Transcript
Speaker: and welcome back to the Ohana Packers edition podcast the podcast where Iowa Joe and Mike talk football and Mike is still trying to figure out his mic settings apologies for any rumblings in the background but we're still ironing things out three years later but that's how these things go Joe how are you doing today?
Speaker: I'm tired with the not sure what time we were going to record I popped a nap and I'm still kind of tired and that right there i don't say it enough but i appreciate joe for always being flexible around my life schedule so thank you so much but today we're gonna go into um yeah
Speaker: oh isn't that the truth but nope love them they're fun one day they'll be permanent guests on the show but for now we have just each other at this point But today we're going to go over the practice squad. The final 53 was already set. So we'll go over practice squad and um talk about the schedule. And dad after that, we're going to go in.
Speaker: We are going to rotate into our usual in-season programming. So um Wednesday night, we'll record the Thursday episode, which previews the upcoming opponent. um And then Sunday post-game, we'll do our...
Speaker: Post game thoughts should have used a different word so didn't repeat itself. That's but Joe. um Initial thoughts on how um yeah i believe I do not believe the team has made any 53 man adjustments since um last Sunday. But how how are you feeling about the roster, you know, given that we haven't seen any sort of movement in a week?
Speaker: I'm still surprised on some of it. I mean, we're a week later after everything was set in stone for the 53 and I still kind of iffy on some of the things, but you know, they seem to have an idea of what they're wanting to do and hopefully it doesn't kind of bite them in the ass for doing it, but practice squad wise,
Speaker: I think it's even more questioning than the 53 man roster. And that's kind of weird. And I mean, the 50, the practice squad doesn't exactly hurt or hinder anything the Packers are planning to do.
Speaker: It just was some of the decisions that they made on who they brought in for certain things. So overall, you know, obviously they get paid a lot more money than we do to figure out these things, but,
Speaker: ah Yeah, I mean, until we get into week the first game and we we figure out what, you know, if this this team will gel or if we get some of these ah injury situations figured out, you know, because like you're in my big question has always been, you know, is Zach Bakobowale going to play week one? Is, ah oh who's the other one that we were kind of questioning? um
Speaker: he's the main one, but then you had like, ah where does Anthony Belton line up? Where does, ah you know, is Jacob Monk starting? Is this one doing this?
Speaker: So there's a lot of questions. So until we actually get into week one and starting lineups are put into place, ah you know, it who knows what what's going to happen. But yeah, so I think that's where I'm sitting just now. So I guess until the first, ah I'll probably feel a little bit more different when we get to the game preview.
Speaker: Just as unpredictable as that is my internet capabilities right now, but we're going to forge ahead just like every NFL team is doing at this point. So right off the bat, um the Packers officially sit at 15 on the practice squad and then have the international... um The IPP. I totally blanked on what the acronym stands for, but as as things are right now, Packers have tackled Dalton Cooper, defensive tackle Jaden Crumity, tight end Drake Dabney, long snapper Scott Daly, guard Josh Geske, wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr., cornerback Domani Jackson, nigel edge Nigelique Kelly, safety Mervyn Kenyon,
Speaker: just dropped out again uh edge aaron mosby wide receiver isaiah nayer qb keaton slovis running back pierre strong guard dylan wade and linebacker christian welch no there we go yeah yeah i kind of finished out where you stopped so And then IPP is Krieg, the kicker.
Speaker: Yeah, they brought back Lenny Krieg for their IPP, the international player pathway person, whatever. it's so the guys who are gonna get call quote unquote call-ups first are gonna be um yeah some combination of aaron mosby christian welch and pierre strong purely because of their impact on special teams um maybe not welch early you know neiman is healthy and um I guess we'll find out how good they feel about the younger players playing special teams, whether Mosby gets a call-up early in the season, because you do only get three per season. And...
Speaker: It'll be really curious to see whether they bring Mo... Mosby probably is at the front of the line because there's the chance they elevate him because they're short bodied at edge on the the active roster.
Speaker: And so they don't want any of those four guys. you know They want to limit the the special team snaps. Those four guys are playing as much as possible. So Mosby gets an elevation. I think Welch will be, you know, he's kind of waiting in the wings to see if they need another guy in there. How does Neiman hold up? You know, he has had a problem staying healthy over his career. And then Strong, kind of, there's a chance he's activated this week because...
Speaker: While that break between final cut downs and the regular season is a week longer than it used to be, um and like a couple days longer because of um whatever international game that the NFL is playing this season to open the season,
Speaker: the yeah that's still not a lot of time for caleb johnson to pick up the whole playbook and this isn't the team you want to face with a guy who may not be super up to snuff on pass protection calls and all that kind of stuff so i it'll be really interesting to see how they do it but that's my feel is like mosby is Let's say I got 70% to be called up.
Speaker: Pierre, somewhere between 50% to 60%. And Christianette, like 25% likely to be called up this week. Yeah, i i don't i haven't even thought about anybody possibly being called up this week just because we don't know the situations on a lot of things. you know Again, because isn't it something like if you use a call up on one of the practice squad guys, that means one of the already on roster has to be deactivated for that game?
Speaker: Yep. So, you know, and who are they going to deactivate for that game to replace? You know, is that going to be one of those where Sturdivant doesn't dress, so they bring up Pierre Strong or Mosby or, you know, that's the hard part about some of these decisions. And again, some of the decisions that they made on the practice squad are just kind of like, okay,
Speaker: i'm not sure why i'm just gonna go ahead and jump into the yeah i was gonna say who's the top of you who's who's scratching that scott daly i mean it i i know that they're saying that orsik is healthy and they they've activated him and but if there's even a friggin question that he's not going to be healthy why didn't they just keep adamidas He was already in house. He was already going through the steps with your rookie kicker and and your, your all pro holder slash punter.
Speaker: So you're going to throw all that out the window, bring in some random guy on your practice squad and, you know, hope Orsic is going to be all right.
Speaker: So that's the biggest head scratcher I have right now. I have no other words for that. yeah it it
Speaker: yeah like i said i'm speechless because neither of us have been orzik fans the whole way um you know adam might just might not be perfect but other than the like his first snap not being great in training camp you didn't see any of those kind of issues during the pre-season games we joke all the time but also grit our teeth that dan whelan earned his um his extension ah Because he uses all of his 6'5 height and frame to snag Orzic's off-target snaps, whether it's as a punter or as the holder on um field goal or point afters.
Speaker: And... Yeah.
Speaker: the The operation was good in the preseason games. You weren't under any sort of pressure to activate Orzic right off the bat going into the regular season.
Speaker: And now... you just kinda... It's sort of like the Baku Boele situation where it's kind of like... where With the Baku Boele one, it's one that you and I have been kind of waving our hands about for a while where where you know a lot of people are penciling Zack in as a sure thing and we're like, we want him to be, but we don't know he's going to be one. And then Orzic, it's not apples to apples, but you create a similar situation where you're like...
Speaker: trying to virtue wave to everyone that, oh yeah, he's gonna be ready and he's you know he's gonna be fine and this is the ideal, yeah this is the setup we want going forward. But it's like, you sure?
Speaker: like And his job is different than Bakubo Ale's because yes, Bakubo Ale, his patellar tendon is very imperative for how he moves around as a tackle.
Speaker: But Orzek has to run 40, 50 yards downfield after he snaps a football and cover punts and... I don't know. Like, yeah, I don't want to get stuck on this one for too long, but yeah it is one where, like you said, it's sort of like, okay, you got rid of what seemed like a good situation, now you're raising flags about it because why'd we bring this new guy in?
Speaker: And the thing that adds to the head scratch Adamitis was, what, 27, 28? This guy that they just brought in this daily is 32. So you just aged your long snapping group.
Speaker: If Orbit can't go. So, yeah, I don't know. I know it's nothing it's not a it's not a huge deal in a way, but it it is one of those minor situations that can screw up a rookie kicker.
Speaker: Because we've said it for the longest time, the operation helps a rookie kicker a lot more and you keep the same thing throughout and and you're going to have better luck with a rookie kicker than, you know, if, if, if Trey smack was already like a four year vet and was doing just fine, I would be more apt to say, okay, you know, we can settle this. We can go with that.
Speaker: But we've seen he's not a practice guy obviously because he's missed a shit ton of kicks during practice but he's done very well during the pre-season live action snaps but that was all with adamidas now you're going to throw orzik in there and then if orzik can't go you're going to throw him in there with this guy that he's never played with period so how is that going to hurt or hinder the operation there so i think that's why we're more head scratcher with it because it is at the end of the it is just a long snapper you know yes they have to be good at what they do to be in the nfl uh you don't tend to really hear anything about long snappers unless there's a lot of misses i mean outside of
Speaker: You know, maybe a handful of Packer fans. Who's going to remember the name Rob Davis, you know, another 10 years from now? Well, we do because we know he was a long-time long snapper for the Packers.
Speaker: Or J.J. Jansen. You know, who's going to remember that name? Well, we do because the Packers traded him to Carolina and he's had a long career after being traded to Carolina.
Speaker: So it's one of those things that it doesn't hurt or hinder overall, but it's those minute little things that that can that can hinder though the production of a young a young player.
Speaker: Couldn't have said it any better myself. And, you know, another reason that we kind of focus on this is And it's great that Acord has gotten in front of the mic and explained exactly what they're working on after you know spending a decade where it's kind of like, just trust us, it's all vibes and feels and it's going great when it's not going great. um But all Acord talked about was the operation side of things and what you know they expect to see come from point of snap to point of hold to point of kick and...
Speaker: Like you said, you potentially just made a big change at one of those you know one of those key junctures for the kicking game. But, you know, we'll see. It is, i think, good that the first week it's indoors. You're not dealing with weather or anything like that. So yeah I do wonder how much that factored into their decision. But, yeah, it does just...
Speaker: like Like you said, Joe, there's a bunch of minute details on this side of things with the kicking situation that make you raise your eyebrow, but...
Speaker: Like I said, we we're going to move on. don't want to get stuck on that. Positives for me are they were able to get Nigel lee Kelly back on the practice squad. He's a year away from being a year away kind of guy. You saw the the flashes in the preseason. You see the bend that he has. You see the power that he has, even though he's like 250 at 6'6". But according to the roster.
Speaker: Oh, there you go. but um he you know I know some people were thinking you know when Oliver got put on IRDR to close out the ah roster cutdowns, oh, you didn't want to keep Kelly, but he he probably would have spent a bunch of the season inactive anyway, and they were able to get him back on the practice squad, but...
Speaker: yeah He's the highest... I believe they said he's the highest undrafted free agent bonus they ever paid out. um So it's really good to be able to retain him. and then Jackson, you know, I think Goot is like...
Speaker: 10 of 12 or something like that retaining sixth round picks and or higher and or six round picks just in general and so domani was one of the rare cuts and um it's i think you know he lost all of ah the otas and training camp to the core muscle surgery he had He always had some you know short area quickness, explosiveness questions, but that's never something that's going to come back after you have core muscle surgery or never come back right away, I should say. So glad they were able to retain his services and you know keep him around. you know They need as many bodies at cornerback as possible.
Speaker: But that also leads into my next head scratch where he is the only cornerback on the practice squad and one of only two DBs because it's just him and then Mervyn Kenyon as a safety. So it's kind of like, okay, like, I know that Cissé looks great right now, but he's still a rookie.
Speaker: And... We know what the other warts on the rest of the cornerback room are, so what else are we doing? kind of hey yeah I'm not saying that we expect like yeah Sam Shields made the opening roster and we're not expecting the next like Sam Shields or Tremont Williams to just pop up and be great kind of thing, but it does feel sort of a waste to not have signed like three corners on cut down day kind of thing. It's still a problem. ah Even if Cisse is great, you he can only play one cornerback spot at a time.
Speaker: Right. And, you know, I, that's why I was a little surprised that they went ahead and cut Domani just because of those reasonings. But I mean, I get it. They were able to retain him. i could see him being brought up mid, mid season or whatever, and just replacing the, or he could be the next one up if there's a major injury or something that causes whatever.
Speaker: But I've also been questioning this I, I don't know if it's because they gave him a weird number or what, is they retained Chris Hilton Jr. Now, this isn't anything against Chris Hilton chris hilton Jr. i know that he's got some ability as a wide receiver. He was a late addition to the the training camp roster.
Speaker: He didn't get a ton of playing time in the preseason games he was around for. But I'm still stuck on they gave him number 37.
Speaker: And with his size, which according to the roster is 6'188", is it possible that he could be going the Sam Shields route?
Speaker: They just haven't fully announced it yet? because they don't normally do that with practice squad and usually it'll be a beat writer sees him randomly practicing on that side of the ball and say oh well he must be making the switch to a different position yeah I wish I had a better answer for that I'm trying to just look at like where the receiver numbers are at and you know there are some scant but available options you know in the the oddball 80s numbers um especially like because Shepherd wasn't retained excuse me you know um so Shepherd's 82 is out there um
Speaker: 89 is technically available. um Yeah, but you even got some of the oddball ones like 13. yeah Yeah.
Speaker: And maybe it is just a matter of they haven't updated the site yet, but it feels, you know, they've had ah at least one practice at this point, so you'd think they would have. So I really wish I had a better answer than that. It is odd, but yeah, the only reason I'm thinking not yet at least is he did take his snaps at receiver in the preseason. You know, he was, yeah I think he had like a handful of receptions and all that kind of stuff. And I don't know when, you know, the time would be to make that, you know, I figured that would be a...
Speaker: get a whole offseason but also they signed him with like two weeks to go in the preseason so yeah it really is one of those like oh we we kind of said it when they signed him where it was like That's a very... And especially, like you said, it is the number that Sam Shields wore and stuff.
Speaker: So, yeah, it it is one of those where it kind of makes your eye eyebrows rise a little bit. But also, he's so far down the like um the order of operations that it's kind of just like, all right, like that's something we'll earmark and keep an eye on like at a distance. But...
Speaker: Who knows at this point? it From a numbers perspective, it would be great, but I just have no idea what Hilton looks like playing in reverse because we we haven't seen it so far. And we haven't really seen him play his listed position. Period.
Speaker: So, you know, and that's why it was really weird that they brought him back because a lot of times when they bring in these guys in late in training camp, there you don't see them ever again in the Packers organization just because they were brought in because somebody got injured and they just needed a camp body. They were brought in because of whatever.
Speaker: and And I'm not saying that's what they're doing. I just, you know, obviously they didn't keep certain other players oh and they chose him over them. Now, the rumors was Will Shepard wanted to go to a spot where he was going to have a realistic chance of playing, which Miami is a good shot for him.
Speaker: But, you know, there were other guys like Keyshawn Johnson and, and oh oh, I'm brain farting on on one of the other guys, but there were just other guys that the probably were ahead of chris hilton in the pecking quarter so i'm not saying and this isn't an anti chris hilton thing it's just it's a makes you scratch your head like okay are they keeping him because he is going to be that wide receiver or do they you know if you start deducing you know throw this into like a csi blender type deal and say okay well they only brought back one cornerback they brought back this dude that you know only played for a couple weeks during training camp you know is he going to be that transitional guy that makes the switch to corner you know what's the situation there so
Speaker: You know, who knows? He could be nothing. He could be the next oh insert undrafted free agent wide receiver that turned into star here's name.
Speaker: But yeah, and and the one thing that we still didn't mention yet is, I mean, you you didn't mention the numbers, but they still have room to add one more without making any changes.
Speaker: So maybe this, kind you know, we're recording this on Sunday night. Come Monday morning, they've already brought in three or four guys to work out.
Speaker: Could be. Absolutely could be. it Yeah. i We could sit sit here all night guessing, but Joe is tired. I've got two kids to run back to upstairs. So let's get into the schedule.
Speaker: and There's one more. There's one more. I do want to talk about this. Go for it. Go for it. Keaton Slovis. This one was kind of shocking because a lot of people... Right there. A lot of people were down on this.
Speaker: But I kind of said it during the Cardinals game. He had a pretty pat. Now... i I don't know about arm strength. I don't anything else, but he had a tight spiral.
Speaker: He was placing the ball well. I'm not saying that this is going to be a guy that they can ah do with like they did with McCord or Malik Willis, but it just, it's kind of weird that they brought him, you know, he was released from the Cardinals.
Speaker: They brought him on. There must be something there that they liked, but you know, I thought he had pretty decent arm. I mean, he didn't really throw any kind of deep passes during the game, but I thought he had good placement and all that stuff. So, you know, and it's kind of funny. I was thinking about this the whole time through. I go, is there anybody else it's out there that you guys want me to mention? Because it seemed like every time I mentioned somebody, he ended up on the Packers somehow.
Speaker: Yeah, um I make that gesture and joke, but like if we get to the point where Keaton Slovis has to come into a game, the season is totally lost, and I hope we're playing for the number for a top five pick, you know just to like kind of kids kind of um induce more talent onto the roster you know organically and stuff. but I get that, but right now, we're and I know I've...
Speaker: pounded the table on this all offseason, but there's got to be somebody better than Terod Taylor. And i just, and that's the situation. But I just, like I said, it was kind of funny that I mentioned him by name during the game and the next thing I know he's on the Packers practice squad.
Speaker: Joe Stradamus strikes again. I'm telling you if there's somebody out there that you guys really, really want, just let me watch them and talk about them and maybe it'll happen. One more practice squad spot. but And this isn't a Josh Sweat thing because I didn't watch Josh Sweat.
Speaker: okay And on that note, as we go from what would be the 17th man on the practice squad, we look at the 17 Packers regular season games on the docket for Green Bay this season.
Speaker: You got document up to keep track of this stuff? I don't.
Speaker: japan Hold on. Hold one. i know I don't. I lost my tabs.
Speaker: riveting here riveting worse this is what this is what happens when you go with live podcasting you get raw unadulterated uncut gems just like this
Speaker: hurry up Google all right so as we get to excuse so as we get into this Joe look I mean we can just start off the bat here
Speaker: Um, what are you feeling for week one?
Speaker: I have no faith in a Kyler Murray or JJ McCarthy led Minnesota team. Um, that being said, we are still like a month and a half away from the new call of duty coming out. So Kyler is kind of focused in at the moment.
Speaker: Uh, I don't know what they really did during the preseason, so I don't know how a lot of their starters looked or if they even played. I got to go Packers just because I'm a little bit more comfortable with what the Packers can do than what... ah If... And I hate saying this because I ragged on Sam Darnold for the longest time too, but if this was like a Sam Darnold-led Vikings team, I would be a little bit more iffy on it.
Speaker: But I don't trust Kyler murley Murray, I don't trust JJ McCarthy, and i just, yeah, I don't and don't see them very well over there.
Speaker: And I don't trust KOC to coach them.
Speaker: Yeah, I think, like, and I agree with you, you know, I was in the same boat with Darnold, with regards to Darnold two seasons ago, but... Darnold in theory at least you could squint your eyes and say okay He does things that would work well in this offense The only thing Kyler does that works well in this offense is the fact that he throws well on the move That said he he doesn't do the over the middle of because he's too short and he he just doesn't operate with it this this offense this shanahan tree offense there's a key timing element to it where it's a lot of back foot hits the ground at the top of your drop and the ball has to come out kind of stuff and that's not kyler's game and
Speaker: Minnesota has the receivers to make any style of game plan work. But we saw how... When forced to play a little bit outside of structure last season, it didn't go so well. You know, Jefferson still produced because he is one of the elite, elite production players in the league right now.
Speaker: But... I'm... Also kind of wondering, like... Kyler didn't play in the preseason. None of the top guys really played in the preseason. And...
Speaker: As much as they say we worked on secondary reaction drills in practice and all that stuff, you just can't, you don't just practice them. You can practice the rules and you can practice the like concepts, but until you're in the heat of the moment and live rounds are coming at both the quarterback and the receiver, you can't just mock this stuff up because no two teams are gonna react to it the same way.
Speaker: And it's gonna be on the Packers to play discipline on their pass rush lanes. Coverage is going to have to stay in phase. Staring you straight in the fucking face, Keyshawn Nixon. Like, this was your thing all of last season.
Speaker: but At the end of the day, like you said, the debate comes down to, it's not even if the Packers are going to score 30 or 20 even. It's just, are you going to take care of the ball well enough against this Flores defense so that you don't give Murray a short field, ah two short fields because you turn it over a couple times?
Speaker: That's going to be the key. I'm going stick with it. I agree with you. I think the Packers are going to win. It's going to be fugly. It might be 13-10 or 7-3 or something stupid like that because these teams might just be throwing rocks at each other the whole game.
Speaker: And at the same time, yes, like I said, you know this is one of the... yeah A lot on paper... the packers have a much better receiving group than a lot of you know league people are giving them credit for know it's like the whole oh you guys used to talk about how you have five wide receivers they paid the three or they paid two of the four they needed to pay because they were the the best top end ceiling guys and then the the other guy that's still here is the one that they invested a first round pick in and was very much worthy of it so
Speaker: You know, all that to say, i bring that up because on paper, it's a really good top three. The Vikings are one of the few teams that can say they have a better top three. And at the same time, the Packers have the much better quarterback.
Speaker: And for all the grief and gruff the Packers O-line is getting, the Vikings O-line has a lot of things to to answer for as well. You know, Derrissaw, we haven't seen him be Christian Derrissaw in two years since he blew his knee out.
Speaker: Their interior O-line was a mess for parts of last season. And there were times when Brian O'Neal looked old last season, their right tackle, who's been a very good player. And...
Speaker: It's one of those where I get it. It's really easy to rag on the Packers because they've been like the trendsetting pick for a lot of like you know the the ah the stat nerds in the bigger NFL communities for the last few years.
Speaker: um you If you listen to... like um robert may's show and stuff they go into how like hey they were riding high off of that 2023 playoff run and you're thinking maybe they're a team that's a year early and stuff and now the luster has kind of come off and that's very true like the last two playoff runs have just been torpedoed before they began kind of thing but i this will be a common theme with the rest of the division but you know we play a division opponent in week one and i just find it funny how we're the only ones with roster problems
Speaker: You know, and it's just us with roster problems everywhere and even Minnesota. It's like, oh, it's just they don't know who's gonna play quarterback and that's not true at all. Like they have other problems everywhere else too. So Like I said, I'm not expecting... If anything, if it's a blowout one day, it's probably us getting blown out. It just feels like one um it's week one. It's on the road. It's a division opponent. That's kind of how these things go.
Speaker: So I don't expect the Packers to win by more than one possession. you know they might It might be a game where they're up 10 late kind of thing, and they win by either 3 or 7, depending on what Minnesota does. But i I feel like it's that kind of game where it's going to just be...
Speaker: just survive in advance kind of game. So... I mean, I can't add much more to that. Like I said, I just, I don't know. It's going to be a slop fest. going to be annoying because that damn frigging horn.
Speaker: um I did see that the Minnesota, University of Minnesota fans did steal another Nordic tradition for their celebration or whatever. So I imagine Vikings fans are going to take that one over to...
Speaker: um least with the Vikings, it kind of fits because they actually would ride wood ride boats. Gophers don't ride boats the last time I checked, but that's neither here nor there. Let's move on so we're not here until Labor Day.
Speaker: I guess it is technically Labor Day for you. Well, almost in 20 minutes. but um Week 2 at the Jets.
Speaker: MetLife Stadium. The worst friggin' place to go. Get out healthy, please, dear love of God. that's about the only thing I can say is get out healthy.
Speaker: I've gotta pick the Packers, because the Jets, even of ah you know friend of the show, Steve, will tell you that he's probably not sold on the Jets. He's already looking ahead to the next draft. So...
Speaker: oh I don't know. I've never been sold on Geno Smith. I just think he when he was with Seattle, he was put in a good situation that helped him better than others, but I've never been completely sold on him.
Speaker: ah i don't know. The Jets have some talent there, obviously, but I just don't know if it's enough to do anything for him this year. So, yeah, I'd have to go Packers.
Speaker: Yeah, that's where I'm at, too. For all the hand-wring that's been done about the Packers O-line, we're going to learn a lot the first two weeks because the Jets still have a pretty, easy I don't want to say lethal, but pretty um pretty lively front seven. And you know Glenn is going to throw the kitchen sink at that off the Packers offensive line. So... Again, they're going to be happy to be on their P's and Q's in week two, but it is one of those you just can't lose this game kind of games. Like, no matter what happens week one, unless Jordan is down for the season, you just cannot lose this game in New York. And yeah, like you said, it's a... um
Speaker: i Honestly, I'm glad Micah can't come back for that game because it's just like, oh, dear God, that turf. Kind of like side-eyeing it for Tucker and Christian's sake because it's like, ugh, that turf has... Oh, yeah. It's just claimed so many innocent lives over the years. But, yeah, that is a get-the-win-get-out-healthy kind of game. If you wanted play soccer on field, they bring in better turf
Speaker: Yep, I have no comments. Just stupid, just stupid, stupid, stupid. But that's the NFL. but Week three, falcons home the home opener for the Packers, Falcons come to Lambeau.
Speaker: This one's hard. And I know that's weird because the Falcons don't have any better quarterback situation than Minnesota does. But they've got a defense.
Speaker: And they do have some guys on that offense that can wreck some games. Now, I have it on good authority that Tua's probably not long for the Atlanta Falcons. So it's to be down to Michael Pinnock being the starter. And then I can't remember the name of the kid that came out and had a tremendous preseason as the backup.
Speaker: ah So... I guess, again, I'm not really sold on Penix as being a star-type quarterback, but their defense could be troublesome.
Speaker: And hopefully they came out a week too healthy. um The Packers come out a week too healthy, and their offensive line is a little bit more set in stone.
Speaker: i
Speaker: I don't know. I'm going to lean the Packers just because it is the home opener, but if if it wasn't at home, this would totally be, I would be going the Falcons way.
Speaker: But because it is at home, I'm going to lean a little bit more towards that. And it's not a gold package game, so we don't have to worry about that part of it either.
Speaker: Yeah, I'm going with the Packers on this one too. I just think that this is the other you-must-win-this-game game to open the season. Especially given, you know, we were talking about Packers' O-line situation going into the season. And the Falcons' defensive front situation going into this game. Yes, we're going to have to see old friend or nemesis as a Darius Smith that week.
Speaker: But otherwise... the falcons are you know the the one angle you look at is you hope they don't find things in weeks one and two you hope they're still searching you know the first month of the season and you kind of catch them at the right time yeah i'm i'm not a tool believer but this is like the vikings where they have enough weapons to make the game annoying for You know, it's kind of like um it's kind of like that 2023 Week 2 game where like Ritter, you know, Ritter's basically not in the NFL at this point.
Speaker: But between Barry being the coordinator and, um you know, having Pitts, Drake London at your disposal, that's enough. And B'Jawn Robinson being a world beater at running back.
Speaker: That's enough to make your day a long day for the Packers. So, yeah. Just a, you know, feel the home crowd, get juiced by the home crowd kind of situation. use Leverage that to your advantage and just get a win. Get a win. You just need to get a win out of that one.
Speaker: um Week four at Tampa. I got a loss. um For some reason, the Packers cannot handle going to Florida, especially early on in the season.
Speaker: um And I don't know why, but They just can't handle it. They have issues all the time doing it.
Speaker: Tampa, while may not be the Tampa of old, still has some of their guys down there that can cause trouble. And, you know, and unless for some reason this is like Miami under Brian Flores and they're just tanking the season to get whatever,
Speaker: ah Yeah, I think the Packers going to have a rough one with this one. So I think this would be my first loss of the season.
Speaker: Yeah, i'm got a get I got a loss too. i just think um that Tampa front seven is still pretty – pretty strong um you know like we said they'll don't want to say they've run a gauntlet the first three weeks but this is where you start to see like um no Micah petering out a little bit on defense you know the Tampa will have been able to fully scout for what Green Bay is trying to do on defense um If the O-line isn't clicking by this point, you're going to have problems down in Tampa. That's kind of been the thing. There's a part of me that wants to say it was a Rogers thing that was the problem with Tampa. But it was also a Favre thing where they struggled against Tampa in Tampa as well. it
Speaker: The whole um Northern teams going to Florida and all that kind of stuff. you know All of that is going against the Packers in this situation. um It's a noon game, so yeah, you know the sun's going to be at its highest point, all that kind of stuff. um Tampa's probably going to make the Packers wear their dark jerseys, you know ah yada, yada, yada, go on and on and on. Mind games galore, so yeah, i' got it as a loss as well.
Speaker: Week 5, home for the Bears. I will be honest with you, you might as well mark both my Bears ones as wins. I'm not going to even...
Speaker: ah ah put that juju out there that the bears could possibly beat the packers i will not ever ever ever ever say that um so yeah although it is a gold package so those sons of bitches better not screw things up for the home crowd yep them beat the bears yeah
Speaker: Week six, Calvin. Okay, special special one in here. Is Micah coming back for this game? We're going to start playing this one. Did you see the friggin' fuck-ass conspiracy theory that Micah is to coming back week five? He did this on purpose so he could be back by week five.
Speaker: I just love all the Packers fans are like, yeah, we told we totally told him to fuck up his ACL and potentially ruin his career just to just to freaking, just to play a gotcha on the Bears in 2026.
Speaker: oh and so i i do think week week five is a possibility that he does get activated but it's going to be on a limited basis uh i know a lot of people are still saying that the week six is probably the more apt but i'm a little bit confused by things and i understand they play a couple of different positions and there's different methods but if Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL after Micah Parsons, but he's slotted to play week one, and Micah's not slotted to play until, you know, like, at least week five.
Speaker: i' I know that they said Micah had a little bit more with the meniscus too, but I just, I don't know. Something is feeling off with how people are judging the injury. And I know you don't want to rush him back for anything, but i do week I do think week five is a possibility that he gets active, but it could be one of those things that he's active and only plays like 10, 15 snaps and then, you know, goes a little bit more on during week six.
Speaker: Yeah, so I'm curious too, like, it'll depend on the overall health of the 53, but there is the chance that they do some, like, mind fuckery with the Bears where they... you I think technically they won't have to activate him until week six, you know, that's what because of the new rule where after week two you can open his 21-day practice window, yada, yada, yada, and then, you know, so...
Speaker: the deadline would be he would have to be on the roster for week six but I wonder if if the rest of the team is healthy to that point do you put him on the 53 man and like oh we're gonna leave it to a game time decision kind of thing Obviously, i'm not saying to like, we're not, neither of us is saying that Micah needs to like put himself at risk because the whole point is that you have defensive player of the year, Hall of Famer Micah Parsons for the next five, six, seven years, you know, setting records and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker: That said, This year does matter. and there is the element of like, okay, we do need him back sooner than later because there's a house of cards elements for the defense without him. You know, like that's that's just how it works when you're in the salary cap era of the NFL. So there's no two shakes about it. You need him back at some point.
Speaker: um And I would like him to play two games on grass as opposed to a game on grass and a game in on turf in the... in um what's it called? what is The Metro Dome or Ford Field. yeah, yeah. So...
Speaker: um we'll see like you said i'm like 50 50 as well um it's one of those where i i do like that micah has kept it you know kind of close to the vest in terms of like hey i'm gonna come when you know it's time for me to come back blah bla blah blah all that kind of stuff um i appreciate that he hasn't come out and made like any sort of sweeping um declarations like oh yeah i'll definitely be out there week one you know you know count on it kind of thing and then like oh just kidding you know i was trying to fire the team up but you know things aren't quite right i'm glad that he's kind of doing on the like taking it step by step and you know taking the measured approach um
Speaker: and at the same time all parties are saying what they're supposed to i know people are like oh but good said all good said is that they expect him to be himself once he's back they're very pleased with how his recovery is going and the thing that good said that like the reason that micah isn't a like there's no like micah's pissed off at the packers is all good said is once he passes the the the pre-laid out check marks in his recovery, i.e. he's medically cleared, he will be back on the field for the Green Bay Packers. the The part that Goot has been more upbeat about is like, we expect him that once he is back, he is going to be Micah Parsons again. Like that's that's all that Goot has really been like jumping up and down about. So it's a lot of... The big question is going to be is if he's going have to come back with like a big honking knee brace.
Speaker: And if he's to handle the knee brace. And I think that's part of his thing is I think he doesn't want to. So, and, you know, and I think that's part of the where his like, okay, like, where's my comfortability with return at versus where, you know, where the team the is at and all that kind stuff. This is why, like, we said, you know,
Speaker: those it's important i don't want to it's imperative but to go four and one three and two in those first five games you have to because if you go two and three or worse or depending on who the three and two the two losses in the three and two is against then especially if one of them is to the damn bears then it's the whole okay like michael you gotta come back the team needs you like you know you get you get into that crappy space and Packers fans, be better. like Just be better about this kind of stuff. like
Speaker: Don't want to hear any of the... It's going to happen the first game he's out, even though he can't come back until week five anyway. But you're just going to see it. like yeah the so The stupid buzzards with the Clay Matthews stole money from the team. you know all Those people are all going to come out of the woodworks and it's just going to be insert Micah's name into those stupid comments and stuff. Or it's We've got Chiari all over again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So, Micah, take your time. Come back when you're ready to come back.
Speaker: And, yeah, this is why 53, you know, at this point, 53 other guys are getting paid contracts. It's because you've got to go win games whether he's out there or not. So, um all suffice to say, fuck the Bears. Week 6, Cowboys at home.
Speaker: This one I definitely expect Micah to be packed for. So I'm going to say it's a win for the Packers. I hate being so optimistic with a lot of the games so far because what, I've only got the one loss.
Speaker: Me too. but but But yeah, I think it is going to be, I think the Packers pick because Dallas is still Dallas. I mean, they did get some these guys during the draft.
Speaker: of
Speaker: But I just... yeah, I'm not completely sold on it. And did the danger zone for Dallas, and my mom's a Cowboys fan, and she's hating it, is like, she's hating that they're getting preseason buzz. Because she's like, every time we get preseason buzz, the season gets effed up somewhere kind of thing and stuff. So she's hating it right now. She's hating that, like, they're a media darling. You know, they're getting put into that, like, top 10, top 5 team in the league kind of talk and stuff. So, and yeah, like...
Speaker: I know Dak has a win at Lambeau and yada yada yada, but the Cowboys just don't play good at Lambeau and you know, a little bit of wish casting that that kind of holds too, but um...
Speaker: Yeah, I think that you combine it with Micah definitely being back, the juice you're going to get from that. um you know Especially if this team is riding high off a Bears win or pissed off after a Bears loss. that This is just going to be like a must win game and also to like shed the stupidity of the tie from last season.
Speaker: Week 7 at the Lions.
Speaker: Oh, why don't you go ahead and just write it down as a loss? I think it's going to be one of them toss up type games that depending, you know, it could be one of those things that they they played their asses off in week six that by the time it comes to week seven, that they just they don't have it at the moment. And, you know, it is Detroit and there is some always something screwy with Packers going to Detroit, just like it is going to Tampa.
Speaker: I have to be a little less optimistic in some of this stuff. And I just something's going to happen. and And I think the Packers do take the loss on that one.
Speaker: So my only thing with it is.
Speaker: i agree if Detroit has most of its players backed by this game. We have no idea when Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph are coming back for the Lions and How long it's gonna take them to be themselves week seven is like a far ways away so like they have that going for them and at the same time and Herman's mentioned this on his show, but the Lions are the team that I look at like Why do they get such a benefit of the doubt?
Speaker: in terms of what their roster is When all they've done is lose players, lose coaches, like important coaches, i.e. the dickhead in Chicago now. But, um, and like, because to me, this season is in an inflection point for Dan Campbell where it's like, if they don't make a deep playoff run, this whole, like,
Speaker: feel good stuff around like oh yeah dan campbell you know he's the rah-rah guy all that the tough the bite kneecaps all that kind of stuff that all goes away if they you know for they've got to win the division and like win a playoff game kind of thing because if they don't do that this season then it's oh it was the assistant coaches it it what you know he was just the the head of the board kind of thing it wasn't all him and you know like all of that that pressure is you know they're not gonna say it's there but that pressure is on that team and detroit is a weird one because it's like you look on both sides of the ball
Speaker: and Like offense it's easier to do because those guys are healthy, but like you go like Sewell I'm in Ross St. Brown like Jameer Gibbs and then like you can round it out with golf and Jameson Williams to you know your your own mileage and stuff but After that, you're kind of like, what's the rest of that offense built out of?
Speaker: They never could figure out their interior offensive line. Oh, yeah, Sewell is moving. Yes, I always thought he should have been the left tackle, but he's moving houses this season. You're breaking in a new tackle. You still don't know what their interior own line is. Oh, yeah, the guy that they signed to be the answer at center, he broke his hand. um He's not going to be back by the time they play in Detroit.
Speaker: And then on defense, like I said, it's Aiden Hutchinson. Your guy, Jack Campbell, which the league is pretty split on who he is, you know, like, is he really as elite as he as the advanced stats play him out to be? Or is he qua Walker with a better coat of paint on him kind of thing?
Speaker: And then it's like... Who is left on this defense? Because, like, okay, by week seven, you should have Branch and Kirby Joseph back, but Kirby Joseph is in the twilight zone with his injury where it's like, they don't know what the hell is wrong with him at this point or if he's going to be able to play again.
Speaker: Branch yeah like he should be back but it's still an Achilles injury for a you know guy who made it off of more his instincts and plate you know like his ability to diagnose and replays then like true athleticism or anything so if he's a step slower what does that you leave what does that leave you with at that position and then I just, you know, I guess, like, DJ Reed is your third b butt best player on defense right now out the gate.
Speaker: And where does that leave Detroit come week seven? Like I said, it's very easy to see where it all comes back together for them. And they're the team from two years ago that went 15-2 and just steamrolled through the regular season and was, like, just...
Speaker: out and ah out of it because of a cavalcade of traumatic injuries that just sapped their defense of all talent in 2024 but there's also an outcome that a lot of people are overlooking where like this thing falls apart for Detroit and in a bad way by about October and This game is like one of those, oh, the rest of the division did lap them and leave them in the dust kind of thing. Like, it it's I don't know how to put, like I said, I'm not super plugged into Detroit, but like I said, it's just one of those where maybe I'm just being a whiny Homer Packer fan, but...
Speaker: Like I said, I don't mind that people look at the Packers and are like, you know, let's go set it. They don't like our roster and blah, blah, blah and all that kind of stuff. That's fair and all. But I'm like, I look at your guys' rosters and I don't like your guys' rosters either. And not in a like, I'm afraid of your roster. More of like a, what's so different between you and I kind of thing. Like, it's it's it's that way of framing it.
Speaker: Well, like I said, the only thing that I got for it is there's always some kind of fuckery when it comes to the Packers playing in Detroit. And Detroit always plays at a different level when it comes to the Packers. You're either going to get a really, really bad Lions team or you're going to get a really, really one-off good team out of Detroit. And I don't know. I just...
Speaker: I struggle with it because I get everything that you're saying, but again, for some reason, there's always some kind of fuckery when it comes to being in Detroit, playing against Detroit.
Speaker: I just pounded my chest for five minutes, and yeah, I have also got it down as a loss because not only are the Packers coming off the back-to-back of you know um Bears, Cowboys at home, and then going on the road to Detroit. Detroit goes in the two weeks prior to the three weeks prior to this game Fuck it, let's go four weeks prior. They go, in week three, Jets at home, Panthers on the road in week four, Cardinals on the road. Oh, they have to travel. Then they have their bye week, and then they face the Packers. So it's like, this is one of those, like, you know, like you said...
Speaker: it's and It's that whole, like I know it's usually about the week after you play a Dan Campbell team, but you know the the whole there the Packers might be a little bit worn out by this part of the season. um You're kind of hoping that Micah being back for a week or two at this point like really gets the wins back in the sails of the team overall, and maybe things are clicking on offense.
Speaker: But there's still a bunch of maybes in there for the Packers. So yeah, and it's a tough it is still a tough environment. It's loud. Fans can be nasty. All that kind of stuff. out Especially if Detroit is going into that game at like 4-2, 5-1. So yeah, like there it is a lot of swimming uphill. And like I said, I got on my soapbox about how like how come the Packers are the only team in the NFC North with a flawed roster.
Speaker: But yeah, i do have this one as a loss for the Packers too. um Week 8, Panthers at home.
Speaker: i'll I'm going to take it as a win. um Again, I'm not sold on Bryce Young as ah as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Speaker: I know he was doing good things towards the end of the season last year, but I just... I don't know. I'm not sold on Alabama quarterbacks in the NFL, modern Alabama quarterbacks in the NFL.
Speaker: And I don't know. I think there's going to be some regression there because people are going to look at last year's tape and kind of figure something out with him they do have a lot of ah guys on the roster that can be dangerous and that their corners are pretty set i don't think there's been any major changes in their corner room um so it's gonna be a good one but i don't know i i think they'll come out on top same you just gotta to this is another you gotta win this game um
Speaker: This is sort of around when you played them last season and your season started to go off the rails because it was like, just come off the big game, you beat Rodgers, you beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the first time in like two generations of lifetimes kind of thing. And then you just lay an absolute, this is where the big anus talk really picked up at this point last season. um Tucker's season ended and yeah, like this is just the, you gotta come out and win this game.
Speaker: Week 9 at New England. I'm going to say a loss. Not because I think...
Speaker: I think it's going be close, but I do think it is going to be lost. New England does have, seems like new life under Vrabel. ah This is another year for Drake May, so you know if he continues putting things on, i you know this is a team that lost the Super Bowl, but at least they were in the Super Bowl, they can say.
Speaker: and Yeah. So I'm going to lean it's going to be a Patriot win. Okay, forgot to make the note of, so the Panthers game, one more thing that I think is working in the Packers, well, it's tough. So you're coming home from the Lions game, mentioned that thing about like, oh, teams who play a Campbell team, they tend to lose their game the next weekend, blah, blah, blah. The Panthers game is a Thursday night game, but...
Speaker: The Packers are the home team for that game. And it's like the home team is like 75% win in the Thursday night games or whatever. Some stupid stat like that or whatever. I'm like Han Solo, never tell me the odds. Right.
Speaker: And I only bring that up for this Patriots game because it's like you've got the mini buy you've got a little more downtime, all that kind of stuff. So I've got it as a win. Like you said, it's probably going to be an ugly game. But um I just think that they're going to have... and They're gonna have to figure out what to do with AJ Brown and all that kind of stuff, but I don't know like I feel like That Patriots team I'm not sure how much they fixed their offensive line this offseason.
Speaker: And, you know, if Will Campbell can't get it together, like he like what how he was exposed in the playoffs, it might be a long day for him against Micah and stuff. So that's where, like you said, we're talking margin. Like, you know, you like you said, it's a close game. Like, maybe you're plus three your way. I'm like minus three my way kind of thing and stuff. So it's like a field goal either way kind of game.
Speaker: Week 10 Vikings at home. Don't forget friend Romeo Dobbs is over there too.
Speaker: Week 10 Vikings at home. I'm going to say it's a Packers win. Again, I'm not, this would probably be about the time of the year that, well, it's November, so Codd will be out.
Speaker: So Kyler's shot. um It'll probably be J.J. McCarthy led, and, you know, I've not seen great out of him. Or Carson Wentz at that point. Yeah, could be that too, or ah some other random quarterback it that they picked up along the way.
Speaker: So, yeah, I'm going Packer went on on it.
Speaker: Same, I said the same thing on Let's Goal. By the time we play each other again, I don't think Kyler's the starting quarterback because he gets hurt a lot. And that's, you know, that's the cut. You know, you're halfway over halfway through the season. And I just don't think he's going to be playing. And if any of those other guys are playing Call of Duty.
Speaker: yeah It's Jover. Week 11 is the bye. Win the bye, Packers. think the Packers win that one. Please win the bye. week 12 at the rams note about this one this is that weird weird weird netflix wednesday night game the game is on november 25th so mark that one down packers fans it's the wednesday after thanksgiving whatever that stupid shtick is so ah i'm just gonna say i have this one as an l even though you're coming off the bye weird schedule all that kind of stuff
Speaker: um The only thing that I'll say is, again, the Rams deserve their flowers for going out, making the Garrett deal, wooing Aaron Donald to come back and stuff, and it looks great on paper.
Speaker: And I brought this up in another group chat that Carlos actually brought me into, and you know some people were like, oh, the Rams. they about I'm like, okay, Stafford started to slow down a lot at the end of last season.
Speaker: and the cliff for quarterbacks old quarterbacks comes out of nowhere and the cliff is already in sight with Stafford with the whole going into last season of what's wrong with his back and he's living in a hyperbaric chamber and all that kind of stuff and like I know we're not hearing about any of that right now but like like I said the cliff just appears and and it's just a matter of are you falling off of it are you flying into it like it like which which one is it and that's the one thing that i bring up for the rams is like it looks so great on paper but if this doesn't work i don't know what they're gonna do because yeah their quarterback options are not great behind stafford it's ty simpson time um
Speaker: I have it as a loss because it is out of at, uh, Los Angeles. Um, I, I will go by the paper that that defense is going to look scary. Uh, especially with our unanswered old line question.
Speaker: Right. And you know, it's not just Garrett. It's not just Donald. It's, you know, you've got Isaiah McDuffie in the back. You've got even on the D-line you have um Brandon Fisk and um Kobe Turner and stuff like that so yeah yeah so I just and the other thing is is how's the Packer running the running game holding up at this point um You know, we did get the bit of news that Josh Jacobs, trial ah not trial, but his arraignment has been brought closer. i think it'll be three days from the day that we're recording this or the three days from the day that this comes out.
Speaker: And... We could know a little bit more about him. Is he on the roster? Is he off the roster? You know, but week 12, we should know. Is Caleb Johnson playing lights out? Is Marshawn Lloyd still healthy?
Speaker: Is, you know, you know the the questions that should be answered by this time of the year... So, yeah, I just, I don't know. I can't, and in good conscience, as ah to be unbiased, I can't say that this is a ah win for the Packers.
Speaker: Now, eat with all the other things, you know, Packers have had McVay's number quite a few times over the years. It's possible, but it's not likely.
Speaker: Also, I'd argue the Packers have always had the better team when they've played. Like, you go to every one of those situations, they have been the better team when they've played each other. So, it's great, but I do think it's a little bit more of a hokey thing than um than it really is to be spoken about. so um yeah.
Speaker: Also, it's I don't want it to be here, but it's one of those where like if you go like um if you're like the guy directing the season-end DVD, if the Packers were to win the Super Bowl, it's the like, okay, you go into the the Packers went into the game with...
Speaker: LaFleur never having lost to McVay, they lose the regular season game, and then they win the NFC Championship game in l la or You know, like, that kind of thing. you You want it to be that outcome and whatever. But obviously, if LaFleur keeps that Hokie stat up, great. Like, great. But just with the O-line questions, the run game questions, the the flashy if-the-game-were-played-on-paper statements by the Rams, um...
Speaker: And like I said, and then just the scheduling weirdness. I know we're coming off the bye, but you're flying, you know, you're playing a game. The guys always say when you play a game out of your normal routine, even if you're coming off of a bye, it just is weird for you. Like you you just have to like be able to gear up and stuff. And I know they're getting paid to play and all, but professional athletes are creatures of habit. And when you break the habits, weird things happen and stuff. So I do expect that game to be kind of even though it's, you know, it's weak.
Speaker: I expect it to be a sloppy game for that point of the season just because it's like it's it's a Wednesday night after Thanksgiving kind of thing and stuff so yeah to each their own. Week 13 at the Saints.
Speaker: I can think this is another one in good conscience. I can't say the Saints would win it. um I know they have some flashy toys down there but I'm just not sold on the Saints as a as a viable option at this point.
Speaker: um So Packer win. Same. um For all the hand-wringing over Marshawn Lloyd's hamstring, Jordan Tyson must not have any hamstrings at this point of his life. um Chris Olave got his extension, but he is another big hit from another massive concussion.
Speaker: and Tyler Shook, is he anything or is he just all vibes and like he's just better than um Spencer Rattler? You know, like he's just not Spencer Rattler. You know, where does that luster end up at week 13 of the season? Is he more a legit head coach or is he just another long line of good coordinators, bad head coach?
Speaker: Yep. Yep. Week 14, home for the Bills. So I've been tossing this one back and forth. I know that how the bills are. I know all this stuff. If this was in Buffalo, it would be a little bit harder for me, but I am going to call it a win.
Speaker: um I think this is one of those games that the Packers are on something. It is at home. it is Sunday night. I do think that they'll come out and and put it on the bills.
Speaker: Same for me. um you know it This is a this is one of those this is one of those measuring stick games for the Packers. and you knowre This is at the point of the season where you're you're ratcheting up for the playoffs. um you're you know You're jockeying for playoff position. Yes, it's an AFC game, but this is against another quote-unquote preseason top-tier, top Super Bowl caliber playoff team and all that kind of stuff. um And as friend of the show Jacob Westendorf said,
Speaker: Josh Allen... None of the problems the Bills have had in the playoffs are his fault somehow. Whereas Jordan Love is the guy on the other end of the spectrum where it's like, oh yeah, his defense got dog walked down the field to lose the San Fran game, but because he threw the, you know he forced the ball to end that game, it's all his fault kind of thing. um Whereas like Josh Allen throws like four interceptions and none of them are his fault. You know, like I know that that's like really oversimplifying it, but it really does feel that way at times.
Speaker: And any time there's a moment for the Packers to get inside baseball scoops, Bobby Babich was the secondary coach or whatever position he was for the Bills.
Speaker: Maybe for some of the guys on that defensive, you know, the defensive personnel, maybe for some ticks on like how to get at Josh Allen, and whatever, and all that kind of stuff. I got this as a win too. I don't think it'll be pretty, but I just think that you're down this stretch of the season. You need to, this is where the Packers season fell apart last year.
Speaker: And I think that they're going to have that earmarked and like on every whiteboard in like the, you know, in the in the um the ready rooms and all that kind of stuff. And this is going to be like a big, big point of emphasis where you have to reverse fortune from last season. So, yeah, I got it as a win.
Speaker: Week 15, Dolphins win. Just, you cannot lose to Halfley. Like, and I don't mean that in a bad way to Halfley. LaFleur has to break the fucking friends and family outlosses thing.
Speaker: You mean Packers South? ah yeah i mean right now they have a lot of question marks all over the place on that team and it's not because they're bad players it's just because they're unknown players you know like that whole wide receiver room is nothing but like rookies and and you know malik i love malik for what he's done what he did for the packers but now this is his first time really being the the head of a
Speaker: of his, you know, the lead the lead player, the the star of the figurehead of the team. You know, is he this is about the time that we're going to find out, is he legit, is he not? Because, you know, the how late of in the season it is.
Speaker: You know, I am going to say a Packers win, but this one, I know it's weird to say, this one is going to be another one that's hard to tell because we don't know what Miami's going to be doing.
Speaker: There's so many, like I said, it's not because they have a ton of bad players. It's because they got a bunch of unknown players. Exactly. Like they, they could be that like meteor strike kind of team where like everything just happens to work out and they're like vying for the NF, the AFC East or.
Speaker: o Hang on you want me I'm hoping that so like I said, they're the meteor strike team They're either gonna be awesome because the stars align Chris Bell's a wide receiver one their old line situation figures itself out and half these defense looks great and Malik is like in the running for MVP because like he's gonna have to be for them to be an effective team basically or it's all gonna fall apart and they're you know, it's um but it March for Arch or whatever the fuck the people are like joking about.
Speaker: I hope not. you know I don't want Malik to crash and burn. I hope that if the team sucks, it's like everything around him and not him kind of thing. you and that kind of One of those kind of situations.
Speaker: But yeah, i this is one of those... like Whereas the Bills game is like it's a measuring stick game. and all that kinds of Like I said, this is a game you cannot lose. You just have to win this game. Week 16 at the Bears win Yeah, I've already said it.
Speaker: Yep. Fuck them. Week 17, Texans at home.
Speaker: I'm going to say Packer win. um
Speaker: I don't know. Houston is another one of those teams that you can't put your finger on on what they're doing. And, you know, is CJ, again... what i said about alabama quarterbacks you can kind of say the same thing about ohio state quarterbacks you know they haven't had a ton of success in the nfl once they make it to the nfl cj strout is kind of showing that he had a good rookie season and then he's kind of went off after that you know fell off after that um i
Speaker: I'm going to put it up as a win, but who knows? It's week 17. We don't know how all the rest of the the ah division is looking. Yeah.
Speaker: yeah I've got this one as a loss just because this is the one game on the on the um on the docket where the Packers O-line questions, unless they are just the next best thing, I'm going to have so many concerns about this game because I'm just going to be so... just worried about how they're going to be able to protect love in this game and whether they can create any sort of room on the ground.
Speaker: On the opposite side of things, CJ Stroud, like... This is gonna be a Michigan Homer thing, but 2021, What did Ohio State say was the problem when they lost that at the big house? It was too cold. We had the flu. didp And what did cj what has CJ Stroud done in his NFL career? He's kind of been shit in the cold.
Speaker: That playoff game in New England, and it wasn't a bet it wasn't like the snow globe game or anything like that. It was just a winter day in New England kind of thing.
Speaker: And he was terrible. Like... To the point where people were on message boards and on Twitter like, I think you have to pull him for Davis Mills, which is like, oh my God.
Speaker: And of course, I say this and it's going to be like an abnormally warm day in Green Bay. But it is just one of those where you have to you have to shine a light on it because if we're going to be super critical about what the Packers are and blah, blah, blah, that kind of stuff,
Speaker: The Texans are going to learn a lot about their playoff chances because Stroud's going to have to walk out in the cold and play well. But I do have it as a loss because that Texans defense has not just to be the best defense in the NFL, but they're so talented. If they're healthy...
Speaker: they have the talent and the scheme to muscle up to be one of the best just units in the and you know like to like if you were to lay out like all the offensive all the defenses they can get into the top five and vie for like we are the top 11 guys side of the field in the nfl like they're that good and stuff week 18 closing out the seasons beat the fucking lions yeah this one is I want to say win, but what do you have me down for as ah as a win-loss record? say win here, if you say wed here we're both 13 and four.
Speaker: Okay, so I'm 12 and four right now. Yep. So you would have to think that would be pretty good. They would probably be looking at the two or three seed, right? At least, yeah.
Speaker: So what happens when the Packers normally do that kind of shit? Where they do they're already comfortable into, oh, we've got our playoff spot, we've got this, there's no real need to play anything, we're going throw our backups out there.
Speaker: And it all depends on what's at play, yeah, exactly. Right. Hopefully by that time, it is not Terod Taylor being the backup quarterback of this Packers team.
Speaker: With that being said, I will say I want it to be a win, but I just have a feeling that if everything goes works the way it does and there's no it's not going to hurt their seating, it's not going to hurt their placement, that they're just going to throw out the the white flag and say, okay, we're going to play our backups and call it good.
Speaker: I can totally see that being the thing. Yeah. So I'm going to put it down as a loss just because of that reasoning right there. and like like we said you know we're not gonna stay on too much longer after this this is us being really optimistic about a lot of things but also like yes it's a hard schedule but like i pointed out here and there in this episode as tough as this schedule looks why is Why are we the only team... Not now, habilitat.
Speaker: Why are we the only team getting a light shined on our roster flaws for? Like like i said, and I'm not here to play victim for the Packers or anything like that. You gotta go out and win the damn games and stuff.
Speaker: But... The Packers were a flawed team going into 2025. Yes, they traded for Micah, but they were still like, okay, like, how does this work? The cornerback room was still a question, yada, yada, all that stuff.
Speaker: You are in the third quarter of that Denver game trying to snuff out the number one seed in the AFC and really put your foot down and say, like, we are the best team in football right now. You know, to get in that argument, really threaten Seattle for the number one seed going into the playoffs.
Speaker: And then it all falls apart. Within the next five to fifteen minute, you know five minutes of game time fifteen minutes of you know real time and the air just goes out of the balloon for the rest of the season and I bring that up to say like Yes, the Packers have a lot of questions. They've got to figure out the offensive line.
Speaker: Who knows what their running game is going to be? you know Are they 20-10 bad on the ground? um Or is like, like you said, by mid-season, does Lloyd have 600 all-purpose yards and is Caleb like already turning the corner at 750 rushing yards kind of thing? like i know that's so I know that's really optimistic, but it's one of those where...
Speaker: If, if, and maybe yes, but, whatever, there's a path to the working out really well for the Packers. Love's going to have to be in the MVP conversation.
Speaker: We both think he's that good, and it just depends on what are you going to get from the rest of the team. And suffice it to say, that's how you can, that's how Joe and I can justify having the team at 13 and four. And yes, it's a wishy-washy 13 and four. You know, if you really gun to our head, us, we're probably in the 10 to 11 win range kind of thing. But we're looking super optimistically and like projection wise. ah And how are we supposed to project games in, forget November, ah even October when it's like, is Micah actually back?
Speaker: What does the run game look like? Is the offensive line getting Jordan dead every other play kind of thing? You know, like... yeah We even have a big question mark on the defense because we don't know how Gannon's defense is going to play.
Speaker: We don't know what the secondary is going to look like. We don't know... You know, there's a lot of questions all over them. There's a couple kiss of death statements I could make about the defense that I'm not going to because I'd rather, like, seal clap in in happiness later down the season. But, um...
Speaker: Like, yeah, we just don't know, but I don't want to keep us here too long, Joe. You got any other thoughts on the um the season, the the schedule, or you want to just put a bow on this episode and we'll get into the week and get to our regular scheduled programming.
Speaker: I think we can move on. I really don't know what else there is to really say things other than, again, you know, just to reiterate, we have no idea. With as many question marks as we had about other teams, we have the same amount of question marks about our own team.
Speaker: So this is just all guesstimation. This is all in fun. So, you know, do put your, you know, your predictions below or what you agree with and what you don't agree with and all that good stuff.
Speaker: And we will be doing the drawing at some point. I will talk to Mike here in a minute once we've done recording. go from So suffice it to say, you know, the we everyone says it all the time. The season is not played on paper because if not, they would just hand the they would hand the Rams Super Bowl rings right now. So...
Speaker: for you know For that, enjoy the 2026 season. We hope that next a week from now we'll be talking about a Packers win. But strap in, buckle up, join us as we ride through this 2026 season. Follow us on social medias. Please follow us on social medias. At Ohana underscore Packer on Twitter. At Ohana Packers Edition on Instagram.
Speaker: Please keep following us on Facebook. Please don't unfollow us. We want to still be able to live stream there. We will do the drawing as soon as we can. um Please follow the podcast on your favorite podcasting apps. Please give us a like and a subscribe.
Speaker: um Send us in your questions, like Joe said, to the comments on any of the episodes. You can directly message or send replies to either of us on Twitter. However you want to reach out to us, will come find us. We'll bring those questions onto the show and answer them.
Speaker: um We're all undefeated right now. Every team has Super Bowl aspirations of some sorts. The Packers should be in the top third of the league. And if they get a lot of questions answered positively, they vault into the top tier. I know that sounds hyperbolic and super optimistic, but if they get even two of three positive returns on their O-line, the defense, and just the run game...
Speaker: That puts them on so much, that raises their floor immensely as a team. And their ceiling is high because they have so much talent at the necessary positions other than cornerback, really, that they can be really, really, really good if things bounce their way. So, like I said, join us for this journey of the 2026 season. That's Iowa what Joe. I'm Mike. Go Pack Go. And aloha.
