Is it time?

[Curly Calhoun]

That's a good summary Curly, thanks. Yeah the talent is in place. That strength is just on paper until the players live up to expectations. I agree that Jacobs and Kraft played very well for the entire 2024-2025 season.

And Reed does need to get the ball more. If Golden can quickly adapt to the NFL, it's gonna be hard for opposing Ds to double up on any WR. And while I'm hoping for good things for the rookie WRs, I'm also looking for the "young" WRs from 2023-2024 to get back to the form they showed that season. Last year was a bit of a regression.

As a fan, there is a lot to look forward to. And the trial by fire starts in week 1 with the Lions coming to Lambeau. A victory for GB will go a long way to set the tone for the season. It won't be easy, but a real contender has to beat the other contenders. Fine with me if they start with the Lions.

That's about as close to a "must-win" as you can have in week one. A victory would send a message that the North is up for grabs and Green Bay is as good as anyone. A loss means playing catch-up right out of the gate.

 

[OldSchool101]

Yeah, this is a prove it year. He was impressive in year one once he got used to being out there (played well in the second half of the season, basically). Then last year he fell off some, although he had some injuries, so that probably played a part. This year he needs to make a big comeback. You'd think a solid running game would boost the pass game, but I wonder if MLF running so much worked against Love getting into a rhythm.

It might be. I looked and we started the first half of the season 18 Passes 11 Runs. We finished that Philly contest in San Paulo
35 Passes 21 Runs
We also led the Eagles at Halftime m, so that tells me we were playing “catch up” or “down multiple scores” etc. As in just throwing it out if desperation, then that game would be understandable at a 3:2 ratio Passing.
Then Jordan went down

Across the remainder of the season Love had 411 Passes. Yet we also had 415 Runs or near exactly 1 Pass to 1 Run ratio.

So I guess what I’m getting at is it’s possible MLF was trying to protect Love by the Mix of Pass to run? Idk

 

[OldSchool101]

It won't be easy, but a real contender has to beat the other contenders. Fine with me if they start with the Lions.

It’s a challenge but eventually we’ve got to come out on top of those closer 2-3 point contests.

As you’ve said we’ve got the talent. In Eagles review Week1 I had totally forgotten that Love nailed a TD to Reed. It was nullified by penalty. If you look at the very Top I think it was our TE standing half on the chalk and half on the grass. That erased 7 points. Mental mistakes are costly. Then Walker commits penalty and it backs us to the Eagles 43. We went from 7pts to 3pts to punting in our first drive.

Yet we led 19-17 at Half-time. Imo that game goes different if we’re 26-17 HT
Those are mistakes that have nothing to do with talent. We likely lost our seeding over an TE indecision getting off the field. Just one example of how a small mental error can cost us

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[Heyjoe4]

It’s a challenge but eventually we’ve got to come out on top of those closer 2-3 point contests.

As you’ve said we’ve got the talent. In Eagles review Week1 I had totally forgotten that Love nailed a TD to Reed. It was nullified by penalty. If you look at the very Top I think it was our TE standing half on the chalk and half on the grass. That erased 7 points. Mental mistakes are costly. Then Walker commits penalty and it backs us to the Eagles 43. We went from 7pts to 3pts to punting in our first drive.

Yet we led 19-17 at Half-time. Imo that game goes different if we’re 26-17 HT
Those are mistakes that have nothing to do with talent. We likely lost our seeding over an TE indecision getting off the field. Just one example of how a small mental error can cost us

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I really hope, and expect, that MLF will put a much greater focus on avoiding penalties this year. I don't like attributing a loss to the refs, and my intuition is that this rarely happens. The larger blame rests with the coaches and players. Even rookies need to understand how penalties are called to avoid the easy ones, like lining up off sides, or holding when the ball carrier is on the other side of the field.

I don't have stats comparing last season to prior seasons. It just seemed there were far too many penalties. Overall the refs do a good job. It's the players who need to get better.

 

[Heyjoe4]

That's about as close to a "must-win" as you can have in week one. A victory would send a message that the North is up for grabs and Green Bay is as good as anyone. A loss means playing catch-up right out of the gate.

Well, there's no time quite like now to make a statement. First games for both teams so they should be relatively healthy. And each team will have its share of first-game jitters and mistakes.

Even so, a home game against the Lions to start the season is a huge gift for the Packers from the schedulers. I expect the crowd will be a huge factor so it will be key for the Packers to start fast. (Well that's always true, but against the Lions it would be huge. I'm thinking of the road playoff game in Dallas two years ago when they put up 21 points before the Cowboys knew the game started. THAT kind of start.) There will be no better time to put last season's 1-5 conference record in the rearview mirror than beating the Lions in week 1. It would set the tone for the entire season.

It's a great opportunity. And the Lions' owner comment this offseason about the Packers finishing 2nd or 3rd in the conference should be on every locker.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Well, there's no time quite like now to make a statement. First games for both teams so they should be relatively healthy. And each team will have its share of first-game jitters and mistakes.

Even so, a home game against the Lions to start the season is a huge gift for the Packers from the schedulers. I expect the crowd will be a huge factor so it will be key for the Packers to start fast. (Well that's always true, but against the Lions it would be huge. I'm thinking of the road playoff game in Dallas two years ago when they put up 21 points before the Cowboys knew the game started. THAT kind of start.) There will be no better time to put last season's 1-5 conference record in the rearview mirror than beating the Lions in week 1. It would set the tone for the entire season.

It's a great opportunity. And the Lions' owner comment this offseason about the Packers finishing 2nd or 3rd in the conference should be on every locker.

It's kind of funny to me that a team that has been to exactly zero Super Bowls is suddenly smug.

I guess for Lion's fans, winning the North was the most they ever had to cheer about. I almost feel sorry for them.

Almost.

 

[Pkrjones]

It's kind of funny to me that a team that has been to exactly zero Super Bowls is suddenly smug.

I guess for Lion's fans, winning the North was the most they ever had to cheer about. I almost feel sorry for them.

Almost.

Expectations are VERY high by all 4 NFC North teams, with a lot of optimism and talent to back it up... but obviously all 4 won't make the playoffs. There will be many great games, and coaching, weather, & injuries will factor into outcomes. I'm optimistic & excited for the '25 Packers, but also wary of their youth & can gameplanning & in-game decisions help the team prevail?

 

[Heyjoe4]

It's kind of funny to me that a team that has been to exactly zero Super Bowls is suddenly smug.

I guess for Lion's fans, winning the North was the most they ever had to cheer about. I almost feel sorry for them.

Almost.

Yeah and after being dismantled by the Commanders at home in a one and done playoff, a little humility would have been wise.