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and likely Marquez Valdes-Scantling.  

Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was also traded away, he to Washington where he claims his best asset, his "effort", will be on full display for his new team.  I can only hope the Packers face Washington in a key game later this season, then.  Tramon Williams took snaps at safety in practice this week and Jermaine Whitehead has played considerable snaps there this season as well.

As long as Belichick is coaching and Brady the quarterback, the Patriots will be a tough out.  They match up well and scheme their talent as well as any in the league.  

Tight end Rob Gronkowski has been a match up problem for many years, but he hasn't been as effective this season as in years past and seems to be battling injuries.  Running back James White, on the other hand, continues to baffle and destroy opposing defenses.  White's role is one the Packers have long had issues defending.  Expect more headaches on Sunday night, fans.

Defensively, the Packers turned in one of their better games last week, nearly shutting the Rams out in the first half until the offense gave up a safety and a short field.  Green Bay created pressure and made some big plays on third down to sprint out to an early lead.  

Rookie cornerback Jaire Alexander had five passes defended last week and doesn't seem to want to play the role of wide-eyed rookie out there.  He's already the Packers' best pass defender and there's no close second.  Last week, Alexander shadowed Brandin Cooks and made Cooks' day a long one.  Will the rookie be glued to Patriots receiver Chris Hogan this week or will he draw some of what Josh Gordon has to offer?

Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels will once again be called upon to slow down the opposing running back in White this week.

It's no secret, Brady isn't mobile so tracking him shouldn't be an issue but getting to him in the first place could be.  Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has managed to get free rushers often this season and that's never more important if you want to beat the Patriots.

Offensively, the Packers aren't getting into the end zone.  Rodgers is racking up chunks of yards but Green Bay is struggling to finish drives, something that will haunt them in this match up if it holds true.

Without Montgomery to tempt McCarthy, will the Packers finally lean more on running back Aaron Jones this week?  Jones led the team in carries and yardage last week but is still seeming to be under-utilized.  Jones' success in this game can only open many opportunities in the passing game.  This is Green Bay's key to winning this game.  

The Future

As encouraging as it was to see the Packers keep up with the Rams on the road, they still came up short.  Too many times on McCarthy's watch has his team done the same and failed to get the "W". 

With the struggles this year's team has already had, it's hard to see a different result in this game.

Uncommon opponent on the road and one of the best teams over the last two decades just seems like a mountain for McCarthy's Packers to climb.  They may put up another good showing but it's another disappointing ending and the Packers come back home under .500 searching for a win to stop the slide.

I also predict that Rodgers/Brady Twitter will be a very calm place after this game.  And if you believe that, I have a bridge over some ocean front property in Arizona that I can sell you.

The two don't face off head-to-head and the outcome of this game, or any for that matter, doesn't answer the question of who's better.  But we'll all have fun reading the many reasons why it does.  It's one of the reasons we watch in the first place.