Hangin’ with Havel
Thursday November 14th
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Packers’ offense faces
tough test vs. Bears’ D
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Chicago Bears are in the midst of a dreadful nosedive that will end one of two ways.
Either they will pull out of it just in time by beating the Packers in Sunday’s noon game at Soldier Field, or they will crash and burn on their way to a fourth straight loss.
Oddly enough it feels like their fate is in Green Bay’s hands.
If the Packers (6-3) play like a refreshed, refocused playoff contender coming out of their bye week it seems doubtful the beleaguered Bears (4-5) will make it much of a game.
Then again, if Green Bay continues to self-destruct with penalties, drops and missed assignments anything is possible. That includes an upset win by the 6-point home underdogs.
The good news for the Packers is that Jordan Love was a full participant in practice this week. Love is coming off a groin injury that curtailed his mobility and limited his effectiveness. That was after a knee injury sidelined him for Weeks 2 and 3.
Center Josh Myers (hand) and running back Josh Jacobs (ankle) also are fit as fiddles.
Now, Love is healthy and ready to recapture the offensive dominance they displayed in the second half of last season.
“We’ve done a really good job of so far this season generating those explosive plays, those big plays that do lead to points,” Love said. “I talk about consistency, but we’ve just got to finish when we get down there in the red zone.”
It’s true the Packers’ offense has been wildly inconsistent, at least by head coach Matt LaFleur’s standards, but it also has posted big numbers in spite of itself.
Green Bay is one of three teams in the league, along with Baltimore and San Francisco, to rank in the top 10 in total offense, rushing offense, passing offense and scoring.
LaFleur’s crew also ranks in the top 10 in explosive plays (runs of 12-plus yards and passes of 16-plus yards).
“I have no doubt that we’ll be able to put up points,” Love said. “We’ve got too many playmakers on this team and too many guys that once they get the ball in their hands they can do some good things.”
Indeed, Green Bay has rushed for the third-most yards per game (154.8) and ranks No. 1 in total sacks allowed with 12.
By comparison, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked NINE TIMES in last week’s 19-3 loss to the Patriots.
That ugly loss was the final straw for Bears coach Matt Eberflus, who fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron on Tuesday.
Waldron, who was on Sean McVay’s staff with LaFleur in 2017, was just 10 months into the job. Media reports stated that several veteran players went to Eberflus and urged him to make a change at offensive coordinator. Other reports indicated that players also suggested they wanted Williams to be benched.
The Bears refuted the reports, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And right now Halas Hall resembles a dumpster fire.
Chicago has scored 27 points on its last 34 possessions. After a stretch where Williams posted 100-plus passer ratings in three straight games, he has fallen on hard times.
It won’t get any easier for the Bears after this week. Chicago plays the Vikings, Lions, 49ers, Vikings and Lions. With a loss to Green Bay on Sunday it is possible that the Bears could go from 4-2 and high hopes to 4-11 and a 9-game losing streak.
The Packers have won 10 straight games against the Bears, which ties the longest winning streak by either team in the history of the series. It also is the currently the longest winning streak in head-to-head matchups in the NFL.
The Packers also have won five straight at Soldier Field. They haven’t allowed more than 20 points in any of those games.
On Sunday it appears Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s challenge isn’t going to be nearly as difficult as LaFleur’s and the Packers’ offense.
The Bears have allowed more than 21 points only once in nine games this season. They have 16 takeaways, which ranks near the league lead, and they are seventh in third-down defense (33.3 percent) and No. 1 in red-zone defense (37 percent).
Interestingly, those are two areas the Packers’ offense has struggled. Green Bay is 19th in third-down efficiency and 29th in the red zone (47.1 percent).
Those statistics aren’t lost on Love.
“Those two areas, they do a good job of holding teams and not letting them get those first downs and obviously touchdowns in the red zone,” Love said. “Those are two areas that we’re going to need to improve on offense and definitely be a lot better than we have been, so it’s going to be a good test for us.”
LaFleur didn’t use Love’s injuries as an excuse for his 10 interceptions this season. He did say it was a factor, though.
“Certainly when you’re limited in your lower half as a quarterback, really with any type of thrower that can have a big effect on your ability to just move around in the pocket or throw accurately,” LaFleur said. “So it’ll be good to just get him some practice under his belt where he’s fully healthy.”
Make no mistake this is a big game.
The Packers can improve to 7-3 with a win and keep pace with the NFC North’s Lions (8-1) and Vikings (7-2). A loss would put the Bears just one game behind the Packers in the standings.
Green Bay can’t let that happen.
PREDICTION: PACKERS 27, BEARS 12
Packers control fate in top-heavy NFC North
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers expect to come out of their Week 10 bye rested and ready to roll.
They didn’t get any help from the awful AFC South as the Texans and Jaguars missed chances to upset the Lions and Vikings, respectively, while the Bears continued to nosedive.
No matter.
It appears the Packers (6-3) can’t rely on anyone else to do their heavy lifting. If they wrestle the NFC North title away from Detroit (8-1) or edge out Minnesota (7-2) to win the division or earn a wild-card berth, it’ll be their battle to fight.
On Sunday night, the Lions’ Jared Goff finally came back to Earth after a phenomenal stretch. He threw a career-high five interceptions, including three in the first half, as the Texans built a 16-point halftime lead.
It didn’t hold up.
That’s because the Lions scored 19 unanswered points, capped by Jake Bates’ 52-yard field goal as time expired, to give Detroit a hard-fought 26-23 win at Houston.
Earlier in the day, the Vikings secured a 12-7 victory at Jacksonville on Camryn Bynum’s end zone interception of the Jags’ Mac Jones with less than two minutes to play.
Meantime, the dreadful Bears (4-5) were hammered by the Patriots 19-3 at Soldier Field. Chicago’s Caleb Williams completed just 16 of 30 passes and was sacked nine times. The Bears’ promising 4-2 record to start the season feels like forever ago in the wake of their current three-game losing streak.
The news wasn’t all bad Sunday.
The Texans proved that the Lions aren’t invincible.
They kept Detroit’s defense off-balance for an entire half with an impressive barrage of quick passes out of the no-huddle offense. That disintegrated in the second half as C.J. Stroud threw a pair of third-quarter interceptions when Detroit loaded the box to stop the run and force Stroud to throw.
The key to beating the Lions is running the football. The Packers did exactly that in the first half of a 24-14 loss in Week 10. They didn’t stick with it in part because a 24-3 deficit left little choice.
On defense, the Texans committed to stopping the run and forced Goff to be one-dimensional. He finished 15 of 30 for 240 yards, two touchdowns and a 59.7 passer rating. The Texans also double-covered Amon-Ra St. Brown for much of the game and it caused Detroit’s red-hot offense to sputter.
Earlier in the day, the Vikings’ Sam Darnold struggled mightily while completing 24 of 38 passes for 241 yards, three interceptions and a 48.2 passer rating.
Outside the NFC North the Eagles and Jalen Hurts blasted the Cowboys 34-6 at Dallas. Hurts had been widely questioned earlier this season when injuries led to subpar performances.
Now that Hurts is healthy the Eagles’ offense is on a roll.
If that sounds familiar it’s because Green Bay’s offense, which ranks ninth in points scored, has been limited by Jordan Love’s knee and groin injuries.
If Love is healthy coming out of the bye – and I mean totally healthy – the Packers’ offense should recapture its mojo.
Josh Jacobs has been a revelation at running back. He currently ranks third in the NFL in rushing with 762 yards. He also has been a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur couldn’t be happier with Jacobs.
“He’s the same guy every day in his approach, how he approaches practice, how locked in he is, what kind of teammate he is,” LaFleur said of Jacobs. “Then you watch his play style. I think we can all agree that he plays the game the right way.”
Jacobs, 26, is precisely what the Packers believed they were getting in free agency.
“He runs with a mentality,” LaFleur said. He’s a tough guy to bring down, and he’s done a great job in both the run game and the pass game … I can’t say enough great things about him.”
Jayden Reed has been wonderful in his second season, but the Packers’ receivers have been inconsistent with too many drops (24) and mental miscues. The offensive line has been good there’s still plenty of room for improvement up front.
Tight end Tucker Kraft is among the NFL’s top players at his position in terms of catches, big plays and yards after the catch. His toughness and physicality brings an edge to the offense.
Defensively, the best that can be said of first-year coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit is this: It has given the Packers a chance to win – however great or small – in each of the nine games.
Free-agent safety Xavier McKinney has been an amazing player and leader, while a top-shelf rookie class led by Edgerrin Cooper, Javon Bullard and Evan Williams has been solid.
McKinney, 25, is a top-rate competitor just entering his prime.
GM Brian Gutekunst has been impressed.
“He prepares extremely well, takes it very serious, keeps his body in great shape,” Gutekunst said of McKinney. “He’s a pro’s pro. Interceptions can be streaky. That’s kind of one of those things but I do think he’s a guy – he always has been a guy – that if the opportunity presented itself, he had the ability to take the ball away.”
McKinney, who has six interceptions, insists the sky’s the limit.
“I think we have the right guys in this locker room,” he said before the bye. “We got the right staff (and) everywhere in this building we have the right people to do it. I think as players for us we really gotta nail this down, because we’re about to get into a stretch after this bye week and we gotta be ready to go.”
McKinney’s analysis is spot-on.
The Packers have four division games among their final eight so anything is possible once the head-to-head battles heat up. As it stands, Green Bay’s 0-2 record with two home losses in the division doesn’t bode well for winning the NFC North.
Then again, a 5-3 finish – which might be viewed as disappointing by some – would put the Packers at 11-6 and almost certainly be good enough to earn a wild-card berth.
The Packers’ goals are higher than that, though, as they expect to vie for the NFC North championship before it’s all said and done. To do that they need to fix what ails them.
The penalties, the drops, the lack of focus at times and the inconsistency all have to be minimized. That’s a lot to expect. Then again, as Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur often said, “You only get what you demand!”
It’s up to LaFleur, Hafley and Rich Bisaccia to unlock the Packers’ unrealized potential down the stretch. It happened last season without Hafley, Jacobs, McKinney and the rest.
There’s no reason it won’t happen again this season.
Packers’ 6-3 season is
rife with fixable flaws
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers are the NFC’s only third-place team entering Week 10 that boasts a winning record and legitimate Super Bowl LIX aspirations.
It is proof of the NFC North’s dominance thus far.
The Lions (7-1) are off to their best start in franchise history. Quarterback Jared Goff is having an MVP season and Detroit appears hell-bent on capturing the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Vikings (6-2) opened with five straight wins before enduring back-to-back losses in five days. Sam Darnold has been a pleasant surprise at quarterback after Kirk Cousins’ departure and first-round pick J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending injury that occurred before the season even started.
The Bears (4-4) are a respectable .500 despite the last-second meltdown in a loss at Washington. Caleb Williams has been good and bad – nothing new for a rookie QB in the NFL.
That’s a gaudy 17-7 record for the rest of the NFC North.
The Packers (6-3) have four division games among their final eight so anything is possible once the head-to-head battles heat up. As it stands, Green Bay’s 0-2 record with two home losses in the division doesn’t bode well for winning the NFC North.
Then again, a 4-4 finish – which might be viewed as a disaster depending upon how the Packers got there – would put Green Bay at 10-7 and almost certainly earn it a wild-card berth.
But playing football at a .500 clip doesn’t meet the expectations of GM Brian Gutekunst or coach Matt LaFleur. The Packers’ hierarchy anticipates sustained improvement after the bye week.
It has to happen for the Packers to get where they want to go.
Gutekunst sounded confident that the Packers will be playing their best football down the stretch.
“We’ve got to come together as a football team and play better football at times, but we’re 6-3, I think we’re in a good spot,” Gutekunst told reporters earlier this week.
Gutekunst is using 6-3 as the baseline for progress. The Packers haven’t accomplished anything yet, but they have positioned themselves to post an 11- or 12-win season.
Gutekunst was asked how they make that happen.
“More consistency and maybe a little bit better in situational football (is the goal). To go deep in the playoffs and to contend for championships, you have to be that kind of team. We’re working towards that and I think these guys have had really good moments, but you’ve got to be consistent with that. You’ve got to be able to call upon that whenever you need it.”
The Lions are a great example of what Gutekunst is saying. The way they handled the Packers, the weather and the adversity of having their best defender, Brian Branch, ejected in their 24-14 victory at Lambeau Field was impressive.
Detroit was prepared, focused and all business.
Green Bay’s goal isn’t to emulate the Lions. It’s to exceed them.
LaFleur has a plan to make that happen after the bye.
“There’ll be a lot of reflection, I would say, over the next six days of just things that we can potentially explore to try to push our team to be better, whether it’s in practice, whether it’s how we do certain meetings, what are we emphasizing to the team,” LaFleur said. “There’s always room for improvement.”
One possibility is installing more competitive periods during practice. The 11-on-11 work commonly called “good on good” (starters versus starters) was a cornerstone of Mike Holmgren’s great teams in the 1990s. It got to a point where Holmgren and defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur had to scale it back a bit. Players loved it, though, and often said it was the best competition they faced in any given week.
LaFleur took a page out of that book last season when the Packers were sitting at 2-5 going into their bye. The young team spent so much time honing the details, which was necessary, that it strayed a bit from remembering how to have fun and compete.
“Some of the things we did the back half of the season to allow us to develop and continue to get better … a lot of it just started with our approach, how much competition we had in practice,” he said. “I thought it made practices have more energy and it reflected in our play, quite frankly.”
Jordan Love is one of several key players that must push teammates to take their game to another level.
Frankly, Love needs to lead by example. If he can get past nagging injuries to his left knee and groin there’s no reason to think he won’t match his incredible play down the stretch in ’23.
Love has 15 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions for 1,820 yards with only seven sacks and an 88.2 passer rating. A year ago, Love had 32 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and a 96.1 passer rating for the season.
Part of Love’s ball security issues undeniably are linked to his injuries. This is the first time in his career that he has had to deal with an injury-related lack of mobility and it shows in his accuracy (down to 61.3 percent from 64.2 in 2023) and his poor decision-making at times.
Gutekunst has no qualms about Love’s leadership or ability.
He sounded more curious to see the heights Love leads the team down the stretch, as opposed to genuine concern about his chances of making that happen.
“He leads our team exactly how we want him to lead our football team,” he said. “Obviously, you guys have seen his ability to make plays and be a difference-maker in this league. He’s meeting all my expectations. We have high standards around here and there’s a lot put on his plate. Certainly, we feel very, very strongly that he’s the guy to do that.”
None of that is to say Gutekunst is “Ok” with Love’s interceptions, but he’s willing to live with it knowing that the injuries have been a factor. Even with Love’s injury limitations the Packers’ offense ranks near the top in explosive plays, passing and rushing yards, and points.
“When you’re able to make plays like he does, there’s a bit of a fine line where you’re feeling it out,” Gutekunst said. “He’s still a very young player from the amount of times he’s started.”
Gutekunst noted that NFL QB’s begin to blossom after logging “20 to 26 starts.” The Packers’ Nov. 17th game at Chicago coming out of the bye will be Love’s 27th career start.
“It has to get better,” Gutekunst said of Love’s play. “I think we all know that. But at the same time, I’m not overly concerned. The way he works, the way he goes about things, that’s just a matter of time in my opinion.”
If injuries continue to bedevil Love it’s not a total disaster.
Fortunately backup Malik Willis has shined while leading the Packers to wins over the Colts and Titans, and rallying them to a comeback victory two weeks ago at Jacksonville.
Willis provides a quality backup who can win games. It’s a rare commodity in the NFL and it’s why the Packers have six wins.
It was the first of two moves by Gutekunst which have paid significant dividends.
The other was signing veteran kicker Brandon McManus, who promptly delivered back-to-back walk-off wins. Now, McManus needs to focus on kicking in inclement weather at Lambeau Field. His miss against Detroit wasn’t a killer, but it didn’t help.
As it stands, the Packers’ offense ranks ninth in points (25.6) and 13th in points allowed (21.6). Their 18 touchdown passes ranks fifth.
Green Bay’s red zone offense ranks 29th at 47.1 percent and clearly needs to improve.
The Packers’ rushing average at 5.0 per carry is sixth in the league, with free-agent acquisition Josh Jacobs leading the way. Jacobs has been everything the Packers could’ve hoped for.
That’s ditto for safety Xavier McKinney, who has a career-high six interceptions through nine games. He has been a stabilizing force in the back end of coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense.
Opposing quarterbacks have a paltry 88.2 passer rating against the Packers. That’s despite Green Bay’s absolute inability to generate a consistent pass rush.
To that end Gutekunst traded veteran edge rusher Preston Smith to Pittsburgh for a seventh-round pick. Smith had just 2.5 sacks and minimal hits and pressures through nine games. It appears he has run out of gas, or wasn’t a good fit in the new scheme.
Smith’s departure paves the way for Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare to get more snaps, particularly in obvious pass rush situations.
“We’re excited to see both of those guys, see more snaps,” Gutekunst said. “I think certainly they’ve earned it. I thought they did a really nice job in training camp, and they’ve continued that through practice.”
Van Ness, the 13th pick in the 2023 draft, has been a non-factor in his first season-and-a-half. He needs to validate the team’s belief that he’ll develop into a first-rate defender.
Enagbare has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and definitely has earned his opportunity.
“Allowing these two guys to get on the field a little bit and maybe some snaps to go to some other guys, too, I think will help us.”
The “other guys” are Aaron Mosby and Brenton Cox, Jr., who have shown juice while rushing off the edge.
Now, it’s up to LaFleur along with offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich and Hafley to build upon the positives and make the necessary adjustments going forward.
Lions handle weather, Packers in 24-14 win
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Love attempted 39 passes without throwing a single touchdown. That is if you don’t count the disastrous “pick six” he gift-wrapped to Kerby Joseph.
The Lions’ safety corralled Love’s lollipop and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown with 42 seconds to play in the first half. It turned a one-possession game into a daunting 14-point deficit as 78,330 weather-beaten Packers’ fans fell silent in disgust.
The Packers never recovered as the Lions rolled to a 24-14 victory that wasn’t that close Sunday at Lambeau Field.
Green Bay (6-3) committed football suicide with one mistake after another. They dropped six passes, were flagged for 10 penalties and failed to execute in the most critical moments.
The Packers had more drops on Sunday than the Lions do (four) on the entire season. They also had three fumbles while their defense allowed the Lions to score two touchdowns on fourth-down plays.
It was as ill-prepared as any Matt LaFleur-coached team has looked in six-plus seasons.
“They played a clean game, a much cleaner game than we did,” LaFleur said after the loss. “I was disappointed with the number of penalties and just self-inflicted wounds that we had. You can’t do that against a really good football team.”
With 20 mph wind gusts and a steady cold November rain some media and fans suggested that Lions quarterback Jared Goff might struggle in the inclement weather.
That wasn’t the case as Goff completed 18 of 22 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He hit 12 of 13 passes to start the game and posted a 109.3 passer rating despite the adverse conditions.
Goff looked and played like the NFL’s MVP while leading the Lions (7-1) to their best start in franchise history. Detroit’s sixth straight win enabled head coach Dan Campbell’s team to take early command of the NFC North.
“We’re built for this, man,” Campbell said. “Just because we play indoors, it doesn’t matter. We can play anywhere. We can play in the snow. We can play in the rain. We can play in the mud. That’s just us. We’re built to win.”
Meantime, Love played as miserably as the weather. He was 23 of 39 for 273 yards, no sacks and the interception for a paltry 69.7 passer rating. The game-but-gimpy QB never looked comfortable even when he was making positive plays.
Love’s interception was a misguided attempt to make something out of nothing. Instead of throwing the football away, he tried to avoid a sack by forcing it to Josh Jacobs.
“I didn’t see him when I threw it,” Love said of Joseph. “I just saw Josh kind of trying to get out of there. The ball didn’t go where I wanted it to.
“And, yeah … it was a critical error.”
Jacobs started fast with 89 rushing yards in the first half, including a 37-yard jaunt. He managed six yards in the entire second half.
In addition to not having his team ready to play, LaFleur also abandoned the running game and erroneously went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Lions’ 9 with 10 minutes to play. The Packers trailed 24-6 and a field goal would have made it a two-possession game.
Instead, Green Bay came away with nothing and effectively doomed any chance for a miraculous comeback.
“A lot of self-inflicted wounds, a lot of momentum-killers, a lot of drive-killers,” Jacobs said. “That’s just on us, man. I feel like we’ve been getting away with a lot of it because we’ve been kind of masking it with the wins. But when you play a good team, all the little things catch up to you.”
Tucker Kraft caught four passes for 34 yards, but was disappointed with his team’s lack of production in the red zone. Green Bay was 1-for-4. It’s been a season-long problem.
After the game Kraft echoed what his teammates were saying and many fans were feeling.
“We can’t keep putting the defense in positions like that,” Kraft said. “We have 400 yards of offense and one touchdown, so we need to finish in the red zone. That’s going to be our main point moving forward, is finishing in the red zone, because, really, the pre-snap penalties and things like that, that just comes from maybe not being locked in. I don’t know but those got to stop.”
LaFleur concurred.
“They played a cleaner game, much cleaner than we did,” LaFleur said. “When we were driving or getting into scoring position, it seemed like we had false starts, we had (bad) snaps, the ball was on the ground. Just way too many mistakes, and you cannot do that against a good football team, because they’re going to make you pay.”
Kraft noted that the bye provides an opportunity to fix what’s ailing the Packers, including several key players dealing with injuries.
Love is limping around with his groin and knee issues, while safety Evan Williams (hamstring) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) should be healthy in time for the Packers’ Nov. 17th game against Chicago.
Center Josh Myers (hand) missed the game and it proved costly. Elgton Jenkins played center but several snaps were off-target in the shotgun. Myers also should be good to go after the bye.
“We definitely need to get some guys healthy,” Kraft said. “Playing through a lot of knick-knacks, so we’re going to get this time off and we’re going to come back and we’re going to be an efficient football team.”
Well, that’s the plan anyway.
Packers aim to rain on
Lions’ fireworks show
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Halloween week feels like a fitting time for Green Bay to tackle Detroit and its high-powered offense.
The Lions are as scary as any ghost, ghoul or goblin.
Detroit (6-1) is on a five-game winning streak entering its NFC North showdown against the Packers (6-2) on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. at Lambeau Field.
The Lions are averaging 43 points per game in their last four outings. They had more points (52) than plays (47) in a 52-14 blowout of the Titans last Sunday.
The Lions’ offense devours opponents with an appetite so voracious Lions quarterback Jared Goff might’ve handed out trick-or-treat candy dressed as Hannibal Lecter.
Then again, Goff’s rare enzyme deficiency doesn’t enable his body to process red meat. However, it appears he’s just fine with merely chewing up and spitting out opposing defenses.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur knows a thing or two about explosive offense so when he calls Detroit “arguably the best team in the NFL” it’s hard to disagree.
“They’re really, really good and we knew that,” LaFleur said this week. “We knew that going into the year, and it’s not shocking to me. It’s a team we’re obviously very familiar with, and we’re going to have to play at our best.”
Jordan Love definitely wants to play, but will he be at his best?
The Packers’ quarterback endured a groin injury on the first series of Green Bay’s 30-27 victory at Jacksonville Sunday.
He limped around in obvious discomfort before throwing in the towel in the third quarter. He escaped without incurring a significant injury, but his status remains in doubt for Sunday.
“I definitely want to play,” Love said Wednesday, adding, “I think it’s realistic.”
Love may think playing is “realistic,” but it sure didn’t look that way when he crumbled in a heap before reaching the visitor’s sideline at EverBank Stadium.
Love didn’t practice Wednesday and he may not practice at all leading up to kickoff.
LaFleur was asked if Love could play without practicing.
“Potentially,” he said. “He’s moving around better. Certainly, yeah, we’ll push the envelope with that. I know he wants to play but we’ll see where he’s at by the end of the week.”
The Packers (6-2) go into Sunday on a four-game winning streak. They have played well enough to make the nationally televised game a battle for first place in the vaunted NFC North.
The Lions’ offense presents numerous challenges for first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit.
Goff is playing at an MVP level.
He opened his current hot streak by going 18-for-18 for 292 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-29 blowout against Seattle on Sept. 30. In his past four games Goff is 70 of 83 (84.3 percent) for 972 yards, 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
He has thrown 10 touchdown passes to just 13 incompletions and zero interceptions while authoring the greatest four-game streak of any quarterback in NFL history.
In the Lions’ 52-14 romp over the Titans last Sunday Goff had as many touchdown passes (three) as incompletions (12 of 15). His primary targets are receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond and tight ends Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.
The Lions have only dropped four passes all season. That’s fewer than three Packers by themselves (Jayden Reed has six drops, Dontayvion Wicks has five and Tucker Kraft has four).
Detroit also boasts one of the NFL’s top offensive lines and a running tandem dubbed “Sonic and Knuckles” aka Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Furthermore, the Jaguars’ tight ends feasted on the Packers’ defense once safety Evan Williams exited in the second quarter. The Jags were 0-for-7 on third down conversions before Williams left with a hamstring injury.
After that the tight ends had their way with Green Bay. Evan Engram had four catches on five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown. Brenton Strange had five catches on as many targets for 57 yards. If the Packers’ defense isn’t sharp LaPorta and Wright might eat them alive.
The Lions’ Achilles heel may be its pass protection. Goff has been sacked 13 times during his incredible four-game run. On one hand that makes it all the more amazing. On the other hand, it should give hope that the Packers can generate a pass rush, something that’s been grossly lacking thus far this season.
Given Love’s injury status it’s a stretch to think the Packers can win a shootout with the Lions. If the Lions run often and effectively – especially early on – it’s not the end of the world. But that’s only IF the Packers’ defense doesn’t give up big plays and finds a way to button it up in the red zone.
Meantime, the Packers are expressing total confidence in backup quarterback Malik Willis if he gets the start. Willis undoubtedly will get all the reps in practice this week.
The Packers are 3-0 in games Willis has started or played a significant amount of snaps. He defeated the Colts and the Titans as the Packers’ starter and rallied Green Bay to its comeback win last week at Jacksonville.
Green Bay’s run game has churned out 1,255 yards through eight games. That’s the most in team history since the 1971 squad led by John Brockington and Donny Anderson rushed for 1,323 yards through eight games.
Willis is a big-play threat with his legs and legitimate 4.3 speed. He also has been an accurate passer, especially on short and intermediate throws.
The pass-rush starved Lions – who lost Defensive MVP candidate Aidan Hutchinson in Week 5 – may elect to rush four and drop seven in coverage against Willis. Hutchinson has 7.5 of the Lions’ 20 sacks despite missing three games.
Regardless, the Packers face a tremendous challenge Sunday. They don’t have to be perfect to win, but they do have to be much better than they were last week.
With all that I still believe the Packers will test the Lions on what’s expected to be a windy, rainy afternoon. In fact, I’m giving the Packers a puncher’s chance to KO the Lions.
PREDICTION
GREEN BAY 26, DETROIT 24
Willis leads Packers as
McManus walks it off
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Matt LaFleur called Malik Willis’ performance in Green Bay’s walk-off win Sunday against the Jaguars in Jacksonville “damn impressive.”
Running back Josh Jacobs said the Packers “are blessed” to have a backup QB who can come in and “really be the guy.”
Willis didn’t say much at all after leading a seven-play, 64-yard drive that set up Brandon McManus’ 24-yard field goal at the gun to give the Packers a rugged 30-27 victory.
While starter Jordan Love was visibly struggling with a sore left knee and groin injury in the third quarter, Willis watched, took mental notes and stayed at the ready if called upon.
“You just try to stay in the game, one play at a time,” he said. “Try to stay composed, stay focused, what plays are going in … just stay locked into the game.”
Then he got the call and sprang into action.
When Love exited late in the third quarter with the Packers clinging to a 13-10 lead, Willis took one snap before Green Bay was forced to punt. By the time he re-entered the huddle on the next possession, the Jaguars had taken a 17-13 lead.
Willis calmly answered with a 20-yard gallop that helped set up Jacobs’ 38-yard touchdown run to retake the lead, 20-17.
The Packers’ defense followed it up with Devonte Wyatt’s fumble recovery at the Jags’ 5-yard line after rookie Edgerrin Cooper delivered a 10-yard strip sack of Trevor Lawrence.
One play later Willis completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tucker Kraft to make it 27-17 Green Bay.
It appeared to be all over but the shouting.
The truth is the Packers’ defense was gassed.
Jacksonville reeled off 10 straight points to tie it at 27-27 and set the stage for Willis’ final drive and McManus’ walk-off kick.
McManus, at 33, is the Packers’ oldest – and newest – player on the roster. He delivered his second straight walk-off win in as many weeks with Green Bay.
His 45-yard field goal at the gun helped the Packers to a 24-22 victory over the Texans last week at Lambeau Field.
LaFleur could only shake his head after two straight nail-biters.
“To be able to win on a walk-off two weeks in a row is kind of crazy,” he said. “I don’t want it to continue to happen that way. I’d like to win outright, because it’s taken years off our lives. But I’m just really happy for our guys.”
Willis’ game-sealing drive began at Green Bay’s 30-yard line with 1:48 to play and two timeouts.
Earlier in the game Packers offensive passing game coordinator Jason Vrable noticed the Jaguars dropped coverage on a QB bootleg or “keep” play.
LaFleur decided it was the time to use it. He called a running play to Jacobs, but Willis missed the “can” call to change the play at the line to a pass. Jacobs busted off tackle for a 4-yard gain on first down, but LaFleur wasn’t going to miss a chance to strike so he called the same play.
This time Willis saw it, changed the play at the line and delivered a 51-yard strike to Jayden Reed as the receiver was streaking wide open down the left sideline.
When Reed acted like he was going to block safety Andre Cisco, and then sprinted past, Cisco slipped while trying to redirect. Reed hauled in the perfect pass and got to the Jags’ 15.
“I try to read it true,” Willis explained. “J-Reed popped open and I’m glad we got it to him.”
Reed was on the same page as Willis and it paid dividends.
“We ran a play earlier that kind of countered it a little bit and we just seen the opening, so we ran it,” Reed said. “I already knew I was going to be open before the play was even called. It was just great play-called by Coach and great execution by us.”
On first down Jacobs ran for 3 yards and Chris Brooks followed with an 8-yard run in which he purposely slid down at the Jags’ 4-yard line to ensure it would be the game’s final drive.
Willis took a knee, McManus made the kick and the Packers moved to 6-2 ahead of this week’s NFC North showdown versus Detroit (6-1) with first place at stake.
The Packers’ fourth-straight victory came at a price.
Rookie safety Evan Williams exited in the first half with a hamstring injury. Cornerback Jaire Alexander also game up gimpy late in the game.
Furthermore, Love’s status for the Lions’ game is up in the air. LaFleur said he had “no idea” whether Love will be ready to play in the 3:25 game at Lambeau Field.
“Everybody could see (Love) struggling to move around,” LaFleur said. “It got to the point where we, and he, didn’t feel like he could protect himself.”
Love finished 14 of 22 for 196 yards, an interception and a 73.3 passer rating.
Willis was 4-for-5 for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Now, Willis may be called upon to start the Packers’ most important game of the season to date.
McManus, in his short time in Green Bay, is suitably impressed and grateful to be along for the ride.
“It’s an honor to be here and excited to watch these young guys play and pick up one another and support one another,” McManus said. “Malik did a great job and Jayden Reed made the kick super easy and was able to get down the field.
“It was great, great awareness too when the Jaguars did a freeway call – where they try to let us score a touchdown – but we were situated up. It was extremely knowledgeable by the players (and especially Brooks) to go down so the field goal is the last play of the game.”
Now, the Packers must heal up and get ready to face a red-hot Detroit team that won its fifth straight game Sunday. The Lions mauled the Titans 52-14 at Ford Field.
No matter. The Packers have a kicker, a terrific backup QB and each other. It’s been enough to win back-to-back nail-biters.
Anyone up for three walk-off wins in a row?
Packers aren’t taking
struggling Jags lightly
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – While the Packers’ offense has been working to find its rhythm the past three weeks defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit has grown stingier by the game.
The Packers’ offense and defense rank in the top 10 in points and yards, thus their 5-2 record and three-game winning streak. But lately the defense has been dynamite in the second half.
The Packers have allowed 24 second-half points in the past five games. That’s an average of 4.4 points after intermission, which is fairly impressive in this day’s NFL.
Talk about making significant halftime adjustments. It is part of the reason Packers coach Matt LaFleur elected to give a game ball to his first-year defensive coordinator.
The visiting Texans scored 16 of 19 first-half points off turnovers last Sunday, but the Packers prevailed 24-22 by outscoring Houston 10-3 in the second half.
It enabled Green Bay (5-2) to keep pace in the NFC North, which has a combined 19-6 record going into Week 8. The Lions (5-1) sit atop the division after a 31-29 victory at Minnesota (5-1) on Sunday. The Bears (4-2) are coming off their bye week and sit a game out of first place.
The entire division is favored to win this week.
The Vikings are 2.5-point favorites at the Rams (2-4) on Thursday Night Football. The Lions are 11-point favorites at home against the beleaguered Titans (1-5). The Bears are 2.5-point favorites at the Commanders (5-2) in Sunday afternoon’s nationally televised 3:25 p.m. slot.
If the NFC North holds serve its record would be 23-6 overall and a glitzy 12-4 versus NFC teams. The division has the best point differential (+213) in the league, with NFC North offenses averaging 27.4 points and allowing 18.8 points per game.
Free-agent acquisition Xavier McKinney has five interceptions this season to lead a defense that has forced 17 takeaways. The Packers didn’t force a single takeaway against Houston, but still harassed C.J. Stroud into his worst performance of the season.
Stroud, one of the NFL’s top young quarterbacks, threw for a measly 55 net yards on 10-of-21 passing with a touchdown and no interceptions. His 86 yards passing was a career low.
Stroud also posted a paltry 58.8 passer rating.
The Packers racked up four sacks, including one by McKinney on a perfectly timed blitz, while Rashan Gary had his most impactful game of what has been a slow start to the season.
McKinney explained why the Packers’ defense is finding itself.
“We’ve got smart guys, we’ve got instinctual guys, we’ve got guys that can play different spots, and it’s no lapse,” he said this week. “When you’re able to move around all these pieces, you’re able to get creative with the calls and do different things, and it’s been helpful for us.”
The Packers have successfully navigated several challenges this season. The first was surviving after Jordan Love injured his knee in the season-opener and had to sit for two games. Malik Willis stepped in and led the Packers to back-to-back wins. It was impressive at the time, but the further the season moves along, the more important those wins feel.
The kicker also was a major weakness. Undrafted rookie Brayden Narveson couldn’t cut it and was released last week. Veteran Brandon McManus wasted no time making a positive impact by nailing the game-winning, 45-yard field goal on the final play to edge the Texans.
In addition, Romeo Doubs has returned with a vengeance after being suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Doubs responded with eight catches for 94 yards Sunday – including several key third-down grabs – to lead the receivers.
LaFleur wasn’t surprised. He noted that Doubs is frequently at the team facility at 6:30 a.m. catching passes from the JUGS machine to improve his craft.
“He made some very tough, difficult catches in this last game,” LaFleur said. “That’s what we expect from him, and it’s not a surprise because we see it all the time in practice, the hours he puts in that nobody (else) sees.”
Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs also has gotten off to a strong start. He currently ranks 9th in the NFL with a 77.1 yards per game average. He also is tied for 8th with four runs of 20-plus yards and seventh in first downs with 25.
Jacobs also is fourth overall with 540 yards rushing on the year.
Meantime, the Jaguars started 0-4 and head coach Doug Pederson’s job appeared in serious jeopardy. According to the Jacksonville media, Pederson is still on a short leash but a big win over New England in London helped cool the hot seat a bit.
Now, the Jaguars return to EverBank Stadium for the first time since Week 5 when they edged Indianapolis.
Trevor Lawrence was not sacked in the Jaguars’ 32-16 win over the Patriots while completing 15 of 20 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown.
Lawrence feels like the offense is beginning to come together.
“I feel like as an offense we’ve been settling in,” he said.
The aptly named Tank Bigsby rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots. Travis Etienne (hamstring) was out so Bigsby stepped in and took over.
The Jags’ offensive line has shown improvement with more time together, according to Pederson.
“It’s a gradual process,” he said. “I do tell the guys we have to coach better and we have to play better. For them it’s repetition. The same five guys playing together and getting more continuity.”
For the Packers this week’s game is a chance to put to bed the talk of Jacksonville being a “trap game” with the Lions looming. The Packers are road favorites but seldom is it easy in the NFL.
In this case, though, I’ll make an exception.
PREDICTION: Packers 30, Jaguars 21
McManus’ FG at gun
seals Packers’ victory
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It was a sight for sore eyes, especially for those Packers fans brave enough to watch as they prayed.
The snap was low, the hold was outstanding and the kick started left before gently fading right and splitting the uprights.
Brandon McManus’ first field-goal attempt with his new team was memorable. The 33-year-old placekicker drilled a 45-yarder at the final gun to lift the Packers to a 24-22 victory over Houston on a windy Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
The 78,197 fans were flush all at once with elation and relief.
“What a week,” McManus said. “I’m super excited to be here. It’s a great group of guys. I’m the oldest on the team by two years, so some of them are trying to call me “Uncle” and “Dad” already. Super excited to be here. What a way to help this team win on my first game here at Lambeau Field.”
The Packers (5-2) haven’t had a reliable, bona fide NFL kicker since Mason Crosby wasn’t re-signed in 2023. Now they do after releasing Brayden Narveson and signing McManus.
The Texans (5-2) elected to “ice” McManus with a timeout. It didn’t make him stress. He actually relished it.
“It was a little windy today, just seeing where the wind might move the ball,” McManus said of his “practice” swing. “If I for some reason miss the first one, I’ve never missed back-to-back kicks in my career, so I feel pretty confident. I always want to have that practice rep if I can.”
The Packers captured the come-from-behind victory with terrific games from the aforementioned kicker, punter Daniel Whelan and reserve linebacker Eric Wilson.
Wilson, who replaced Quay Walker (concussion) in the first half, was all over the field. He had five tackles (four for loss), two sacks and a key third-down pass defended.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley got a game ball from head coach Matt LaFleur, who also gave one to McManus and Whelan. He should’ve given a fourth to Wilson.
However, I will settle for LaFleur and Hafley starting him ahead of Walker until further notice. In fact, Walker should take all the time he needs to fully recover from his concussion.
“(Wilson) is the consummate pro in terms of always knowing what to do and then being able to when called upon go out there and deliver,” LaFleur said. “I’m really proud of him. We’re lucky to have a guy like that on our team.”
The Packers also are lucky to have a punter who can tilt the field. Whelan had five punts that netted 51.6 yards including a 66-yard rocket that was nearly misplayed by the Texans.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love appreciates Whelan’s talent.
“To have a punter flip the field like that, it puts a lot of stress on the (opposing) offense,” he said. “When the defense is playing the way they were tonight, all those yards come up big time.”
Whelan also made a great save of the low snap on the final kick.
“Really good job by him,” LaFleur said of Whelan. “That’s all I was looking at, to be honest with you. I was like, ‘Uh-oh.’ ”
LaFleur surely had several “Uh-oh” moments Sunday.
The Packers rallied from deficits of 3-0, 10-7, 19-14 and finally 22-21 with McManus’ game-winning kick.
“The average margin of victory in the NFL I think is three points, so you’ve got to go into each game understanding it might come down to you,” McManus said. “That’s why I chose this profession many moons ago. I love the pressure situations. I was happy to have the opportunity today.”
His teammates were happy for him to have the opportunity, too.
“We saw him making his kicks in practice, so we have belief in him,” safety Xavier McKinney said.
Love also had total confidence in him.
“He’s been around for a while,” Love said of McManus. “He’s played a lot of ball, made a lot of big-time kicks, so I think that was no problem for him today.”
The Packers bucked the odds by winning despite having a minus-3 turnover day. NFL teams win less than 10 percent of the time when that is the case.
The Packers prevailed because of their defense.
Green Bay came into the game with 17 takeaways. They didn’t force a single turnover against Houston, but still played their finest defensive game of the season.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a miserable day.
He was 10 of 21 for 86 yards with four sacks, no touchdowns or interceptions, and a paltry 58.8 passer rating.
Running back Joe Mixon blasted his way for 115 yards on 25 carries (4.6 average) and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough.
Rookie safety Evan Williams was in on nine tackles, including a pair of crucial third-down stops. McKinney had six tackles, including a sack on a perfectly timed third-down blitz.
Rashan Gary also had his best day of the season. He finished with five tackles, three QB hits and a sack.
“The defense played phenomenal,” Love said. “The rush package that we had out there was doing a great job of getting home.”
LaFleur seconded that notion.
“We did not allow C.J. to get comfortable,” he said. “He is a real guy in this league and he’s going to be for a really long time. We just put immense pressure on him. That’s what it looked like to me.”
The Texans were 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) on third down conversions and eked out 197 net yards. Stroud’s 55 net yards passing was the lowest by an opposing quarterback since Justin Fields in 2022 and Tarvarius Jackson in 2006.
The Packers’ offense didn’t have its finest day with Love throwing a pair of first-half interceptions that contributed mightily to Green Bay’s 19-14 deficit at intermission.
Not to worry.
Love seemed unfazed by the interceptions. He heated up in the second half to finish 24 of 33 for 220 yards, three touchdowns to go with the two INTs, and a 95.5 passer rating.
He was sacked three times but was kept clean on the final drive.
The Packers took over on their own 30 with 1:44 to play. That possession came after Green Bay’s defense held the Texans to a go-ahead field goal instead of a touchdown.
The Packers needed a field goal. Love set up McManus by hitting 4 of 7 passes for 39 yards on the game-clinching drive.
Romeo Doubs capped a strong day with catches of 12 and 6 yards after Love hit Tucker Kraft for 8 yards and Dontayvion Wicks for 13 yards to open the final series.
LaFleur was asked to offer his opinion of Love on the drive.
“I just talked to him about it – that’s his superpower,” LaFleur said. “No matter what’s happened, whether it’s good or bad, he continues to fight and be resilient. The moment’s never too big for him.”
Packers cut Narveson;
sign McManus to kick
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Kickers.
At times it feels like NFL teams can’t live with them, and they can’t live without them. For those with Super Bowl aspirations, such as the Packers, a good kicker is like the beauty mark on a model’s cheek, the final touch that makes her truly remarkable.
Then again, a bad kicker is like the wart on a witch’s nose. It is unsightly, unsettling and should be removed as soon as possible.
On Wednesday, the Packers did the prudent thing.
They cut Brayden Narveson, who may not be a wart, but most definitely is not an NFL-worthy kicker, at least not yet.
Then, they signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus in the corresponding roster move. McManus may not be the hood ornament on Green Bay’s Rolls-Royce, but he’s undoubtedly a significant upgrade in the kicking department.
McManus, 33, was kicking for Washington in 2023 when he was released in September after two flight attendants on the team’s chartered flight to London filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault on the trip.
The NFL conducted an investigation and on Sept. 30 said that it found insufficient evidence for disciplinary action.
The Packers signed McManus Wednesday.
Some contend that the Packers shouldn’t have signed him based upon the sexual assault allegations. It is their right to feel that way, but it’s also the Packers right to sign him.
The Packers aren’t the NFL’s morality police.
General manager Brian Gutekunst’s job description demands that he do everything in his ability, and within league rules, to lead the Packers to as many wins as possible.
It’s the same for head coach Matt LaFleur.
This week alone, 66 percent of the Las Vegas betting lines for NFL games fall within three points. Two thirds of every game is likely to be decided by a kicker, one way or another.
The Packers had the NFL’s worst kicker in Narveson. Once the league cleared McManus of disciplinary action Green Bay had an obligation to do their own fact-finding, which included flying McManus to Green Bay for a face-to-face meeting and workout.
Gutekunst didn’t see any red flags so he signed him.
For argument’s sake, let’s say the Packers didn’t sign McManus because they weren’t comfortable with the allegations. Another team signs him, they meet in the NFC title game, and after the Packers’ kicker misses a field goal attempt from 45 yards out, McManus steps up and nails the game-winner on the next drive.
How high-handed would the GM’s stance seem then?
How hollow would his words ring?
It appears Gutekunst learned his lesson in the previous postseason when Anders Carlson wasn’t up to the task. He wasn’t about to let a substandard kicker sabotage the postseason for a second straight year.
McManus has been there and done that. He has an impressive 10-year NFL resume. He is a career 81.4 percent on field goal attempts. He is 97.2 percent on PATs. He has a career long of 61 yards and a Super Bowl ring, to boot.
Now, he’s trying to resurrect his career in Green Bay.
“It’s been a difficult time these last couple of months,” McManus told reporters Wednesday. “I’m happy that it’s in the past now. I was hoping and working hard for another opportunity. I’m extremely grateful for the Green Bay Packers for giving me that next chance to come back out here and play the game I love.”
Ron Wolf, the Packers’ Hall of Fame GM, had a way of putting a fine point on it. He would say it ultimately comes down to one question: Do you believe the player is a good guy or a bad guy? At the end of the day, is he the type of person you want to bring into the locker room?
Clearly, Gutekunst felt that McManus’ alleged actions, no matter how reprehensible if true, weren’t enough to walk away.
Gutekunst said the Packers watched the NFL’s investigation intently. He also said they did their own homework and felt comfortable signing McManus.
“I think for us really obviously he wouldn’t be available right now if those accusations weren’t out there,” the Packers’ GM said. “But I think the league did a really thorough investigation, and we leaned on that as we went through it.”
Gutekunst declined to go into details, but added, “We feel very, very comfortable with the acquisition.”
“I had a really good conversation with Brandon last night – and his agent Drew Rosenhaus as we kind of – last week when these things got cleared up within the league and he got past some other things – those conversations kind of just picked up.”
“We wanted to make sure that we did our due diligence. Again, we feel really good about where we sit right now. We’re excited to get him out there.”
No doubt.
McManus connected on 30 of 37 field goal attempts and hit on all 35 PATs in 2022, his last full season.
Narveson, an undrafted free agent, was brought in to replace Anders Carlson at the start of the regular season. He went on to miss five field goal attempts – and a sixth missed field goal try that was nullified by penalty – in his first six games, the most in the league.
“I think where our football team is at right now, we know how important these games are,” Gutekunst said. “I thought it was important that if we had an opportunity to get a veteran kicker who’d been through some of these fires and some of this pressure that our team is going to go through over the next few weeks, I thought it was important that we acquire one. And really Brandon was the only one that was out there.”
McManus, who will wear No. 17, will be out there Sunday when the Packers (4-2) host the Texans (5-1) in a noon game at Lambeau Field.
Houston holds a two-game lead in the AFC South and the second-best record in the AFC behind Kansas City (5-0). The Texans are coming off a 41-21 blowout win at New England.
C.J. Stroud threw for three touchdowns and running back Joe Mixon caught one touchdown toss and rushed for 102 yards and another score.
Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell also caught TD passes from Stroud.
LaFleur is suitably impressed by the Texans and Stroud.
“I think he’s super talented,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, he’s got the ability where the moment is not too big for him. He can process very fast, and he’s a very good anticipatory thrower, which I think is a bit of a lost art.”
The Packers’ defense will try to continue its reputation as a takeaway force. The Packers have turned over opponents a league-high 17 times through six games. Safety Xavier McKinney leads the NFL with five interceptions.
“That’s a very good defensive back group … very physical,” the Texans’ Dell said. “They’re ready to make plays. (McKinney) is leading the NFL in interceptions, so we know he wants to make a play on the ball. It’s a very good group going in, and we’re feeling confident, so it’s going to be a good battle.”
It’ll be a good battle indeed.
PREDICTION
PACKERS 34, TEXANS 31
McManus arrives just in time to nail the game-winning field goal.
Packers roll Cardinals
34-13 in best game yet
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers are to be complimented on the terrific complementary football they played on Sunday.
Green Bay’s offense and defense worked in tandem to take out overmatched Arizona, 34-13, on a cloudy, rainy mid-October afternoon in front of 77,773 at Lambeau Field.
Jordan Love stood tall behind a sturdy offensive line to throw for four touchdowns, including two to Romeo Doubs, as the Packers’ offense reeled off 70 plays for 437 yards.
The Packers’ defense backed it by forcing a trio of turnovers – all fumbles – to thwart any threat of a Cardinals’ comeback. Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray completed 22 of 32 passes – identical completions/attempts to Love’s – and neither quarterback was sacked.
But that’s where the similarities end.
Loved utilized his great protection to search-and-destroy Arizona’s defense with lasers to all parts of the field.
“The O-Line, they did a great job all day, keeping me clean,” Love said. “I felt real comfortable in the pocket. Not a lot of pressure. Shout out to them.”
Shout out to Doubs, too.
The Packers’ receiver didn’t play last week due to a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. A quiet and apparently contrite Doubs didn’t say much beyond an apology when he met with the media on Friday.
Doubs made his biggest statement on the field, reeling in three passes on four targets for 49 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his scoring grabs were A-plus for ability, effort and focus.
He also had a key 19-yard catch-and-run on the Packers’ third possession. Leading 7-0 the Doubs’ play ignited a lengthy scoring drive to give the Packers an early two-touchdown lead.
Doubs lined up on the left side of the formation, ran across the entire field, and snared a terrific throw from Love.
“(Love) probably had four hitches, which typically you have two hitches and the football has got to go,” LaFleur said. “That doesn’t happen unless your O-line gives Jordan all day to make that throw. That was a third-window throw. It’s a big-time credit to the line, a big-time credit to Rome to keep going on the route, and then Jordan made a good throw.”
When Doubs scored the first of his two touchdowns he was mobbed by his fellow receivers, and then Jordan Morgan and Love and the rest. The second-quarter moment may have been a turning point in what was a rough two weeks.
“We say it all the time – we’re in this together,” he said. “It’s never a one-man show. If it is, it’s wrong. That moment – it was a surreal moment.”
Christian Watson was among the first to celebrate with him.
“It was huge,” Watson said of Doubs. “We need every single piece that we have in that room. Just to have him out there and have him making plays, I think that was really exciting and it’s going to be huge.
“We need everybody so to have him out there was big-time.”
When Watson wasn’t expressing his fondness for Doubs, he was torching the Cardinals’ defense with three catches for 68 yards.
That included a gorgeous 44-yard touchdown grab in which he simply exploded past Arizona’s Budda Baker – all while Love patted the football twice before delivering room service.
Love was 22 of 32 for 258 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. The pick came when receiver Bo Melton slipped coming out of his route and an opportunistic Cardinals’ defender made the play. Love finished with a 119.5 passer rating.
Meantime, Murray never looked comfortable at rain-soaked Lambeau Field. He didn’t test the Packers’ defense with his legs while rushing for a paltry 14 yards on seven carries. He didn’t test them with his arm, either, as Arizona never got any traction.
In fact, the Cardinals posted more penalty yards (13 for 100) than they did rushing yards (23 for 89).
The Packers’ defense ran its total to 17 takeaways through six games. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit also became Green Bay’s first defense since 1996 to force multiple turnovers in each of the first six games. Fritz Shurmur’s crew – led by Reggie White and LeRoy Butler – won Super Bowl XXXI.
Packers’ safety Xavier McKinney saw his interception streak end at five consecutive games to start the season. He said he was cool with it especially because the Packers won.
“Yeah … but we won,” he said. “I’m happy that we won and that’s always the main goal. We’re only worried about wins. As long as we can keep stacking up these wins, I am the happiest man alive.”
The Cardinals (2-4) were down 24-0 but scored on consecutive drives to close to within 24-13 before the Packers’ defense put on the clamps in the third quarter.
Karl Brooks forced Arizona running back James Conner to fumble and he promptly recovered it himself.
On the next drive, Evan Williams punched the football out of the arms of receiver Greg Dortch after a 16-yard completion to the Green Bay 39-yard line. Jaire Alexander recovered the fumble and the offense went on a 12-play, 56-yard drive. It produced a 41-yard Brayden Narveson field goal.
The Packers’ defense is earning a reputation for forcing turnovers. On Sunday, it also played the run game exceptionally well and didn’t allow the dangerous Murray to get loose.
“I think we just became really ball conscious,” Williams said. “We’re developing a little bit of a legacy for taking the ball away, and it dramatically improves our chances of winning a game. We just know how much it means for the whole game and being at home, that momentum that you get after each takeaway just put the game a little bit more away.
The defense forcing turnovers … the offense following it up with lengthy scoring drives … the Packers winning games in complementary fashion.
It’s what the best teams do.
On Sunday, the Packers didn’t play a complete game, but they did play complementary football for an extended period. It was enough to rout the Cardinals by three touchdowns.
Just imagine what the Packers’ offense and defense, pulling together, might look like in January?
Packers look ahead as
AWOL Doubs returns
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The air has been cleared. The dust has settled. Romeo Doubs’ surprising decision to skip practice last Thursday and Friday has been dealt with and is in the past.
That is the Packers’ story and they’re sticking to it.
Matt LaFleur handed out a one-game suspension to Doubs for conduct detrimental to the team. The two met earlier this week and the third-year receiver was back at practice Wednesday.
Doubs reportedly was unhappy with his role in the offense. LaFleur didn’t dispute the report. In fact, he addressed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and relying on the chain of command.
The message echoed his comments after Jaire Alexander decided to be a self-appointed co-captain for the Packers-Panthers game late last season. The results were positive as Alexander apologized and has been a model teammate.
LaFleur also said he understands that players have individual goals and aspirations – which are healthy and expected – but it needs to stay within the framework of what’s best for the team.
The Packers’ head coach said they are “moving forward.”
Doubs didn’t speak with the media on Wednesday. Players are required to be available when reporters are allowed in the locker room a minimum of once a week.
Presumably, Doubs will discuss the situation by week’s end.
Clearly, there will be a level of trust that needs to be reinstated.
Trust is often earned over time. Conversely, it can be blown up in the blink of an eye. It is likely Doubs wouldn’t admit it if it was true, but my best guess is he would do things differently if he had a mulligan.
He could’ve saved himself the $17,500 fine and the obligation of having to apologize for his actions. He put himself under the spotlight because every route will be analyzed, every game plan discussed (was it tilted toward Doubs or against him?) and every catch – or drop – hotly debated.
Christian Watson, who also returned to practice after missing last week with an ankle injury, had a
“I think two days isn’t going to ruin the three years of work and commitment he’s put in for us,” Watson said. “You just move on … There will probably be a few bumps in the road, trying to get that togetherness and that family feeling back, but at the end of the day, he’s back in the building and I know that his goal is to win a football game this week.”
The Packers’ receiving corps – Jayden Reed notwithstanding – has underperformed compared with the final stretch last season. Through five games the receivers have more drops (13) than broken tackles (12).
Dontayvion Wicks has been the biggest culprit with five drops. He also has three touchdown catches and routinely finds ways to get open. He just needs to focus on getting yards AFTER the catch, not BEFORE it.
If Watson is good to go the Packers’ receivers will be at full strength with Jordan Love at quarterback.
“It’s always good to have everybody out there, all out there working hard, doing our jobs,” Reed told reporters. “That’s always good.”
LaFleur called it a “great sign” that Watson was able to do individual drills Wednesday and is lobbying to do 11-on-11 drills by week’s end.
“Just to have him out there, certainly we all know what he brings to our offense, to our football team, and we missed him last weekend,” LaFleur said.
The Packers got past the Rams 24-19 in Inglewood, Calif., in a game the defense sealed with a late stand. The offense was choppy at best with Love throwing a “pick six” to boot.
Now they host a pesky Arizona Cardinals team that is 2-3 and coming off a 24-23 victory at San Francisco. The Cardinals’ offense is led by a much-improved Kyler Murray at quarterback, the sensational rookie receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr., and solid running back James Conner.
However, the Cardinals’ defense ranks 27th in passing yards allowed and 30th in third-down conversion rate.
In other words, the Packers’ passing attack should be able to find its groove and produce big numbers against visiting Arizona.
Reed said it was “great” having Watson back.
“We’re always behind number 9. He’s definitely been through a lot since he’s been here, so I just want to say he’s resilient. No matter what he’s always got the same mind-set and he’s always cheering us on whether he’s in or out. He does a great job of still coaching us up while he’s out.
“He just does everything the right way.”
Love didn’t discuss the Doubs’ situation directly but he allowed that the offense “is at its best with a lot of guys touching the ball and making explosive plays.”
Hopefully, Watson can stay healthy and Doubs will realize the error of his ways – and perhaps benefit if indeed the Packers’ coaching staff was underrating him – so the offense can find its groove starting Sunday at noon.
PREDICTION
PACKERS 31, CARDINALS 24
Packers hold off Rams
24-19 as ‘D’ saves day
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jeff Hafley said he learned something important about his defense in last week’s loss to Minnesota. He said it didn’t quit and, in fact, gave the Packers a chance to rally.
So what did the Packers’ first-year defensive coordinator learn in Green Bay’s 24-19 victory over the L.A. Rams Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium?
Hafley learned it can stand tall and make a game-clinching stop.
Hafley also learned that rookie safety Javon Bullard looks like an exceptional slot corner, and that fellow rookie Evan Williams is a worthy sidekick to All-World safety Xavier McKinney.
In addition, the more snaps rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper gets, the better and more impactful he plays.
Williams had 10 tackles and was in on the game-clinching play. Bullard had seven tackles and Cooper had five tackles, two QB hits and a sack.
This game saw the Packers’ defensive future inch ever-so closer to becoming its present with talented youngsters at the fore.
The Rams (1-4) were considered by some to be a pushover for the Packers (3-2) going into the NFC matchup. Coach Sean McVay’s team was far from it, despite a severely depleted offense playing without receivers Cooper Kupp and Puca Nakua.
The ageless Matthew Stafford, who ranks 10th all-time in NFL history in passing yards, reminded everyone why by bringing the Rams back from a 24-13 deficit inside four minutes to play to within a play of stealing a victory.
That’s when the Packers’ defense – Hafley’s defense – intervened. After surrendering a 91-yard touchdown drive in scarcely 2 ½ minutes, and after stuffing the 2-point conversion, the Packers’ offense gave Stafford and the Rams one final shot.
Stafford crisply drove his team past midfield, but Karl Brooks’ second sack of the game set up third-and-12. After a short pass completion made it fourth-and-5, Packers’ rookie Evan Williams’ blanket coverage forced a game-sealing incompletion.
Hafley’s defense delivered when it mattered most.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur admitted he was drained. Nobody would’ve been surprised to see his fingernails gnawed to the nubs. It was a gut-wrenching finale in a game that felt like the Packers needed to win to get back on track.
“That was exhausting,” LaFleur said. “I’m certainly proud of our guys continuing to battle.”
Stafford finished 29 of 45 for 260 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a 78.0 passer rating. He was sacked three times.
The Packers’ pass rush was inconsistent, but did just enough to help the secondary nail down the win.
“Any time you’ve got a quarterback of Matthew Stafford’s caliber, you’re probably going to be in for a dogfight, and that’s exactly what it was today. I’m glad our guys showed the resiliency you need to have … and have to have … to go on the road and get a win.”
Hafley’s decision to play Bullard in the slot – and to move Keisean Nixon to the perimeter – paid dividends in several ways. Bullard is an athletic slot corner with a great future. Nixon admitted he is more comfortable on the perimeter than inside.
And the move allows the ball-hawking Williams to get on the field next to McKinney, who corralled his fifth interception in as many games. It is the first time since the 1970 NFL merger that a player has had five interceptions in as many games during his first season with a team.
McKinney also recovered a fumble forced by Kingsley Enagbare and returned it 28 yards. McKinney is a turnover waiting to happen on a defense forcing them at a rapid rate.
“That’s everything,” LaFleur said of the turnovers. “The ball is everything. We talk about it each and every week.”
LaFleur seemed in awe of McKinney’s interception streak.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s not like anything I’ve ever seen. The guy just has a knack for the football.”
The Packers’ offense struggled to get its rhythm against the Rams. Green Bay was without receivers Christian Watson (ankle) and Romeo Doubs (one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team).
It was expected that Jayden Reed would be his usually terrific self, but which other offensive weapon would step up? The thought was it might be drop-plagued Dontayvion Wicks to the rescue. That was hardly the case. Wicks had another drop – his fifth in as many games – and lassoed just two passes for 20 yards in seven targets.
Perhaps Bo Melton or Malik Heath would be key targets for Jordan Love without Watson and Doubs. That wasn’t the case, either.
It was Tucker Kraft who would come through in the clutch.
Kraft scored touchdowns on each of the possessions following a turnover. He had a breathtaking 66-yard catch and run for one score, and a run-of-the-mill 7-yard grab for the other score.
Love could only marvel at Kraft’s toughness and play-making ability.
“Tuck is a dog,” Love said. “Every time he touches the ball, he has that mindset he’s going to score. He’s not going to go down lightly.”
Kraft led the Packers with four catches for 88 yards on five targets and the two touchdowns.
Meantime, Reed did his part, catching four passes for 78 yards on six targets and rushing another two times for 19 yards. Reed’s 52-yard catch between three defenders was a thing of beauty. It went from looking like a surefire interception to being one of the most electric receptions in Packers’ history.
“Not a great decision on my part,” Love said of the throw. “But when you have a playmaker like J-Reed he’s going to go up and make you right.”
Love was 15 of 26 for 224 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a 95.7 passer rating. Love was sacked twice.
He also threw a horrible “pick six” by safety Jaylen McCullough at the Packers’ 4-yard line for an easy touchdown.
“Bad decision,” Love said. “It’s all about how you respond and bounce back.”
NFL teams that have a return (interception, kick, punt or fumble) for a touchdown win 85 percent of the time. The Packers gave up a “pick six” but lived to tell about it.
The Packers’ defense is putting together an impressive string of second-half performances. In the past three games, Green Bay’s defense has given up a total of 16 points after halftime. It suggests Hafley is making sound halftime adjustments, and his defense is beginning to figure it out.
Brewers suffer brutal
loss as Mets win series
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It had to be one of the greatest mood swings in any game in Milwaukee Brewers’ history.
The Brewers and their adoring fans saw their mood turn from agony to ecstasy with one swing of Pete Alonso’s bat.
The New York Mets’ slugging first baseman lined a Devin Williams fastball just beyond the right-field fence for a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning. It erased a 2-0 deficit to give the Mets a 3-2 lead which eventually grew to four.
Three outs later the Brewers looked utterly devastated as the Mets celebrated their 4-2 win Thursday night at American Family Field to clinch the best-of-3 NL wild-card round.
It was as brutal a loss as imaginable.
Check that. It was beyond brutal.
The NL foes played six-and-a-half scoreless innings before the Brewers pounced when starting pitcher Jose Quintana departed after throwing six scoreless innings.
The Mets brought in right-handed reliever Jose Butto and the Brewers wasted no time jumping all over him. Pinch-hitter Jake Bauers launched a solo home run to open the seventh. Sal Frelick broke the tie on the next pitch with another blast to right.
In the blink of an eye it was 2-0 Brewers and American Family Field erupted into a raucous celebration the likes of which are rarely seen with innings still to be played.
That was the problem. The game wasn’t over.
The Brewers missed an opportunity to knock out the Mets but stranded a pair of runners to end the seventh.
The Mets didn’t miss their opportunity in the ninth.
After flailing away for no runs and just two hits through eight innings against rookie starter Tobias Myers and three Brewers relievers, the Mets jumped all over Williams.
Leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor – who had the Mets’ only two hits – opened the ninth by drawing a walk. Mark Vientos struck out before Brandon Nimmo singled on a 0-2 pitch that was the second-worst pitch of Williams’ ill-fated night.
The worst was the belt-high fastball out over the plate that Alonso lined opposite field for the game-clinching home run.
The Mets added another run when Jesse Winker, the ex-Brewer, came around to score and demonstratively slammed his batting helmet onto home plate.
The Brewers and their fans were stunned. Owner Mark Attanasio and his family looked ill. The dugout resembled a morgue. Every ounce of excitement and animation vanished.
The NL Central champion Brewers, who were making their sixth playoff appearance in seven seasons, still haven’t won a postseason series since reaching Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS.
This loss was different because this team was different.
It was special. It had guts, guile and determination. It had an unwavering spirit and work ethic. It had a terrific blend of youth and experience that became an MLB force to be reckoned with.
And now it’s over.
Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy didn’t try to hide his disappointment. It would have been impossible to do so anyway.
“I love this team,” Murphy said. “I love them. I’ll never be able to duplicate 2024. It didn’t end the way we wanted to. … It ended tragically, actually.”
The Brewers’ pitchers had retired 12 straight Mets hitters when Williams, a two-time All-Star, took over in the ninth.
Williams never looked sharp.
“I’m not going to make any excuses,” he said. “I didn’t execute the way I needed to. They got the job done and I didn’t.”
Frelick put it in simpler terms.
“It sucks, plain and simple,” he said. “We got beat and it’s going to be something I think we all can remember as a group, though, going into next year.”
It was an abrupt, bitter end to one of the most enjoyable and entertaining Brewers’ seasons in recent memory. It’s at least something to hang your Brewers’ cap on, but it pales in comparison to advancing and taking on the Phillies.
** PACKERS GET READY FOR WOUNDED RAMS
Jordan Love liked nothing about the Packers’ 31-29 loss to the Vikings last week, but he is pleased to have gotten through it no worse for the wear.
Love also is eager to get the Packers back on track.
That opportunity comes Sunday when Green Bay (2-2) travels to SoFi Field to face the Los Angeles Rams (1-3) in a 3:25 game.
Love missed Weeks 2 and 3 with a left knee injury, but returned for the Vikings’ game. He was rusty in an underwhelming first half in which Minnesota raced to a 28-7 halftime lead.
The Packers closed to within 28-22 but never led.
Nevertheless, Love’s 114.7 passer rating in the second half is reason for optimism heading to Inglewood, Calif.
“That was the big test going into the game, how I respond to getting hit,” Love said. “So, it definitely gives me more confidence. I know going into the game that it’s football. I’m going to get hit at some point.”
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Love looks much better in practice this week.
“It looks like he’s just getting back in the groove,” LaFleur said. “Like I mentioned the other day, not that we want to throw 50-some odd times in a game, but I thought the more we threw, the better he got.”
The Rams’ defense is among the NFL’s worst through four weeks. Green Bay’s offense, which ranks third in DVOA, should be able to feast on the Rams’ defense.
Prediction: PACKERS 34, RAMS 10
Packers fall to Vikings
31-29 despite big rally
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The way the Packers’ entire team rallied around Malik Willis in wins against Indianapolis and Tennessee was a wondrous thing.
The way Green Bay failed to do likewise for Jordan Love in Sunday’s 31-29 loss to Minnesota was equally deflating.
Unbeaten Minnesota (4-0) retained first place in the NFC North by torpedoing the Packers at the outset. The Vikings scored the game’s first four touchdowns to lead 28-7 at the half.
The Packers (2-2) were seriously outplayed and outcoached from the start, much to the chagrin of sold-out Lambeau Field. In fact, the Packers were their own worst enemy.
Green Bay had four turnovers, eight penalties for 68 yards and a pair of missed field goals. The Packers finally got it together in the second half, outscoring Minnesota 22-3, but it was too late.
“A lot went wrong in the first half, obviously, when they score on their first three possessions,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game. “It was tough because I thought early on we had some opportunities.”
The Packers’ first four possessions were a 10-play, 56-yard opening drive that reached the Vikings’ 19-yard line but resulted in a 37-yard missed field goal by Brayden Narveson.
The second drive ended on a Love interception.
The Packers’ third drive resulted in a 49-yard missed field goal.
The fourth drive was halted when Luke Musgrave tipped a pass intended for Romeo Doubs, who bobbled it before Shaq Griffin picked it off, to set up Minnesota deep in Green Bay territory.
Sam Darnold followed with his third touchdown pass – a 14-yard strike to Justin Jefferson – to make it 28-0 Minnesota.
For all the excitement created by Green Bay’s impressive second-half rally, ask yourself this question: Did you ever really, truly believe the Packers would win this game?
If you’re being honest the answer is, “Of course not.”
The Vikings were better than the Packers in several key areas, most noticeably at quarterback and along the offensive line.
A resurrected Darnold completed 20 of 28 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 123.4 passer rating. Darnold was sacked twice for 21 yards but never really rattled.
Ex-Packers star running back Aaron Jones reminded everyone why he is beloved in Green Bay. He rushed for 93 yards on 22 carries with another 46 yards on four receptions.
The slippery Jones didn’t get into the end zone, so he had to settle for a post-game Lambeau Leap and the win.
Jones will take it.
“As we were taking that last kneel, the Packers’ defense, they’re like, ‘Ah, we didn’t let you Lambeau Leap here. We didn’t let you Lambeau Leap in our house,” Jones said. “I’m like, ‘You guys are worried about me Lambeau Leaping? You guys should be worried about the score.’ I came here and got what I wanted. But I did get my Lambeau Leap in, so I got a two-for-one.”
Meantime, Love got a zero-for-two (wins and starts).
Love threw a preposterous 54 passes, completing 32 for 389 yards and four touchdowns. All are career highs.
Love also looked gimpy throughout and it’s fortunate for the Packers that he came out of the game healthy. Love was hit often and threw three interceptions – tying his career high – for a miserable 83.5 passer rating.
In Love’s defense he played much better as the game wore on and he was able to knock off some rust after a three-week layoff.
“We fought the whole game and started making plays later, but just too little too late,” Love said. “I didn’t make enough early on and didn’t take advantage early on.”
Love was 20 of 30 for 271 yards and three touchdowns in the second half – almost identical to Darnold’s numbers – but two first-half interceptions contributed to the Packers’ demise.
Love’s third interception – which was followed up by a Tucker Kraft fumble – both occurred after Green Bay closed to within 28-22. The Packers were driving when Love inexplicably threw a 50-50 ball to Dontayvion Wicks while being pressured. Wicks never had a chance to play “defense” on the ill-advised throw.
“We never want to just throw the ball up like that,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, we got fooled by the look. They brought an all-out pressure.”
The Packers’ bright spots were a salty effort by the defense after an embarrassing first half, and the offensive resolve to put up three second-half touchdowns to make it close.
But the miscues were too great to overcome.
Narveson has to be on a short leash. The undrafted rookie kicker has missed five field goals (including the miss that was nullified by penalty) through four games.
The Packers need to bring in a veteran kicker who has had at least a measure of success in the NFL. They can’t suffer another Narveson miss, but it appears they’re willing stick with him.
“I know it’s tough,” LaFleur said of the missed field goals. “We all want the results. He’s a young guy, and a lot of times with young kickers, you go through this.”
Packers’ fans already know this to be true. They suffered through Anders Carlson’s late-season failures, which included a critical miss in the NFC divisional playoff loss at San Francisco.
It’s time to quit experimenting with rookie kickers and get a professional who has a clue.
The Packers’ pass rush was a massive disappointment Sunday. The Vikings’ tackles – Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill – are among the NFL’s finest. What was surprising is the way Minnesota’s interior o-line handled Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt and company with relative ease.
Xavier McKinney’s fourth interception in as many games provided Green Bay the opportunity to rally for a win, but a second half field goal by Minnesota was enough to prevent it.
Jayden Reed and Wicks also had huge games.
Wicks had five catches (13 targets) for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Reed had seven catches for a career-high 139 yards and a touchdown. Reed nearly kept the Packers in the game all by himself.
“He’s explosive,” Packers running back Josh Jacobs said. “I feel like all those receivers are explosive. They all got that mentality that any play can be the one. You can see that. When there were opportunities to make them, we made them.
“We just fell short today.”
The Packers’ run game never got any traction mostly because of the early deficit. Jacobs had 51 yards on nine carries (a 5.7 average) but never got enough work to wear down the Vikings.
LaFleur admitted he was embarrassed to be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct when he’s harping at his players about maintaining their composure.
He also didn’t sugarcoat the loss.
“You’d like to obviously learn your lessons when you win, but I’m super proud of our guys’ effort,” he said. “That is one thing. These guys battled. It’s interesting when you’re down 28-0, how you’re going to respond, and I think you saw the character of our locker room today in terms of how our guys competed.
“This is a humbling league at times, and credit to (the Vikings), they did more than we did to win this game. And we’ve got to bounce back from it.”
Willis or Love at QB?
Vikings can only guess
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Will it be Jordan Love or Malik Willis at quarterback for the Packers when they host unbeaten Minnesota in Sunday’s NFC North showdown at Lambeau Field?
If Matt LaFleur knows, he isn’t saying.
The Packers’ head coach didn’t need to cover his mouth with his play sheet while answering questions regarding Love’s status for Sunday’s game. That’s because he really didn’t say anything.
“I think he’s making progress,” he divulged Wednesday.
LaFleur didn’t get into details regarding Love’s left knee 19 days after he sprained his MCL in the Packers’ season opener.
“We have a plan,” the Packers’ coach said. “Obviously, that’s dictated by our medical staff in terms of how much he can do. So just hopefully we’ll keep building him up every day.”
Love was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice while wearing a knee brace. While LaFleur has the final say once the team’s medical staff clears Love to play, much of the decision rests with the player.
If Love doesn’t feel comfortable come Sunday he won’t play. If he does, and if he’s cleared, it’s likely he’ll be in the huddle instead of on the sidelines.
Meantime, Willis continues to prepare as if he’ll start a third straight game when the Vikings come to town.
As impressive as Willis’ 2-0 start has been it’s quite a leap to face the division-leading Vikings in a game for first place.
The Vikings (3-0) are tailoring a defensive game plan to neutralize Green Bay’s quarterback, whether it’s Love or Willis who starts Sunday’s noon game at Lambeau Field.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell praised his defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, whose unit has held the Giants, 49ers and Titans to six, 17 and seven points, respectively.
The Vikings’ Jonathan Greenard had three sacks in Minnesota’s 34-7 rout of the Texans last Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Greenard haunted his former team by hounding Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud into throwing a pair of interceptions, including his first in nine games (including the playoffs).
Stroud was just 20 of 31 for 215 yards, one touchdown and four sacks for a miserable 68.6 passer rating.
O’Connell said he is confident Flores’ attacking defense will be able to thwart the Packers’ offense, but he also made it clear he holds LaFleur’s coaching ability in high regard.
The Packers’ offense has amassed 1,175 total yards which ranks fifth in the league. Their 7.7 net yards per pass ranks third, which indicates good pass-run balance.
Further, the Packers’ run game has churned out 612 yards in 111 attempts (both tops in the NFL) for 5.5 yards per rush (second).
“Malik is doing some great things, and Jordan Love is one of the best young quarterbacks in our league,” O’Connell said. “They are different with Malik in there, but at the same time, he made some big-time throws and moved the team. There were chunks on the tape that we’ve got to try to keep off our tape.”
The Packers had seven plays of 20-plus yards at Tennessee to raise their season total to 17 (seven runs and 10 passes) plays of 20-plus yards. Green Bay’s balance is remarkable: 584 yards passing to 612 yards rushing.
Green Bay’s run/pass ratio is 62 to 38 run versus pass.
The Packers lost to the Eagles, 34-29, in the season-opener at Sao Paulo, Brazil. Love injured his left knee in the final seconds and has been diligently rehabbing since then. Meantime, Willis is 2-0 in two starts as a legit dual-threat quarterback.
Willis has rushed 12 times for 114 yards and a touchdown with two carries of 20-plus yards. He has completed 25 of 34 passes (73.5 percent) for 324 yards with two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a gaudy 122.7 passer rating.
“We’re not going to get the benefit of knowing kind of exactly what we’re going to see, so we’ve got to make sure we’ve got a game plan that’s extensive for both those guys,” O’Connell said.
The Packers’ one area of offensive concern is the red zone, where they’ve scored three touchdowns in 11 trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, which ranks 29th in the league.
Rookie kicker Brayden Narveson has three missed field goals (including one wiped out by penalty at Tennessee). His shaky start demands the Packers score touchdowns, rather than settle for field-goal attempts, which are far from guaranteed.
Willis’ near-flawless performance at Tennessee was reflected in his 120.6 passer rating. He didn’t even flirt with committing a turnover.
“That’s the No. 1 job of the quarterback, take care of the football,” LaFleur said. “He’s done a great job of not putting the ball in harm’s way. It’s allowed us to open some things up.”
Meantime, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s crew is doing a terrific job of forcing turnovers.
The Packers have an NFL-best nine takeaways through three games. They also matched their entire 2023 season total with seven interceptions, including three by Xavier McKinney. The former Giants’ safety and big-time free-agent signing has had at least one interception in each game he has played in Green Bay.
The Packers also have 11 sacks, including eight last week versus the Titans, and 20 quarterback hits. Opponents are converting a paltry 28.1 percent on third down against Hafley’s outfit.
Ex-Packers running back Aaron Jones will put Green Bay’s defense to the test. Working behind a much-improved Vikings offensive line, Jones has been sensational through three games.
He has made life much easier for quarterback Sam Darnold, who is directing O’Connell’s offense with efficiency. The results have been fairly staggering.
The Vikings’ offense is among the most potent in the league. Justin Jefferson remains the NFC’s pre-eminent receiver and is always just one play away from a big play.
Both Green Bay and Minnesota bring in vastly improved defenses to go with effective run games and an array of explosive weapons in their passing games.
This one is difficult to call, but I’ll go with the Packers 24, Vikings 21, in a nail-biter that (hopefully) isn’t decided by a last-second field goal.
Packers bury Titans 30-14 in grand style
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Last week, Malik Willis gave the Packers a chance to win. This week, he gave them a chance to dominate, and they rallied around their backup quarterback in grand style.
Willis improved his record as the Packers’ starting quarterback to 2-0 in an “A-1” encore as the Packers hammered the Titans, 30-14, on a 90-degree day at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.
Willis’ near-flawless performance was reflected in his 120.6 passer rating. He didn’t even flirt with committing a turnover.
“That’s the No. 1 job of the quarterback, take care of the football,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “He’s done a great job of not putting the ball in harm’s way. It’s allowed us to open some things up.”
Coming into the game it was fairly obvious that Willis, unlike the previous week when the Colts utterly couldn’t stop the run, would have to make throws to move the chains.
Willis did that with impressive third-and-long completions to Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson in the first half. Those early big plays kept the Titans at bay as the offense got rolling.
“One-hundred percent it gives everybody more confidence in what you’re doing,” LaFleur said. “Can’t say enough about (Willis), just the job he’s done to get in our offense and be productive. I say hats off to him (and) hats off to everybody around him, (those) guys rallying to have his back.”
Willis, the former Titan, started in place of the injured Jordan Love last week as the Packers edged the Colts 16-10. At Tennessee, Willis’ outstanding play enabled his running backs to bang away, his receivers to make big plays and his defensive coordinator to unleash the hounds.
Willis was a judicious 13 of 19 for 202 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions and a 120.9 passer rating. Willis was sacked three times for 58 yards, often while searching downfield for an open receiver. The speedster more than offset that with six carries for 73 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown scamper that capped a six-play, 70-yard thing of beauty on the opening drive.
Willis outplayed Levis a week after he outperformed the Colts’ Anthony Richardson. It has allowed his teammates to excel and succeed together despite not having Love at quarterback.
On Sunday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur’s clever play-calling enabled Green Bay to race to a 10-7 lead. That’s when the defense stepped in to put down the hammer.
Coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense created what proved to be the game’s turning point when Jaire Alexander snared an ill-advised Will Levis pass for a 35-yard “pick six” late in the first quarter. Alexander’s huge play increased Green Bay’s early lead to 17-7 with 51 seconds to play in the opening quarter.
The Titans (0-3) never closed within single digits.
The Packers’ defense made Will Levis look every bit as bad as his performances indicated through two weeks.
Levis’ big mistake was the 35-yard “pick six” to Alexander, but he wasn’t exactly sharp on many other plays, either.
Levis was 26 of 34 for 260 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 92.8 passer rating. He was sacked eight times behind an offensive line – literally from right (tackle) to left – that was overmatched and outgunned by the Packers’ pass rush.
“Oh my goodness, they were crazy,” Willis told reporters regarding the Packers’ defense. “Eight sacks, right? They won the game for us. Everybody deserves a game ball.”
Green Bay took turns embarrassing Titans’ right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere until he was benched in the second half. Frankly, it didn’t get much better for Tennessee and Levis without him.
It was a defensive meeting at the quarterback.
The Packers registered more than 20 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, in a day they dominated.
Preston Smith and Devonte Wyatt led the charge with two sacks each. Kingsley Enagbare, who may have had his best game as a Packer, had 1.5 sacks. Lukas Van Ess also played well and finished with sack. Linebackers O.J. McDuffie, Quay Walker and rookie Edgerrin Cooper had a half-sack apiece.
The Titans’ Tony Pollard, the former Cowboys back, had nine touches for 19 yards. He averaged a measly 2.3 yards per carry (14 on six rushes) and 5.0 on three catches (for 15 yards).
Pollard, like the Titans’ run game, was non-existent.
Meantime, LaFleur and the offense found ways to crack the Titans’ defense which actually played as good as billed. Jeffery Simmons and friends shut down everything inside the tackles. There was nowhere for Josh Jacobs or Emanuel Wilson to go.
Instead of ditching the run game, LaFleur shifted gears by relying on the ball fakes to spring Willis around the end. Willis’ 73 rushing yards were critical to the Packers’ success.
It was funny because the TV broadcast kept insisting the Packers’ run game was going nowhere, when the truth is Willis’ rushing yards count just as much as the backs’ total.
Give LaFleur an A for altering the run scheme, rather than scrapping it and instead making it work with Willis playing a role. LaFleur actually built on last week’s success in the run game to fashion plays that looked like Jacobs runs but turned out to be Willis sprint outs with the option to run or pass.
Willis played it to near-perfection.
The Titans never really got their hands around the Packers’ offense, or Willis, all day.
Christian Watson had a big day going 2-for-2 on targets and catches for 67 yards, including a beautiful 30-yard reception in which he out-dueled a Titans’ defender for the 50-50 ball.
Jayden Reed had four catches for 50 yards with a long of 30. He also had 19 yards in two carries to keep the Titans’ defense honest regarding screens and jet sweeps.
At times it appeared the Packers’ offense was growing ultra-conservative, if not stale, and leaving the door open for the Titans to get back into the game.
Don’t be deceived.
LaFleur was working to milk the clock at every opportunity, even if it meant sacrificing a down here or a series there. He was always looking for an opportunity to hit a big play, but he wasn’t going to jeopardize a 2-1 start in spite of Love’s injury.
He wasn’t about to take any undue risks, especially given the fact that Hafley and the defense were hammering Levis all day. It was complementary football at its best.
“That’s why we kind of took the air out of the ball a little bit,” LaFleur told reporters. “We were getting after (Levis), hitting him. That’s tough on a quarterback. We have a lot of depth and we’re rolling guys (in pass rush). A lot of guys are getting snaps, to the benefit of our team, so we can stay healthy hopefully and stay fresher longer.”
It’s all with an eye toward benefiting the team.
Given the Packers’ perhaps unlikely 2-1 start, and Love’s probable return, all eyes will turn to the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings and what sets up to be a tremendous matchup Sunday at Lambeau Field.
It’s a wonderful start to a promising season.
Brewers 1st to clinch;
Titans may face Love
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Cheers to the Brewers for becoming the first team in Major League Baseball to clinch a division title.
The Brewers (88-65) watched as the A’s defeated the Cubs, 5-3, in a day game Wednesday that sewed up Milwaukee’s second straight NL Central title.
Milwaukee celebrated by defeating the Phillies, 2-1, later that evening when Jackson Chourio led off the ninth with a triple and scored the winning run on Jake Bauers’ walk-off single.
Champagne all around and a root beer float for the left fielder.
Chourio, 20, isn’t old enough to legally drink alcohol.
But in baseball terms he is wise beyond his years. He has developed into one of the National League’s best hitters, period. He also has helped propel the Brewers to a terrific season.
Milwaukee was predicted to finish fourth in the NL Central by the preseason prognosticators. The Las Vegas odds-makers also set their projected season win total at 77. The Brewers eclipsed that number with a month to play.
They also have advanced to the postseason in six of the past seven seasons. It’s quite an accomplishment for the small-market franchise and owner Mark Attanasio.
“So much goes into this, thousands and thousands of hours from everybody,” Attanasio said Wednesday night. “The way this group of guys came together, you have to give Murph (manager Pat Murphy) and the coaches credit for the way they pulled everyone together and got these guys to believe in themselves when nobody else did.”
Then, for emphasis, he repeated, “Nobody.”
The Brewers are thrilled to win the NL Central, but they have their sights set on a higher goal. They trail the Dodgers (91-62) and the Phillies (91-62) by three games in the race for the NL’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and the first-round bye that goes with it.
Milwaukee will see Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen in Game 2 of a four-game weekend series at American Family Field. The D’Backs won the opener 5-1 behind an overpowering performance by right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, who allowed just one hit until Garrett Mitchell’s two-out solo home run in the seventh to make it 3-1 Arizona.
Pfaadt struck out a career-high 12 hitters – including seven in a row – before departing.
Despite the loss, Milwaukee remains very much in the hunt for a National League championship.
The Brewers have reached the playoffs repeatedly in recent years, but this season feels different than those in the past.
They have been able to stare down teams such as the Dodgers, Phillies and Padres without blinking. Their defense is as good as there is in the big leagues. The bullpen is among the finest in terms of depth, lefties and righties, and Devin Williams.
Most of all, the Brewers’ bats give fans hope.
If they can win the division without manager Craig Counsell and starting pitchers Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Wade Miley – and still attain this success – anything’s possible.
PACKERS PREPARE FOR TITANS SUNDAY
The Packers aim to build on the camaraderie, chemistry and affirmation gleaned from a 16-10 victory over the Colts that personified what it means to have a total team effort.
The Packers’ offense, with backup quarterback Malik Willis directing a conservative attack, the run game steamrolled the Colts to the tune of 235 yards rushing … in the first half.
Willis, who was 12 of 14 for 122 yards and a touchdown, didn’t come close to committing a turnover. His 14-yard touchdown toss to Dontayvion Wicks was a beautiful thing.
Willis proved that he can win as a starter in the NFL.
Nevertheless, the Packers got good news when Jordan Love returned to practice Wednesday in a limited role.
Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements stressed “limited.”
“He practiced … He looks limited. … He’s limited, limited, limited,” Clements said.
No worries.
The Titans (0-2) have dropped consecutive games by the score of 24-17 and are in jeopardy of their first 0-3 start since 2009. Tennessee features the NFL’s top-rated defense through two weeks on the strength of a vastly upgraded secondary. L’Jarius Sneed, who had 10 interceptions the past four seasons at Kansas City, joined the Titans in the offseason. So did cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Quandre Diggs.
If the Titans and monster defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons stack up Josh Jacobs and the run game, it will be up to Willis to locate and connect with his receivers.
Expect the Packers to try to exploit the short and intermediate passing game, including an abundance of screens, shallow crossing routes and the occasional deep shot to Christian Watson and the rest.
This is the week the Packers’ defense – on the heels of a strong game versus the Colts – could take charge and carry the day.
The Titans’ Will Levis is a second-year walking turnover. He is probably two interceptions away from a seat on the bench. The Packers’ defensive backs would be more than happy to oblige.
The Packers have five interceptions and six takeaways in two games to lead the NFL in both categories. The Titans have committed five turnovers already to match Denver for the most in the league.
“We just hope he gives us some more this week,” Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon said.
PREDICTION
PACKERS 23, TITANS 17
Look for Jeff Hafley’s defense to get after the Titans in a big way. Whether it’s Love or Willis at quarterback look for the Packers to utilize more of the same in terms of screens, jet sweeps and quarterback sprint outs this week.
The Packers are a much better team than the Titans. They reaffirmed it in last week’s win versus the Colts. They’ll do more of the same on Sunday in Nashville.
Willis, Jacobs and ‘D’
huge in Packers’ win
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Football is the ultimate team sport.
To those who disagree I present the Packers’ 16-10 victory over the Colts in Sunday’s home opener as Exhibit A.
Make that Exhibits A to Z because Green Bay’s grinding, relentless assault – especially in the game’s first 20 minutes – required the Packers to work together, overcome and prevail.
The execution was solid and the teamwork was outstanding.
Willis, who started in place of the injured Jordan Love less than three weeks after being acquired in a trade with Tennessee, did his part and then some to enable the Packers to seize the day.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur couldn’t have been prouder.
On Wednesday LaFleur was asked how much of the playbook Willis knew. He said he didn’t know but guaranteed that Willis would know “100 percent” of the game plan against the Colts.
Willis’ smooth performance proved LaFleur correct.
“I don’t think you guys can appreciate or even comprehend the task … I mean, this guy got here three weeks ago and for him to be able to go out there and command our offense?
“There was a lot put on his plate and for him to be able to go out there and do what he did today, I think that speaks volumes of who (Willis) is as a person and the work that he’s put in … (I’m) just super proud of him.”
Willis looked like he was in the cockpit flying on autopilot.
He completed 12 of 14 passes for 122 yards with a touchdown, no interceptions and a spiffy 126.8 passer rating. He also rushed six times for 41 yards and wasn’t sacked.
Not once did Willis flirt with a turnover.
The 23-year-old’s composure was impressive, too. In fact, it was reminiscent of Love’s cool demeanor. Little if anything seemed to rattle Willis despite the pressure cooker of Lambeau Field. It’s the greatest place on Earth when things are going great, but there’s absolutely nowhere to hide when things are going badly.
Willis seemed unfazed.
“The last opportunity I got to start a game was my rookie year,” he said of the 2022 season. “I wasn’t where I wanted to be as far as the offense went, or just where I was playing NFL football as a rookie. You don’t control that.
“This is a results-based business. That’s just what it is. I just continued to try to work until I got another opportunity and it just so happens that it came this week.”
Willis’ discipline to stick with LaFleur’s game plan, combined with the offensive line’s aggressive run blocking and Josh Jacobs’ power and balance, overwhelmed the Colts’ defense.
The Colts’ defenders had hands-on-hips midway through the first quarter on a sultry day with temperatures reaching into the mid-80s throughout the first half.
Jacobs barreled his way for a career-high 151 yards on 32 carries for a fat 4.7 average. He had a long run of 34 yards and would’ve added a touchdown if not for a goal-line fumble.
The Packers’ first three drives of the game were undeniably three of their best drives all day.
Willis took the Packers on an eight-play, 57-yard drive that included two first downs while overcoming 15 penalty yards. It produced a 46-yard Brayden Narveson field goal.
The Packers’ next drive was a thing of beauty.
Green Bay marched 92 yards in 11 plays before Willis connected with Dontayvion Wicks for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Willis put extra zip on the pass and Wicks snared it while a Colts’ defender tried in vain to undercut the route.
The Packers’ third drive covered 68 yards in 10 plays but was thwarted when Jacobs fumbled at the goal line.
Instead of a 17-0 lead it was 10-0 but the Colts were gassed. The Packers ran 29 plays to Indianapolis’ nine at the outset. Green Bay also had the football for 16 of the game’s first 20 minutes.
The Packers’ run game finished with 261 yards on 53 carries.
Jayden Reed had 37 yards on a pair of sweeps.
“Coach LaFleur told us at the beginning of the week: ‘Man, get your blocking gloves on.’” the Packers’ receiver said. “This was a blocking game for us. We went out there, we did our job, we did what we had to do. “Eight (Jacobs) had a great day today, so kudos to the O-line as well.”
Center Josh Myers called Jacobs’ performance “unbelievable.”
“Unbelievable,” Myers repeated himself. “I know they said he had 32 rushes for like 150-something. Most of those were up the gut, hard, gritty, grimy runs. Unbelievable job by him. I can’t imagine how he must be feeling right now.”
Jacobs said he felt great.
“I feel like I could play another half,” he said after the game. “It was hot, especially in warm-ups, but body-wise, I feel good, man. I told ‘em, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever had a game where I came out kind of like this clean.’ So I feel good.”
So does a Packers’ defense that put the clamps on the Colts.
The Colts fumbled three times and quarterback Anthony Richardson threw three interceptions. Richardson was – in a word – awful. Willis was the better quarterback on the field – and definitely the better coached quarterback – of the two.
Richardson was 17 of 34 for 204 yards, one touchdown and the trio of picks for a 41.8 passer rating. He was sacked once and rushed four times for 37 yards.
Often, Richardson looked like he didn’t know where to throw it.
The Packers’ Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and linebacker Eric Wilson all had interceptions.
The Packers have five interceptions compared with seven ALL of last season.
“That’s something that we made an emphasis of in the offseason … being able to create turnovers and be able just do something productive to be able to get that ball back for the offense,” McKinney said. “So, the fact that we’ve been able to go out there, execute and get our hands on the ball with these turnovers has been great.”
So were the Packers – as a team – in Sunday’s home opener.
Willis to start at QB in
Packers’ home opener
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Malik Willis sees the opportunity before him. The question is whether the Packers’ likely starting QB in Sunday’s home opener versus the Colts can seize it.
Willis, 23, has been in Green Bay fewer than three weeks.
In that time he greeted his new teammates, met with the coaches, trainers and equipment staff, and began to settle in as the Packers’ QB2 who wears jersey No. 2.
It was a great opportunity to watch, learn and hone his skills with a first-class mentor in Jordan Love and a highly successful head coach in Matt LaFleur.
Then the entire scenario changed in the twist of a knee.
Love suffered an MCL sprain of his left knee in the final seconds of the Packers’ 34-29 loss to the Eagles in their Week 1 season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Love is expected to be sidelined 3-to-4 weeks, although the Packers didn’t place him on IR, meaning he wouldn’t have to sit a mandatory for weeks in exchange for an additional roster spot.
The best news is that Love’s injury isn’t season ending.
It’s also better that it occurred in Week 1 versus Week 18. It allows Love ample time to rehab and recover from the injury. It also gives the Packers leeway in case of a 0-for-whatever start.
In addition, it’s also better that Love’s injury occurred late in the Eagles’ game, as opposed to early in the Colts’ home opener. That’s because this time table at least allows Willis an entire week to practice and prepare for Indianapolis.
So who is Malik Willis?
He was a dual threat quarterback at Liberty whom the Titans selected in the third round of the 2022 draft. He is a stoutly built 6-1, 225-pound athlete with legit 4.4-second speed in the 40.
Willis started three games as a rookie.
The Titans went 1-2 but it wasn’t pretty. In fact, the Titans won in spite of Willis, rather than because of him.
In retrospect, Willis realizes he was ill-prepared to be an NFL starting quarterback as a rookie. The fact is it’s, “Ready or not, here they come,” when an NFL team has nowhere else to turn.
“I’ve only played three games and I was a rookie, call it what you want to … I wasn’t ready yet,” Willis admitted this week. “But I had to go in and I’m a different player than (I was) then. It’s not about what you know, it’s about what you can prove on the field, you know what I mean?”
Willis’ chance to begin “proving it” starts Sunday.
So what are realistic expectations?
I suspect Willis’ stat line to read something similar to this:
Willis is 16 of 27 for 113 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He’ll also have six carries for 48 yards and a TD.
Those are typically modest passing numbers for a Packers’ quarterback. The truth is they’re actually on the high side for Willis, given his lack of experience in the Packers’ system.
Willis showed signs of progress during the Titans’ preseason when he completed 20 of 27 passes for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
His accuracy and ability to succeed as a passer out of the pocket remain his greatest challenges.
LaFleur said the Packers’ coaches are going to continue working with Willis on his fundamentals in addition to getting him ready to start against the Colts.
Willis has been putting in long days to get up to speed.
“The reality is I just got here, so it’s gonna be a little bit in overdrive,” Willis told reporters. “It’s been pretty much around the clock since I got here. You try to come in and be ready to go if you’re called upon.”
That call came a lot sooner than Willis might’ve figured on.
Nevertheless, he doesn’t seem fazed. Or he isn’t letting on.
When asked if he was nervous, Willis replied, “Nervous about what? It’s Wednesday.”
While Willis’ on-field experience is limited he has gone about the business of preparing and playing as a starter. It enables him to have a perspective that lets him know what he’s in for.
“He’s got to communicate to us and let us know where he’s at,” LaFleur said. “Certainly we’ll go through it and comb it at the end of the week and probably ‘X’ out some things if he’s not very comfortable with it, and star the things that he really likes.
“I’m confident that he’ll tell me if he’s uncomfortable with something.”
The Colts (0-1) surrendered more than 200 yards rushing to the Houston Texans in a 29-27 loss in Week 1. Joe Mixon had a career rushing day against Indianapolis, which suggests the Packers will do everything to get their run game going in an effort to make Willis’ job that much easier.
However, the Colts’ greatest weakness is their secondary. Cornerback JuJu Brents is out with an injury in a secondary that already is short on talent and depth.
The question is this: Does LaFleur attack with Willis’ arm? Or does he focus on the run game, Willis’ speed and jet sweeps with merely a sprinkle of the pass game to move the chains?
Conversely, the Colts have Anthony Richardson at quarterback, an extremely talented athlete who is reminiscent of Cam Newton in the way he runs and throws.
Richardson’s accuracy has been a problem, but his arm strength is unquestioned. The Packers’ defense must decide if it’s going to rush four and drop seven in coverage, or play it straight and give Richardson time to self-destruct.
The Colts’ Jonathan Taylor is a premier back and a dual threat as a ball carrier and receiver out of the backfield.
The Packers will have their hands full Sunday.
PREDICTION
COLTS 24, PACKERS 16
Love out 3-to-4 weeks,
Packers turn to Willis
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers are 0-1 with Jordan Love.
Now, they face the unwelcome and undeniably more difficult task of winning without him due to a left knee injury that will sideline the Packers’ QB1 for three to four weeks.
Love was injured in the final seconds of Green Bay’s 34-29 loss to Philadelphia during Friday night’s regular-season opener on a slick field at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur didn’t get into specifics during his Monday news conference, but he did call it “relatively good news” that an MRI revealed it wouldn’t be season ending.
LaFleur said Love wouldn’t be placed on injured reserve, meaning he’d miss at least four weeks. The coach also said the Packers – despite media reports to the contrary – haven’t explored the possibility of signing a veteran quarterback.
Further, LaFleur said recently acquired Malik Willis is their starting quarterback until Love is cleared by the medical staff.
LaFleur was asked to put a percentage on Love’s availability.
“I couldn’t give you a percentage, but if he gets cleared, we’ll give him every opportunity (to play) like we always will,” he said. “I know he’s doing everything in his power. I know he’s spending a lot of time trying to get back as soon as possible.
“But certainly we’re not going to put him in a position where if he can’t protect himself that he’d go out there.”
Love had an uncharacteristically rocky start to the season.
He finished 17 of 34 for 260 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for an 83.0 passer rating. He never looked comfortable on the slick field and didn’t scramble once.
Most disappointing was the Packers’ performance in the red zone. Green Bay’s defense forced two turnovers within the game’s first four minutes that set them up point blank.
The Packers’ offense seemed ill-prepared to take advantage of their early good fortune and was forced to settle for a pair of Brayden Narveson field goals. The missed opportunities were compounded later when a third turnover only led to a field goal, and Narveson misfired on a fourth attempt from 43 yards out.
It was reminiscent of the start of the Packers’ 24-21 loss at San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs.
In that January playoff game, the Packers’ first three possessions played out like this:
** 1st and 10 at the 49ers’ 13-yard line: 29-yard field goal.
** 1st and 10 at the 49ers’ 23-yard line: Fourth-down failure.
** 1st-and-goal at the 49ers’ 9-yard line: 29-yard field goal.
By the time the smoke cleared it was 49ers 7, Packers 6. If that sounds familiar it’s because the Packers, after similar failures, trailed the Eagles 7-6 despite the golden opportunities.
In addition, Anders Carlson missed a fourth-quarter field goal attempt in that 49ers’ game (much like Narveson versus the Eagles Friday night) that factored in the loss.
The Packers’ miscues and Love’s injury – in addition to season-opening wins by the Bears, Vikings and Lions – gives the rest of the NFC North two legs up on the Packers.
The first leg up is the one-game lead in the standings. It may not seem like much in September, but by December it could be the difference between a playoff berth and a long, cold offseason.
The second leg up is Love’s left leg, or left knee, to be specific.
Now, it’s up to the recently acquired Willis to run the offense.
LaFleur appears pleased with Willis’ efforts to learn on the fly.
“He’s put a lot of time and effort into this thing,” the Packers’ coach said. “He’s grinded. He’s learned the terminology and is able to spit out the play calls, and we’ve got confidence in him.
“If he’s given a full week of preparation, a full week of practice, I’ve got confidence he’ll go out there and perform at a high level.”
Clearly, Willis sees the opportunity before him. The question is whether he will be able to seize it. He does possess the talent.
Willis (6-1, 219) is a tremendous athlete with a strong right arm and legit 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash.
Willis also is unpolished, if not raw.
The third-year pro out of Liberty was selected by Tennessee in the third round of the 2022 draft. He started three games as a rookie, completing 25 of 49 passes for 234 yards and three interceptions. He also rushed 20 times for 95 yards.
Willis’ next touchdown pass will be his first in the NFL.
By the way, the Titans were 1-2 in Willis’ three starts.
LaFleur was asked what percentage of the playbook Willis had mastered. The coach said he wasn’t going to guess but did offer a prediction: “He’ll know 100 percent of the game plan.”
“Every game’s a little bit different and certainly you’ve got to play to your players’ strengths, so it’s our job to try to come up with (a plan) to put him in a position to be successful, whether that’s moving launch points or straight drop back, whatever it may be,” LaFleur said. “We always carry play-actions every week. So we’ll come up with whatever we feel like is going to give us the best possible opportunity to move the football.”
The Packers’ success in the next few weeks, good and bad, isn’t all going to fall on Willis’ shoulder pads.
The coaches need to be better than they were in the opener. LaFleur and his staff had too many miscommunications between themselves and the players.
The rest of players also need to be better.
There has never been a serious Super Bowl contender that lived and died strictly with the quarterback. The great Dan Marino got to the pinnacle just once in his illustrious Hall of Fame career, and he lost to the 49ers at that.
It’s time for the offense to rally around Willis, focus on the details and play with a true sense of urgency. It’s also time for Green Bay’s defense to do likewise.
Teams can’t play their way into the postseason in September.
But they sure as heck can play their way out of it.
Eagles outgun Packers
34-29 in sloppy opener
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers’ good vibe “Summer of Love” got smacked upside the helmet by a harsh jolt of reality otherwise known as the NFL’s regular season.
The mood among Packers fans went from “thumbs up” to “fingers crossed” when Jordan Love’s left knee buckled in the final seconds of a 34-29 loss to Philadelphia on Friday night.
The Packers’ starting quarterback had to be helped off the slick field at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The fear is his final play of the game might be his last of the season.
Media reports early Saturday ahead of the Packers’ arrival back in Green Bay indicated an ankle injury had been ruled out. However, reports also said Love’s knee would undergo an MRI.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about Love’s injury during his postgame news conference.
LaFleur’s response: “I don’t know.”
What the Packers’ head coach does know is that his team’s performance against the talented Eagles wasn’t good enough.
“A lot to clean up,” he admitted. “(It was) definitely a sloppy game for us. There some uncharacteristic things we did as a staff, frankly, that trickled down to our players.
“Guys competed hard, but it was sloppy. It seemed like every time offensively we had a drive-stopping penalty. We overcame some of those, but a lot of penalties.”
The Packers (0-1) did some good things against the Eagles (1-0) in their “South of the Equator” season opener. The trouble is much of the good was erased by the Packers’ own mistakes.
The Eagles were minus-2 in turnovers but still managed to win, an amazing feat considering teams that were minus-2 in the turnover battle went 7-42 last season.
Philadelphia prevailed despite the odds in large part due to Green Bay’s self-destructive ways.
The Packers’ defense got three takeaways, including two inside the Eagles’ red zone in the game’s first four minutes, but the offense could only parlay it into a measly three field goals.
“To force three takeaways against a really good offense, I feel we should win the game,” LaFleur said. “Stats will tell you it’s a 90 percent win ratio when you’re plus-2 in takeaways.
“Nine points off three turnovers? Not good enough.”
The Packers committed 10 penalties for 71 yards, including an offsetting “12 men on the field” that wiped out a Love-to-Jayden Reed 38-yard touchdown pass on the game’s opening drive.
The Packers’ offense followed that by being turned back by the Eagles’ defense twice inside the red zone. Green Bay was forced to settle for field goals of 31 and 23 yards by Brayden Narveson.
LaFleur lamented the red zone failures.
“We had a lot of opportunities we didn’t capitalize on and when you don’t do that, you get beat,” LaFleur said. “The red area was a huge problem tonight. Last year I thought we were pretty good in that area, but we got destroyed there tonight.”
Narveson, an undrafted rookie free agent signed just days before the season opener, also missed a 43-yard field goal attempt that glanced off the right upright late in the third quarter.
The Packers trailed 31-26 and a “make” would’ve drawn them to within a field goal. Instead, they still needed a touchdown, a fact that dogged them down the stretch.
Meantime, the Eagles’ defense forced one turnover – a Love interception with six minutes to play in the third quarter – and took over at Green Bay’s 24-yard line. Saquon Barkley scored on a 2-yard run four plays later.
Barkley finished with 24 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to get the TD hat trick.
“We had some mistakes, in the run game we had some blown gaps where Saquon was barreling through there and getting chunk gains,” LaFleur said. “You can’t do that against a good football team.”
Hurts finished 20 of 34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Xavier McKinney got him early and Jaire Alexander got him late, but neither pick led to touchdowns.
The Eagles’ splendid receiving duo of A.J. Brown (five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown) and DeVonta Smith (seven for 84) repeatedly found openings in the Packers’ secondary.
Hurts was sacked twice and hit five times but it didn’t matter. When the Eagles’ quarterback needed to direct a game-winning, clock-consuming drive he did it with power and aplomb.
“They were having their way with us,” LaFleur said. “I expected more from our pass rush tonight, and when we did bring pressure, a lot of times it looked like guys were uncovered.”
McKinney said he spoke to the team in the locker room after the loss. He doesn’t want to hear any doom-and-gloom forecasts after just one game.
“Defensively, I think we know what we have to do to improve from this game,” McKinney said. “We’re going to be critical of ourselves watching this film on the way back, and we’re going to be better, a lot better, next week.
“I think we know we didn’t hold up to the standard that we wanted to be defensively, but we’ll get that fixed and I don’t think we’ll have an issue moving forward.”
The Packers’ offense flashed at times with big plays.
Josh Jacobs had 16 carries for 84 yards, but 80 of those yards (on 10 attempts) came in the second half. Jacobs said the Packers’ offense made an adjustment at halftime and it paid off.
“We just changed our scheme,” Jacobs said. “They had a great game plan the first half, so we changed our scheme like the third or fourth drive and it started paying off.”
Jacobs had a 32-yard gallop that keyed Green Bay’s 10-play, 79-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter.
Emanuel Wilson added 46 yards rushing on four carries. The Packers finished with a respectable 163 yards rushing on 21 carries for a 7.8 yards-per-carry clip.
Conversely, Love was uncharacteristically off target and finished 17 of 34 for 260 yards, two touchdowns, the interception and an 83 passer rating.
Reed had the big night with four catches for 138 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown grab. He also had a 33-yard touchdown run on a clever play in the first half.
Romeo Doubs had four catches for 50 yards, and Christian Watson hauled in a 9-yard touchdown catch, but the Packers’ receivers also had at least four drops. That includes two by second-year pro Dontayvion Wicks, who didn’t catch a pass. Now the Packers have to lick their wounds and pray that Love’s knee injury isn’t serious.
Packers-Eagles opener
pits two of NFC’s best
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers enter the 2024 NFL season with great expectations.
They won seven of 10 games (including the playoffs) to close out last season. That included wins over NFC North champion Detroit (29-22), Super Bowl champion Kansas City (27-19) and NFC East champion Dallas (48-32) in the NFC divisional round.
Only one failed defensive stand, and a missed field goal, stood between the Packers and a berth in the NFC title game.
Indeed, Matt LaFleur’s team finished with a flourish.
The Philadelphia Eagles can’t say the same.
Nick Sirianni’s team was .500 (6-6) in its last 12 games.
The Eagles started 10-1 before their once-promising season was derailed by advanced age, injuries and a 30th-ranked defense.
Both the Packers and Eagles made significant offseason changes to shore up weaknesses and accentuate strengths in an effort to claim the NFC championship and advance to Super Bowl LIX.
The Eagles acquired Saquon Barkley to replace D’Andre Swift and jumpstart their once-vaunted running game.
Barkley, one of the NFL’s most dynamic weapons, averaged 3.9 yards per carry behind and awful N.Y. Giants’ offensive line. He still managed to accumulate 51 first downs rushing and another 16 in the passing game against defenses designed to stop him.
That included the Packers’ defense under Joe Barry.
Barkley rushed 20 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants’ 24-22 upset win at the Meadowlands. He also caught three passes for 15 yards and would’ve sealed the win if not for fumbling after a 26-yard gallop late in the game.
The Eagles’ offense returns quarterback Jalen Hurts, tight end Dallas Goedert and receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. It’s as talented an arsenal of weapons as there is in the league.
What the Eagles don’t have is a proven offensive line. Perennial All-Pro center Jason Kelce retired in the offseason. The Eagles’ “Brotherly Shove” certainly took a hit, and it is possible Hurts also will take numerous hits because of it.
The Packers counter with new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, a revamped safety room that added All-Pro Xavier McKinney, and the return of everyone in the front seven.
Hafley isn’t concerned that it will be the first time he’s calling the defensive plays for an NFL team.
“For me, it’s like this, just like I talk to the players and I mean this – I tell them we’re gonna work really hard up until the time that we kick off and my sheet’s gonna be in front of me and I’m gonna let it rip, and we’re gonna call it and we’re gonna play fast and we’re gonna play physical and I’m not gonna hesitate on the call,” Hafley said. “We’re gonna get it in quickly to Quay Walker so they can look out and see what the offense is coming out in and we can go line up and play.
“Once that starts, maybe I’ll be a little anxious before kickoff but we’re gonna work to the point where we’re prepared. I trust the players. I trust the staff and I just gotta go call it and they gotta go play and execute and I cannot wait for that to happen.”
Jordan Love leads a Packers’ offense that went from struggling to score in the first half of games early in the season to being one of the league’s most explosive attacks.
The Eagles hired Vic Fangio to coordinate its new-look defense.
“Vic is one of one,” LaFleur said. “There are a lot of guys who’ve tried to copy and emulate his scheme, and some guys have had success, but not to the level he’s had. He’s one of the best (defensive coordinators) in the game.”
Love said they are doing their best to prepare for what comes.
“A lot of unknowns,” Love said. “So you just have to trust the rules of the game plan and go out there, take that opening drive to get a feel … for what their blitz flavors of the day might be and how they’re trying to play us.”
The Eagles, like the Packers, played vanilla offense in the preseason.
“I’m sure they didn’t unleash everything that they have in their arsenal,” LaFleur said. “Week 1’s always, it’s a guessing game in some respect. That’s why you’ve really got to focus on what you do and knowing your rules inside and out, knowing the details of what you’re trying to get done, and that’s what we’ve emphasized to our guys.”
Love should be able to exploit the Eagles’ young secondary, especially with All-Pro defensive tackle Fletcher Cox’s retirement and Hasaan Reddick, their best pass rusher, being traded to the New York Jets.
Josh Jacobs’ arrival also should help the Packers’ running game find traction in the opener. Jacobs replaces Aaron Jones, who was revered in Green Bay. I suspect Packers fans will embrace Jacobs in similar fashion once they see what he can do.
Jacobs is just a year removed from being the NFL’s leading rusher. He also is adept in pass protection and serves as a bona fide weapon out as a receiver out of the backfield.
“It comes down to adjustments,” LaFleur said. “You’re goingto have to adjust Week 1 … and typically whoever can do that better will probably win the game.”
PREDICTION
The Packers’ offense, in particular Jacobs in the run game, should be able to put up points against the Eagles’ defense.
Love and his band of receivers should be able to gain yardage in big chunks. The addition of Jacobs should make for better success in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
The special teams’ matchup is something of a mystery given the NFL’s new kickoff rule. In addition, the Packers have a new kicker in undrafted rookie Brayden Narveson.
Overall, I expect the Packers-Eagles matchup in Friday night’s regular-season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to be hotly contested. I also expect it to be decided in the fourth quarter.
It would be foolish to underrate the Eagles and Hurts. It’s even possible Philadelphia might maul the Packers in the opener.
But I don’t see it that way.
The Packers’ passing attack, in addition to an entirely retooled defense, should be enough to carry the day.
Packers 27, Eagles 24
Packers retool safety,
Dillon done for season
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers overhauled their entire safety position, replaced half of their 10-man offensive line group, and bid adieu to running back A.J. Dillon (stinger) and tight end Tyler Davis (shoulder) by placing both veterans on season-ending injured reserve.
They also released both backup quarterbacks – Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt – one day after trading a 2025 seventh-round draft pick to the Titans for quarterback Malik Willis.
In addition, Greg Joseph earned a spot on the Packers’ “initial” 53-man roster when Green Bay released second-year kicker Anders Carlson after less-than-inspiring performances by both.
Joseph’s only “leg up” on Carlson is that he hasn’t scarred his coaches and teammates – at least not yet – with an abundance of crazy misses and erratic kicks.
Meantime, the six-player wide receiver unit stood at the meeting room door and essentially declared, “No one shall pass!”
Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks return as the top four with fellow holdovers Malik Heath and Bo Melton also back.
For Dillon, the Mayor of Door County’s days with the Packers are finished. Sadly, Dillon’s NFL career – pending more medical information – also may be in jeopardy.
Davis has been a consummate pro in Green Bay, but last year’s knee injury and this year’s shoulder injury have derailed his career here.
Here’s a closer look at the Packers’ “initial” 53-man roster:
** QB (2): Jordan Love is ready to build on his tremendous first season as the Packers’ QB1 and next franchise quarterback. Willis, a third-round pick in 2022, is a 6-1, 219-pound speedster who possesses a strong but all-to-often inaccurate throwing arm.
Clifford didn’t do enough in training camp and the preseason to give the Packers confidence he could win a game or two if Love was sidelined with an injury. Pratt flashed at times but is too raw to be relied upon as the backup on a serious playoff contender.
It’s been suggested Clifford may be resigned if for no other reason than to serve as the backup for Week 1 against Philadelphia. He knows the offense well enough to run it should something happen to Love in the regular-season opener.
That said I’d still prefer a newbie in Willis to Clifford. Willis has played in the NFL and his legit 4.4 speed and strong arm could be enough to enable Green Bay to survive a short stretch.
** RBs (3): Josh Jacobs is going to be the bell cow. He better be ready to go out of the gate because he’ll get a lot of work in the season-opener in Brazil.
Emanuel Wilson earned a spot on the 53-man roster. He had 13 rushing attempts in the postseason last year. His running style is similar to Jacobs’ and he knows the offense. I’m pretty sure Wilson would have beaten out a healthy Dillon straight up.
Rookie Marshawn Lloyd has immense upside and will be brought along slowly.
** WRs (6): Doubs, Reed, Watson, Wicks, Heath and Melton provide Green Bay and Love with as dangerous a group as there is in the NFL. Grant Dubose should return on the practice squad.
Watson has shown no adverse effects regarding his hamstring and Doubs remains a key weapon. Reed, Wicks, Heath and Melton all should thrive in their second season here.
** TEs (3): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims hold down the fort at tight end. It’s as young and talented a trio of tight ends as there is in the league.
** Offensive Line (10): The Packers kept 11 offensive linemen last season. That group included the now departed David Bakhtiari, Yosh Nijman, Caleb Jones, Jon Runyan Jr., Royce Newman and Luke Tenuta.
The Packers return Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Zach Tom and Sean Rhyan while adding Jordan Morgan, Kadeem Telfort, Jacob Monk, Andre Dillard and Travis Glover.
Morgan and Rhyan may alternate at right guard, although it appears that eventually it will be Morgan’s job with Rhyan as the top G/C reserve.
** DT (5): Everybody returns here. Kenny Clark, T.J. Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden all are back. Jonathan Ford will open on injured reserve with the ability to be activated this season.
** DE (6): Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox, Jr., all return with Arron Mosby added to the mix.
** ILB (5): Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson will open the season as the starters in Green Bay’s base 4-3 defense. Rookies Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper effectively replaced De’Vondre Campbell and Tariq Carpenter.
It’s an infusion of speed and youth. Fans are rooting for Kristian Welch to be brought back on the practice squad.
** CB (5): Jaire Alexander leads a talented group with Eric Stokes starting opposite him and Keisean Nixon in the slot. Carrington Valentine and Corey Ballentine were no-brainers. Both are quality backups who started critical games last season.
** S (5): It’s an entire whitewash at safety.
Gone are Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Jonathan Owens, Dallin Leavitt and Anthony Johnson Jr.
Johnson Jr.’s release was the surprise here.
The revamped unit is led by Xavier McKinney with rookies Javon Bullard and Evan Williams playing key roles. Zayne Anderson is a reliable special teams’ performer and rookie Kitan Oladapo is a rugged and willing special teamer as well.
** K, P, LS: It is Joseph (for now) as the kicker, along with punter Daniel Whelan and long snapper Matt Orzech.
Packers’ subs rise up
to sink Ravens, 30-7
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – It was a fitting finish to what was a vastly productive, highly spirited training camp and preseason.
The Packers’ 30-7 victory over the Ravens in Saturday’s Week 3 preseason finale at Lambeau Field carried the team’s good vibe all the way into Tuesday’s NFL roster cut deadline.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said there will be a lot of difficult decisions with the roster cuts. He added that he’s grateful he doesn’t have to be the one to make the final decision. That task falls to GM Brian Gutekunst after much discussion and debate.
Two things with that:
** No. 1 – It speaks to the degree of trust and teamwork between Gutekunst and LaFleur. They are similar to Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren in that they are constantly gaming out roster scenarios as well as analyzing camp battles between players.
Their coordination and communication appears to be excellent.
It amazes me whenever I read reports discussing the animosity between a GM and coach in the league. I always think, “It’s plenty challenging when they’re seeing eye-to-eye. How do they win when they’re not collaborating?”
The answer is a majority of them don’t succeed.
Fortunately for Packers fans, the GM and coach have a healthy working relationship. It doesn’t guarantee a team’s success – especially if neither the GM nor the coach knows what the heck they’re doing – but it’s a good way to bet.
** No. 2 – When LaFleur opined on the difficulty of making roster cuts he was being truthful. It is “difficult” but for the best reason possible: Because there are more than 53 worth keeping.
A week after having their helmets handed to them by the Broncos’ starters in a joint practice and ensuing preseason game, the Packers’ reserves gained a measure of redemption Saturday.
The Packers dominated the Ravens in every phase.
Green Bay had impressive showings by both individuals and their respective offensive and defensive units as a whole.
The defense forced four turnovers and didn’t allow Baltimore’s offense to reach its red zone. The Ravens’ lone touchdown came on 48-yard toss from Josh Johnson to Tylan Wallace. It gave the Ravens a short-lived 7-6 lead early in the second quarter.
After that it was all Packers on a Chamber of Commerce Day, much to the delight of the 72,000-plus fans that showed up to cheer for their team during its lone home preseason appearance.
The offense also obliged the Lambeau Field patrons by churning out 193 yards rushing to go with an effective passing attack. Or perhaps it’s the other way around. The run game quite likely made throwing the football much more doable for backup QBs Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt.
Pratt hit Bo Melton on a perfectly thrown fade for an 18-yard touchdown catch. Pratt was 8 of 12 for 80 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a 78.5 passer rating.
Clifford connected with Malik Heath on a 7-yard touchdown pass. He completed 6 of 14 for 53 yards and the touchdown toss for a 77.4 passer rating.
It’s a true competition for the backup QB job.
Clearly, the Packers aren’t going to expose Pratt to the waiver wire. They felt fortunate to be able to draft the Tulane quarterback in the seventh round.
He isn’t going anywhere.
Clifford is another matter. He has been solid in camp but his preseason games have been a mixed bag: some good, some bad.
It’s likely they’ll keep both on the 53-man roster. If something should happen to starter Jordan Love they’ll deal with it then.
The running back battle comes down to whether the Packers will keep two or three on their 53-man roster. I suspect it’ll be Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson at the season’s outset with A.J. Dillon (stinger) and/or Marshawn Lloyd (hamstring) on the 53.
It is possible Dillon and/or Lloyd could go on reserve lists.
If that’s the case it’ll be either Ellis Merriweather or Nate McCrary as the third back until further notice.
The receiver position looks like Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Melton, Heath and perhaps Grant DuBose.
The Packers’ O-line is settled with the exception of the swing tackle and the first player up as the primary G/C backup.
Green Bay didn’t allow a sack against the Ravens.
Defensively, edge rusher Aaron Mosby made a name for himself with a very physical strip-sack that led to Anthony Johnson Jr.’s 26-yard scoop-and-score in the first half.
Mosby intercepted a pass on the next defensive series.
Linebacker Kristian Welch, who is a special teams’ mercenary by trade, intercepted a pass for a second straight week. He also was active against the run game and solid versus the pass.
Welch has a great chance to be the sixth linebacker.
The winner of the camp-long kicker battle between incumbent Anders Carlson and veteran Greg Joseph remains a mystery.
Joseph made field goals of 36 and 55 yards, while Carlson nailed 54-yarder but then missed a 34-yard try in the fourth quarter. Neither one has earned my trust. If I’m the Packers I’m looking in earnest to find another kicker or two to keep the competition alive. The Packers can’t miss on this again.
Once the Packers announce their first round of roster cuts to 53 they will have a week to firm up the practice squad. Most of the Packers’ decisions are whether to protect a player on the 53 or open with them on the practice squad.
Some teams are hard-pressed to find 53 worth keeping.
The Packers appear more focused on using the 53-man roster and the practice squad in tandem. They have to be mindful of which players could help them as “game-day call-ups.”
Left tackle Andre Dillard, right tackle Kadeem Telfort, guard Royce Newman and receiver Samori Toure are all on the bubble.
Let the roster-cutting begin.
Packers’ vibe positive 2 weeks before opener
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – While Sao Paulo feels like it’s a world apart from Green Bay, the Packers’ season opener versus the Eagles in Brazil’s largest city is right around the corner.
In two weeks the Packers will test their mettle against the Eagles in an international game featuring two of the NFC’s top teams.
It’s only the first of 17 regular-season games, but Philadelphia figures to factor into the NFC playoff picture, and notching a Week 1 win would give Green Bay a healthy head start.
Between now and then, the Packers have plenty of work to do.
A good deal of the heavy lifting occurred Thursday in the Packers’ joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens.
Jordan Love was sharp.
According to one media outlet, Love was 17 of 26 for four touchdowns and an interception. He hit big plays to Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Tucker Kraft. Kraft was especially impressive with his agility to get open, soft hands to reel in the pass and legit explosiveness after the catch.
Kraft, despite missing time with a pec injury, looks ready.
So does Love.
The Packers’ quarterback was smooth in the pocket while nimbly sidestepping on-rushers and either firing a strike deep or calmly taking his check-down.
The running game was … well … it’s a practice, after all, and the run game is difficult – if not impossible for the lay person – to accurately assess.
That wasn’t the case in other areas.
The Packers’ pass protection was A-plus against a salty Ravens defense that is regarded among the NFL’s finest.
“It was fantastic today,” Love said of the protection. “The Ravens do a lot of different stuff, a lot of different pressures they throw at you, and I think those guys handled it really well up front.
“We had a couple of protection adjustments. They did a really good job of just being able to pass those off and figuring out who they need to pick up. I felt good back there all day. Shout-out to the O-line.”
Green Bay’s defensive front seven imposed its will on Baltimore when the Ravens had the football.
Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Devonte Wyatt all had potential sacks, and rookie safety Evan Williams came down with an interception. Williams continues to shine.
The Ravens’ Roquan Smith had the interception, and MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson threw some darts to Rashod Bateman, among others, in what was a top-notch day’s work.
Both teams were pleased with the results. That’s always a great sign that each squad got exactly what they wanted out of it.
“I thought the practice was excellent,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s what you hope for in a practice like this. It’s what we expected against a team coached by Matt LaFleur.
“Both teams were keeping it between the lines, between the whistles. It was a physical practice. They’re a very good team. I thought our guys did well, acquitted themselves well, both sides of the ball. I thought we played good football.”
Harbaugh told reporters he was especially pleased with the work against the Packers’ up-tempo offense in the two-minute drill.
“Real grateful for that work,” he said.
The Packers also were pleased with what they accomplished in the two-hour joint practice. It was highly spirited, physical and competitive, but it didn’t get chippie.
Both teams maintained their composure throughout.
The work was so valuable that Jordan Love declared the Packers’ offense ready for regular-season action. The Packers’ No. 1 offense has played a total of three snaps this offseason.
The snaps were first down, second down and touchdown against the Browns in the preseason opener. Since then the Packers have had a lackluster joint practice against the Broncos, followed up by a sloppy Week 2 preseason loss at Denver.
LaFleur wasn’t pleased. Neither were his players.
It’s why the bounce-back joint practice with the Ravens was important beyond the work done that day. It was important to see how the Packers responded after a less-than-stellar outing.
When asked if the Ravens’ joint practice was what the Packers were looking for Love didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Definitely,” he said. “For where we’re going and to start the season, it was an emphasis we made to be able to bounce back this practice. More than anything it’s just locking in and focusing in on the details.”
Love said the setback in Denver served as a reset.
“It was a little sloppy in Denver,” he said. “A lot of the small details that in the grand scheme of a play dictate whether it’s a good play or not, we weren’t getting done. So just being locked in to all those little details … then you can just go out there and get the ball to the playmakers.”
With the joint practice behind them, and the Week 3 preseason finale coming up on Saturday, the Packers have a fairly lengthy “To Do” list.
** Final roster cuts are Tuesday, Aug. 27.
The Packers’ 53-man is fairly settled, at least compared with past seasons, but several key questions linger. Who will be the Packers’ opening-day kicker? Anders Carlson appears to be leading the competition, especially given Greg Joseph’s recent struggles.
But Carlson isn’t a lock.
Will Andre Dillard be the Packers’ backup left tackle? Who will be behind Zach Tom at right tackle? Does Sean Rhyan start at right guard? Or will Jordan Morgan have a chance to take one more run at winning the job?
It’s a lot to figure out in a short time.
Fortunately the Packers’ big questions are answered.
LaFleur is one heck of a coach, with or without Aaron Rodgers, and Love is a rising star. Jeff Hafley’s defense remains a bit of a mystery, but that will begin to reveal itself soon enough.
Excitement is high. Expectations are higher.
Kickoff is two weeks away, which is right around the corner, even if it’s in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Packers’ subs awful,
Brewers stay red hot
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ Week 2 preseason game at Denver afforded Green Bay’s subs a chance to sink or swim.
They drowned.
The Broncos’ starters and top reserves routed the Packers’ backups 27-2 in a mostly unwatchable and eminently forgettable game at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High.
Denver’s starters, led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix and a salty defense, suffocated the Packers from start to merciful finish.
At his postgame news conference, Packers coach Matt LaFleur sighed and stated the obvious: “That was a long night.”
The Broncos’ starters jumped out to a 10-0 lead.
The Packers couldn’t respond in any meaningful fashion.
“Certainly I was hoping our guys would come out with more strain, effort, and grit after kind of getting humbled the other day in practice. To have it happen again, not where we want to be. I think it’s a good lesson for our guys.”
LaFleur wasn’t entirely discouraged though.
“It’s a little different I would say in terms of how you have to judge it,” he allowed. “It’s great to see a lot of our younger players go up against NFL starters. I thought we showed more resiliency, more fight in the second half, especially defensively.
“There were some good moments.”
Pray tell?
“I thought our defense competed much harder in the second half,” he said. “We just didn’t have as many busts. We still had a couple out there. We had some situations where we had their offense in third and long and gave up big completions. That’s an area we have to get better at.”
The Packers’ offensive reserves proved that they can’t hang with an NFL starting-caliber lineup. There were several decent moments by individuals such as Emanuel Wilson, Malik Heath and … well … that’s about it.
Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt raised more questions than they provided answers in terms of developing a reliable backup QB.
Clifford started and was awful.
He finished 6-for-10 for 43 yards, one sack, an interception and a passer rating of 30.4.
Pratt was 10 of 16 for 52 yards, one sack and a 67.7 passer rating.
It makes one wonder just how good the Packers’ No. 1 defense is against an opponent’s QB1. It also makes one wonder whether the Packers need to consider making a move for the Patriots’ Bailey Zappe, the Browns’ Tyler Huntley or some other veteran backup QB if – god forbid – Jordan Love sustained an injury.
The run game wasn’t any better.
Wilson had 41 yards in 13 carries for a 3.2 average. He also made a nifty one-handed catch for an 11-yard gain. The Packers rushed 26 times for only 88 yards (a 3.4 average).
Heath caught three passes (six targets) for 22 yards. Bo Melton hauled in two passes for 10 yards. That was about it.
“I want to see more fight from our guys,” LaFleur said of the offense. “Just the lack of ability to move the football, both in the running game and the passing game …
“The production kind of speaks for itself, but it wasn’t just on (the QBs). It’s on everybody. We’ve got to block better up front, we’ve got to finish runs better (and) we had a couple drops. Collectively, all 11 have to be better in order for us to have any success offensively.”
The Packers had 10 first downs. They were 3-for-13 on third down attempts and 0-for-3 on fourth down tries. They also had three fumbles (one lost) and Clifford’s interception.
The offense never entered the red zone. The best drive of the night afforded Greg Joseph a chance to drill a 47-yard field goal and gain a leg up in the kicker competition with Anders Carlson.
Joseph missed wide right.
Defensively, rookie linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper was in on 11 tackles and stood out. The pass rush was non-existent. Second-year edge Lukas Van Ness did nothing in 17 snaps. Second-year tackle Karl Brooks likewise did nothing in 20 snaps.
The Packers are off Monday and return to practice Tuesday. On Thursday they will hold a joint practice with Baltimore ahead of Saturday’s noon preseason finale against the Ravens.
The final roster cuts are Tuesday, Aug. 27.
“The thing I challenged our team on is you’ve got to check yourself every play,” LaFleur said. “Are you giving your max effort? Are you straining the way we want you to strain? Is the style of play what we want to see?”
LaFleur didn’t commit to playing his starters in the preseason finale. He did say that game and the joint practice will give players a chance to redeem themselves.
“It’ll be a good opportunity for all of us to evaluate and see the guys that really want to put it all out there, not only for themselves but for the team.”
** Brewers sweep Guardians in weekend series
Colin Rea tossed 5 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball at the AL Central-leading Guardians and combined with two relievers for a two-hit, 2-0 shutout win Sunday at American Family Field.
Rea allowed two hits with five strikeouts and no walks in seven shutout innings Sunday. Bryan Hudson pitched a clean eighth and Jared Koenig tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save. Koenig became the Brewers’ 11th pitcher to record a save this season.
All-Star closer Devin Williams, who missed most of the season with an injury, wasn’t available after notching saves in the Brewers’ 5-3 and 2-1 wins to open the three-game series.
Milwaukee (72-52) is 20 games above .500 for the first time this season. The Brewers trail the Phillies (73-51) by one game and the Dodgers (73-52) by a half-game in the race for the National League’s No. 1 and No. 2 playoff seeds.
The top two teams in each league receive playoff byes while the No. 3 seed opens with a best-of-3 series (all at home) against the league’s No. 6 seed.
Rea (11-4) is a big reason the Brewers are in contention for the NL’s top playoff seed.
“He’s just been an incredible anchor,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of Rea. “He really has. He gives you it every time out. What you see is what you get. It’s who he is as a human, every day the same, every day doing everything he can to help out whoever’s around him, whatever the mission is … the consummate teammate. I can’t say enough about him.”
The Brewers’ current five-game winning streak is their fourth such streak and matches their season high. Milwaukee is now 38-24 at home, 34-28 on the road and 29-15 in interleague play.
They are off Monday before traveling to St. Louis for a three-game series that opens Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.
Brewers bounce back to split with Dodgers
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Major League Baseball’s official record will reflect that the Dodgers and Brewers split their four-game series earlier this week.
What it doesn’t reflect is the series’ nature.
The official scorer may deem it a draw, but to the upstart Brewers it was much more than any “moral victory.”
The Brewers’ thrilling 6-4 victory over the Dodgers Thursday afternoon at American Family Field – on the heels of a scintillating 5-4 win Wednesday night – went a long way toward answering the question: “Can the Brewers hang with the best?”
Yes … they … can.
The fact is they have been all season.
It’s just that their shaky start in the first two games – a 7-2 loss in the opener and a 5-2 setback in Game 2 – stirred up a tired storyline: The Brewers are good, but not quite good enough.
That was the pervasive feeling late Tuesday night.
Less than 24 hours later, thanks to their gritty 5-4 and 6-4 wins, the outlook had done a 180-degree shift.
Brewers’ first baseman Rhys Hoskins took note.
“I think what’s impressive is getting beat the way we did in the first two games of this series and then responding the way we did,” he said. “I mean, the Dodgers carry a certain type of aura about them wherever they go. There’s always (Dodgers’) fans in the stands. They have the who’s who of players. I think we can grab a lot of confidence knowing that we can get punched in the face and get knocked down, and be right back in a series.”
On Wednesday night, recently acquired Frankie Montas started and did enough to keep the Brewers in the game. The veteran right-hander allowed three runs (none earned) on five hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out six.
On a day the Dodgers’ defenders looked like they were wearing blindfolds the Brewers capitalized on four unearned runs to get the win. The Brewers were outhit 9-4 but the Dodgers’ three errors proved costly in defeat.
The Brewers took a 5-4 lead in the seventh when Joey Ortiz was hit by a pitch and sacrificed to second before red-hot rookie sensation Jackson Chourio flared a single to right that was badly misplayed by Mookie Betts to allow Ortiz to score.
The Brewers’ bullpen did the rest.
Joel Payamps (3-5) retired all four batters he faced for the win.
All-Star closer Devin Williams cut through the heart of the Dodgers’ order to earn the save. He needed just seven pitches – all strikes – to retire Shohei Ohtani, Betts and Freddie Freeman.
The Brewers trailed 3-0 after a half-inning, but hung in there to plate three runs of their own in the second and another in the fourth of Walker Buehler.
It was the eighth time this season that the Brewers have stood on the brink of a four-game losing streak. It also was the eighth time this season that they didn’t blink.
Milwaukee (69-52) is 7-3 in its last 10 games. The Brewers hold a commanding 9-game lead in the NL Central ahead of the second-place Reds and Cardinals.
It’s the largest lead in any division.
Thursday afternoon’s series finale provided even more drama as the Brewers earned their MLB-best 33rd comeback win.
It wasn’t easy but it sure was fun.
The Dodgers (71-51) grabbed a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning, but the AmFam Field roof fell in on them two innings later.
Reliever Daniel Hudson (6-2) began the bottom of the eighth for the Dodgers and promptly surrendered a double to Chourio. After he walked Garrett Mitchell, William Contreras followed with a single to load the bases.
Willy Adames delivered the tying run with a single and Tyler Black drove in Mitchell with a groundout. Hoskins added another ground ball that plated the sixth run.
Chourio crushed his 15th home run earlier in the game before delivering the clutch double in the eighth.
The Brewers’ success against the Dodgers is a bona fide boost of confidence, especially for the young players.
“We know we can compete with anybody,” Chourio said. “Our job is to go out there and show that on the field. … I think I had a lot of good AB’s in this series, and particularly the last two games here. I think a lot of the guys would feel the same way. We were able to come out on top, regardless of what it looked like.”
Brewers’ right-handed rookie Tobias Myers continued to go about his work like a veteran. Myers allowed four runs (two earned) and gave up eight hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.
Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy was matter-of-fact afterward.
“It wasn’t perfect,” he said. “A lot of points from our young guys where it’s August and they’re still making mistakes. You get kind of emotional about it. But they bounced back.”
The Brewers wrap up their current 10-game home-stand with a three-game weekend series against AL East-leading Cleveland.
The Guardians (72-49) lead the Twins by four games.
Aaron Civale (3-8, 5.08) will start Friday night’s 7:10 game for the Brewers versus Gavin Williams (2-4, 4.38) for the Guardians.
It’ll be Tanner Bibee (10-4, 3.39) for the Guardians against Freddy Peralta (7-7, 4.11) for the Brewers in Saturday’s 6:15 p.m. game.
Sunday’s 1:10 p.m. series finale will complete the all-right-handed starters weekend with Cleveland’s Ben Lively (10-7, 3.72) versus the Brewers’ Colin Rea (10-4, 3.72).
The Brewers trail the Dodgers by only 1 ½ games for the NL’s No. 2 seed behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
In sports, a single year
feels like a lifetime ago
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – What a difference a year can make in the fast-changing world of sports.
Consider where the Green Bay Packers’ Jeff Hafley, Xavier McKinney, Josh Jacobs, Jordan Love, the entire receiving corps, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams and others were a year ago.
Think about what the Milwaukee Brewers’ Pat Murphy, Rickie Weeks, Rhys Hoskins, Tobias Myers, Joey Ortiz, Jackson Chourio and the rest were doing this time a year ago.
Clearly, the Brewers’ and Packers’ rosters are replete with rising young stars whose performance in the present stirs visions of greatness in the future.
The teams also feature a number of proud, battle-tested pros in their prime and at the height of their powers. I’m talking especially about the newcomers such as Jake Bauers, Bryan Hudson, Jared Koenig and Joe Ross with the Brewers and the aforementioned McKinney and Jacobs as well as Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness and Kenny Clark here in Green Bay.
Let’s take a look:
** A year ago, Jeff Hafley was preparing his Boston College Golden Eagles for their Sept. 2 season-opener at home against Northern Illinois.
The Huskies edged Hafley’s Golden Eagles 27-24 in overtime. Despite a 1-3 start that included a 31-29 loss to third-ranked Florida State, Hafley’s team went on to upset No. 17 ranked SMU 23-14 in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl.
Today, Hafley is the Packers’ defensive coordinator and head coach Matt LaFleur’s right-hand man leading a 2024 season of great expectations. Hafley’s “vision-based” scheme and experience coaching the defensive backs is designed to enable the secondary to make plays on the football.
Translation: A ton of interceptions.
It’s pretty heady stuff for Hafley, who routinely has drawn praise from his players throughout training camp. We’ll see if the well-spoken, common-sense approach of Hafley’s plays as well in games as it does with his players.
** A year ago, Jackson Chourio was tearing it up in Class AA Biloxi, Miss., after a notoriously slow start with the bat.
Once Chourio, who was 19 at the time, settled in at the plate he dominated Southern League pitchers. Chourio hit a modest .280 – again, after a slow start – to go with 23 doubles, 22 home runs, 89 RBI and 43 stolen bases.
Today, Chourio is widely regarded as one of the National League’s top young players.
Chourio has 12 multi-hit games in his past 17 games. He became Milwaukee’s youngest player to have a multi-home run game in franchise history earlier this month.
On the year, the outfielder is hitting .277 – again, after a slow start – to go with 15 doubles, 14 home runs, 50 RBI and 16 stolen bases.
Chourio has played in 101 games thus far.
In the past 50 his offensive numbers rank among the NL’s top hitters in practically every meaningful category. The Brewers paid him $82 million before he took his first big-league swing.
It appears both Chourio and the Brewers have hit a home run.
** A year ago, Jordan Love was preparing for the Packers’ Aug. 11 preseason opener at Cincinnati. The Packers won 36-19 as backup QB Sean Clifford completed 20 of 26 passes for 208 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions including a “pick six.”
Love was 7 of 10 for 46 yards with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Romeo Doubs. After two series, Love gave way to Clifford for the day.
Today, Love is leading the Packers into the 2024 preseason as the highest-paid player in franchise history. Love’s record-setting contract came after he missed the first four practices (non-padded) of training camp. He has since had strong moments against Hafley’s active and aggressive defense.
Love is widely regarded as a serious NFL MVP candidate this season, especially as he deploys so many young, talented weapons at receiver, tight end and running back.
The only big question is the offensive line, but if it recaptures the form is played with in the final nine games of 2023 Love should be an MVP finalist.
** A year ago, Xavier McKinney was preparing for the Giants – led by newly minted quarterback Daniel Jones – to go back to the playoffs for consecutive seasons.
It didn’t happen.
The Giants were awful, McKinney was a willing and able leader on a bad team, and the future looked dismal. At least he’d be getting a handsome contract from the Giants, right? That didn’t happen, as it turns out, and McKinney couldn’t be happier.
Today, McKinney is a driving force on the Packers’ revamped defense.
The Packers jumped all over McKinney the instant he became available in free agency and made a pre-emptive strike to secure his services. The Packers got Hafley’s “ideal” safety in addition to a proven high-level performer just entering his prime. McKinney’s contract should allow him to focus on leading the Packers and their defense to great heights.
** A year ago, Josh Jacobs was lamenting his future with the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite being a bell-cow back and the NFL’s leading rusher in 2022 the Raiders didn’t reward him with a handsome contract.
On the contrary, they played hardball and Jacobs realized his days with the Raiders were numbered. Nevertheless, he continued to improve in blitz pickup and catching the football out of the backfield.
His numbers took a drastic dive, but the Packers weren’t concerned. They jumped all over the opportunity to sign Jacobs, 26, who is entering his prime with plenty of tread on the tires despite being a high-volume ball-carrier in Las Vegas.
Now, Jacobs is the Packers’ No. 1 running back in an offense in dire need of more juice in the short-yardage and goal-line run game. Furthermore, Jacobs’ combination of power and speed should enable the Packers to run effectively in the red zone. With Love’s weaponry it should make Green Bay’s attack almost unstoppable inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Those are just a few of the “feel good” stories surrounding the Brewers and Packers in terms of coaches, coordinators and players whose circumstances have changed drastically in a year.
It’s crazy but it’s true.
Brewers crush Braves
in epic offensive series
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Harvey’s Wallbangers would be proud. Bambi’s Bombers surely enjoyed the blast from the past.
Murph’s Marauders – at least for one series – brought back fond memories while swatting 52 hits and plating 34 runs in one of the most prolific offensive outbursts in Brewers history.
Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy could only smile and shake his head as his young team showed just how dangerous it is right now and what awesome potential it holds for the future.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ entire lineup treated the Braves’ highly regarded and top-ranked pitching staff like so many amateur retreads in a three-game romp at Atlanta’s Truist Park.
From Atlanta starting pitchers Grant Holmes and Chris Sale to Charlie Morton the Brewers’ bats were relentless. It was as if every at-bat was precious to the hitters. It was as priceless a piece of wood carving as a fan is likely to see.
Milwaukee capped off the sweep with a 16-7 hammering of the befuddled Braves on a sunny Thursday afternoon. Milwaukee blasted six home runs in the game, just one shy of the franchise record of seven home runs in the game.
The Brewers pounded out 20 hits and rookie Jackson Chourio drilled two home runs in the win.
Chourio finished 3-for-5 with four RBI in the series. William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, Willy Adames and Jake Bauers all hit home runs in the game.
Contreras was 3-for-5 with three RBI, Sal Frelick went 4-for-5 with two RBI and Mitchell went 2-for-4 with an RBi and three runs scored.
The Brewers (65-49) lead the second-place St. Louis Cardinals (59-56) by 6 ½ games and third-place Pittsburgh by nine games.
The marathon win came after Brewers’ wins of 10-0 in Tuesday night’s opener and an 8-5 rout on Wednesday night. The Braves had gone 231 straight games without being shut out at home.
The Marlins ended that with a 7-0 victory Sunday at Truist Park, and the Brewers followed it with Colin Rea’s gem on Tuesday.
The Brewers’ hitters were locked in for a three-game stretch like none in recent memory. Top to bottom the production – like singles, doubles and home runs – reigned supreme.
Twenty-one of the 34 runs by the Brewers came after two outs. The Brewers had 16 extra-base hits. They hit .321 for the series.
Twelve different Brewers drove in a run.
It was a constant procession of 3-2 counts – all full up – and often with nowhere to put the Brewers’ hitter.
The Braves’ pitching staff is no joke, either.
Atlanta (60-54) came into the game with the National League’s lowest team ERA (3.57) and also ranked first in the NL in home runs allowed, third in hits allowed and fourth in walks issued.
The Brewers didn’t care a whit.
It was extending batting practice for three straight days.
It also extended the Braves’ losing streak to five games.
Recently acquired right-hander Frankie Montas started for Milwaukee and threw four innings. His first five outs were by strikeout and he finished with seven Ks to just two hits allowed.
Chourio had two home runs on Thursday, including his first off Morton that came after a bunt attempt rolled foul. He followed it by pounding a curve into the seats.
“I thought, ‘Why not try to bunt?’ ” Chourio said through an interpreter after the game. “But I was glad it rolled foul. I came right back and got a good pitch to hit.”
Adames had three home runs in the series, including a pair of two-run blasts.
The Brewers were so dominant in their 16-7 victory Thursday that they put an obscure MLB rule to the test. The Braves turned to third baseman Luke Williams in the lost-cause series finale.
Teams can only use a position player to pitch if they trail by at least eight runs IN ANY POINT of the game.
Williams tossed an array of lollipops in the 65 mph range, right at the speed limit on most Wisconsin highways, and the Brewers took their cuts in good jest.
Williams surrendered two runs on four hits.
It was smiles all around for the Brewers, a fitting finale to a laugher, as they depart Atlanta and prepare for their longest home-stand of the season.
The Brewers will see the NL Central’s last-place Reds (55-59) in a three-game weekend set. It opens Friday night at American Family Field. Right-hander Aaron Civale will start for Milwaukee.
On Monday, the Brewers open a four-game series against the NL West-leading Dodgers (66-49) in a battle for the National League’s No. 2 seed in the postseason.
The home-stand wraps up with a three-game series against the Al Central-leading Guardians (67-47) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
That will leave the Brewers with just 38 games to play.
The pennant race is on, and the Brewers are making sure they’re in full swing.
Packers’ Family Night
features football, fun
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Many of the best memories growing up revolved around family, the Packers and the Fourth of July fireworks lighting up the night sky above Castle Rock Lake.
Years later the Packers found a way to tap into all three.
It’s called Family Night.
What began in the late 1990s as a scrimmage/dress rehearsal under the lights at Lambeau Field has morphed into a televised event meant to showcase the Packers and give back to the fans.
It remains a grand tradition and fan-favorite 23 iterations later. That much was clear this past weekend as more than 60,000 fans gladly paid the $10 to see the annual spectacle unfold.
They weren’t disappointed.
From Jordan Love’s laser-like throws to the fantastic fireworks display it was a smashing success.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur presided over his sixth Family Night. He said he enjoyed it as much as the first one.
“What an atmosphere, man,” LaFleur said. “It never gets old, going into Lambeau – the environment, the energy the fans brought.”
It was football wrapped around fun embraced by fans.
One of the highlights was a youth football player from Waupun, Wis., in uniform and joined by teammates, catching not one, not two but three punts in a row – while still clutching each football.
The crowd went wild as Packers players rushed to engulf the player with congratulatory hugs and high-fives.
“That was pretty impressive,” LaFleur said. “I mean all three? I know I couldn’t do that. That was a good moment. I’m sure he’ll remember that for the rest of his life.”
It was one of several feel-good moments on the night.
Jordan Love had his share on a balmy Saturday night.
He fired touchdown passes to Christian Watson and Jayden Reed in the 1-on-1 drills. He also connected with Romeo Doubs on a pair of touchdown tosses in the red zone. Doubs’ leaping catch on a high fade route was particularly impressive.
In short, Love looked smooth and in total control.
“I’m definitely getting back in that rhythm,” he said. “I feel like training camp, the speed is always so much faster. I feel like everybody’s got that energy and they’re flying around, especially at the start.
“Definitely something I’m just getting back to playing fast and trying to keep myself slowed down in the midst of it all, trying to not get sped up with my feet and my reads, which I think is something I’m trying to focus on right now.”
In general, top to bottom, the Packers’ receivers lived up to their reputation as playing fast, loose and effective football. Their collective speed can be felt play-to-play, which is impressive considering the same can be said of the defensive backfield.
Rookie safety Javon Bullard nearly intercepted Love twice. Bullard’s ability to break on the football and make plays is undeniable. He will be a difference-maker this season.
Bullard, a second-round draft pick, worked with the No.1 defense alongside Xavier McKinney at safety.
He alternated with rookie Evan Williams and second-year safety Anthony Johnson, Jr., much like they have in training camp.
Bullard knows he has a lot to learn but he likes his progress.
“I’m inexperienced in the league,” he said. “The more you play, the more things start to slow down. I’m just trying to get my feet wet and continue to do the things that I do best and there’s certain things that I have to work on. I know what those things are, so I’m definitely going to dial into those the next few days of training camp.”
Bullard lined up in the slot when Williams came in at safety.
“It’s a completely different position,” he said of the slot. “To the person that doesn’t watch enough football people think DB is all the same. From the outside corner to inside corner to safety, all of those are different. You talk about playing the deep part of the field and covering a guy with 4.3 speed in the open field – it’s completely different but reps bring muscle memory. You’ve got to dial in your keys and your technique.”
The Packers’ defensive line roughed up the offensive line with Rashan Gary dominating a collection of reserves at right tackle. Kadeem Telfort, Caleb Jones and others.
Gary looks like he’s on the verge of a monster season.
He had a pair of sacks and a terrific stop of rookie running back Marshawn Lloyd behind the line of scrimmage.
“That’s our guy,” defensive tackle T.J. Slaton said of Gary. “So when he comes out there with that energy we just feed off of him and every time he runs to the ball, we want to run to the ball, too.”
The Packers’ offensive line has struggled while starting right tackle Zach Tom continues to recover from a torn pec muscle.
The good news is LaFleur said he expects Tom to participate in team drills when the team returns to practice Tuesday.
“It’s tough on the O-line right now,” LaFleur said. “Certainly I think the D-line gets frustrated at times because in practice we use a lot of chippers, I’m like hey man that’s a credit to you guys, that’s the ultimate compliment (because) we feel like we have to get four hands on you to block you. It’s going to happen during the season. I think our D-line is solid, hopefully they continue to get better and improve and just keep coming off the ball the way they are.”
On special teams, kickers Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph had productive evenings.
Carlson was 8-for-9 on field goal attempts between 33 and 57 yards. It was a good sign after Carlson was a miserable 4-of-7 at Thursday’s practice. He is 33-for-40 (82.5 percent) this summer.
Joseph had hit on 20 straight attempts before missing from 54 and 57 yards late in practice. He was 7-for-9 and has hit 36 of 40 kicks in camp (90 percent).
“Thought they both had a pretty good night,” LaFleur said.
Packers’ pass rushers,
DBs all over the place
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Love’s record-setting contract extension has dominated headlines the past few days the way the Packers’ defense has dominated practice the first full week.
Back to front, sideline to sideline and play to play Green Bay’s defense has been aware, aggressive and around the football.
The pass rush gets up-field at the snap and routinely redraws the line of scrimmage a yard or two into the backfield. The interior defensive linemen such as Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks collapse the pocket. Edge rushers Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare et al clean it up.
The defensive secondary appears to be a legit nine deep … at least.
The infusion of raw speed is evident, but so is the speed associated with quickly reading and reacting before and at the snap. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s “vision-based defense” clearly gives DBs – and especially the safeties – opportunities to make plays on the ball.
Rookie safety Evan Williams has three interceptions thus far in camp. So does third-year cornerback Eric Stokes. Others such as Javon Bullard, Jaire Alexander and of course Xavier McKinney also have put their skills, and Hafley’s defense, on display.
The Packers’ backup quarterbacks aren’t the only ones finding it a challenge to move the ball against the new-look defense.
Jordan Love has made some terrific throws since he returned Saturday.
He has been especially sharp on crossing routes and deep balls. The Packers tied for third in the NFL with 40 pass plays of 25-plus yards, just behind San Francisco and Houston.
There appears to be no letup in sight.
Love hit 16 of 29 passes on Wednesday, the eighth practice of training camp, but he was dynamite in the final two periods.
Love went 9-for-12 in that stretch including a 40-yard bomb to Christian Watson, a 21-yard dart to Jayden Reed, a 12-yard TD to Dontayvion Wicks AND the game-winning 2-point conversion to Wicks.
The big throw to Reed came after the play broke down.
“I think that is definitely a goal of mine to keep working ‘scramble drill’ when I get outside the pocket, just keep trying to find those big plays down the field,” Love said Wednesday. “I think for everybody, too – the receivers, tight ends – just keep working the scramble drill when it goes off-schedule, finding the space they can work.
“Especially in practice, I don’t want to just take off and run,” he continued. “I want to try and work the scramble drill and get a pretty good feel for everybody and how we’re going to run it in the games. Definitely something we’ll keep working on.”
It is clear Love appreciates the defense making it as difficult as possible in camp. The keen competition can only help both sides of the ball. He also knows the defense is going to keep him and the offense honest.
“I think the defense has done a great job of mixing up looks,” Love said. “They never really give you the same two looks back-to-back. They do a great job of mixing it up.
“The safeties are always moving and they make stuff all look the same with their pressures, with their disguise,” he continued. “They’ll show pressure, drop out, so it’s really a mind game for the quarterback trying to tell what they’re in.”
When fans and media discuss “training camp battles” it usually refers to a battle to see which of two or perhaps three players will start at a given position. In the Packers’ case, “training camp battles” just as likely could be a reference to Romeo Doubs versus Jaire Alexander in one-on-one passing drills, or Rashan Gary terrorizing Andre Dillard in one-on-one pass rush drills.
The team’s upgrade in overall speed is apparent. What’s not quite as clear yet, especially on defense, is how of that is raw footspeed and how much of it is actually being coached up to understand the scheme.
It’s probably a lot of both.
Love has noticed the improved precision with which the defense attacks, covers zones, fakes one blitz before bringing another and so on.
“I think (the defense) is doing a great job of being able to pass stuff off and understanding where they need to be in the zones, in the man and communicating well with each other,” Love said. “Whereas OTAs, you could tell it was fresh for them. They were still learning that stuff and now they’re dialed into everything they need to be doing and there’s not a lot of wide-open guys.”
Here are some other notes from training camp:
** Jordan Morgan has been working at right guard with the No. 1 offensive line on consecutive days now.
Morgan, the 25th pick overall, was thought to be the Packers’ left tackle of the future. That still could be the case, but right now Rasheed Walker has that job locked down like a snapping turtle on a stick.
Walker’s emergence, Sean Rhyan’s slow development and Morgan’s versatility has led to Rhyan practicing as the swing guard and Morgan operating with the first team.
When Packers head coach Matt LaFleur talks about “the best five” starting in the O-line the media and fans tend to roll their eyes. In fact, the Packers’ approach to drafting versatile linemen is common sense.
Compare Morgan and Dillard. Both are former first-round draft picks. Both were projected to play tackle. When Dillard began to flame out despite his incredible size and athleticism, the Eagles chose to kick him to the curb, rather than inside to guard. They had no choice. Dillard was never going to be strong enough to hunker down inside against 320-pound monster defensive tackles. They’d toss him like a rag doll.
That’s not true of Morgan, who has the lower-body strength to do more than simply “hold his own” inside against the “big boys.”
It appears the Packers’ offensive line change is going to be swapping out Jon Runyan and inserting Morgan at right guard. Otherwise it’s Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers and Zach Tom when he returns from his pec injury. Morgan appears to have the inside track at right guard.
The bigger question, and concern, is who starts at right tackle if Tom isn’t ready to roll by the season opener? Kadeem Telfort is taking the first-team reps for now, with Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta and Dillard also somewhere in the mix.
That’s not exactly an awe-inspiring group to back up Tom.
Don’t be surprised if Green Bay is quietly in the market for a veteran right tackle as other NFL teams trim their rosters. A Jared Veldheer-type lineman would be a comforting acquisition at this point.
** Eric Wilson is working on his third straight one-year deal with the Packers, who don’t love him enough to commit long-term, but do like him enough to keep bringing him back and playing him.
Thus far, Wilson is working with the 4-3 base defense’s first unit ahead of second-round pick Edgerrin Cooper. Wilson’s experience as an eight-year veteran (he led the Vikings in tackles in 2020) coupled with his speed has helped him grasp Hafley’s defense quicker than the rookies.
Cooper will have a role in the sub-packages to be sure. He also may force his way into the starting lineup in the 4-3 base due to his incredible speed and raw physical skills.
But until further notice the steady Wilson is manning the post.
Packers’ Love signed,
sealed and set to win
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The speculation and conjecture, with a touch of anxiety, began to build among some fans and media while Jordan Love’s contract extension was being finalized last week.
The Packers’ quarterback of the future attended but didn’t participate in the first four non-padded practices of training camp.
The time it takes to dot the i’s and cross the t’s has been known to stoke worry, especially where record-setting deals are concerned.
Here’s the funny thing about that: Love may have been the least distracted or anxious among those who cared.
What’s another four days after waiting four years?
Love penned a four-year, $220 million contract extension with the Packers before Saturday’s first padded practice. It includes a $75 million signing bonus – the highest in NFL history – and at an annual average of $55 million it ties Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence for tops in the league.
With all that money come incredible expectations. High expectations can ratchet up the pressure, which can lead to poor performance.
Love dismissed the idea during Saturday’s post-practice media session.
“Being a first-round pick, there’s pressure,” he admitted to reporters. “Becoming the starter, there’s pressure, but there’s always pressure. I think that’s, you know, part of the job we sign up for. You’ve got to find ways to deal with that pressure and handle it as best you can to be the best player you can be every day.”
He paused.
“But there’s always pressure,” he continued. “There’s no hiding that … I’ve been in some great pressure situations, so I think there’s always going to be that. But just finding a way to navigate through this and handle it the best I can.”
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur drew a fair amount of criticism when they drafted Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Some suggest it was the selection of Love that lit a fire under his predecessor, Aaron Rodgers, to recapture his MVP form.
That also led to speculation that Rodgers’ relationship with the Packers was mortally wounded by the Love pick.
It led to Rodgers being traded to the New York Jets last offseason and Love – after a three-year apprenticeship – grabbing the reins in 2023.
Love’s steady progress and rapid ascension pushed the Packers into the playoffs and erased most concerns about the new QB1.
He threw for 18 touchdowns to just one interception during the final eight games. Then in the playoffs he KO’d the Cowboys in Dallas and took the 49ers to the brink before losing in the NFC divisional round.
Love’s fantastic flourish and an embarrassing amount of youth and talent at receiver and tight end have earned the Packers a serious place among 2024 Super Bowl contenders.
The guess here is that Love continues to handle pressure the way he always has as the Packers’ starting quarterback. He handles it by proceeding as if he were oblivious to it all.
He is calm, cool and poised to deliver a lot of touchdowns and wins.
Obviously Gutekunst is one of the true believers.
“Seeing how he handled that this past year becoming the guy, handling that pressure, coming out the other side of it, just gave us a lot of confidence that this is the guy that’s going to lead us into the future,” Gutekunst said late last week.
“I’m really excited about that.”
LaFleur echoed that sentiment.
He had a sideline view of Love’s growth as a player and a leader. He isn’t worried that “being the face of the franchise” – even one as revered as Green Bay’s – will cause Love to be anything less than his best.
“I think he’ll embrace that,” the sixth-year coach said. “I don’t think you’ll see a difference in the person. And I don’t think we would do something like that if we felt that way.”
LaFleur kidded that he has a surefire way to keep Love from changing.
“I always joked with him, if he ever changes I’m going to call his mom,” the Packers’ coach said. “But he’s been raised the right way. I think he’s about the right stuff, and his teammates really certainly respect him.
“They respect the man. They respect the work he puts in. They were fired up today to have him back in the fold.”
Love practiced Saturday and Sunday.
The numbers weren’t altogether great – he started 1-of-8 on Saturday before heating up to finish 11-for-20 with some terrific throws.
In some ways, Love resembled the Brewers’ All-Star closer, Devin Williams, who returned Sunday after missing all season with an injury. Williams struggled a bit, found his footing and blew away the Marlins to earn his first save in what feels like forever.
On Sunday, Love hit 9 of 16 passes including several lasers.
With Love’s return, it didn’t take long to be reminded why the Packers’ offense was struggling so mightily against Jeff Hafley’s new and improved defense. They didn’t have their lead dog pulling the trigger.
Suffice it to say the offense is much smoother with Love under center.
Rookie safety Evan Williams took note.
“(Love’s) really smart,” Williams said. “Pre-snap, he’ll switch his count up to get you to tip a blitz or tip what you’re doing and then kind of see what you’re doing, see the movement of the DBs, see the drops before they happen and see a window before it appears.
“So he’s able to fit a lot of balls into windows that shouldn’t be there where the throw seems kind of impossible. It’s great for our defense to go up against a caliber of quarterback just like Jordan. If we can play as well as we are with him behind center, then we should be all right versus a lot of the quarterbacks we see this year.”
Love connected with Christian Watson on a beautiful 47-yard touchdown throw on his first day back at practice.
“To be able to hit him in stride and him make that play, it felt good to connect on that first day back, for sure,” Love said.
It was the first day of the rest of his career.
The future is bright.
Packers extend all-pro Clark on eve of camp as excitement abounds
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers and their fans have been eagerly anticipating this day ever since San Francisco ousted Green Bay 24-21 with a late touchdown in a hotly contested NFC divisional playoff game.
That loss feels like an eternity ago.
Today, the Packers officially kick off the 2024 season with a pair of morning news conferences (GM Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur) followed by the first practice of training camp.
The Packers didn’t want their season to end in January.
It felt like it was just getting rolling with a 7-3 finish after a 3-6 start.
Jordan Love capped his first season as the Packers’ starter by outplaying every other NFL quarterback in the season’s second half. His ascension was steady. His numbers were staggering. His future as the Packers’ QB1 was cemented and a mega-contract extension secured.
Now that momentum is being carried into training camp.
They are expected to sign Love to a multi-year extension in excess of $50 million per year. They preceded that move with a clever cap-cutting extension of All-Pro defensive tackle Kenny Clark on the eve of camp.
Clark, 28, is among the oldest players on the NFL’s youngest roster.
He also is one of the most well-respected players and leaders in the locker room. And guess what else? He can still play at a high level. In fact, he ranked eighth in the league in pass rush production among all defensive tackles.
There is a feeling that new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme is going to unleash Clark’s pass rush ability like never before.
The Packers have 46 days between now and their Friday, Sept. 6 regular-season opener against Philadelphia in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Here is the Packers’ “To Do” list between now and then:
** No. 1 – Seal the deal to extend Love’s contract. Once that is settled the entire focus will be on the field, not off it.
Love, 25, is the unquestioned leader on offense.
His calm demeanor, day-to-day consistency and apparent talent have drawn teammates to him. He is a charismatic guy who seems as real and down-to-earth as a burgeoning NFL star is apt to be these days.
Love’s development, ascension and success has validated Gutekunst’s decision to draft him and reinforced LaFleur’s reputation as a creative play caller and quarterback whisperer.
The better Love plays, the better everyone looks.
** No. 2 – Settle on an offensive line that can go into the season ready to handle anything Philadelphia’s defense can throw at it. The projected starting five appears to be (left to right) Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom.
While Tom recovers from a torn pec muscle the Packers need to decide which configuration best suits the offense’s needs. If Tom isn’t ready for the season opener it could be rookie Jordan Morgan or veteran Andre Dillard at right tackle. Or perhaps another offensive tackle will emerge.
Regardless, the Packers have much better depth than they did a year ago.
** No. 3 – Jeff Hafley’s defense will be under the microscope in camp. That comes out of curiosity, rather than concern, because nobody is quite sure exactly what to expect on that side of the football.
Most assuredly it will be a significant departure from the recent past.
Hafley’s 4-3 base defense will take some getting used to. So will seeing the Packers’ defense successfully stop the run on early downs, rather than being steamrolled to set up second-and-short situations.
Clark isn’t the only defensive lineman expected to benefit from Hafley’s scheme. Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks also are excited about being able to cut it loose at the snap and create disruption wherever they can.
** No. 4 – The Packers signed free agent safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs to lucrative deals.
Both will be under the microscope as fans get to know them.
McKinney is a fluid, ball-hawking safety whose strengths include being a bona fide student of the game. McKinney leads by example. He already is similar to Charles Woodson in that his defensive back mates just naturally gravitate to him.
They see what he does and try their best to emulate it.
Jacobs, 26, is bigger, stronger and younger than Aaron Jones. He also is just one season removed from being the NFL’s rushing leader.
He should improve the Packers’ fortunes in short yardage and goal line situations. He also is tenacious in blitz pickup and a capable receiver out of the backfield. He lacks Jones’ explosiveness, but don’t be fooled. Jacobs ranked among the best in the NFL at making the first would-be tackler either whiff or get run over.
McKinney and Jacobs were excellent free agent signings in that they’re both just entering their prime and already have excelled at the highest level. There is no mystery about what McKinney and Jacobs bring.
It’s professionalism, leadership and an abundance of talent.
** No. 5 – It’ll be interesting to watch the coaches interact during camp. That’s especially true on the defensive side where Hafley has either retained or brought in an interesting group of accomplished assistants.
They are reputed to be vocal, intense and unwilling to suffer repeat mistakes. They are demanding, detail-oriented and highly respected. This isn’t Joe Barry’s crew, not by a longshot.
** No. 6 – The Packers’ special teams has details to be sorted out such as how to best cover and return kickoffs under the new rules. They also need to decide on a kicker they can rely on and figure out which of their rookies can enhance the mix on special teams.
It’s a lot to accomplish in 46 days, but it feels doable under this regime.
The 2024 season is officially here.
It might feel like an eternity between today and the Packers’ season-opener in Brazil, but trust me on this: It’s going to be here before you know it.
Packers’ defense looks to attack under Hafley
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The contrast between Joe Barry and Jeff Hafley couldn’t have been clearer simply based on first impressions.
Barry, who was part of the Lions’ winless season, spent his introductory news conference defending past failures as much detailing a plan for future success when he was hired to coordinate the Packers’ defense.
Hafley spent his initial media availability painting a vision of what he expects the Packers’ defense to play like under his tutelage. He also drew a picture of what his ideal “post safety” would look like.
Barry flamed out after three largely underwhelming, at times epically embarrassing seasons. The run defense sprang more leaks than a rusted out pipe. The pass defense and its “better safe than sorry” approach – which often failed – generated more regret than turnovers.
Now it is Hafley’s turn to implement his brand of defense.
The first-year NFL defensive coordinator is scarcely a newbie. He spent seven seasons in the league working with Kyle Shanahan, among others, while building a first-rate reputation.
He took that to Ohio State and helped build the nation’s No. 1 defense. After that it was on to Boston College, where Hafley’s Golden Eagles showed steady improvement under him.
However, Hafley appeared destined to return to the NFL, whether it was as Shanahan’s defensive coordinator in San Francisco, or LaFleur’s Packers in Green Bay.
The Packers-49ers NFC Divisional playoff winner advanced to the NFC Championship. The loser got the chance to hire Hafley and pounced.
Hafley, a former defensive backs coach, runs a “vision-based” defense where the back end (safeties and occasionally cornerbacks) keeps its eyes on the quarterback in an effort to better read and react.
Theoretically, it creates more opportunities to make big plays, especially game-changing interceptions.
Eric Stokes, who is hoping to rejuvenate his career under Hafley, is a big fan of what he’s seeing so far. The first-round draft pick spent three seasons in Barry’s scheme so he has an interesting perspective.
“I love Hafley,” Stokes admitted to the media. “I love how his mindset is and everything … He just wants you to ball. He’s going to put you in the positions (to make plays). He ain’t gonna make you overthink anything and all that stuff.
“He just wants you to go out there and have fun and just play 110 miles per hour, and that’s what I love about Hafley, to where he always says, ‘I’m going to go ahead and take the bullet (when plays backfire). You just go out there and just have fun and you just play.’ And it’s different for every position.’ ”
Hafley deploys as 4-3 as his base defense.
However, it’ll be a 4-2-5 alignment that will be on the field most often.
The 4-3 should provide stouter run defense on early downs. In turn, the vision-based defense on the back end should be equipped to defend offenses that choose to pass on early downs, rather than buck the 4-3.
All-Pro defensive tackle Kenny Clark is on board.
“I think it’s going to be really good,” Clark said. “It’s one of the things where all of my career I’ve been kind of playing this way but in more of a controlled way. And I think now this is giving us a chance to shut all that other stuff off. Just use your ability and just go up the field and be disruptive. I just think with my get-off and how I am, I think it’s going to suit me well.”
Every NFL defense talks about attacking and being aggressive. Nevertheless, there is a vast difference from one team to another in terms of how the defensive line – the interior linemen especially – are taught to play at the snap.
Jason Rebrovich, the defensive line coach, is a holdover from the previous staff. It speaks to Hafley’s respect for Rebrovich that he retained him. In turn, Rebrovich is happy to be here.
“It’s an attack front,” he told reporters.
“It’s about TFLs (tackles for loss) and sacks. We’re going to create havoc in the backfield. Every down, we’re looking to penetrate and make something big happen. Offensive linemen, not moving so fast laterally, which is why they’re going to have to stay on the line of scrimmage a little bit longer with the movements and the ability for us to get in the backfield.”
Last season under Barry it was a lot of “read first” and “react second.”
Under Hafley it’s more of an “attack first” and “read as you go” approach.
It plays well to the style of Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden, and T.J. Slaton returns to anchor the interior along with Clark. First-round pick Devonte Wyatt also is looking to take a massive leap.
The linebackers also should be able to cut loose.
Now the unit has the speed to do it.
Quay Walker, a physical freak, returns as one inside linebacker. Veteran Isaiah McDuffie also returns as the would-be middle linebacker and primary play caller on early downs. Rookie second-round draft pick Edgerrin Cooper, the fastest linebacker in the draft, would also be there.
The upgrade should be eye-popping at the outset.
Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and Lukas Van Ness should provide the pass rush along with Kingsley Enagbare. Second-year pro Brenton Cox Jr. also should figure in the mix.
In the secondary, the Packers spent big money on safety Xavier McKinney, who is eerily similar to Hafley’s description of “the ideal safety” in his scheme when he was initially hired.
Rookie second-round pick Javon Bullard joins McKinney and Anthony Johnson Jr. as the top safeties.
Jaire Alexander leads a cornerback group that should be better for the healthy return of Stokes, along with Carrington Valentine, Keisean Nixon, rookie Kalen King and the rest.
McKinney – like Stokes – is excited about Hafley and the defense.
“I think we could be really special,” McKinney said.
Training camp opens Monday. It won’t be long before the Packers and their fans find out just how special.
Love’s strong Year 1
elevates expectations
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – A year ago, the Packers went into the season needing to know if Jordan Love had what it takes to someday develop into a franchise quarterback capable of winning in the playoffs.
A year later, that “someday” is today.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur’s confidence in Love is so high that the quarterback position has gone from being the team’s greatest unknown to one of the top reasons for fans to dream big.
Love, 25, is the Packers’ franchise quarterback.
It’s all over but the signing.
His impending contract is going to be valued among the NFL’s highest for a quarterback. That’s not a bad thing. It means Love has done enough to prove to GM Brian Gutekunst that he’s worth every penny.
If the eye test didn’t tell you, the numbers don’t lie.
Love started 17 regular season games and two postseason games.
He stayed healthy, made steady progress and stacked successes from one week to the next. His unflappable demeanor served him well. If he was stressing out between snaps it didn’t show.
He threw for 37 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in his 19 games. That included an amazing stretch during the final seven regular season games and the wild-card game in which he threw 23 touchdowns to one pick.
“He had a hell of a year,” LaFleur said of Love. “Just to see the growth … obviously, the results speak for themselves, but the growth of him as just the commander out there, he’s an extension of us, and I thought the ownership that he showed, the leadership that he showed, was a great sign for us.”
Love completed 409 of 634 passes (64.5%) for 4,625 yards and finished with a 98.5 passer rating. By comparison, Aaron Rodgers threw 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during his first year as a starter in 2008 and finished with a 93.8 passer rating.
Love had to work through some rough going early in the season.
Through nine games Love had 14 touchdown passes to 10 interceptions. It was decent, but it wasn’t enough for Gutekunst to commit to him when he held his mid-season news conference.
At that time, around Halloween, Gutekunst took a “wait-and-see” approach in regards to making grand declarations regarding Love’s play.
Coincidentally or otherwise, Love’s season began to soar in the coming weeks. He posted a passer rating of at least 108 in eight of the final 10 games, and exceeded 125 in four of them.
As the young receivers began to emerge, and the tight ends started to find their way, the Packers got Aaron Jones back from injury. With the offensive line playing at a high level – it allowed only seven sacks in the final nine games, including none in the two playoff games – and Jones recapturing his form the offense flourished.
LaFleur was asked if Love’s growth will continue in 2024.
“We all know how resilient he is and one of the things I think he’s done such an unbelievable job with is every situation he’s been in he’s learned from it,” LaFleur said. “So I would fully expect that to be the case.”
Jones had the finest five-game run of his seven-year stay in Green Bay to close out his career. He is now with the Vikings while free agent Josh Jacobs will replace him in Green Bay.
Jacobs led the NFL in rushing in 2022. After a down season in which he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, some teams cooled on Jacobs.
Not the Packers.
Gutekunst and LaFleur jumped at the chance to sign him in similar fashion to their aggressive approach to acquiring safety Xavier McKinney.
Jacobs is a decent receiver out of the backfield and exceedingly capable in blitz pickup. His strength is his ability to either run over or simply make the first would-be tackler whiff.
The Packers’ goal-line and short-yardage situations should be much improved. As great as Jones was there were times when it appeared LaFleur didn’t know how to best utilize his talents.
Jacobs is a tough runner between the tackles who also possesses enough elusiveness to take it outside.
Third-round draft pick Marshawn Loyd is penciled in to be the primary backup. Loyd possesses breakaway speed. Some draft experts believed he was one of the top running backs in the entire draft.
A.J. Dillon returns on a bargain-basement contract. He’ll be highly motivated to prove his worth and increase his value to the team. He has had some shining moments, but how it’s make-or-break time for Dillon.
Emanuel Wilson also returns and it’s not beyond the realm to think he could supplant Dillon as the No. 3 back.
The receivers are wonderful. Top to bottom, from Christian Watson to Malik Heath, promise and potential abounds.
The thought of Watson staying healthy for an entire season could lead to a “breakout” season. Watson is the most explosive big-play weapon on the roster. He’ll either beat defenses or demand maximum attention, which should allow Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Bo Melton plenty of room to operate.
There isn’t a weak link in the group.
The tight end position is well-stocked for the next several seasons.
Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft developed into the players they were reputed to be coming out of college. Musgrave has legit big-play potential in the passing game and he’ll only improve as a blocker.
Kraft may be the more complete player right now. He also has excellent hands, runs crisp routes and attacks would-be tacklers with a vengeance.
Ben Sims and Tyler Davis are quality special teams players and reliable backups if either Musgrave or Kraft is injured.
The offensive line added depth and youth in the draft. First-round pick Jordan Morgan looks to be the sixth-best offensive lineman entering training camp. Right now it appears Rasheed Walker will hold down the left tackle job until further notice.
Elgton Jenkins will be back at left guard with Josh Myers at center. If Jenkins recaptures his Pro Bowl form, and Myers continues to play at the level he did in the second half last season, the line should excel.
Sean Rhyan will be first up at right guard with Zach Tom at right tackle. A pec injury to Tom might be the opening Morgan needs to crack the lineup until Tom is healthy. Projections are less than certain that Tom will be ready in time for the season-opener in Brazil.
Brewers end skid with
9-2 Dodgers drubbing
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Brewers blew away the Dodgers and the cloud of negativity hovering above Chavez Ravine entering Sunday’s finale of their three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Milwaukee’s 9-2 win snapped a seven-game slide at Dodger Stadium and enabled it to dodge its first four-game losing streak of the season. The Brewers, Phillies and Guardians – all division leaders – are MLB’s only teams whose longest losing streaks are just three games.
Milwaukee’s most recent “stopper” came in the form of a crafty lefty.
Veteran starter Dallas Keuchel couldn’t keep the Dodgers off the bases, but he did keep them off the scoreboard with 4 1/3 scoreless innings. He had five walks, zero strikeouts and a ton of soft contact.
“The reason we picked him up,” said Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy, “is because of his experience. He’s not going to give in. He gave us a huge lift today. He did what was needed.”
As All-Star Christian Yelich said of Keuchel, “He finds a way.”
Yelich is right about Keuchel. The 2015 Cy Young Award winner has “found a way” to replace a once-dazzling arsenal by mixing experience and ingenuity with just enough stuff to keep hitters off-balance.
Of course, Yelich could’ve been referring to the entire team. Or, for that matter, he could’ve been referring to himself.
Yelich had three hits, three RBI and a home run to highlight the Brewers’ impressive win Sunday. He has “found a way” back to his NL MVP form of 2018 and 2019 when he belted 63 doubles, nine triples and 80 home runs with a .327 average in a wondrous two-year span.
Murphy had a dugout seat to Yelich’s tremendous two-year run as the Brewers’ bench coach. Now as the Brewers’ manager he is seeing the veteran outfielder recapture his place among baseball’s finest hitters.
“I’ve seen this,” Murphy said. “I’m not going to get giddy, but he’s had an incredible year.”
“More than that,” he added, “he’s having an incredible impact on the team, an incredible impact on the team, an incredible impact on young guys like (Blake) Perkins to not get down after getting picked off in a 2-0 game. A senseless pickoff (but) he kept himself going.
“After that Perkins responded.”
Perkins responded, as Murphy noted, with three hits, three RBI and a home run to back Yelich’s big day.
Although Perkins’ playing time has dwindled significantly since Garrett Mitchell’s return after missing all of the season with a fractured finger, he kept his head in the game.
Then he helped the Brewers win despite his own base-running blunder.
“Yelich rose to the occasion when we needed him,” Murphy said. “Perkins was unbelievable too. (It was) a great effort by our guys.”
Backup catcher Eric Haase, who is one of the guys giving great effort, had two hits including a two-run home run to stake Milwaukee to a 4-0 lead before the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor homered to make it 4-2.
After that it was all Brewers, all the time.
Yelich, 32, is on a tear right now. He hit .393 (11 for 28) with three home runs and five RBI during the Brewers’ six-game road trip. He is hitting .329 for the season with 11 doubles, three triples and 11 homers.
Yelich isn’t a stats watcher.
“I have no idea what any of my stats are,” he said. “The home runs are probably the only one I know. I don’t look at (stats) because they change so much throughout the year. You just try to keep contributing to wins and stack them.”
The Brewers (53-38) maintained their five-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central. The Pirates, Reds and Cubs are all 10-plus games back.
The victory also kept Milwaukee just two games behind the Dodgers (55-36) in the race for the NL’s No. 2 playoff seed. The No. 2 seed gets a first-round bye. The No. 3 seed gets a matchup with the No. 6 seed in a best-of-three wild-card series at the higher seeded team’s ballpark.
The Dodgers face the Brewers in a four-game series Aug. 12-15 at American Family Field. It’s their only other regular-season series.
The Dodgers travel to Philadelphia (58-32) for a three-game series against the NL’s top team. The Phillies are 33-14 at home.
Milwaukee headed home for a three-game series against the Pirates beginning Monday night at American Family Field, where the Brewers are a dazzling 27-13 this season.
Right-hander Colin Rea (8-2, 3.34) will start Monday’s series opener. Rea is 5-0 in his last eight games as he continues to be the Brewers’ most dependable of the 15 starters deployed.
“It’s good to win, especially on ‘getaway day,’ ” Yelich said. “We had two tough losses.”
The Brewers lost Friday night’s series opener 8-5 despite it being tied at 5-5 entering the eighth inning. That’s when the normally reliable Hoby Milner, in relief of Elvis Peguero, yielded three runs before recording a single out to take the loss.
On Saturday, the Brewer and Dodgers were knotted at 3-3 entering the bottom of the eighth. That’s when the typically unhittable Bryan Hudson allowed home runs to light-hitting second baseman Miguel Vargas and the incomparable Shohei Ohtani in the 5-3 loss.
Despite the disappointing outcomes of both games, the Brewers went pitch-for-pitch with the mighty Dodgers and had a chance to win each of the first two games of the series.
The Brewers reminded fans that they have what it takes to compete with baseball’s best teams. Even if that means using an MLB-high 15 different starting pitchers this season – the most in franchise history for an entire season – to do the job.
Yelich lent perspective.
“Whenever you go through a stretch when the outside perspective is that it’s the end of the world and the sky is falling to us it’s like, ‘We know that there’s going to be tough streaks in the year. Keep going. Keep trying to play well,’ ” he said. “Then, when you get on the good side of it, you try to build momentum again.”
Packers’ MVP hopes?
Love is poised to win
By Chris Havel
Special to The FAN
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers open training camp in 17 days.
The season arrives with great expectations for the NFL’s youngest team. The Packers are coming off a 9-8 season capped by a wild-card rout of the Cowboys in Dallas and a narrow divisional round loss to the eventual Super Bowl runner-up 49ers at San Francisco.
So what will the Packers do for an encore?
To a person, from the front office to the field, the football folks at 1265 Lombardi Ave. believe the sky’s the limit. Reclaiming the NFC North from the talented Lions won’t be easy, especially while trying to fend off the much-improved Bears and the explosive Vikings.
Nevertheless, it is a lofty yet attainable goal. Beyond that everything is in play, including a Super Bowl berth.
Those are terrific team goals for an incredibly unselfish squad.
But what about the Packers winning individual awards in 2024?
Hardware has been tough to come by lately.
Matt LaFleur knows it firsthand.
The Packers hired LaFleur in 2019 for a job numerous NFL “experts” called “a bad job.” They thought the roster was in a shambles, the defense was in disarray and the future Hall of Fame quarterback was in decline and going to be difficult to work with.
LaFleur merely led the Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Green Bay defeated Seattle 28-23 in the NFC divisional round before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers 37-20.
He got Rodgers’ career back on track and proved the naysayers wrong. It turns out the Packers’ job wasn’t bad. It just needed the right person running the show.
A strong argument could’ve been made for LaFleur being the NFL’s “Coach of the Year” in 2019. Instead, he finished a distant third to Baltimore’s John Harbaugh and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan.
LaFleur didn’t get much credit for Rodgers’ rebirth. Rather, it hurt his chances for “Coach of the Year” because the prevailing notion was “He couldn’t have done it without Rodgers.”
No one bothered to ask, “Could Harbaugh have done it without Lamar Jackson?” It wasn’t asked because the answer was all too obvious.
So what about 2024?
Again, LaFleur could be his own worst enemy.
While he is widely praised for developing Jordan Love during a 3 ½ year span that blossomed in the final seven regular-season games and two playoff games last season.
If the Packers reach or exceed expectations the narrative could be, “Jordan Love was the reason. LaFleur was just along for the ride.”
It’s ridiculous rationale but it isn’t unprecedented.
LaFleur has the fifth-best odds to win “Coach of the Year.” The Bears’ Matt Eberflus and the Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh lead the pack. The Jets’ Robert Saleh (because of Rodgers), and the Texans’ DeMeco Ryan – last year’s runner-up – also are ahead of LaFleur.
The Packers’ head coach will trade personal honors for the Lombardi Trophy every day of the week and twice on Super Bowl Sundays.
If LaFleur isn’t “Coach of the Year,” but the Packers still forge a double-digit win season and playoff magic, Love should be the heavy favorite to win the NFL’s MVP Award.
Love, like his coach, has the fifth-best odds … to be MVP.
The Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (hard to argue), the Bills’ Josh Allen (I don’t see it), the Texans’ C.J. Stroud (he’s the real deal) and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow (he’ll have a big season) are ranked ahead of Love.
So are the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, the 49ers’ Brock Purdy and ex-Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Love’s cool persona, charisma and undeniable talent should thrust him into the forefront of MVP discussions by the season’s midpoint. The rest is up to Love, his coaches and teammates, and – alas – the voters.
The NFL’s “Offensive Player of the Year” award isn’t likely to find its way into a Packers’ hands.
Josh Jacobs has the best odds at plus-12,000.
The receivers are so far back it isn’t worth listing the odds.
The NFL “Defensive Player of the Year” does have a decent chance to wind up on Rashan Gary’s fireplace mantle or Xavier McKinney’s.
Gary, with the 14th-best odds, could explode for a huge sack season. With a bolstered run defense, a creative coordinator and a top-notch safety on the back end, Gary is in line for 12-plus sacks.
McKinney, who isn’t listed among “Defensive Player of the Year” candidates, is another strong choice.
If the Packers’ defense excels it will mean McKinney is running the show with aplomb. If he has multiple multi-interception games, including a “pick six” or two, he’ll immediately become a top contender.
None of that is farfetched, either.
McKinney is that good. It’s just that the rest of the NFL doesn’t understand how good he will be in the heart of the Packers’ reconstituted defense.
Interestingly, the Packers are in the hunt for a “Defensive Rookie of the Year” award winner with linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Javon Bullard coming aboard in the second round of the 2024 draft.
Cooper has a chance to run and hit with the best of them. It doesn’t hurt that he’ll have Quay Walker next to him in addition to savvy veteran Isaiah McDuffie.
Bullard’s talent is off the charts. If offenses elect to avoid McKinney and attack Bullard it could lead to plenty of opportunities for the rookie from Georgia.
Finally, do the Packers have any candidates for “Comeback Player of the Year?”
No one even made the list. The Packers are so young they aren’t in a position to make comebacks. They’re still on the rise.
By the way, the NFL’s best bet to win “Comeback of the Year” honors?
