Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
NFL Week 1 Preview: Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
0 Playsin 1 hour
Join us as we preview the Week 1 NFL showdown between the Green Bay Packers and their NFC North rival, the Detroit Lions. In this episode, we delve into essential insights, including an in-depth look at the injury report, critical matchups to watch for, and our over and under predictions for the game.
Recommended
Transcript
Season Opener: Packers vs. Lions
00:00:01
Speaker
Aloha and welcome back to the Ohana Packers Edition podcast. Today we have our first opponent preview episode of the 2025 season. The Packers get set to open their season against the Detroit Lions in Lambeau Field.
00:00:16
Speaker
And Joe, we talked about it a little bit on our season preview episode. i don't want to say that this is a must win, but in terms of the ability to set the tone for the rest of the season, This game reigns pretty supreme because they haven't fared too well against the Lions the past three seasons.
00:00:35
Speaker
And it's time to stop losing to the better teams in the NFC if you're really going to be serious about contending. But are you feeling going into Sunday's game?
Packers' Injury Challenges
00:00:46
Speaker
I would argue that it is must win just because of what you mentioned. you How long have the Packers... you What's the losing streak against NFC North rivals?
00:01:01
Speaker
And it would really set the tone for the season if they can come out with a big win week one against a division foe. So... I'm still unsure about it because as we'll get into a little bit here in a bit, even with this just being week one, the injury report is like a mile long.
00:01:25
Speaker
I know they say some of them are just, you know, ticky tacky. That'll probably be with them throughout the season, but you still don't want to see that long list going into week one.
00:01:39
Speaker
Well, yeah, and that's kind of shitty to hear that, like, these guys are going to deal with these injuries for the whole season, and we haven't even kicked the first game off. But, you know, as we usually do, recording this on Wednesday night, so the team has only a a had one official practice with a full practice report on it.
00:01:56
Speaker
So you've got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 names that made the injury report today. Yeah. full participant, the lone full participant was Jordan Love and the clips of practice we saw, he was going through the full reps. He's taking snaps from under center, doing all the throwing, Luke to be going at full speed. So,
00:02:18
Speaker
We'll speak on that a little bit later on. Limited participants, ah ah the international man of mystery, Zane Anderson with a knee injury. Elton Jenkins returned after sitting out Monday's practice with a hip.
00:02:31
Speaker
What is now being listed as a hip. you He had the back issue earlier preseason and now it's a hip that he's dealing with. Micah Parsons with the back, um has been under the full scrutiny of everyone this side of sun.
00:02:44
Speaker
And Baron Sorrell, Dontavian Wicks, Savion Williams were all limited participants with a knee, calf, and hamstring, respectively. So good to have those guys back.
00:02:55
Speaker
Not so good news, Nate Hobbs out with his scoped knee and Jaden Reed with his foot injury. Joe, let's start with the bad first.
00:03:07
Speaker
You know, different people have
Mystery of Jaden Reed's Injury
00:03:09
Speaker
the different feelings on how it is with Jaden and Ellis Hobbs. Hobbs. um Or Nate Hobbs, not Ellis Hobbs. Ellis Hobbs was a patriot. With Nate Hobbs, as far as Hobbs goes, I'm not very confident he's going to be able to play this Sunday.
00:03:24
Speaker
Just because he's not a returning player, you know, the scheme is new to him. He hasn't. been able to... I know they showed him doing individual drills, like kind of mirroring what the guys in front of him were doing and stuff, but he hasn't fully worked out since he got the knee scope at the beginning of preseason. So it's been a couple months that he's... I know that they can do some water activities and all that kind of stuff, but it's his knee, so how much he's able to ramp up is pretty limited, in my opinion.
00:03:54
Speaker
And with Jaden, I feel with Jaden, it's such It's such a black hole of mystery. I know that he kind of intimated that it was a planned day off for him and stuff. But um um on one hand, I have my doubts that it's as bad as they say it is because I just can't see a team that's as conservative the Packers have been with injuries letting him play with this kind of Jones fracture in his foot.
00:04:22
Speaker
And at the same time, a guy that... thrives off of his explosiveness his ability to get you know get use his speed to get open deep and his agility to get open uh on routes and if he's at all hobbled or compromised like we all remember what it looked like when you know randall cobb would try to be out there on a bad wheel and it was like it's just kind of taking up space out there so of the two which one do you think has a more realistic chance of playing come sunday
00:04:53
Speaker
I would say Hobbs just because they claim that after the scope that he would be ready week one. So I would put it more on that. I wish we could find out more about what's going on with the Jaden Reed stuff because you got one side claiming it's a Jones fracture. Then you got...
00:05:14
Speaker
you know, all this other speculation going on with it. So with not knowing what his whole situation is, because I was just doing a quick read over what a Jones fracture actually is, and it's the break in the fifth metatarsal of the foot.
00:05:31
Speaker
And
00:05:34
Speaker
it doesn't sound like something you're going to be able to play fully with. you think about running routes as a receiver you're pushing off your foot and when you go to do any kind of breaking route you know basically whenever he's cutting anything to his left because you're pushing off your well i'm not sure which foot it is but if it's his left foot any routes breaking to his right and if it's his right foot any brought routes breaking to his left He's just not going to have any explosiveness off that foot.
00:06:07
Speaker
And that's forget cutting. Like, I don't know what he's going to look like if he tries to run. I know we've seen some clips of him jogging around the practice field and stuff like that. But, you know, that's light action, half speed, all that kind of stuff. So it doesn't bode well.
00:06:23
Speaker
But even if he's just jogging, just what I'm reading from, you know, what it's what a quick Google search has given me. even just kind of jogging and, and if he's not having any issues with that, I don't know how that could be a Jones fracture unless they got it so shot up with drugs that he just can't feel the foot or something. But cause it's, it's common symptoms are pain on the outside of the foot.
00:06:51
Speaker
possible bruising in an affected area, difficulty walking or bearing weight on the foot. So if he's able to bear some kind of weight on it and not have issues, then, you know, is it a Jones fracture or is it just, you know, I don't know, did he severely stub his toe you know, something along? I'm not trying to joke about the situation. It's just we're so in the dark with his injury that
00:07:21
Speaker
and like you said, with the way the Packers are conservative with their, their medical stuff, I just don't see them playing him through a Jones fracture specifically when, and like I said, this is just a quick Google search saying that best treatment for it is a a immobilization for up for at least six weeks or surgery. If it doesn't heal properly. Well,
00:07:47
Speaker
Well, you know, it's not like a hand injury where you can throw a cast on it and go out there and play a little bit. You can't run around in a cast. I don't care how good you are.
00:07:57
Speaker
be Usain Bolt and have a cast on your foot and still not run as well as you'd hope to. So to go back to your original question, would have to say Hobbs is probably a little bit more There just because, like I said, was everything that we kept hearing was going to hold him out for the whole preseason and he should be good to go for week one.
00:08:21
Speaker
And this could just be resting up and, you know, we don't know what they do outside of the media portion of of practice this could for all we know this could just be head games against against the lions you know hold him out of the media portions so we have no clue you know if he what he's doing or anything like that and then when they get into the non-media portions then you know he's participating as best as he can Yeah.
00:08:48
Speaker
So like we always say, know, we are always making our talking points for this episode off of one day of practice, unless it's one of the short weeks. So, you know, things are literally changing by the time you're listening to this episode. But, know, it's not the best feeling for either of those two. And those are two pretty important players. You know, I don't want to say reads any less important, but, you know, Hobbs was expected to be your starting corner, your...
00:09:14
Speaker
potential nickel when they rotate in if they want to go with three corners or um he'd stay on the perimeter and you bring Bullard in and play a nickel spot. And, you know, they're okay at both spots because, you know,
00:09:27
Speaker
At least at corner, you can turn to Valentine and Nixon to be your starters. And you at least have the option of throwing Bullard in the slot or doing something. Or it won't be necessarily a nickel, but you can throw Hopper out there to cover a tight end or something like that. Or you can use Oladapo whatever.
00:09:45
Speaker
They have options there. then as far as Reed um slot or anything like that, you know it's really good that wicks is back dobbs is not on the injury report then obviously gold is not
Adapting Offensive Strategies
00:09:59
Speaker
in the injury report plus musgrave craft you know this could be a game where they go a little bigger in terms of personnel groupings you see more 12 with two tight ends out there you know try to reintegrate Musgrave into the flow of the offense or more 21 so you can get Brooks and Jacobs or Brooks and Wilson out there. So they're good if these are the only injuries they're dealing with.
00:10:24
Speaker
It gets a little dicier if they suffer another injury. So you keep your ear to the ground on that one. As far as the limited participants, So, Sorrell might get some action you if he's healthy enough to go.
00:10:37
Speaker
Savion, I kind of wonder if he's just put on the shelf for another week just because he did miss so much of preseason and he's a rookie. That's possible. I mean, it's a good sign for him that he actually returned.
00:10:49
Speaker
Yeah, it's just good that he's back on the practice field and that it is consecutive days for him because he was back on Monday. So ah ah regardless, you know, it's good that he's made it through a couple of days.
00:11:00
Speaker
And then with Love, you know, or I guess we'll go to Jenkins, you know, you know, some people are saying, like, you know, is this part of a potential like soft holdout?
00:11:12
Speaker
I don't think you would do that at this point of the season. i think that Jenkins' best way to prove that he deserves another deal is to play and play well. So I do think this is just a function of he isn't old now.
00:11:27
Speaker
know, and he has, you know, he's had a major injury with the ACL in 2021. He's dealt with some minor nagging issues the past couple years. So I think this is just, you know, he's kind of on that Bulaga later career trajectory where it's like they're going to kind of give him lighter loads during the practice week and stuff. You know, he is the elder statesman of the O-line room.
00:11:48
Speaker
It's good that Aaron Banks is not on the injury report at all after, you know, he's been dealing with a back issue all preseason. So it's good to see him not listed here. And then, know, the big one that everyone wants to know about is Jordan Love.
00:12:02
Speaker
And the good thing there is that he was a full participant today. And, okay, so my whole thing with Jordan's injury, don't think it's going to him. You know, some people were questioning if it's going to affect his ability to take under center snaps.
00:12:18
Speaker
It's the left thumb. So when you're right-handed, whichever handed quarterback you are, your throwing hand is the top hand, the hand that's against the center's butt. And that's the hand that the ball is hitting.
00:12:30
Speaker
If you are having problems with the fingers on your non-throwing hand, you're doing something wrong or your center's arms are just so long that he's over-snapping the ball, which is really hard to do, especially because they're trying to snap and get up to block as quick as they can. So...
00:12:46
Speaker
I never was concerned that it would be an issue for him to get under center. I didn't see clips of how he was handing the ball off today. Last week, he was only doing handoffs with his right hand, no matter whether the running back was going right or left. So that is something to watch.
00:13:02
Speaker
know, kind of looks like he's backhanding the ball in when if the back is going to... the offense is right. Normally you would turn around and hand the ball off with your left hand because your quarterback is back is to the line of scrimmage. So whichever way the back is going, it's the opposite hand.
00:13:19
Speaker
But so last week, any runs to the right, he was still kind of backhanding it with his right hand. We'll see how he goes into the game on Sunday. But the main thing is that he's been practicing it either way. So if it's any kind of issue, he's got the ability to go with, you know, throwing hand only. So to see them working on that side of it.
00:13:38
Speaker
On the Lions side of things, it's a bunch of guys that I would be surprised if many Packers fans knew the names of other than Isaac Tesla, who is a limited participant dealing with an illness.
00:13:52
Speaker
Otherwise, it's a bunch of backups who weren't likely to be starting or playing many snaps. So the Lions are coming in with a slightly better bill of health than the Packers. And that sits the table from an injury standpoint for us.
00:14:08
Speaker
I have a feeling most of these these guys are going to go just because these are, this is like holdover from preseason with a lot of the injuries. Elton's is a little bit weird because didn't his start out as like a back injury?
00:14:22
Speaker
Yeah. Like week one of the preseason and you know, people, again, people were speculating like, Oh, is he holding out? And no, he's just, he's just doing some, uh, you know, he was rehabbing his back and stuff. So,
00:14:37
Speaker
And Jordan, like we talked about in the preseason, there's no doubts that he's going to play because it's his non-throwing hand. He'll probably have a glove on it for a couple weeks, but don't see any issues unless it gets re, unless he hits it off a helmet again.
00:14:56
Speaker
Because not that surgeries are ever minor, minor, you know, when you're cutting into the body, it always does weird things, but, uh, it, it was a super minor Ligament damage.
00:15:15
Speaker
It wasn't like it was a broken bone. It wasn't like he had to have pins put in it and immobilized and all that stuff. So, you know, it his I'm not so worried about Sorrell. I could see it like you were just mentioning with Williams Savion that, you know, maybe they just told him out for especially now that Micah Parsons is in there in the mix. I could see them just holding those guys out.
00:15:43
Speaker
The other one that's kind of a worrisome in a way is Wix, just because he missed all the preseason. He's still limited going into the first week of the season.
00:15:57
Speaker
You know, can't afford to not be out there because like I said before, I don't see him as a lock on this team. I could see him having another one or two games where it's just constant drop after drop after drop. And they, they do something with them, whether it's ah ah a trade for a lower pick or just a flat out cut, but he's the one that out of all of them that I have the most concern about just because we know what he can be.
00:16:33
Speaker
And we also know what one of his issues is. And if he's not practicing and he's not playing, then he can't work on those issues. Yeah, and I agree. They see the talent and they want to give it every chance that it works out. But you said, Golden's drafting, the Parsons signing, those are all things that shorten his window for you having chances you as the Packers' championship window opens up.
00:16:57
Speaker
They don't have time to be, you for all intents and purposes, babying guys. they they action needs to happen kind of thing. So, you know, we'll see, but, looks like the Packers are, you know, it's like you said, it's a long list, but they are despite it relatively healthy going into this game.
Key Matchups: Run Defense vs. Lions
00:17:18
Speaker
The big notes for this matchup, you know, the Packers obviously have made the addition of Micah Parsons changes where where this team was a month ago.
00:17:29
Speaker
The Lions are in for some wholesale changes where they have replaced both coordinators. They've lost two two of their starting O-linemen. And, you know, on defense, the question is,
00:17:43
Speaker
What's their pass rush look like with Aiden Hutchinson on a surgically repaired leg and question mark? So what is your key matchup that you're looking at heading into this game, Joe?
00:18:21
Speaker
whatever.
00:18:23
Speaker
but you did lose Kenny Clark and now you have a bunch of guys that you're not sure of when it comes to stopping the run. We know what Devontae Wyatt is. He's more of a pass rusher, but this puts pressure on him to become a hybrid where both a run defender and the pass rusher.
00:18:46
Speaker
Same with Carl Brooks, same with Kobe Wooden. it's going to put a lot of pressure on Brinson and Stackhouse if they're active because we won't know they're active until, what is it, an hour and a half before game time or something like that.
00:19:04
Speaker
So, yeah, my answer has got to be what matchup is going to be the run defense versus the run offense.
00:19:14
Speaker
Yeah, that's one of my ex-factors for the game too, is like Detroit's, one of their building blocks has been the physicality of their offensive line. and And they lost two of the, you know, the ring leaders in that group. Their center, whose name is escaping me right now. Ragnow.
00:19:33
Speaker
Yes, thank you. Frank Ragnow. He was one of the tone setters for them. I know that everyone talks about Pene Suo, but Ragnow was literally the pivot and the anchor point for that O-line.
00:19:44
Speaker
He was one of the tone setters. And Kevin Zeitler left to sign a free agent deal with Tennessee or something like that. So it's going be some big changes for Detroit heading into this season.
00:19:58
Speaker
And it remains to be seen how that all flushes out. And I know, like you said, i know losing Kenny is you know, maybe more symbolic blow more than, you know, what he was giving them, you know, physically on the field.
00:20:11
Speaker
But at the same time, that's an experienced player that you have to replace. And it's on guys, like you said, like all the ones you need. Wooden, who is stepping into the starters role, Brinson, Stackhouse, but also Wyatt. We're in year four and Wyatt is still not a much improved run defender over what he was coming into the league.
00:20:34
Speaker
And that was always his biggest weak point was his ability to anchor versus the run. especially in this scheme where he's not being asked to take on double teams. You know, he's, he's being asked to be like a defense, you know, a line of scrimmage penetrator and he just cannot get washed by single blockers anymore.
00:20:52
Speaker
know, we know what he can do as a pass rusher. We saw the leap from him last season. I do think it was legitimate. And, At the same time, they're not going to trust him to stay on the field if he can't hold up against the run. And whether that's turning to Carl Brooks or if it's putting both the Georgia boys out there to start the game, whatever it is, if Wyatt can't figure it out, that really puts a damper on what the Packers are able to do defensively. And circling back to the Lions, losing two linemen,
00:21:25
Speaker
You don't want to see this interior defense get its lunch handed to them by the Lions who are, you know, replacing them with what I think are lesser players. So got to see better play from the interior defense there.
00:21:38
Speaker
And I think... Offensively, it's sort of a similar thing where when the line of scrimmage, you know, for the most part, the Packers O-line, you know, I know that Jenkins has shuffled over and Banks is in at left guard, but sort of the idea is to add some beef up front and you want to see that pay off for the Packers going into this week. I know that obviously, you know, Jordan's healthy and we're going to want to see him take a leap as starting quarterback.
00:22:04
Speaker
But at the same time, especially early in the season to help like ease the offense into the season and
Winning the Line of Scrimmage
00:22:09
Speaker
all that kind of stuff. You know, that LeFleur is going to be able to want to lean on his run game.
00:22:15
Speaker
And in order to do that, this, you know, slightly shuffled O-line is going to need to pull its weight. And, you know, the Lions are going to be without Ali McNeil, who might've been their best defense interior defense alignment.
00:22:26
Speaker
He's still recovering from an ACL tear. We, you know, like I said on the preview episode, I expect Hutchinson to be as much of himself as he, you know, as possible.
00:22:40
Speaker
But this is a major injury he's coming back from. And you just don't know how guys come back, you know, sometimes. guys come back and they're just totally fine. And other times you get a Derek Sherrod situation where that guy just can't move like he used to before because the injury was that severe. So, the Packers have to test it early and they, on either side of the ball, they need to own the line of scrimmage. That's how they're going to flip this matchup and be back to, you know, dominating the lines. Like they did for the better part of our fandom of the Packers.
00:23:14
Speaker
For sure. And you know, another matchup is going to be key is, you know, obviously you kind of mentioned it with the Hobbs injury and that, but you know, how's the secondary going to hold up against Amon, raw and, and Jamison Williams. And my mind is blanking on the other ones that they have on the team. I know they just traded Tim Patrick last week, but Laporta at tight end and stuff like that. So know that that's another matchup is how is this uh defensive back how are the group of defensive backs going to hold up against that kind of thing or and you know of what you're going to get with jared goff he's going to throw it as much as he can and you know won't say that he's an elite quarterback but he he's definitely not a bottom of the rung type quarterback either so
00:24:12
Speaker
You know, it is what it is, but like I said, that's going to be another matchup.
Packers' Receivers vs. Lions' Secondary
00:24:20
Speaker
And then one area that, you know, I'm really excited to see what this receiving group is able to do. And when I say receiving group, you know, I want to see Golden get out there against, you know, what is still a I know that everyone talks about Kirby Joseph and ah Brian Branch, but I don't think this cornerback room for the Lions is special. you The Bama kid that we all wanted, he hasn't progressed like everyone expected him to.
00:24:48
Speaker
Break straw is out for the season. As much as I want to see the Packers out physical the Lions, if Love and this receiving group can get it going tomorrow or on Sunday, I'm all here for it. you Forget style points.
00:25:04
Speaker
Forget... all of that stuff. Just get this win. It's week one. Like you said, set the tone for this season. Don't get off to a bitter... This is... It always blows my mind whenever they're like, this is LeFleur's first home season opener. That...
00:25:22
Speaker
really just boggles the mind when you think about it in that fact that you know he's this is his seventh season in green bay and he's never coached you know week one has never been a home opener for him and i believe he's undefeated in them so you know knock on wood but i i do want to see how he has this group ready to go coming out and That's kind of been something that you we've been able to dog him for a little bit in his first few years is that this team hasn't gotten off to the fastest of starts every season.
00:25:51
Speaker
So you we've seen LeFleur try to make adjustments to hopefully jumpstart his team, mainly his offense going into the season. And I'm excited to see if he can make it happen.
00:26:02
Speaker
Anything um you're excited for or anywhere you think we have a mismatch against the Lions? no i was just looking at the their depth chart and yeah outside of their two starting safeties i'm not really sold on their defensive backs terry and arnold is one starter dj reed is the other amik robertson is their nickel and then behind that you got khalil dorsey rakia sin and avante maddox so
00:26:35
Speaker
ah ah I know Rocky sin was, what was he? He was second rounder. Yeah. With the Colts, I think. Yeah. And then yeah, i bounced of of for the longest time a little bit with the Packers, but I, yeah, I mean, outside of their starting safeties, this what's going to help the, the lions is if they can get pressure,
00:27:01
Speaker
But like you said, with the Packers going with the beefy boys up front, are they going to be able to hold up against that? Which goes back to another thing. Like I said, offensive the the line versus defensive line.
00:27:15
Speaker
Where I was talking more Packers defensive line, the same thing can be said about the Packers offensive line against against the the Lions defensive line. So it's.
00:27:28
Speaker
It's definitely not a matchup you want to see in week one. This is more of a matchup you want to see week five, week six or something like that teams settled It's not like college football where you can pick a, uh, state university yeah yeah and play, uh, unless you're Iowa going against the university of Alabama, Albany and being down seven to three.
00:27:56
Speaker
Yeah. Early on. But so it is what it is. It's kind of the luck of the draw when it comes to the schedule.
00:28:08
Speaker
It also makes you wonder if there's been a lot of things the last couple weeks that makes me wonder if what they say about the NFL being scripted has some merit to it.
00:28:20
Speaker
Because think about it. There were rumors about Micah Parsons to Green Bay all through the off season.
00:28:28
Speaker
And then all a sudden it happens. And then the schedule. Well, why would you want the Lions against the Packers in week one?
00:28:40
Speaker
Well, because you're going to show off your new toy in Micah Parsons against a division rival. I mean, that's storylines you want to have. And, you know, it's hard to do naturally. ah You can only do a lot of those storylines when they're concocted. But that's a whole nother discussion for a whole nother show.
00:29:01
Speaker
Yep. So, you know, I don't like to use the previous season's um um stats, especially because with the Lions case, two new coordinators, a a bunch of coaches out the door, different personnel, guys are injured. You know, that's one of the funnier ones, too, is, you know, not only is Aiden Hutchinson coming back from injury.
00:29:22
Speaker
The starting end opposite him is, you know, an old friend of sorts for the Packers, Marcus Davenport. You know, he who once was, you know, the Packers allowed trade-up that got them as, you know, extra first-round pick in 2018. And they subsequently got Jair with the Saints' original pick.
00:29:40
Speaker
But Davenport's a guy who's played, like, two games in the last two seasons or something like that. So we haven't seen much of him in a couple seasons. yeah like i do expect the lions to be you know well coached they're gonna play hard they're gonna be aggressive you know as much as losing johnson hurts and losing aaron glenn's hurts you know in the like game planning regard Dan Campbell is still going to have his team you with that knee-cap-biting attitude and all that kind of stuff.
00:30:13
Speaker
But it'll be interesting to see from an X's and O's standpoint how differently they operate. And you some of the stuff we... you Packers had so many guys that everyone was like, oh my God, like what's wrong with Rashawn Gary? What's wrong with Quay Walker?
00:30:28
Speaker
Guys adjust to new schemes at different... rates and it'll be interesting to see if the Lions have any issues with that. The one thing you do worry about a little not worry, but their new offensive coordinator did make a comment that like the Lions did do a lot of good stuff.
00:30:45
Speaker
You know, Johnson was really huge. He had a lot of ingenuity and creativity, but new coordinator did kind of say that his intent was to sort of bring it back to more of a meat and potatoes pound the rock offense.
00:30:59
Speaker
So we'll see how that equates to the on-field product for the Lions. And like I said, at the end of the day, this game comes down to the simple question of can Green Bay win the line of scrimmage? And they've been working on changing that arithmetic for the last couple years.
00:31:19
Speaker
And we'll see how that comes out.
Strategic Use of Micah Parsons
00:31:21
Speaker
You know, the... The best case scenario I can see for the Packers is that they're able to, you know, get and sustain a two-score lead, whether, you know, it's like 10 to 14 or more, hopefully more.
00:31:33
Speaker
So that way you're able to, like, sprinkle in some Micah Parsons. You don't have to overuse him. You can use him on just some strict passing down situations. And then, you know, in the fourth quarter when you're up, like, 10 and Detroit's trying to put together, ah ah you know, a last-ditch, like, panic drive to get the game within one score, you're like, okay, Micah, like,
00:31:55
Speaker
go get your conditioning in, go chase after Jared Goff kind of thing. I think that would be the best case scenario for the Packers. You don't want one of those like knock down, slobber knocker back and forth kind of games where it's like, he's got to come in for what you think is a passing down, but may have to play some run and all that kind of stuff. So, you know, hoping that for once the Packers will be the team taking, you know, getting the jump on their opponent.
00:32:23
Speaker
you don't got any oh go for it well was just sitting here looking at the coaching staff for the lions and i mean there's some really mean names that we would have saw when we were younger mark brunell is their quarterback's coach tashard choice was a running back for the longest time in the nfl uh bruce grudkowski is an offensive assistant he was a quarterback for the steelers for a while
00:32:53
Speaker
Uh, David Shaw was a head coach of Stanford for years. Uh, Mark has two. So Sopo would played for the Raiders for a bit for, I believe Kelvin shepherd was a linebacker in the league and then really, yeah.
00:33:12
Speaker
then the one that I find amazing. And most people might not know this name, but I do just from my time being up there and because my, my good friend knew these guys by name, but one of the assistant strength and conditioning coaches for lions is Thaddeus Jackson.
00:33:33
Speaker
And he was strengthened conditioning for the green Bay Packers for years. So it just amazing that the staff that they have over there. The sitcom fan in me just laughs that they have a Costanza on staff.
00:33:49
Speaker
yeah No, no judge. have no idea. You know, Jill, she may be one of the best coaches ever, but it is just hilarious that an NFL team would have a Costanza.
00:33:59
Speaker
Yeah, Yeah, just but it's just crazy seeing and all that. Yeah. But really, yeah, I do have some over-unders that we'll go through, and I'll try to keep better track of it Yeah, I was going say, hold Let me open up the Google Drive, and you we will try to do a much better job of keeping track of these than we ever have in the past. So hold that thought for just one second, my friend.
00:34:25
Speaker
have four of them, so just so you have space over there for it. All right. right. My first is going to be an obvious one.
00:34:35
Speaker
did listen to Lombardi's bar earlier and I'm going to set these, set it off of what Dan said his, although I, I, I should set it a little bit higher. Cause I think this is really limited, but Micah Parsons over under 20 and a half snaps.
00:34:57
Speaker
All right.
00:34:59
Speaker
Micah Parsons, 20 and a half snaps. I'm going...
00:35:08
Speaker
I'm going over, barely. See, that's what I was thinking, too. I'm thinking that he's going to get about 25, depending on how the game's going. Yeah. if the if if they get down early i can see him playing more just to see if he can wreck wreck the game and get turnovers i was thinking of it i was thinking of it the other way because if we're up detroit has to pass and then therefore like
00:35:44
Speaker
Don't worry about him having to take on the run as much kind of thing. But I do see the bonus of where you're coming from too, where it's like, just throw the monkey wrench out there for Detroit and see what you get kind of thing.
00:35:56
Speaker
Yeah, like – and, you know – so there you figure there's 60 to 70 snaps per team for a whole game so that's like 15 a quarter so 25 snaps is he's like playing like one in a two-thirds quarters worth snaps kind of thing which when you like string it out to a whole game or even if you just look at it you you know the average team gets like nine offensive possessions So if he plays like, and every drive is not a three and out.
00:36:26
Speaker
But even if every drive were a three and out, that would be nine snaps if he only played like situational pass rusher. So you've got one third down for every drive. You know, some drive is going to be an eight play drive, 10 play drive kind of thing. So you do the math out and it's like, oh, you do get to like 20 snaps pretty quick actually.
00:36:46
Speaker
Yeah, and my thoughts more of it is, and I get where you're coming from, that you Detroit would have to pass more if they're down a little bit. ah ah But also see them having to run a lot of hurry up.
00:37:00
Speaker
And I don't know if the Packers want to have Micah out there during some of the hurry up. But if they get down early, then they're going to, you like you said, throw the monkey wrench out there and just...
00:37:12
Speaker
They're going to hope for the the the turnovers that he, you know, the disruption that he's going to cause more than anything. So I get where Dan was coming from because he kind of did the math like you did where, you know, 20 snaps is about average, but I just think he'll hit that 25 mark just because it's week one at Green Bay. He's going to get a huge ovation when he gets introduced.
00:37:43
Speaker
He's going to want to show the Packers fans what he's going to bring. And so my next one is also on the defensive side of the ball. I'm going over under half a sack for Rashawn Gary.
00:38:01
Speaker
I'm going.
00:38:03
Speaker
I'm going under only because Rashawn's my but Parsons isn't going to play the whole game. And because he won't, Rashawn is going to be the guy that Detroit keys on.
00:38:17
Speaker
And I think if anyone's going to get a sack, it's going to be like one, a queer Cooper getting in there on a blitz. Or I think it's going to be your dude, Lucas, who's going to be like if Rashawn or if Micah is you know, target one for the Lions.
00:38:34
Speaker
Lucas with his revamped and everybody, even Kenny on his way out the door has been singing praises of Lucas. You know, we've seen it. You know, some people are kind of poo-pooing the preseason, but I'm like, none of those teams when he played meaningful snaps were throwing anything of like a legitimate passing offense against him.
00:38:53
Speaker
It was all quick three-step drop kind of shit. And I mean, unless Lucas just runs through, like literally runs through a guy, he's not going to win on a three-step drop if it's executed properly. That's just not the kind of rusher is.
00:39:07
Speaker
So I thought I could see the improvement. I honestly thought he was improving as last season went down the stretch. And like i i said, one of the things that I lamented and questioned was why he wasn't starting the second, you know, after Preston was traded. I thought that was a big missed opportunity.
00:39:24
Speaker
But yeah, I'm going under on Rashawn getting that half a sack. I'm going say he gets the full sack. And this is the scenario that I've been thinking it out of, is that it's going to be early whether it's first possession. It'll be the first Dallas possession of the offensive side of the ball.
00:39:51
Speaker
I can see throw Mike out there for the first time. They're going to throw Rashawn out there for the first alongside Micah for the first time.
00:40:02
Speaker
They're going Devante out there. They're going to have probably Kobe wooden, and it's just going to a pure rush down.
00:40:12
Speaker
And could just see him, you know, they're going to try to double Mike, obviously. and and i can just see him getting ah hopefully with coming to in there he's taught him how to not worry about the speed and go more with a bull rush style uh plan but that that's how i see it going down and he has had success against taylor decker like he When Rashawn has had it going against Detroit, he has taken Decker's lunch money in a bunch of their matchups. You know, he had the big Thanksgiving game in 2023. He had a couple nice sacks against him last, or he had definitely one where he just did the thing where he
00:40:56
Speaker
hugs around him after he pushes him into golf. then I think back in 22, he had one before he got, or he had a couple QB hits before he got injured. So yeah, like I said, I'm just playing the like Parsons isn't going to play a lot and therefore Rashawn is going to get doubled and stuff. But like you said, his shots are going to be on those plays where Parsons is on the field, or he just might have one of those games where it's like, fuck it.
00:41:25
Speaker
Like, you know, that's the part too that like, as much as like, everyone's talking about how much Parsons will help, will definitely, you know, it's going to be a symbiotic relationship between the two and Lucas with Parsons on the field and stuff.
00:41:41
Speaker
It also is just going to motivate those guys, the incumbent players, because it's like, oh like you guys were singing us a bunch of praises but you still went out and made a sensible like a move anyone would make but like shit like i still matter kind of thing like so yeah those guys are still motivated on their own as well they are but just like i said ah ah we're gonna have that first game vibe and yeah it's not gonna look pretty but
00:42:11
Speaker
you know this there's gonna be a lot of pressure on it where it's the first time they've played in green bay for week one and you know in the whole of floor era i believe so that's at least seven years so there's gonna be aura around it that something's gotta to done right so now i got my two offensive side my first one is love touchdowns two and a half Passes or just touchdowns in general?
00:42:43
Speaker
I just use touchdowns in general.
00:42:47
Speaker
I'm going over.
00:42:49
Speaker
All passing. I think I'm going to go under. Jacobs. but Yeah, there's going to be the whole Jacobs factor. There's going to, of course, they're going to throw out some of the, you know, like the jet sweeps or whatever.
00:43:06
Speaker
So unless it's one of them pop passes that look like a jet sweep, but it, you know, whatever, think there's going to be other ways. And then you there's always a chance that the defense will score points to. So I don't think it's going to be too far under. I think it's going to be like right at two touchdowns.
00:43:27
Speaker
But yeah. And then the last one I got is Josh Jacobs over under 50 and a half yards. Rushing or rushing?
00:43:38
Speaker
I'm going over.
00:43:40
Speaker
Because have Packers with him. I'm going to say over, but it's not going to be by much. Just because I think they're going to try to be more of a balanced...
00:43:55
Speaker
I don't think they want to put too much on him start. They're going to throw... Wilson out there. They're going to throw Brooks out there. Yeah.
00:44:05
Speaker
I think people have to remember that Brooks wasn't really integrated to this roster until like week six of last year, basically. And then they, you know, like you said, they know they can turn to Jacobs, but that was really, really out of necessity to start last season because of Jordan's injury such. And so, yeah, I agree that, you know, they're going to want him.
00:44:29
Speaker
I don't think he's going to get 20 carries this game, unless like Detroit is absolutely just hemorrhaging yards. I think they're going to try to keep him in that like 15 to 18 carry range.
00:44:41
Speaker
And, you know, like i said, if the game goes where Green Bay just takes a three touchdown lead at some point, then they're just going to lean on Detroit's defense kind of thing. But I'd agree that this is one of those, like, you know, the old, like the 2004 where it was like, get Amon, like 18 carries, get Najee, like a dozen kind thing. And you get your 30 rushing attempts that way kind of thing. So yeah.
00:45:03
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. Like, I have him in like the 75-yard range, but that's because he's going to bust like a 15-yard run at some point kind of thing. So, yeah, it'll be like a, you know, one of those like 75-yard averaging 4.2 and like a couple touchdowns kind of game because, like I said, I want us to win.
00:45:26
Speaker
Well, here's a fun one for you. Over under souls that Josh Jacobs is going to take this game. Ooh. I've got under just because, we'll just put it a half a soul.
00:45:42
Speaker
Just because I don't think Detroit is that team that gets its soul taken, at least so far. I don't know. I have this feeling that Josh is going to reap...
00:45:53
Speaker
Brian Branch. I just, there's this gut feeling that, because, you know, that's the one that they always seem, well, I mean, Curse B. Joseph is always the playmaker, but Branch is always the hothead when it seems to go against the Packers.
00:46:08
Speaker
So I could just see him trying to come in on something and Jacobs just plants him. I can see it too. um um All right. We've been at this with, you know, it's, we've been at this for like 50 minutes now, any final thoughts you got for it, or you want to just put the final touches on this one and.
00:46:29
Speaker
i i really don't have anything. I mean, obviously it's going to be nice having football played meaningful football I got to get ahold of Brian because I think at one time you talked about wanting to do post game show.
00:46:44
Speaker
So maybe look forward to that probably a half hour, 45 minutes after the end of the game. But other than that, I can't think of anything else.
00:46:55
Speaker
Sounds good. Oh yeah. I do have something else. I was watching a clip about It was from yeah ESPN, and they were – I don't know what show it was on, but they called the guy Mad Dog.
00:47:12
Speaker
And I don't know – Chris Russel. And he said there are 10 quarterbacks in the NFL that he would take over Jordan Love.
00:47:25
Speaker
Now, he got to number – guy, yeah. Yeah, something like that. And he got to eight before everybody claimed to like interrupted him and said, you're stupid. And kind of agree with everybody else. I mean, I'm not saying Jordan love is a top five quarterback.
00:47:45
Speaker
He just hasn't shown completely everything. Consistency. Yeah. Right. Yeah. He, yeah. But a couple of names he put on there over Jordan love.
00:47:59
Speaker
He put Justin Herbert over Jordan Love.
00:48:04
Speaker
He put Matthew Stafford over Jordan Love. Who can't even walk onto the field right now. And he put Jared Goff over Jordan Love. Now, Stafford, will give you that. He's got a Super Bowl ring. He's got a long history of success.
00:48:24
Speaker
successful stats and stuff like that. He played for the Lions. He was never going have success with the Lions. But like you said, he's having injuries right now. He's up there in age.
00:48:35
Speaker
I don't know if I'd take him at the moment.
00:48:39
Speaker
But I give you that one. Just... I give you that one. But Jared Goff and Justin Herbert? I didn't watch to see if he justified it, but...
00:48:51
Speaker
Jared Goff and Justin Herbert. What success has Justin Herbert had in the league?
00:48:59
Speaker
What success has Jared Goff had? He went to the Super Bowl with the Rams, but they didn't win it. Partly because of him. They all have the same.
00:49:11
Speaker
Well, no, I take that back.
00:49:14
Speaker
Do they have the same record in the playoffs?
00:49:17
Speaker
Or does Jordan Love have one up over them in the playoffs? So no, Herbert is only 0-2. Love is And then Goff, you know, it's... Fuck.
00:49:29
Speaker
Because Goff went to the Super Bowl and lost. So that season he was like 2-1. And then he's been like 0-4 because... Well, let's put it this way. Since he's been with Detroit, they haven't won a playoff game, have they?
00:49:46
Speaker
No, they have because they made the NFC Championship game in 2023. Okay, so he's got one Jordan's got one. Yeah. Yeah, because they blew it last year.
00:50:00
Speaker
And then year before, they lost to Dallas one year. then, shit. Yeah, something like that. Yeah.
00:50:11
Speaker
But I mean, just to sit there and I, I was dumbfounded and I don't like to agree with the guy cause I'm not a real big fan of ESPN yeah stuff, but even Steven Smith was saying the same crap. Like you're going to take these guys over Jordan love.
00:50:30
Speaker
And like, I will put Herbert in kind of the same position as Love where like, you got to see it in the postseason and Love does have one win, whereas Herbert doesn't. But like, at least with Herbert, Jordan and him are kind of in that conversation where it's like, you've seen them play like a true top two or three quarterback in the league. Like you've seen them get hot and like, it is legitimately their play that has them playing really well kind of thing.
00:50:57
Speaker
With Goff, it's always been, Well, it's Sean McVay's system. Well, it's Ben Johnson, like, setting everything up for him kind of thing and stuff. Like, that's the part where kind of like, yeah, it's cool that, like, you have a guy who can hit the throws when they're set up for him. But it's like, don't want to say that, like,
00:51:17
Speaker
Love is like some otherworldly thing or anything, but we've seen him play, quote unquote, unconsciously. And, you know, that was the the the stretch run to get him in the playoffs in 2023.
00:51:28
Speaker
And um um on one leg last year, he still had flashes where you're like, yeah, that's the guy that they gave the extension to and stuff like that. So... I agree. Like, he's not there yet where he's like a stone cold lock to be a top five quarterback in the league. And like, there legitimately are five guys. Like, it's pretty easy. You've got Mahomes.
00:51:53
Speaker
You've got Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow. And then like... You can, you know, whether you want to say Jalen Hurts is, but whatever.
00:52:04
Speaker
But like, that's four already. And so you only got like one spot for him to get into the top five at his best. He definitely deserves to be in that conversation. We're going to find out this year how much it was, as you and I believe, the injury really hampered him last season.
00:52:20
Speaker
Or if it's like he's just going to be an inconsistent guy that... You know, depending on which way you roll the dice, you're going to get an average guy or you're going to get a top five quarter but top top five contending quarterback. So I think he's much closer to the latter.
00:52:36
Speaker
But, you know, that's why they play the games. and we're going to find out what Jordan's made of this year. And he's got a lot less experience starting as the other guys do. Yeah. So.
00:52:47
Speaker
whatever. just, that really threw me off. Cause it's like, even me a Homer understands he's not a top five or a top three quarterback.
00:52:58
Speaker
And there could possibly be 10 guys over Jordan right now. But Jared Goff and frigging Justin Herbert? Robert Mays put it the best.
00:53:09
Speaker
One of the best that I've heard from an outsider's perspective. you He's a Bears fan. And the way he said it is like, you know, he's like, right now, he would say he's like the seventh or eighth best quarterback in the NFL. But he's like, where he wants to see better, and he does really like Jordan.
00:53:26
Speaker
He said what he thinks would take Jordan higher is... if he just played the seventh best quarterback every week. You know, he has moments where he has game stretches, multiple game stretches where he's top three, top five. You know, he's in that. ah But then he has some moments where you're just like,
00:53:44
Speaker
Jordan, like the interception he threw in Chicago where that thing was just air milled by three feet kind of thing. Or, you know, the two pick sixes he threw where he's just trying to make something happen as he's getting sacked and, you know, against the Rams and the Lions and Lambeau where like, you just can't make that play, but I understand what you're trying to do. And it's like, you know, it's that whole like...
00:54:06
Speaker
there he's he's metronoming out to the eighth best quarterback but if he could bring this bottom part up it's like then you're like seven six and that's the thing too is like people are like oh my god he's not top five but i'm like the names that i listed like those are pretty much mvp candidate locks kind of thing and like I believe Love will get there, but he's not quite there yet because of, like you said, inconsistency, injury last year.
00:54:35
Speaker
This is only his third year as a starter. Those guys have all been starting since, like, Lamar, 2018, he's been a starter, basically. Burrow's been starting. You know I know he blew his knee out, but he's been starting since he was a rookie.
00:54:49
Speaker
What's it called? Josh Allen's been starting since he was a rookie in 2018. And, yeah, so, like, and Mahomes has been starting since 2018.
00:54:59
Speaker
So yeah, those guys all have five more years-ish of starting on him. So of course they should be more seasoned than him. They literally are more seasoned than him.
00:55:10
Speaker
So yeah, you know, I think a lot of this like poo-pooing Jordan's play is literally coming out because the Packers traded for Parsons. And now it's like... It's the Dallas people saying like, oh, Parsons wasn't that important.
00:55:25
Speaker
And all the other media are like, oh, well, Jordan loves still your quarterback and he's not that good. So it's like, you know, And hey, from a Green Bay point of view, no one's handing you the Lombardi yet.
00:55:37
Speaker
Like, they they don't do that. You know, we tease the Bears every time for winning the offseason. It really fucking does feel good to win the offseason. You know, you you you draft a receiver for the first time in Matthew Golden's lifetime, and you go out and acquire a defensive player of the year, maybe league MVP caliber player who has possibly hasn't hit his athletic prime yet.
00:55:59
Speaker
And... Yeah, like, of course, people, the haters are going to come out of the woodworks because they're like, well, something's got to be imperfect about that team because no one wants to admit that, you know, Green Bay shouldn't be in the upper echelon. But they were like, fuck it. We're doing whatever we have to to get in there.
00:56:17
Speaker
And people don't like it when a team that quote unquote doesn't deserve to be in an echelon gets to an echelon due to whatever talent acquisition. So it is what it is.
00:56:28
Speaker
And That's where it circles back to why this game is so important.
Setting the Season's Tone with a Win
00:56:32
Speaker
You go out, you kick Detroit in the teeth, you win this game, especially if you manage to win it by 10 or more points.
00:56:39
Speaker
That sends a message that like, hey, this team is different. Like, yeah, they made the playoffs the last two years, but they really backed in or like snuck in the back door kind of thing. beat Detroit, that just changes the tone around this team. You know, people go, oh shit, maybe they are for real.
00:56:57
Speaker
So... Hence, that's the importance of this game. Joe, you got any last thoughts before we put a bow on this one? All right. I just, that's it. I just had to bring that up because I just saw the clip today and I was like, this, no way.
00:57:11
Speaker
No. Yeah, they're putting out that kind of crap. They're putting commercials into red zone. You know, we'll talk about that more on Sunday. But, hey, for Iowa Joe, I might check us out. Check out ohanapackers.org.
00:57:23
Speaker
Carlos is putting out a lot more stories. I'm going to get back into writing because the season's back around. Check out the merch. Check out She's Talk Radio.
00:57:34
Speaker
Excuse me. Follow us on our social medias. Packers, let's get this thing rolling. know, Joe and I, Iowa Joe and I, you know, there's only so much we can say because the story is not written for the Packers. As much as Joe joked earlier that maybe the season is scripted just a little bit, it's time for the Packers to write their the conclusion to their own story.
00:57:56
Speaker
And it's all right in front of them. But until we record on Sunday after the game, for Iowa Joe, I'm Mike Kawano. Go Pack Go and Aloha.