PackersNow: Recent Episodes
Ben Kurkowski
Training camp is officially underway, and Ben breaks down everything we've learned through the first three practices, including Luke Musgrave's injury, surprise performers in the secondary, concerns along the offensive line, and why Tucker Kraft's return could completely change Green Bay's offense.
Then Ben dives into one of his biggest theories yet: the Packers aren't just trying to build an efficient offense, they're intentionally trying to reduce injuries.
From fewer drives and more rushing attempts to managing player workload throughout the season, the data suggests Green Bay may be sacrificing a little offensive efficiency in exchange for a better chance of reaching January healthy.
Finally, Ben explains why fans often judge coaching decisions the wrong way, using a poker analogy to show why good decisions can still produce bad outcomes, and why Matt LaFleur deserves far more credit than he receives.
Topics include:
- Training camp injury updates
- Luke Musgrave and the tight end situation
- Offensive line concerns
- Surprise standouts through camp
- Why Green Bay intentionally plays slower
- The injury data behind running the football
- Matt LaFleur's underrated coaching philosophy
- Why process matters more than results
The Packers made another important move for their future by signing Devonte Wyatt to a new contract extension, and with that deal, Green Bay has essentially locked in its core roster through the 2027 season.
I break down why I think Wyatt's contract is one of Brian Gutekunst's best moves, what it means for the Packers' two-year Super Bowl window, and how the roster is now positioned going forward.
Then I do something I've never really done before...
I look back at my biggest hits and misses over the last three Packers offseasons.
Topics include:
• Why Devonte Wyatt's extension is tremendous value
• What the Packers' roster looks like through 2027
• Players I completely missed on (including Josh Jacobs)
• The draft prospects I was pounding the table for that turned into stars
• What I've learned about evaluating NFL Draft prospects and free agency
• Why consensus boards, versatility, and trading back continue to shape my philosophy
If we're going to evaluate the Packers, we should be willing to evaluate ourselves too. That's exactly what this episode is about.
The Green Bay Packers are getting closer to the start of the season...
But there are still some major questions that haven't been answered.
In this episode of PackersNow, I break down three areas that could define Green Bay's season.
We discuss:
- Why special teams could once again cost the Packers games
- The concerns surrounding Trey Smack and the kicking competition
- Why Joey Bosa is the free agent I would be pushing hardest to sign
- How the Packers survive until Micah Parsons returns
- The growing concerns about offensive line depth
- Why the Jager Burton hype may actually be highlighting a bigger roster problem
If the Packers want to make a Super Bowl run, these are the issues that still need to be addressed.
The Packers made one huge move, got concerning news on another star player, and watched an NFC contender push all their chips to the middle of the table.
In this episode of PackersNow, I break down Christian Watson's new contract extension and why I think Green Bay got an incredible deal on one of the most important players in Matt LaFleur's offense.
Then we shift to the Josh Jacobs situation, what we know, what we don't know, and how it exposed a bigger concern I've had about this roster for months: the Packers' lack of depth at several key positions.
Finally, we discuss the Rams' blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett and why Los Angeles may now have the most complete roster in the NFC.
Topics include:
• Why Watson's contract is a win for Green Bay
• The Packers' long-term plan for Watson, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft
• Josh Jacobs and the importance of due process
• Why injuries often determine who wins championships
• The growing depth gap between the Packers and Rams
• Whether Green Bay is truly built for a Super Bowl run
The Packers have their stars. The question is whether they have enough behind them.
The Green Bay Packers schedule is officially out… and honestly?
This might be the PERFECT setup for Green Bay.
In this episode of PackersNow, I break down:
- Why the first month of the season sets up perfectly without Micah Parsons
- The huge rest advantages the Packers received
- Why the lack of travel could become a massive advantage late in the year
- And how the final 6 weeks may decide the NFC North
📅 We also dive into:
- Strength of schedule rankings across the division
- Why Detroit still scares me the most
- Why Minnesota may be much better than people expect
- And the specific games I’m circling as wins and losses right now
💥 Plus:
- Mini-byes
- Home-heavy finish
- No international games
- Potential division-deciding Week 18 showdown vs Detroit
This schedule really may have fallen about as well as Packers fans could’ve hoped.
🎧 Full game-by-game breakdown inside.
The Green Bay Packers offseason can be viewed two completely different ways.
In this episode of PackersNow, I do something I almost never do first… I put on the optimism hat.
We break down:
- Why the Packers may have executed their long-term plan perfectly
- The compensatory pick strategy setting up a loaded 2027 draft
- Why moves like Jayden Reed’s extension, Benjamin St-Juste, Javon Hargrave, and Dani Dennis-Sutton could pay off BIG
- And why Green Bay believes this roster is still built to compete for a Super Bowl
But then…
We flip the script.
Because there’s another side to this offseason:
- Did the Packers fail to maximize key opportunities?
- Did they do enough to improve the offensive line and depth?
- Was there a better path available at NT and linebacker?
- And are the Vikings now the scariest team in the NFC North?
💥 This episode is a full honest breakdown of BOTH sides:
The optimism… and the reality.
🎧 If you want the full picture of where the Packers stand heading into 2026, this is the episode.
The Green Bay Packers made a big move before the draft… and then followed it up with a strategy I don’t fully understand.
In this episode of PackersNow, I break down:
- The Jayden Reed extension (and why it’s actually a really solid deal)
- How the contract gives the Packers flexibility moving forward
- Why the draft approach felt like a major missed opportunity
- And how trading up cost them serious value
📊 I also walk through my full alternative draft:
- Turning 6 picks into 13+ players
- Targeting elite value based on the consensus board
- Building depth across multiple key positions
- Why more picks = better odds (and it’s not even close)
💥 This isn’t about thinking I’m better than Brian Gutekunst…
It’s about process, value, and giving yourself the best chance to win.
The NFL Draft is finally here — and this is the final blueprint.
In this episode of PackersNow, Ben Kurkowski breaks down his ideal mock draft for the Green Bay Packers, built around one of the most important draft principles you can follow:
👉 Don’t beat the board — let value come to you.
Using the Consensus Big Board (75+ analysts combined), Ben explains:
- Why steals outperform reaches (by a massive margin)
- How smart teams consistently win the draft
- And how the Packers can future-proof their roster heading into 2027
Plus, a full breakdown of:
- The ideal scenario at Pick 52
- Trade-back strategy and why it matters
- High-upside targets like Dani Dennis-Sutton, Bryce Lance, Trey Zuhn, and more
- Late-round athletic steals that could turn into starters
- Undrafted free agents to watch
If you want to understand how to actually win the NFL Draft, this is the episode you can’t miss before Thursday night.
Should the Green Bay Packers stop playing it safe… and go ALL IN?
With reports that Dexter Lawrence could be available for a 2nd + mid-round pick, this episode breaks down whether Green Bay should make the move—and what it would actually look like.
We dive into:
- The REAL hit rate of Day 2 draft picks (and why it matters)
- Why relying on draft success is riskier than fans think
- How the Packers could structure a deal financially
- The Devonte Wyatt trade piece that makes this possible
- Why elite defensive linemen change EVERYTHING
💥 Plus:
- Full contract breakdown (year by year)
- Cap flexibility and exit strategy explained simply
- How this move impacts 2027 and beyond
This isn’t just a trade idea…
It’s a decision between building patiently—or going all in to win now.
🎧 If the Packers want a Super Bowl in the next 2 years… this is the conversation.
The Green Bay Packers just made a move… and it changes EVERYTHING.
In this episode of PackersNow, I break down:
- The shocking Dontayvion Wicks trade and what it REALLY means
- Why Green Bay may be setting up for a massive trade-back strategy
- How the Packers could turn 8 picks into 13+ draft selections
- My full ideal mock draft built on maximizing value
This isn’t about one perfect pick…
It’s about more swings, more chances, and more long-term wins.
We attack:
- Edge rusher value in the middle rounds
- Reloading the defensive line with 3+ players
- Taking multiple shots at cornerback to find a future starter
- Finding high-upside traits late (including a wild QB pick)
If you’ve ever wondered how teams quietly build elite rosters…this is the blueprint.
Full mock draft + strategy breakdown inside.
The Green Bay Packers aren’t just drafting for 2026… they’re building for 2027.
In this episode of PackersNow, I break down exactly how Brian Gutekunst’s long-term strategy is shaping this year’s draft—and why understanding expiring contracts is the key to predicting what Green Bay will do next.
We dive into:
- Why the Packers consistently draft a year (or two) ahead
- The massive wave of 2027 free agents at WR, DT, and CB
- How compensatory picks quietly drive roster decisions
- My favorite VALUE prospects who fit exactly what Green Bay needs
Including:
- Underrated WRs with true WR1 upside
- Cheap, high-impact defensive tackles
- Corners who could be starting by 2027
If you want to understand what the Packers are REALLY doing in this draft… this is the episode you need.
Plus, a personal note on why this episode means a little more to me.
In this episode of PackersNow, Ben Kurkowski takes a hard look at the Packers offseason and asks the big question: did Brian Gutekunst get free agency wrong?
Now that the dust has settled, Ben breaks down the moves that could come back to haunt Green Bay—and what should have been done differently.
The episode starts with the Rashan Gary trade, and why the Packers may have missed a massive opportunity to land T’Vondre Sweat, a perfect fit for their new defensive scheme. Instead of adding a top-tier interior defensive lineman, Green Bay settled for a future draft pick—was that a mistake?
Then we dive into the decision to trade for Zaire Franklin, and why it may have been the wrong approach at linebacker. Ben makes the case for why the Packers should have been more aggressive in targeting a high-impact player like Devin Lloyd, even if it meant sacrificing a compensatory pick.
On the offensive line, the Packers made major financial and roster decisions, including:
- Releasing Elgton Jenkins instead of trading him for value
- Committing long term to Aaron Banks despite concerns
- Passing on low-cost, high-upside depth options that could have strengthened the unit
Ben also breaks down what the Packers did get right, including the value of Sean Rhyan’s extension, smart low-cost signings, and maintaining strong positioning for future compensatory picks.
This episode is a full rebuild of Packers free agency—highlighting the missed opportunities, questionable decisions, and the moves that could define the 2026 season.
In this episode of PackersNow, Ben Kurkowski breaks down a wild start to Packers free agency and reacts to all the biggest moves shaping Green Bay’s roster.
The episode starts with the Rashan Gary saga, from the confusing social media drama to the Packers ultimately trading him to the Cowboys for a 2027 4th round pick. Ben explains why getting something back matters, but also why the Packers may still regret missing a much bigger opportunity to land T’Vondre Sweat.
From there, Ben dives into the Packers’ defensive overhaul, including the addition of Javon Hargrave, the signing of Jonathan Ford, and the trade that sent Colby Wooden out while bringing in linebacker Zaire Franklin. Was Franklin the right move, or did the Packers overpay for a player they could have waited out?
On offense, the Packers made major changes up front by re-signing Sean Rhyan and cutting Elgton Jenkins, signaling a clear long term plan for the offensive line. Ben breaks down the upside of Rhyan at center, the concerns with the Aaron Banks commitment, and why Green Bay may have missed a chance to get value back for Jenkins.
The episode also covers several under-the-radar moves Ben really likes, including:
- Benjamin St. Juste signing at corner
- Skyy Moore as a low risk return and slot option
- The return of key depth and special teams pieces like Darian Kinnard, Chris Brooks, Kristian Welch, Nick Niemann, and Brenton Cox
Finally, Ben explains how all of these moves impact the Packers’ compensatory pick formula, and why Green Bay may still be in position to load up for the 2027 NFL Draft.
A crazy few days, a ton of roster movement, and a full breakdown of what it all means for the Packers moving forward.
In this episode of PackersNow, Ben Kurkowski breaks down several key developments in the Green Bay Packers offseason.
First, the Packers were late to hire a new special teams coordinator after Rich Bisaccia stepped down, forcing Green Bay to choose from the final remaining candidate pool. What does the hiring of Cameron Achord mean for the future of Packers special teams?
Next, we examine what may have been the biggest missed opportunity of the offseason. The Jets and Titans completed a trade that sent dominant interior defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat to the Jets. With the Packers potentially shifting toward a 3-4 defensive front, Sweat would have been a perfect run-stopping presence next to Devonte Wyatt. So why wasn’t Brian Gutekunst involved?
Ben explains why elite defensive linemen are one of the most predictable and impactful positions in the NFL, and why missing out on a player like Sweat could have long-term consequences for the Packers defense.
Finally, we dive into how the Packers can fill several major roster holes without sacrificing valuable compensatory draft picks in 2027. Green Bay is positioned to potentially gain multiple draft selections if they manage free agency strategically.
Potential solutions discussed include:
• Center Tyler Biadasz as a stabilizing option on the offensive line
• Offensive line depth with Mekhi Becton
• Linebacker options like Bobby Okereke, Leo Chenal, or Devin Bush
• Adding another reliable tight end such as Charlie Kolar
Can the Packers improve the roster while still maximizing their compensatory picks next year?
All that and more in this episode of PackersNow.
If you study Super Bowl winners and losers, one pattern shows up every single year:
Bad offensive lines do not win championships.
In this episode, we break down why the Packers should go all in on one major free agent move — and why that move isn’t at corner or defensive tackle.
We dive into:
- The offensive line pattern that keeps deciding Super Bowls
- Why average starters aren’t good enough when it matters most
- The difference between Gutekunst’s 2024 and 2025 free agency strategy
- Why paying for elite talent beats paying for “solid” veterans
- The long-term cap math that makes this move smarter than it looks
- Why protecting Jordan Love must be the priority
The player?
Tyler Linderbaum.
Young. Elite. Durable. Scheme-changing.
If the Packers want to return to dominant, sustainable offense — this is the move.
The Packers keep reshaping their coaching staff — and it matters more than people realize.
Green Bay adds Bobby Babich to the defensive staff alongside Jonathan Gannon, and this hire might be one of the most important moves of the offseason. Babich just led the NFL’s best pass defense in 2025 with limited talent, and now his voice joins Gannon’s as the Packers try to maximize their personnel.
From there, we zoom out.
This episode breaks down why the idea that “rebuilds take years” is mostly false — and how teams like the Seahawks and Patriots proved you can transform a roster in one offseason if you get the details right.
We cover:
- Why the Babich hire is a massive win for Green Bay
- What recent Super Bowl teams got right in free agency
- How value signings quietly flipped entire position groups
- Why creating a floor matters more than chasing stars
- How offensive and defensive lines can be fixed fast
- Which teams are positioned to make a massive leap next season
- Early value free-agent targets at every position
The lesson is simple:
Smart coaching + predictable free-agent value can change everything — fast.
The Packers have their new defensive coordinator.
Green Bay officially hires former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon to replace Jeff Hafley, and while the move wasn’t obvious at first glance, the logic behind it is sound.
In this episode, we break down:
- Why Gannon wasn’t initially on the short list
- How the coaching market and interview timing shaped the decision
- Why top DC candidates were never truly available
- What made Gannon stand out in interviews
- How his adaptability and coverage disguise fit Matt LaFleur’s vision
- Separating Gannon’s Arizona results from roster and injury reality
- Why stability at DC mattered more than upside alone
- The risk of hiring a fast-rising coordinator who leaves after one year
- Why Gannon’s head coaching experience is actually a strength
This wasn’t a panic hire.
It was a calculated one.
Now the focus shifts from who was hired to whether Green Bay can finally get defensive consistency over multiple seasons.
The Packers made the right move.
Green Bay officially extends Matt LaFleur, and despite how the season ended, this was the best possible outcome for the franchise. In today’s NFL, elite offensive head coaches are the most valuable asset in the league — and letting one walk would have guaranteed a downgrade.
In this episode, we break down:
- Why firing LaFleur would have been a massive mistake
- How his win rate, offensive consistency, and QB adaptability separate him from the field
- Why CEO or defensive-minded head coaches create instability long-term
- How expectations vs. results matter more than playoff emotion
- What LaFleur still must fix moving forward
- Why roster construction, not coaching alone, held this team back
Then we turn to the real looming change: the defensive coordinator position.
With Jeff Hafley likely headed to a head coaching job, we evaluate seven realistic DC candidates, including:
- Brian Flores
- Jim Schwartz
- Sean McDermott
- Jim Leonhard
- Aden Durde
- And more
This hire will define the Packers’ Super Bowl window. Getting it wrong again isn’t an option.
Stability is secured at the top.
Now the margin for error disappears.
This one hurts.
After blowing a 21–3 halftime lead and losing 31–27 to the Bears, we break down how a game that was fully under control slipped away, and why it never should have happened.
The passing offense was excellent. Jordan Love played like one of the best quarterbacks in football. We intercepted Caleb Williams twice, shut down one of the league’s best rushing attacks, and dominated the first half in every measurable way.
And then the second half happened.
In this episode, we walk through:
Why abandoning the passing game directly led to four straight punts
How early-down play calling flipped against all available data
Why asking a broken offensive line to “run out the clock” was never realistic
The difference between trusting your quarterback and coaching scared
How personnel failures on the offensive line made success nearly impossible
Why both Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst deserve real scrutiny
How missed kicks and special teams execution finished the collapse
And why injuries, bad luck, and roster construction all intersected at the worst possible moment
This isn’t a reactionary episode calling for firings. It’s a hard evaluation of decision-making, roster philosophy, and why this team, despite being good enough, wasn’t built to withstand mistakes in the biggest moments.
The season ends here. The questions don’t.
It’s official — we’re heading back to Chicago for the Wild Card Round, and this matchup is far more layered than it looks on the surface.
Before diving into the Bears, we address the one mistake from Week 18: playing Javon Bullard in a game that didn’t matter. Health was the priority, and we mostly executed that plan — except when it mattered most. Now we wait to see if that decision costs us on Saturday.
From there, we break down why we’re actually in a strong position entering this game:
• We’re healthier and fresher
• We essentially had a bye while Chicago played for seeding
• We’ve had nearly two full weeks to prepare for this exact matchup
On offense, the data is clear: early-down passing, play action, and short-yardage throws must define the game plan. We explain why throwing is far more efficient than running for this roster, how Christian Watson completely changes both the passing and rushing efficiency, and where Chicago’s secondary is most vulnerable.
Defensively, we dig into how to slow down Caleb Williams without blitzing, why zone coverage is the key, which coverages he struggles against most, and how disguising pressure while rushing three can neutralize his biggest strengths. We also examine the cornerback rotation, Trevon Diggs’ potential role, and why this game should lean heavily into coverage — not aggression.
This episode is about matchups, tendencies, and execution. No emotion. No narratives. Just the clearest path we have to winning at Soldier Field and advancing.
Midweek brought real news — and it forced a reality check.
With Nate Hobbs and Kamal Hadden officially out for the season, the Packers made a surprising but necessary move by claiming Trevon Diggs off waivers. We break down why Green Bay felt compelled to spend real money, why Diggs could realistically start in the playoffs, and how thin the cornerback room truly is right now.
We also address the Ravens loss, but not from a box score perspective. Malik Willis played near flawless football. The offensive game plan worked. The real problems were structural: no center depth, a broken interior offensive line, failed draft investments, and a defensive front that simply cannot survive bully-ball football.
From Sean Rhyan snapping issues, to the inability to stop Derrick Henry, to Rashan Gary’s alarming regression, this episode is about identifying personnel failures, not blaming play calling or effort.
Finally, we shift to what actually matters now: Week 18. With the Packers locked into the 7 seed, we lay out exactly who must sit, who should play, how the roster should be managed, and why this game is about asset protection, health, and information — not winning.
This is a reset episode. Less emotion. More clarity. And a hard look at how the Packers got here.
Despite two of the most crushing losses we’ve experienced as Packers fans, the Packers are officially in the playoffs — and that changes everything.
No matter what happens against the Ravens on Saturday or the Vikings in Week 18, the Packers are guaranteed at least the 7 seed. That reality completely shifts how we should be thinking about injuries, rotations, and risk management heading into January.
We break down what that means for Jordan Love, Zach Tom, Christian Watson, Josh Jacobs, Evan Williams, and several other key players dealing with injuries — and why resting certain guys may actually be the smartest path forward.
Then we preview the Ravens matchup, starting with the massive news that Lamar Jackson is doubtful and Tyler Huntley is expected to start. We dive into how the Packers should defend Derrick Henry, why first and second down will decide this game, and what defensive looks give us the best chance to force Huntley to beat us.
On offense, we look at how the Packers can attack a Ravens defense that lacks pass rush depth, how the run game should be deployed, and why Jayden Reed is positioned for a big bounce back game. We also address the Packers’ recent red zone struggles and what needs to change immediately.
This is the last guaranteed home game. The division is still technically in play. The playoffs are locked in. Now it’s about health, execution, and making sure we peak at the right time.
We just lived through one of the most impossible losses I can remember.
With Jordan Love knocked out on a helmet to helmet hit, Josh Jacobs clearly not right, and the offense forced to lean on Malik Willis in brutal wind, we still had the Bears dead in the water. Our defense played its heart out, we built a 10 point lead late, and at one point we had a 99.5% chance to win.
And then we found every possible way to lose.
We break down the entire game drive by drive: the early conservative first downs, the Bears failed gadget play gift, the missed red zone chances, the Jacobs goal line fumble, the dropped interceptions, the penalties that kept drives alive, and the moment everything collapsed: the dropped onside kick, the miscommunication TD, and the overtime snap drop that set up the dagger.
It felt exactly like 2014 in Seattle: lose the onside kick, give up the late TD, go to OT, and then surrender the bomb to end it.
Now the situation is brutal. We’re battered everywhere: QB, OL, RB, safety, receiver — and the path to the playoffs likely goes through the Ravens and Vikings. We also walk through the scoreboard chaos and the one scenario that could give us hope if other teams start resting starters.
We should’ve won this game five different times. We didn’t. Now we have to survive what’s next.
Sunday in Denver was the definition of heartbreak, not just because we lost, but because we watched the season change in a single stretch.
We were up 23–14 and controlling the game… then everything flipped. A key pressure leads to the interception, Christian Watson goes down, and soon after Micah Parsons suffers what looks like a torn ACL. From there, the preventable mistakes piled up: dumb penalties, dropped interceptions, mental errors, and missed opportunities that handed Denver life, even though we still had every chance to win.
But this episode isn’t just about the Broncos loss. It’s about what the injuries exposed.
We break down why the offseason and the last three drafts have left us with too little reliable depth when it matters most, and why the failure to consistently hit on Day 1 and Day 2 picks is now showing up in the worst possible way.
Then we pivot to what’s next: Saturday night in Chicago.
Even with all the chaos, we’re still in position to clinch the playoffs, and we’re still alive in the North race. But we’re going to need a new defensive approach without Parsons, a smarter plan to contain Caleb’s right-side escape lanes, and an offense that wins with field position, motion, jumbo sets, and disciplined decision-making.
Can we play perfect to beat the Bears?
The Packers control their destiny — and now face their toughest challenge yet. This week we travel to Denver to take on the AFC’s #1 seed, the 11–2 Broncos, at altitude in one of the NFL’s most unique home-field environments.
In this episode, we break down:
- Why playing at 5,280 feet drastically affects stamina, rotations, passing mechanics, and kicking
- How Denver’s elite run defense creates impossible third downs — and how Green Bay’s 11-personnel + jumbo looks can attack their weak spots
- What the film actually says about the Broncos pass rush vs. the sack numbers — and why Jordan Love can still win this matchup
- How to gameplan around Patrick Surtain II and why Christian Watson may need more slot snaps
- Which WRs the Packers should target (Riley Moss mismatch alert) and how Denver struggles defending the run out of nickel
- Will Josh Jacobs be ready? How WR depth becomes critical in the altitude
- Defending the Broncos: zone vs man, the Bo Nix tendencies, and how to force him into his worst throws
- Why pressure + first-down run stops are the key to this entire game
- The tells in Denver’s personnel groupings that the Packers must exploit
This is a true measuring-stick game — a chance to prove Green Bay belongs in the Super Bowl conversation. Let’s break down how the Packers can walk out of Mile High with a statement win.
The Packers just ripped through the NFC North gauntlet — blowing out the Vikings, stealing a short-week win in Detroit, and grinding out a cold-weather classic over the 9–3 Bears at Lambeau. A month ago we were 5-3-1 and sitting in the 7-seed. Now the Packers are back in the division driver’s seat and very much in the race for the 1 or 2 seed in the NFC.
In this episode, we break down:
- How the offense evolved after losing Tucker Kraft: 6-OL sets, using Darian Kinnard as a jumbo “TE,” and unlocking Christian Watson and Jayden Reed in the slot
- Why field position and the return game are quietly critical to this team’s Super Bowl chances — and how starting near the 30 changes everything
- Jordan Love’s day in brutal cold, the explosive pass plays, and why Christian Watson has fully arrived as a true WR1
- How Jayden Reed’s motion and carries can transform the run game from below average to legitimately efficient
- Why the defensive switch to more 4–3/base against the Bears run game was so smart — and how Quay Walker, McDuffie, and the front held up
- Caleb Williams vs Jordan Love: what we learned watching both in the same game
- The rise of Sean Rhyan and Kingsley Enagbare — and what that might mean for future decisions on Rashan Gary and the cap
- Keisean Nixon’s value (and his costly penalties), plus why depth at CB, IDL, and returner still matters for a playoff run
- Updated playoff path: how the Packers can lock up the 2-seed, and why the 1-seed is suddenly in play
The Packers now truly run the North. If they win out, they control everything. Let’s talk about how they got here — and what has to happen next.
The Packers and Bears face off in their biggest matchup in over a decade, and the NFC North hangs in the balance. Chicago is 9–3, winners of nine of their last ten, and playing their best football of the season. The Packers are surging as well, and both teams completely control their own playoff destiny.
In this episode, we break down:
- Why the Bears offense has taken off, and how the Packers can slow it down
- Caleb Williams’ biggest weaknesses: field tendencies, trouble attacking intermediate windows, and holding the ball too long
- How Micah Parsons can dominate the Bears’ weakest offensive line spot
- Why Quay Walker’s return is massive for stopping the outside run
- How the weather (10 degrees!) could swing the game toward whichever team wins on the ground
- How the Packers can attack Chicago’s struggling run defense and depleted LBs
- Where Jordan Love can carve up the Bears secondary: deep shots, crossers, and intermediate routes
- Time to Get Healthy: Josh Jacobs, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden back to lineup
- Why Matt LaFleur’s aggressive decision-making might be the difference again this week
This is the game that could decide the NFC North. Everything is on the line. Let’s break it down.
The Packers pulled off a massive Thanksgiving win over the Lions, improving to a record of 8-3-1, but still not in the lead in the NFC North. In this episode, we break down everything that happened — the clutch moments, the lucky breaks, the injuries that changed the game, and the concerns this win didn’t erase.
We dive deep into:
- Amon-Ra St. Brown’s injury and how it shifted Detroit’s offense
- The good, the bad, and the ugly from the Packers secondary
- Why depth at CB and IDL is suddenly a real problem
- The surprising impact of Isaiah McDuffie and Dontayvion Wicks
- How Christian Watson continues to look like a true No. 1 WR
- Why Jayden Reed’s return might unlock the offense
- What the offensive line shake-up means moving forward
- Jordan Love’s performance while battling a shoulder injury
- Why Micah Parsons might be carrying the entire defense
Plus, we look ahead at the mini-bye, the injury resets, potential roster additions, and what Green Bay must fix before taking on the Bears.
This was a huge win — but it left us with a few huge questions.
The Packers took down the Vikings on Sunday, and now we’re on a short week heading into Detroit with a chance to take control of the NFC North. In this episode, we break down what went right — from a smart run-heavy approach to protect an injured Jordan Love, to using six offensive linemen, to improved pass protection — and what still needs to be cleaned up heading into Thursday.
Then we preview how the Packers can beat the Lions:
- Defensive plan: Attack Detroit’s vulnerable interior OL, contain Penei Sewell’s edge, slow Jahmyr Gibbs, and take away Amon-Ra St. Brown’s first read so Jared Goff has to hold the ball.
- Offensive plan: Lean into under-center play-action, punish Detroit’s base defense through the air, and run counters + A-gap when the Lions shift to nickel.
- Key injuries: Quay Walker, Keisean Nixon, Josh Jacobs.
- Short-week keys: Field position, fourth-down discipline, and exploiting Detroit’s aggressive fronts.
It’s rivalry week. We break down everything you need to know before Packers vs Vikings — a matchup that could decide control of the NFC North.
We explain how Jordan Love’s quick-game dominance against the blitz gives Green Bay a real edge over a Minnesota defense that leads the NFL in blitz rate. We outline the offensive keys: more play-action on early downs, power-run looks, motion to the left side, and expanded six-OL sets to neutralize pressure.
Defensively, we detail how Green Bay can attack rookie QB JJ McCarthy, who leads the league in turnover-worthy plays and struggles badly when blitzed. With Lukas Van Ness returning and Micah Parsons heating up, the Packers have a real chance to force mistakes and flip momentum in the division race.
Plus — updates on Quay Walker, Josh Jacobs, Brandon McManus, and the team’s ongoing punt-return problem.
The Packers escape New York with a 27–20 win — but it wasn’t pretty. We break down how seven dropped passes, four dropped interceptions, and poor depth play nearly cost Green Bay another winnable game.
From Luke Musgrave’s benching to Sean Rhyan’s first start at center, we dive into the offensive miscues, TE issues, and how the six-OL package might become the team’s best run solution. He also covers Jordan Love’s shoulder scare, Christian Watson’s breakout performance, and Josh Jacobs’ injury update.
Finally, we look ahead to MarShawn Lloyd’s return, what it means for the backfield rotation, and how the NFC North playoff race could come down to the Thanksgiving showdown with Detroit.
Should Matt LaFleur be fired—or does Green Bay need smarter decisions and better alignment? Ben breaks down the week’s headline: questionable personnel usage (McManus over Havrisik, Bo Melton snaps over Savion/Heath), early-down run bias, shotgun overuse, and how public call-outs can lose a locker room.
Then it’s on to a must-win in New York: how to defend Jameis (two-high shells, disguise, selective Cooper blitzes), why man looks match up vs. the Giants WRs, and the trench test of Dexter Lawrence/Burns/Carter versus a reshuffled Packers interior with Sean Rhyan at center.
Offensively, Ben lays out the fixes: more under-center, play-action on 1st/2nd & long, run on true short yardage, and 6-OL packages to slow the rush. Health updates, expected returns, and the NFC North stakes if Bears/Lions stumble. Can LaFleur steady the ship—and the offense—this week?
The Packers fall to the Eagles — and it wasn’t just about execution. Ben Kurkowski breaks down the coaching and roster disconnect between Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst that’s crippling Green Bay’s season.
From Brandon McManus’ ongoing quad injury and baffling 4th-down calls, to Bo Melton playing more snaps at WR than Malik Heath or Savion Williams, Ben highlights how poor communication and inconsistent roster management are costing the Packers winnable games.
He also dives into the offensive inefficiency — overreliance on shotgun runs, predictable playcalling, and Jordan Love’s missed reads — while pointing out standout defensive play that still wasn’t enough. Finally, Ben discusses the devastating injury news (Elgton Jenkins and Doubs), the lack of OL depth, and what these mistakes mean for Green Bay’s playoff hopes heading into a brutal stretch.
The NFL trade deadline has passed, and the Packers stood pat. We break down why that might’ve been the right call, but a few moves the Packers should've made like Keion White and Asante Samuel Jr.. Then, it’s on to the biggest matchup of the year: Packers vs. Eagles under the lights on Monday night with playoff seeding at stake.
Ben previews how Green Bay’s offensive line will handle the Eagles’ newly loaded pass rush featuring Jaelan Phillips and Jalen Carter, what Jordan Love must do differently against Vic Fangio’s coverage-heavy defense, and how the Packers can stay efficient without Tucker Kraft.
He also dives into the game plan for containing Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and this running game in cold conditions, how Green Bay’s secondary can hold up, and why offensive efficiency and smarter decision-making on 4th downs could decide the NFC’s top seed.
After a stunning defeat, the Packers lose at home against the playoffs, and lose their star player Tucker Kraft for the season. This has wildly terrible playoff implications moving forward, is there any hope for this team at the trade deadline?
This is the game the Packers should dominate. We break down everything from:
-Jordan Love's Elite play from a clean pocket vs. this 30th ranked pass rush
-Micah Parson's matchup nightmare against a depleted Panthers offensive line
-And more on today's episode
Jordan Love delivered one of the best games of his career in a primetime comeback at Pittsburgh: 29/37, 360 yards, 3 TDs, 0 sacks, 0 turnovers — and the offense committed zero penalties. Ben breaks down how quick-game timing and pocket toughness flipped the script in the second half, with Tucker Kraft (7/143/2, YAC machine), Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Matthew Golden all supplying explosives.
On defense, Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary headlined a pass rush that repeatedly ended drives, while Carrington Valentine stabilized the secondary. Ben also hits the concerns: RB blitz pickup, an inconsistent run D vs heavy sets, Keisean Nixon’s miscues, and special teams misses. Plus: OL health/rotation updates, why continuity could unlock an even higher ceiling for Love, and a quick look ahead to Carolina — and whether a veteran IDL (hi, Calais Campbell) still makes sense.
It’s finally here, the game Packers fans have been dreading. Today we break down Sunday night’s emotional matchup in Pittsburgh as Aaron Rodgers faces his former team for the first time. Rodgers is heating up after a slow start, and the Steelers are coming off extra rest, but the Packers enter with momentum, a healthier roster, and both Christian Watson + Devonte Wyatt returning to the lineup.We detail how Green Bay can contain Rodgers, exploit Pittsburgh’s weaknesses at linebacker, and survive one of the league’s toughest pass rushes. Plus: key injury updates, Micah Parsons’ impact, and why this game could shape the NFC playoff picture.
The Packers escaped Arizona with a 28–23 win — but it took a lot of luck. We break down the four game-changing plays that swung the Packers’ way, from the 61-yard franchise-record field goal to Rashan Gary’s strip sack. He also highlights the dominance of Micah Parsons, the rise of Colby Wooden, and continued concerns with Nate Hobbs and the defense’s lack of cohesion.On offense, Ben recaps Jordan Love’s up-and-down performance, the offensive line finally staying healthy, and the looming return of Christian Watson. Then he shifts to the trade deadline — with Calais Campbell, Kevin Zeitler, and even Rasul Douglas emerging as potential additions that could turn Green Bay into a true Super Bowl contender.
The Packers head to Arizona to face the Cardinals, but all eyes are on the injury report, especially Zach Tom. We dive into how Green Bay's handling of Tom's injury could derail the season, what the offensive line shuffle means for Jordan Love, and how the Packers can attack the Cardinals' quarters-heavy defense. Plus without Christian Watson, Lukas Van Ness, and Devonte Wyatt and what that means for the Packers on Sunday.
The Packers took down the Bengals 27-18 at Lambeau, but it wasn't always pretty. We break down Sunday's win, from Jordan Morgan's first start at right guard and the offensive line's encouraging process, to Josh Jacobs' gritty 5.2 yards per carry despite puking throughout the day. We dive into Jordan Love's risky interception, the defense's lack of turnovers, and why Edgerrin Cooper's pass rush role must evolve. Plus, injury updates on Lukas Van Ness, Dontayvion Wicks, and Javon Bullard. And the one position the Packers should target before the trade deadline, with potential fits like Calais Campbell and Maliek Collins.
The Packers return home to face the Bengals in a must-win "get-right" game after back-to-back disappointments. Ben Kurkowski breaks down the special teams woes, key injury updates, and how Jordan Love and the offense can attack Cincinnati's defense. Plus, what the Packers must fix to avoid costly mistakes and get back on track before the playoff push.
The Packers miss their chance to have another awesome Dallas memory to win at AT&T stadium as they finish this game with a tie, and we break down it all down on today's episode including:
-Refs missed a ton of calls(holding Parsons, PI on Wicks, Intentional Grounding by Dak)
-Terrible Clock/Play Management by Matt Lafleur
-Poor defensive gameplan by Haffley
-Inability to add quality players on the defensive line besides Parsons
-Special Teams Fail once again
-Unable to find quality guards
-And some positives from this offense
As the Packers are coming off their worst offensive line performance of all-time, the Packers have a big game Sunday night in Dallas, but our offensive line is currently in shambles with starting LG Aaron Banks out again meaning Jordan Morgan will be out there, and at RT Zach Tom is out for this game and our primary backup RT Anthony Belton is also out for this game, leaving third string RT Darrian Kinnard to take his place. This was supposed to be a bounce back game, but with these amounts of injuries on our offensive line I'm concerned. But it's not just us the Cowboys will be without two preferred starting offensiven lineman and WR Ceedee Lamb which potentially balances things out. This game might not be your typical Cowboys-Packers slugfest, but will in my opinion be a very close game.
The Packers had a disastrous loss vs. the Browns, and we break it all down on today's episode, the biggest thing being our inability to build a deep OL with a plan to develop OL long term.
As we faceoff against the Browns tomorrow we preview that game, and we also talk about:
-Keeping Malik Willis as our backup QB is a must
-Several Browns Players would've been good additions to the Packers this offseason
-We need to protect Jordan Love at all(almost) costs
-Let Zach Tom and Tucker Kraft rest and fully recover if we are taking our Super Bowl seasons seriously
With a big win over the Commanders on TNF, the Packers prove they are a Super Bowl caliber team, and we break it all down on today's episode.
A lot of news of news prior to Thursday nights game against the Washington Commanders:
-Packers give a 1 year extension to Christian Watson, an incredible deal for the Packers
-The Packers could be dealing with two young OL if Zach Tom and Aaron Banks aren't able to play in this game, how our RT holds up in this game Kinnard or Belton is a huge question
-Our defense looked good last week, but is it good enough to stop a QB as dynamic as Jayden Daniels?
The Packers dominated the Lions on Sunday, and we break it all down on today's episode!
As we preview opening game of the season vs. the defending NFC North Champs the Detroit Lions we break down:
-Micah Parsons probably won't play much in this game and shouldn't
-Other major players are questionable like Nate Hobbs and Jayden Reed
-The interior defensive line for this Lions team is going to struggle to get pressure
-And a lot more key takeaways as we prepare for the start of the 2025 season
The Packers did what I thought was impossible and traded for ALL Pro Edge Rusher Micah Parsons! On today's episode we break down:
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Why this trade was a great deal for the Packers
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Why this contract is affordable moving forward
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Why the Packers could make this move because of young and up and coming talent proving we can move on with veterans to keep this team young and affordable.
In today's episode we:
-Breakdown position by position who the Packers kept and who they cut
-Identify high potential players the Packers should have added to their roster and practice squad
On today's episode before we breakdown the final preseason game we discuss:
-Both Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave have had very impressive offenses and I think they both will be a big part of our offense in 2025, and they should be because the way teams design their defenses today.
-Some of these same reasons of why 12 personnel is so important to a teams success are the same reasons why the Packers should NOT trade for an elite edge rusher like Micah Parsons, it's just too risky, even if it could work.
-And we might not need an elite edge rusher because Lukas Can Ness seems to have taken a big jump and there are still two affordable difference making players available in free agency to help take this pass rush over the top.
In today's episode we breakdown many topics:
-2 Surprise Players who should make this roster
-Several offensive lineman who failed to take any growth steps and how our depth on the OL could cripple us this year, and how players I deemed to be smart picks in 2024 NFL Draft are starting for their teams this year unlike many of Gute's OL choices
-Jordan Love's Thumb Injury and while this injury is minor, why this impacts the Packers
-Injury update and how it affects our ability to start the year 2-0
-Players to watch in Saturday's preseason game
A lot of changes led to me having to put the podcast on pause over the summer, but most of everything people talk about over that time is a little overrated anyways.
But we are back! And today we breakdown the 3 big positions Brian Gutekunst invested in this offseason:
- Offensive Line
-Signing Aaron Banks
-Extending Zach Tom
-2025 2nd Rounder Anthony Belton
- Secondary
-Signing Nate Hobbs
-Cutting Jaire Alexander
- Wide Receiver
-2025 1st Rounder Matthew Golden
-2025 3rd Rounder Savion Williams
The Packers have officially released Jaire Alexander. Was it a smart financial move—or a decision that could come back to haunt them? Host Ben Kurkowski breaks down the logic, the risk, and the real story behind the surprising cut.Then we shift to the Top 5 Packers set to either bounce back or break out in 2025, from Jordan Love and Lukas Van Ness to rising stars like Tucker Kraft.But there's a problem—the offensive line might be in serious trouble. With injuries, contract holdouts, and a lack of depth at center, the Packers could be risking it all in 2025.Is this a championship-caliber roster—or a house of cards?
-The Packers are in a difficult spot financially
-Elgton Jenkins is refusing to show up to offseason practices, this could've been avoided.
-The Packers lack the star talent to win a Super Bowl
-The positives and negatives of the 2025 schedule
-Why Continuity is the biggest driver of the Packers 2025 Super Bowl hopes
I don't work full-time in the front office for the Packers, but I think with knowing this NFL Draft class now, it's easy to say the Packers made a slew of mistakes over the course of the offseason, that will put our 2025 success in jeopardy, and really force our hand as we deal with salary cap implications in 2026.
Last year right now we can say that Brian Gutekunst had 2 successful draft picks, Edgerrin Cooper and Evan Williams, there may be more, only time will tell. If I was in charge and we look back at last years draft I would have had 2 successful draft picks as well, Edgerrin Cooper and Cooper Dejean. It's important to truly evaluate how our front office is making decisions, because right now it's pretty easy to say that we wish we had Cooper Dejean over Evan Williams. That's what we do today is breakdown how I would have done the draft differently taking advantage of trade down opportunities, and using the consensus board to get steals which Brian Gutekunst never did in this entire draft.
In today's episode we give you a full breakdown of this alien like draft class from Brian Gutekunst, where there is hope that these players could be special players in the NFL, but also valid reasons that they won't.
In the first round the Packers break their streak of not selecting a first round WR by drafting WR Matthew Golden out of Texas, who I'm honestly not to fond of. The Packers messed up an incredible opportunity to trade down with the Giants with so many similar talented players, trading down would've been the best bet. We finish by identifying the best players the Packers should go after on Day 2.
In today's episode, we used our data which proved that using the consensus board to stay away from reaches and find steals within the draft is the best way to find success. Listing out every player and move the Packers will make over a 7 round mock draft for the Packers. These are based off consensus projections which means this mock draft is plausible even if I don't think the Packers would pull the trigger on a lot of these moves.
NFL teams love to trust their gut. But the data says... maybe they shouldn't.
In this episode of PackersNow, Ben Kurkowski dives into four years of draft results to explore a simple but powerful idea: what if teams just followed the Consensus Draft Board?
Using Arif Hasan's rankings and the NFL Mock Draft Database, Ben breaks down:
- Why "steals" hit way more than "reaches"
- How the Eagles used this strategy to build a Super Bowl roster
- Which 2025 prospects are being overlooked right now
- How the Packers can win the draft by letting value come to them
If you care about a long-term winner in Green Bay, this episode is for you.
Data-backed strategy. Real draft examples, Practical Packers insight
If there is something I'm known for over the years, it's finding value, and here we begin to understand the value in the NFL Draft. Where are great players, being ranked fairly low considering what they could become in the NFL. So we go position by position to figure out some of my favorite players in this draft class, and where we could target them in the draft.
Which prospects are actually worth trading up for? Who the Packers should sprint the card in for if they fall to us? Why certain edge rushers scream "trade back"? A dream scenario where Green Bay turns pick 23 into 42, 67, and 73.
Whether you're Team Tetairoa, building for depth, or want Gutey to make a splash-this episode's for you.
Free agency is mostly finished at this point in the calendar, making it pretty clear the biggest gaps left on this roster. Today we break down and rank the biggest needs for the Packers considering both the 2025 season and beyond.
While this wasn't the most star-studded free agency the Packers had a chance to really upgrade this roster, but failed to do so, we talk about those missed opportunities on today's episode.
The Packers go out and sign two average free agents to fairly large deals in a disappointing Day 1 of FA. Money that should've been spent on our OTs 2 weeks ago, which now will make things very difficult for the Packers in 2026. We finish today's episode going through our first mock draft where I break down some of my favorite value prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Free agents are about to get super overpaid, as we saw with the Zack Baun signing and so many more. The Packers resign two players, one a smart move and another not so much. I break down to me the best free agency path the Packers could take which includes NOT trading away Jaire Alexander, and trading for one elite player. Maximizing our 2025 Super Bowl chances, and maximizing our 2026 assets as we move on from several veterans to create cap space for the future.
We finish up our free agency series by talking about some of our weakest position groups going into 2025. Our WRs can't be relied upon, and our edge rushers are just not even close to hitting their ceilings. So we find some options in free agency and we also name one more free agent OL that is one of my new favorite options for the Packers to fix the C position with a weak C draft class.
In Part 2 of our free agency series, we take a look at our current offensive line situation, and while there is promise at the most important positions, there is still a lot up in the air on the interior. So we identify a few key free agents we should acquire in order to provide potential upgrades for this upcoming season and even long-term.
While many would say if the Packers move on from Jaire Alexander, CB has to be one of the biggest positions of need on this roster, but is it? We breakdown some options to improve the position group in free agency, but we take an alternative look at a potential way to improve this back 7 and find an elite player for cheaper then signing any major CB would be on today's episode.
Without an elite QB, the Eagles have provided a formula to build a Super Bowl caliber team, the Packers need to replicate that formula. We break down what they do so well, on today's episode.
As we move forward to build the best team in 2025, we need to learn from the best teams in 2024, and take a good look at the Packers and reflect on what we need to change to be the team playing in a Super Bowl in 2026.
In today's episode we breakdown the 2024 Green Bay Packers if I was in charge vs. the one that Brian Gutekunst put together, and while none of this is set in stone, it's frustrating that we as fans are being kept from having the best roster possible in order to have the best chance at winning a Super Bowl which is the ultimate goal.
Exit interviews to end the season revealed the Packers had some serious issues in the locker room when it came to the lack of leadership from a lot of players on this team, Which makes me double down on the idea that signing veterans in free agency, on cost effective deals, is a must moving forward, and could've completely changed this season for the Packers.
While the Packers had a terrible performance, a few inexcusable calls + just a boneheaded mistake make this blowout actually anybody's game at the end. But the injury bug hit the Packers all in one game and truly revealed the lack of quality depth this Packers team has. And while this defense held the Eagles to just 15 points, the inability to make the correct choices on the defensive line led to zero ability to make a game changing play.
While it might seem unbelievable at this point, the Packers are still playing incredible football over the course of the year, and truly can beat this very talented Eagles team on Sunday. We break it all down on today's episode.
Almost everything went wrong for the Packers in Sunday's disastrous loss to the Bears, most of those mistakes coming from the Packers coaching staff. These mistakes highlight not only mistakes on game day, but in how to handle the injuries the Packers have faced this season, which has been a complete debacle. The Packers might have messed this season up all on their own.
It's official Jaire is out for the year with a season ending surgery. With this news there's 5 things I want to see the Packers do on Sunday and beat the Bears to give us the most promise possible going into the playoffs. Finally we finish with talking through which teams we want to win to get the best playoff matchups possible.
The Packers have a disappointing loss which really shed light on some of the Packers biggest flaws, we speak into how the Packers should address these issues, and finally discuss playoff scenarios to finish the episode.
Packers do what no team has all season and shutout the Saints winning that game 34-0! And over the last 6 weeks, guess who has been the best team in football according to DVOA? We breakdown who we should be cheering for the best playoff outcomes. And finally we preview this incredibly difficult, but winnable matchup vs the Vikings on Sunday.
Not often can you upgrade your roster at this time of the year, but there's one major player who might become available as soon as Monday who could be the big boost this Packers defensive really needs. With the Packers having little to no affect on their playoff seeding moving forward, the Packers need to prioritize health over everything to be their edge for the playoffs. We finish up by previewing this Saints game.
The Packers finally beat a good team dominating the Seahawks 30-13 on Sunday, we break down this game, and more on today's episode.
The Packers lost a game they really shouldn't have on Thursday night knowing how depleted this Lions defense was. But this game came down to failure on crucial downs by the Packers, and some obvious missed calls sadly. What this game did do is expose some of the many mistakes this Packers team made in the 2024 offseason, that had been addressed correctly would have made the Packers easily the best team in the NFL right now.
The Lions are easily the best team in the NFL, but I believe the Packers can still beat them. We break down the biggest game of the year for the Packers on today's episode.
With the Packers 30-17 win on Thanksgiving, that gives the Packers a 3 game win streak, with one of the most complete games of the year for the Packers. Our offense was led by a safe Jordan Love, and defensively we stopped the run, + the Packers might have a secret weapon defensively that could completely change our defense moving forward.
Packers blowout the 49ers on Sunday, which was awesome to see the Packers dominate a team that was decimated by injuries like they should. But a tougher test comes on Sunday when the red hot Dolphins come to town on a short week, but have to play in the frigid cold. We break it all down on today's episode.
Packers catch a break big time as the 49ers will most likely be without both of their best players on Sunday, edge rusher Nick Bosa & starting QB Brock Purdy, giving the Packers a good chance to win this game, and take the 49ers out of realistic chance to make the playoffs.
The Packers got lucky and blocked a kick to move to 7-3 in an exciting but disappointing win on Sunday. But after a deeper look this offense was actually quite incredible. But this defense has got to make some changes if we want to compete with the best.
While Preston Smith's time was done in GB, it truly reveals a systemic issue that Brian Gutekunst has failed to address adding quality defensive lineman specifically at edge rusher for years. And this issue at arguably the most important position on your defense, may be a part of the reason the Packers ultimately can't truly compete to win a Super Bowl this season. We finish by previewing the Bears game, which the Packers should truly dominate on Sunday.
The Packers beat themselves on Sunday with costly mistake after another, but to me proved they can play with the best teams in the NFL, like the Lions, if they can just clean up their self-inflicted mistakes. This bye is coming at the perfect time for the Packers, and should help ensure our team is the healthiest and most prepared of any in the NFC North. Then what can we do to upgrade our team after the Lions upgraded theirs by trading for Za'darius Smith?
With the Packers injury list beginning to pile up, is it worth it to put major players back out on the field on Sunday, if it means a chance of reinjury? And while there may be some players who should get healthy and not play on Sunday, this game is still totally winnable. This Lions team has a lot of holes especially on the defensive side of the football that I believe we can exploit, specifically with Malik Willis at QB.
The Packers get the win and move to 6-2 on the season, but at what cost? As many Packers players went down with injury, most notable was Jordan Love who suffered a groin injury. Eric Wilson and Edgerrin Cooper continue to impress and have proven themselves to be the legitimate starters at LB for this team. Our defensive back depth was tested again, and almost lost us this game, and sadly the Packers could have handled this differently. And knowing the point swing, and all the injuries the Packers endured this past sunday, especially to Jordan Love, how should the Packers move forward specifically with the division lead on the line this Sunday vs. the Lions?
Packers start the week by improving on the coaching staff, by hiring former Jets HC and defensive mastermind, Robert Saleh, who will make an incredible addition to our coaching staff. We preview this Jaguars game on Sunday, a game in which I think the Packers can really dominate. And we finish by talking about how with this late trade deadline, there might be some deals worth considering for many reasons.
The Packers literally squeak a win through as new Kicker Brandon McManus makes the game winning FG at the end. We breakdown this game in full, and talk about how if this is the Hafley Defense 2.0, the rest of this year will be very promising for the Packers.
The Packers have a marquee matchup as they face off against the Texans. Can we win this game? We break it all down on today's episode.
The Packers crushed the Cardinals on Sunday thanks in large part to the depth of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Our rookies on defense are proving they should be out there more and more. Packers should consider one player at outside CB to fill out this Packers secondary. We finally upgrade at kicker, and potentially save our season. Then we talk about why the NFC North is the best division in football.
In today's episode we preview this upcoming matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, that I fully expect to become a shootout on Sunday.
The Packers survived the Rams game on the west coast, but a couple things are known at this point in the season. One being, the Packers coaching staff is going to have to better then what our players are currently doing in a couple big areas. This defense could be improved though by simply playing more zone, we talk about why. And should the Packers trade Doubs for Adams?
The Packers head into Week 5 to play a Rams team that if we are going to beat, we should lean back on our running game that helped church out both of our wins this season. Talking about running game, we break down how we truly should have handled the RB position this offseason. This Rams team has a very talented young DL to be excited about, but that's about it. With as much injuries the Rams have faced, the Packers should have their way on Sunday.
While the game started off slow, an intense comeback by the Packers down 28-0 falls short as the Packers lose this one 31-29. Some huge issues arose for this team on Sunday, including a lack of depth at CB, a non-existent pass rush, and a huge kicking issue again...Gutekunst has to answer for these issues, he can't just be patted on the back for landing Malik Willis. And the mistakes continue to pile up for the Packers, and it's being made very obvious that even with the success we had last year, this is still the youngest team in the NFL.
The Packers have their toughest matchup so far as they face the 3-0 Vikings, but thankfully it seems like Jordan Love should be healthy for this game. Today we break it all down on why I think we have a real shot to win this game.
Packers without Jordan Love stun the Titans, and Malik Willis really has proven to be the real deal. How this Packers team has won using the running game is what makes this Packers offense different then ones in the past. Our defense is having this kind of output in its beginning stages which is exciting, but some of our best players still aren't playing well, and if that doesn't change I don't like our chances when we begin to face high powered offenses moving forward.
Jordan Love is healthier than we thought, which is great news, but the fact that he might play on Sunday is concerning, considering we thought he might miss 6 weeks 2 weeks ago. He shouldn't be playing, mostly for his health, but also this Packers team has a chance to beat the Titans even without Love, and I think we should bet on that possibility over betting the fact we can keep Love from making things worse by playing on Sunday.
The Packers came out to start this game hot, and were able to steam roll the Colts with our rushing attack, with a record setting day. If Matt Lafleur continues to win without Jordan Love, he might finally win coach of the year like he deserves. But while we won I do still have some concerns if we want to remain competitive moving forward. We break it all down on today's episode.
With Jordan Love not playing in this game, do we even stand a chance? I thought no, but this Colts defense is going to give Malik Willis the best chance he can get with as many injuries they've already endured. Two main questions will decide the outcome of this game. We break it all down on today's episode.
A game filled with mistakes leads to not only a disappointing loss to start the year, but a devastating injury to Jordan Love that could jeopardize this Packers season. We breakdown this game, what went wrong, what went well, and why much of this should have been prevented.
While we don't usually like the Packers playing international games, this one is to their benefit and we talk about why as we preview this Eagles game in full! Also, we breakdown why this Eagles team is uniquely frustrating to play because of their great roster moves the last few years.
Today we breakdown the final 53 man roster, some ways we could have improved our team, and how the Packers lost quite a few players to waivers, and probably could have avoided losing any with a certain trick. Also, we talk about how the Packers clean bill of health hypothetically should mean this Packers team should start off where they left off last year as one of the best teams in the NFL.
The Packers had a rough week as they traveled to Denver and got dominated, but this happened in 2023 when the Packers practiced against the Patriots as well. Luckily enough we didn't overreact because the Packers bounced back big time when the Ravens came to town as we had some of the most encouraging days of all of training camp so far. We break down some of the major players we should be watching for in Saturday's game, some updates on each position group, and talk about why health is the most important priority for this team concerning Saturday's game.
On today's episode we breakdown the first preseason game of the season position by position. We also monitor how other options to build this roster throughout the NFL are doing compared to the choices Gutekunst made. And then finally we identify some of the key issues the Packers must be able to fix by preseason end.
The Packers have chose to play most of their starters on Saturday vs. the Cleveland Browns, including Jordan Love. This will be a must watch game, and while there's a ton to be looking out for from this new team, what I will be watching the most is our offensive line in this game. As this offensive has holes and an issue with depth that is proving to be a serious issue, an issue that if not dealt with could cost the Packers season, and the worst part is this could have been dealt with and yet it wasn't.
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Jordan Love got paid, which is well deserved, but the Packers messed up these negotiations in my opinion. The defense dominated week 1 of practice and there were a lot of positive signs to come for Jeff Haffley taking over as DC. Some concerns have arisen over the course of this week though, biggest of which is our lack of depth on this offensive line, specifically offensive tackle. The Packers are in a tough spot but what can we do to try and help this offensive line be in the best spot to succeed and help us win a Super Bowl? We highlight one big player who has stood out on offense, and will this special teams finally not to a problem in the playoffs. We talk about all of this on our podcast today! This episode covers everything from non padded practices of training camp before Jordan Love suited up on Saturday.
The Packers make a great deal to extend Kenny Clark, but don't have Jordan Love's contract finished? The promise all offseason was that this would be done and it isn't, what is wrong with this front office? Exciting news from rookies on defense, but disappointing news from our first round pick, and as of lately our first round picks have really fallen short. What would this team look like had things been slightly different the last three years?
Today before training camp, we talk through the top 10 players and how their performance this season, will truly determine the Packers ability to win a Super Bowl this year.
After the emergence of Jordan Love, some people are saying that Brian Gutekunst is one of the best GMs in the NFL, but is that true. We break down the first 5 years of Gutekunst career and compare him to the other "Best" GMs across the NFL.
In today's episode we give a big update on everything you need to know about the Packers offseason so far, from injury news, updates on Jordan Love's contract, reasons to be excited about both this offense and defense, the Packers Super Bowl Window, Matt Lafleur being one of the best coaches, and much more!
With Jared Goff getting a huge contract, Jordan Love might be itching to be the first QB to get $60M a year. If that happens Gutekunst' lack of timeliness will fail the Packers once again. Getting this deal done as soon as possible is more important than the actual APY, and we will break down why today. Also the 2024 schedule was released, the Packers have a tough schedule, and didn't improve nearly as much as the Bears or the Lions which will make this upcoming season difficult to say the least. But while we have the toughest schedule in the NFC, according to strength of schedule, we break it down week by week to see this might be the best schedule I've seen the Packers get over the last few years.
The Packers have a plethora of new rookies joining this roster, today we break them all down, and at the same time go through the best way the Packers could have attacked this draft. The Packers had a fine draft, but it could have gone way better had they considered the overall consensus board, traded down more often, and avoided trading up. Had they done that the Packers would have found themselves in a much better place then they currently are in.
I don't understand how we get to this point every year, what was Gute thinking? Does Gutekunst' use data, because the data said the right choice was not the OL he selected, we break it all down on this podcast, and the rest of the first round. While also mentioning a best approach to maximize Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Other years, I have thrown mock draft after mock draft at you, but this year instead of throwing limited information at you for months, I thought it would be better to just simply wait till I had all the information that was out there to give you the best mock draft possible for the Packers. This is a realistic mock draft using the overall consensus board, on how I would build the Packers if I were in charge.
While we don't have time to get into every single NFL prospect, this is the first year I feel less pressure in the NFL Draft, because the Packers have so much youth already on this roster. But we still need to find the best value we can in the draft, and using In Game Athleticism testing I believe is the best way to do that. Today we break down why, and which prospects truly stick out because of that.
Reports are the Packers believe Zach Tom can become a hall of fame center, if that's true, the Packers will be moving Zach Tom to C full-time. How does this change the plan going into the draft? Today we break down my favorite value offensive line prospects and how we can ensure our offensive line is a strength moving forward for the cheapest cost possible.
The NFL Draft is less then 3 weeks away, but before we can totally jump into NFL Draft content we have to figure out where are the greatest needs for the Packers going into the 2024 season, which we will rank today. And we quickly talk about why the Packers getting the International Game in Brazil in Week 1 works out perfectly for the Packers.
Today we break down some big changes for Special teams and how we feel about the Nixon contract and signing a Kicker to add competition for Carlson. We break down all of free agency and how the Packers really probably messed up a couple of big moves, like not moving on from Clark in 2022, and what happened with the Aaron Jones situation anyways.
Packers make two huge signings, S Xavier Mckinney & RB Josh Jacobs to some huge contracts, while at the same time releasing some of the final major veterans on this roster in Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones. This is really emblematic of the shift the Packers are prioritizing youth and availability in these moves today. But did the Packers make a big mistake? Well I think they made at least one as they started out free agency today.
The Packers have cut Devondre Campbell, will they continue to to cut the two other veterans on this team in Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones to make this team even younger? The Packers took a heavy draft approach last season and it paid off, how can the Packers do this again to maximize the NFL Draft and keep this team young? We do this by focusing on street free agents and the compensatory pick evaluation. Who are some street free agents we could pick up to help this team this season?
The NFL Draft is where the Packers will look to primarily this team with 11 draft picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, but there are some moves in free agency that the Packers may want to consider if they want to build a team with depth to make it to a Super Bowl. But beware, buyer's remorse is common when partaking in free agency and there are some rules you must follow if you want to win the offseason when it comes to your involvement in free agency.
The Packers have made their decision at defensive coordinator and hired Jeff Hafley to run this defense, but who is Jeff Hafley? We talk about that in today's episode, and just because we don't know him doesn't mean he's the wrong choice, and I would argue he might be the perfect choice based on everything we hear today.
The Packers for the most part pretty much beat themselves on Saturday, even though they played like the better team. And over the last 8 weeks, especially the last two, the way the Packers were playing, we were the Best team in the NFC, and it seems crazy, but this was surprisingly our chance to go to the Super Bowl, and we can't just assume we will be back here because we are a young team, and that's why this loss was so devastating. We do a full breakdown of this game on today's episode, and also reveal the big news that Joe Barry was fired today.
To me, the Packers now will be facing off against the best team in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Packers playoff achilles heel. And this game doesn't get any easier considering the Packers have a serious rest disadvantage because of the Bills reschedule, which shouldn't negatively affect other teams. We compare Lafleur to Kyle Shannahan, and while the 49ers are a great team there are ways to beat this team. What will matter the most though is which team can adapt to the weather on Sunday, and limit their mistakes.
The Packers won! What an incredible game, we break it all down one of the funnest Packers wins of all-time in today's episode.
The Packers weren't expected by almost any to make the playoffs, but here we are. But we are matched up against the Dallas Cowboys who haven't lost at home in the last two years. This Cowboys team is elite in so many ways, has the highest scoring offense in the NFL, and so much elite talent on defense. But this Cowboys team isn't perfect and they've lost games, and the unique thing about those losses is there were a lot of similarities, we can learn from those Cowboys losses and identify how we can overcome the biggest point spread on NFL wildcard weekend.
It was truly an elite performance by Jordan Love that gets us the win over the Chicago Bears to get us into the NFL playoffs. And this season didn't go as I expected, but it's better then I ever really hoped it would go, because we have found our franchise QB. This is an exciting time, and even if we lose going this first playoff game, this season has been such a win for the Packers, and there is a lot to be excited about moving forward.
The Packers totally topple the Vikings and get a big win to set up a win and in playoff scenario for the Packers. How the Packers got to this point in the season has totally astonished me, mostly because I never thought Jordan Love could be this high quality of a quarterback, and he has been awesome over the second half of the season. Can the Packers do what they failed to do last season, beat an NFC North opponent who have nothing to gain from a win, to get into the playoffs. We will see as we face off against the Justin Fields Bears on Sunday, in a game that might be Justin Fields last game as a Bear.
The Packers squeak out a win against the worst team in football, and this Packers defense is taking it to another level when it comes to being historically bad. Jaire's selfish actions leads to a suspension as we face arguably the best WR in football. And we finish up by previewing our SNF game, which we must win if we want to keep our playoff hopes alive.
Another upsetting loss against a team we really should beat, mostly becaue Joe Barry allowed Baker Mayfield to have the best game of his career, this is really the statement game Matt Lafleur needed to end the Joe Barry tenure, at least we think. Matt Lafleur has fallen short on how to handle this defense, and I'm nervous he's going to do it again, even though there seems to be a mutiny on that side of the ball from major leaders of that defense. We finish on previewing the Panthers game on Sunday, but even if we win out, because of these last two losses, the playoffs are now out of our control.
And that's the reality of what this Packers team probably truly is after an embarrassing loss on Monday night against the Giants. This pass rush was pretty much non-existent and it's evidence of Brian Gutekunst flops as a GM on his investments on our defensive line. Joe Barry and Rich Bisaccia might be coaching their way out of Green Bay. Not having Christian Watson really hampered this offense's success specifically Jordan Love's, but the weather might have played a big part of that as well. Rest though is a consistent factor and the Giants just had more of it to prepare for this game. How do we bounce back to beat the Bucs on Sunday? It will be tough with all the injuries this Packers team is enduring.
The Packers have one of their greatest games in a long time to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs! Now that we have seen such a great stretch of play from Jordan Love, is it time to bring out the contract extension? While this defense is holding to teams to low totals, I don't believe this defense is playing to the level I would expect from the personnel on this roster and Joe Barry and Brian Gutekunst decisions should be in question. We finish up by talking about the real chance to continue on this run as we start the easy part of our schedule against the New York Giants next Monday night.
Being able to defeat a top team in the NFC really put Jordan Love's stamp on his career, and he might be able to truly be a franchise QB worth investing in. With that win the Packers also have a real path to a playoffs and even a possible playoff win. Preview the Chiefs in a game that should be enjoyable to watch because the Packers team and Jordan Love we saw last week has a chance in most games including this one Sunday night.
The Packers another game we truly shouldn't have, because the Chargers kept shooting themselves in the foot. We might have the worst running game in the NFL. Jordan Love is currently playing like a top 10 QB in the NFL! Why losing matters? Preview Lions Thanksgiving game at 11:30 CDT.
The Packers lost again on Sunday to the Steelers in another close game, and while it's a bummer to see the Packers lose, it's probably all for the best. One of the main reasons we lost on Sunday was an inability to stop this Steelers rushing attack. This led to Matt Lafleur getting a little chippy and defensive in his press conferences last week as if there's a lot of pressure on him to win these games from the front office. But really should the pressure be on Lafleur and this coaching staff or on Brian Gutekunst? We break down this roster and truly why it doesn't compare to true contenders in the NFL, and why Gutekunst maybe shouldn't be making decisions during this rebuild. We finish up by previewing the Chargers game which I think will be a much closer game then many would anticipate.
Lots of injuries to veteran players on our roster gave a lot of young guys opportunities to play, and those young players did not disappoint. We had several notable players have very bright moments in the Sundays win over the Rams. This type of success from the youth on this team, reminds us of the fact that Brian Gutekunst truly didn't do enough to tear down this team at the trade deadline, not only so we could get more draft capital and more salary cap space, but probably even more important is it allows these young players to actually play and develop. We finish out the podcast previewing our matchup against the Steelers which should be a tough game knowing the Steelers are coming off a 10 day break + Jaire Alexander won't play for the Packers, and this Steelers pass rush might be too much for our beat up offensive line.
Brian Gutekunst did trade away Rasul Douglas at the deadline on Halloween and didn't make any bad deals to add players to this team, but it still feels like Gutekunst missed a big opportunity to commit to a full rebuild and help ensure our chances at the #1 overall pick. While the rebuild could be something Gutekunst could control, he can't control the amount of teams the Packers will be facing with backup QBs due to the significant amount of QB injuries this season, this might be a bigger reason why the Packers will struggle to lose every game the rest of the year, which takes us into our preview of the Rams game without Stafford playing on the other side.
The Packers lose again, mostly due to their own mistakes. One good benefit is the Packers currently now have the #6 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Rashan Gary signs a big extension, but is more evidence of Brian Gutekunst' failure as a GM. Brian Gutekunst' tenure as the Packers GM should truly be in question especially considering his decisions in the next 24 hours before the trade deadline.
The Packers had plenty of rest for both the Raiders and the Broncos game and the Packers lost both of those games, to two teams who are bottom 10 teams in the NFL, proving this season is over. We talk through 5 things I want to see for the rest of the year that would help us "Win" the rest of the year. Finishing off with a mini preview of the Vikings game on Sunday.
As the Packers face several bad teams the rest of the season, they are in control of their own destiny to have one of the top picks in the NFL Draft if they lose these games. How can the Packers win the trade deadline? What matchups should we be looking for in the Broncos game?
How could the Packers lose to the a Raiders team that is just so bad? Looking back at this season, we might say that the Derek Carr injury in Week 3 might affect the future of the Packers more then any other moment. How does Bakhtiari fit into the future plans for the Packers now that he is having surgery? How do the Packers move forward knowing just how bad they are currently playing?
Thankfully the NFC North started to have some success with a couple of big wins for the Bears and Vikings. The next decade of the NFC North could be decided by a few wins here or there in the 2024 season because there are truly three game changing players in this upcoming draft class. Now the Packers shouldn't be in contention for one of those players, but it is possible, and we will talk about that today. Then we will preview Monday's game against the Raiders.
While the Packers record says they had a chance going into this game to defeat the Lions, they truly were outmatched. This highlights truly the state of this team, and how they compare to the rest of the NFL. Also, we highlight why starting 2-2, the injuries, truly highlight why this is the worst case scenario so far for the future of this Packers team.
The Packers face off against the Lions on a short week at home for Thursday night football. The winner determines which team is in the lead for the NFC North. Do the Packers have what it takes to beat the team that took them out of the playoffs last year?
What a game!!! Jordan Love showed us he can be the man, but can he do it consistently? What went well, and what did not in this game? How trading Bakhtiari could have changed the outlook of this season and our future. If the Packers can get healthy, they could be a playoff team. Listen to hear about all of this and more!
It's our first home game of the season, do the Packers have what it takes to take down the 2-0 Saints? Listen in for what matters most to the Packers being able to come out on top!
Packers lost a close game to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and that game truly highlighted how this Packers teams deficiencies. Some we knew, but others were quite unexpected. Plus new and old injuries pop up, which could make it difficult for this team to be competitive moving forward.
Although the Packers performed well in Week 1, I'm nervous for how this team will perform against a more reasonable NFL team in the Falcons. Most notably because the Falcons had one of the best rushing attacks in 2022, and the Packers have notoriously been awful at stopping the run. What are all the matchups to watch in this game, listen in to hear more.
After week 1 there were a series of headlines that truly highlight Brian Gutekunst' failures as a GM, today we break all of those down including Aaron Rodgers injury, Nick Bosa Extension, rookie breakouts, and more. How can Gutekunst come back from these mistakes?
The Packers had a really impressive win on Sunday beating the Bears 38-20 even without Christian Watson. Who stood out in this game? Who disappointed? And why we should be slow to really crown Jordan Love the next hall of fame QB.
There are some major reasons for optimism, and a real chance the Packers win this game on Sunday. Find out why in today's episode! And I reveal my bold season predictions!
This is the first time in a long while the Bears will be the favorites against the Packers in week 1. There will be some major challenges for the Packers to win this game, we break those down on today's podcast.
Prior to the start of the regular season, let's do a quick recap of how these first and second year players are looking for the Packers. While there have been some huge homeruns by the Gutekunst, he's all whiffed quite a bit as well. Pride, attacking positions of need, only caring about athleticism, seem to be a consistent theme in Gutekunst' errors as a general manager. And a complete oversight results in the Packers missing out on even more talent.
Prior to the start of the regular season, let's do a quick recap of how these first and second year players are looking for the Packers. While there have been some huge homeruns by the Gutekunst, he's all whiffed quite a bit as well. Pride, attacking positions of need, only caring about athleticism, seem to be a consistent theme in Gutekunst' errors as a general manager. And a complete oversight results in the Packers missing out on even more talent.
Today we look at some of the big surprises in the Packers final 53 man roster, and analyze what I would consider some misses opportunities to improve this roster.
Who should the Packers keep for their 53 man roster? Today we explore these big decisions!
There is a lot to glean from Week 2 of joint practices with the Patriots and the preseason game last Saturday. Today we look at the top 5 big takeaways from the last week!
The Packers played the Bengals last week and there were some notable players who both stood out and disappointed. Jordan Love seemed to get glaring holes, but one reason why we should maybe hold our horses. Notable standouts could force the Packers to truly consider teh future and possibly trading away veterans on our roster who aren't part of the future of this team. And notable disappointments and seeing rookies or 2nd year players before much better make me wonder what this team could look like had we made the correct draft decisions.
What should we be watching for in the Packers preseason opener in Cincinnati? This starting offense is young and unproven and needs to play if they are serious about contending this year. And that is a win-win situation for Gutekunst whether they play above expectation or falter. But even though that is true, there is a lot of talent Gutekunst missed out on that we need to keep him accountable for throughout the preseason.
Vegas and the media say that the Packers have one of the worst odds to win the NFC North, but really what team is the best in the NFC North? Today we are breaking down the entire division to truly determine which team is the best in 2023.
After one week of training camp, it's easy to want to get excited, but hold your horses. But knowing that is true how is Jordan Love and this offense doing so far? Should we be concerned with how this overall offense is doing? Which two guys have really stood out so far in camp? Finally, the biggest news is that Aaron Rodgers took a $35M pay cut to help the Jets. We talk about why he would do that, why that wasn't an option for GB, and a secret reason why the pay cut truly is the best move in the long run.
I go on record a lot saying what I think the Packers should have done, this podcast sums up my thoughts on the 2023 offseason from Day 1 what the Packers should have done this year. Everything from coaching, trades, free agency, and the draft. This roster looks a lot different in a good way. The team I built would have a better coaching staff, a younger and more talented roster, honestly a team that would most likely win the NFC North in 2023. But it wouldn't just be 2023, this team would now have around $50M more cap space in 2024, and 8 top 100 picks in the 2024 NFL draft. With both more draft picks and salary cap space the Packers could be ready to compete for a Super Bowl by filling in the gaps of their roster with the money, and using all of their draft capital to trade for the top rookie QB if Jordan Love isn't the guy.
While I don't believe the Packers should be spending tons of money on free agents anyways, Brian Gutekunst still did, as he spent over $20M on free agents this offseason. If the Packers are spending money on those guys, where should have the Packers spent that money. Let's break down the best value contracts over this free agency.
How good will the Jets actually be this season, and what kind of first round pick should we expect back in return from the Aaron Rodgers trade? It's important to note, Rodgers has not played on a top 11 defense in the NFL more than once in his entire career, the only year he did, the Packers won the Super Bowl.
Also, based on the Packers current roster in 2023 and salary cap situation in 2024, the Packers truly won't compete for a Super Bowl roster till 2025. If that's the case the Packers should trade away any player who's career should slide down prior to then, or any players who aren't in the future plans for the Packers.
If you would have asked me last September if there was any chance Jordan Love would work out to be an actually good QB, I would have said there was no chance in the world. But after what has happened in the last 8 months, I believe there's a lot more evidence that says otherwise. And why did the Packers sign Jordan Love to this unique 1 year extension?
While many give Brian Gutekunst praise as a GM, I believe we need to evaluate his decisions over his first 5 years as a GM, and by taking a closer look we can see how mistake after mistake has led to this team not having the personnel it should have. While it's difficult to do, had Gutekunst made the right decisions, most of the players who I loved, we would be talking about a Super Bowl dynasty being built in Green Bay to finish out Aaron Rodgers career.
The official schedule was released. What kind of record should we expect from the Packers in 2023? We will consider three major factors such as rest for both the Packers and their opponents, do we face an elite QB, and how good is the opponents overall roster. With the Packers predicted overall record, what should that mean for Jordan Love moving forward? And how does this record work out for the Packers overall for future for better or for worse?
Every year I personally feel like the Packers leave so much talent out on the board. In my redo of this years NFL Draft, I focus on grabbing players that are younger, better athletes, higher PFF Grades, and were ranked higher on the overall consensus board then the players the Packers selected. After going through this exercise as I was watching the NFL draft, I knew I would be disappointed but I never thought I would be this disappointed on the Packers missing out on dramatically changing the future of their franchise for the better.
Get to know the new 2023 Draft class for the Packers, and hear if the Packers made the right choices this year
Another average first round for the Packers...what should have the Packers done, and what were the best moves of the first round? How can Packers fix this on Day 2?
Tonight is the night, Round 1 of the NFL Draft? If I was the GM who would be my selection, and what is my flow chart or draft strategy depending on the guys available to the Packers at pick 13.
Now that the Packers have the 13th overall pick what does this mean for our round 1 plans? If JSN is already drafted what should the Packers do? I believe trading back as many times as possible is always a good strategy and getting as many lottery tickets as you can to hit big in the draft. Brian Gutekunst should take a page out of his own playbook to try and get another 2024 first round pick from a bad team to ensure the Packers have enough draft capital to get Caleb Williams the consensus QB1 in the 2024 NFL draft, and probably the best QB prospect we have ever seen.
The Packers and Jets have finally agreed on terms for an Aaron Rodgers trade, and the Packers got exactly what they wanted. With the trade of Aaron Rodgers the Packers have literally zero money to spend outside of their rookie draft class, does this kind of force the Packers to subtly be in a rebuild? What moves can the Packers make to accelerate this rebuild? And we finish up with a quick rebuild Mock Draft with our new draft picks.
Again the overall consensus board is so important, remember GMS are almost 30% more successful when they get "steals" on the consensus board. How does each position group currently look for the Packers? What defensive players stand out as good value for the Packers at each position group? And if this truly is a rebuild the Packers don't need to REACH to fill a need through the draft.
In this podcast we break down quite a few things. Why hasn't the Aaron Rodgers trade happened yet, and why it's important the Packers are holding their ground? What is the overall consensus draft board, and why is the research from 2019-2021 show why it's important to stick to that board to increase chances of having successful draft selections? Let's identify some potential steals in the draft on the offensive side of the football. Why having an incredible draft class on the offensive side of the football, plus acquiring a 2024 first round pick in the Aaron Rodgers trade, could help make this Packers team ready to compete for a Super Bowl in 2024 whether or not Jordan Love is the real deal.
The Jets received an extra 2nd round pick, could that be the extra pick the Packers need to get a deal done? This unique stat about changing over from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love could make the Packers offense better in 2023. JSN is my favorite WR in the draft, is he worth trading up for? If we can't get JSN should the Packers trade back? What's the success rate on drafting TEs, and where can you find the most value in the draft historically? Finally my mock draft 2.0 to help you learn some more upcoming prospects for the 2023 NFL Draft.
We got to hear from Aaron Rodgers and his long interview on the Pat McAfee show listen in for the highlights. The Packers have lost 4 starters from last year which could be really beneficial for the Packers moving forward. What have the Packers done so far in free agency? What are the best deals throughout the NFL that teams have made in free agency? And finally, what are the best moves left to make for the Packers?
After some disagreement on a few things, the Packers and Jets seem to have a deal pretty close to done for the trade of Aaron Rodgers, they are just waiting to hear if Aaron Rodgers would rather retire. Bakhtiari won't be a part of that trade to the Jets though as his contract has been restructured to stay in Green Bay through the 2024 season. The Packers have opened up $24M in cap space because they believe they can make a Super Bowl push in a weak NFC, which players are the best bargains for the Packers and could help the Packers build a Super Bowl roster in 2023.
This Aaron Rodgers trade is going down soon. The Packers just gained a lot of leverage in trade talks with the Jets as Derek Carr has officially signed with the Saints, hopefully helping the Packers get as much back in return in a trade. But Lamar Jackson also just got the non exclusive tag, which could lower the ultimate ceiling of draft picks we could receive back in a trade sadly. This trade is going down sooner rather than later as all of the Jets main decision makers flew out to CA to speak with Aaron Rodgers in person as of Tuesday afternoon.
Gutekunst has been very busy as of lately. At his press conference on Tuesday we heard from him and by saying not much at all he really said a lot about Aaron Rodgers future in GB, while also having a lot of faith in the future of Jordan Love. While the QB situation is not settled yet, the Packers are setting up for whoever at QB to have great players around them with plenty of salary cap space to make some moves to help make this team great in 2023. By restructuring four major contracts already the Packers now have $17M of cap space with other moves still left to be made that number could go all the way up to around $33M.
The Packers have begun to make some serious roster moves, but without any news on Aaron Rodgers. What does this mean for Aaron Rodgers? If the Packers trade Aaron Rodgers, why might it be best to acquire 2024 1st round picks rather then 2023 1st round picks.
With Tom Brady retiring, this might be perfect for the Packers as that leaves Aaron Rodgers as the only QB with the potential to lead a team to a Super Bowl in 2023. And let's jump into the scouting avenue with our first mock draft of the year.
While we are past the AFC and NFC Championship teams, these 4 teams had a lot in common which are somewhat blueprints or lessons the Packers need to learn if they want to be competitive and put their best foot forward to winning a Super Bowl sooner rather than later.
Jordan Love has made it clear it's him or Rodgers. While Rodgers has made it clear he doesn't want a rebuild, and he wants some major players back with him which the Packers truly can't afford. With all of the reports that have been released it feels like both the Packers and Aaron Rodgers want to move on, and the trade market already feels like it's heating up. Both the Jets and the Colts have already shown interest which could cause a bidding war that could help the Packers be just a QB away from being a Super Bowl contender again by 2024.
The Packers might have one of the highest year 1 impacts from their rookie class compared to most other teams in the NFL, and Gutekunst deserves a lot of praise for how he drafted and some of the bottom of the roster types of players he was was able to add to this team, but I still think with a few different moves this team could be the #1 seed in the NFC and I want to share what those moves were and what I would have done as GM this season.
As it looks, the Packers aren't going to be moving on with any of their coaching staff, even though the Packers were quite underwhelming on both sides of the football this year. But let's dig into the data and explain why changes must be made if this team is serious about competing for a Super Bowl in 2023, and there are plenty of quality options out there if the Packers are willing to be flexible.
The Packers lost with everything on the line, and it was truly the Packers blame, and the blame needs to spread over the entire team coaches, offense, and the defense overall.
The Packers have the chance to seal the deal for their spot in the playoffs by beating the Detroit Lions this sunday. We break it down how and why the Packers can do that this Sunday? And while beggars can't be choosers, who we should be rooting for to set up an ideal playoff matchup.
The Packers absolutely crushed the Vikings on Sunday with a 41-17 win, how did that happen? With that win the Packers are in control of their own destiny to make it into the playoffs.
While the Vikings have the 2nd best record in the NFC, the metrics say they really aren't that good of a football team. The fact that the Vikings aren't as good as their record, this is a different football team than the Packers had all the way back in week 1, and we know a lot more about this Vikings offense, makes this a winnable game for the Packers.
Packers escape Christmas stealing a win from the Dolphins as they get very lucky in beating one of the scarier teams in the NFL in a very exciting win. Although they won, this team is facing many key injuries which could be detrimental to the Packers success moving forward. How are the Packers playoff chances affected and what do we need to happen to make it in? Why the NFC East title plays a huge role in our playoff chances? And other news: Packers sign Elgton Jenkins to huge contract, Packers sign speedy WR Bo Melton, and Nathaniel Hackett is fired.
Packers beat the Rams as they should have, and this Packers offense has the potential to a be top 5 offense in the NFL with Doubs and Watson on the field. Packers playoff chances are becoming very real as every team they are rooting for is the favorite in Week 16, except themselves.. It's going to be tough to keep up with this Miami Dolphins offense, but it's possible, and how do they stop the Dolphins speed, and is it even possible.
After the bye, the Packers might have the healthiest team in the NFL and that bodes well for the Packers to begin to make a run to make the playoffs, but if we don't it's really a question of how well Gutekunst truly built this roster. And we question Gutekunst for trying to fill holes on this defense with the two most important commodities our first round picks in the draft. The draft should never be a place you use to fill holes, but should be a place to get the top talent you can find. Had Gutekunst used free agency to fill holes on this defense, he would have simply signed Bobby Wagner, who the Rams now have who has helped lead the Rams to have the best run defense in the NFL this year. How could have signing a guy like Bobby Wagner instead of Preston Smith changed the fortunes for the Packers this season, and then we used our 1st round picks on actually impactful players. We finish by previewing this Rams game Monday night.
The Packers playoff odds are still slim, but after a few more critical games in Week 14, the Packers still have a chance. There are three major games to watch this season, especially one Thursday night, that could significantly affect the Packers playoff chances moving forward, and are something to watch before the Packers play on MNF. New research was released this week on how rest impacts the outcomes of NFL games, and that rest is something the Packers have not had for a majority of the season and seriously could explain their overall performance this season.
Packers seem to almost have everything go their way for the playoff picture, but how much did it actually help? Almost not at all. What could have been if the Packers had lost? And a lot of scary injuries happening around the league to starting QBs, Packers really taking a chance on Rodgers continuing to be out there.
Packers decide what's best for the team is to play Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, but are they being actually ignorant about the percentages of what's best for both the Packers and Aaron Rodgers? What should the Packers be doing and why?
We had a historically bad game defensively against the Eagles, and it proves why Gutekunst and Joe Barry should be canned, thankfully there are more options than ever to hire a new GM and especially a new and better DC. Rodgers should sit the rest of 2022, the Packers have a 2% chance of making the playoffs. This would be so ideal for the future of this franchise, either resulting in guaranteeing the Packers get a top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, or that Jordan Love looks awesome, both give the Packers more ammo to make this team as good as possible to help them win a Super Bowl in 2023. The problem is that leadership and Aaron Rodgers can't see this, Aaron will play, and it could cost the Packers everything in 2023.
It's been a long week, but big news was just released Rodgers thumb is officially broken, which I have to imagine explains a lot about how Rodgers has missed plays at times this season. The Titans get toasted by the Titans which really was a disappointing game to watch. What does that mean for our coaching staff, while I believe Matt Lafleur is safe, with so many quality coaches out there should we replace our OC and DC? What are the Packers chances of making the playoffs and if they do manage to beat the Eagles, what teams should we be rooting for on Sunday? Finally with a preview of what I expect to happen, but also how the Packers could win this game.
The Packers have a 15% chance of making the playoffs, so if those odds are going to start to increase we have to get a win on a cold Thursday night as we face off against the Titans @ Home.
Packers stun the Cowboys and win a huge game in OT 31-28, and they did it even though they had plenty of mistakes of their own that could have cost them this game. A lot of those mistakes though are really roster management mistakes, and Gutekunst has truly missed out on creating a team that could win us a Super Bowl and deserves to be fired for it. Even though the Packers playoff hopes are alive, they are slim, and it looks like the Packers truly have to run the table if they want to get one of the final wildcard playoff spots.
How you lose to a team like the Lions is unfathomable. The probability we win 7 of the next 8 games with how our team is currently playing, health wise, and our schedule, is almost impossible. This season is over, and you should realistically already be thinking about 2023, and building a roster ready to contend. How do you do that? Well it starts by getting the best draft pick possible and by tanking the rest of this season. How we move forward with major players like Aaron Rodgers that's the real question.
The Packers need to win this game or the season is basically over. If the Packers lose, with the lack of success the Packers had during Aaron Rodgers tenure, should Brian Gutekunst be fired for this teams lack of success?
The Packers need to win this game or the season is basically over. If the Packers lose, with the lack of success the Packers had during Aaron Rodgers tenure, should Brian Gutekunst be fired for this teams lack of success?
While the Packers did lose again on Sunday, there was a lot to be encouraged about moving forward for this team. The Packers missed the trade deadline, while there were no major deals worth going after for the Packers sake this season, there's one the Packers missed out on for our future. And several teams the Packers play this season were affected by some major trades and how does that affect our chance our schedule moving forward knowing we need to win 7 of the last 9 games of the regular season to have a chance at making the playoffs.
While the Packers did lose again on Sunday, there was a lot to be encouraged about moving forward for this team. The Packers missed the trade deadline, while there were no major deals worth going after for the Packers sake this season, there's one the Packers missed out on for our future. And several teams the Packers play this season were affected by some major trades and how does that affect our chance our schedule moving forward knowing we need to win 7 of the last 9 games of the regular season to have a chance at making the playoffs.
After the Packers lose their third straight game, things are looking very bleak. Can the Packers even make the playoffs? Aaron Rodgers believes so, and it is still possible. We break down what's wrong with this team, what must change, and if there are any moves that can be made to fix this team.
The Packers have had a tough season so far, but if we simply execute better, this team has real potential. Looking at the Commanders and specifically Montez Sweat, a player I loved more than Rashan Gary in the 2019 NFL draft, made me rethink the 2019 offseason and where this team would be today. What receivers are getting considered before the trade deadline to try and add some more juice to our offense? And what to expect from the Commanders in this game.
It seems like a lost cause at this point, and the way the Packers are playing could they even make the playoffs? What has to change for the Packers to turn this all around before it's to late?
Two tough games in a row for the Packers, this is a big game on Sunday vs. the Jets. Defensively, Zach Wilson is playing incredible when kept clean, can our front four get pressure on Zach Wilson? If not, can Joe Barry be aggressive enough to send more guys in on the blitz? Offensively, we will be without Christian Watson, the Jets have been very good at stopping the run, and the Jets defensive line gets a lot of pressure. Can we keep the pressure off Rodgers? And if so, can Rodgers methodically move down the field to put consistent points up on the board?
The Packers just lost to the New York Giants 27-22 after almost losing to the Patriots last week in OT. This Packers team is just off, what is going on? Let's dive in deep to see how Aaron Rodgers, inconsistent adjusting by Matt Lafleur, and wrong personnel are plaguing this offense. While defensively we need to start creating a defense around our players instead of trying to insert players into a defense.
We know how the Giants are going to win this game, it's by running the ball with Saquon Barkley, but will the Packers defense adjust to make that hard for the Giants? The Packers for years have talked about getting their best 5 OL out on the field, does that mean Yosh Nijman could be moving to RT? The Packers are surprisingly 2nd in the NFL in explosive plays this season, and we've missed a lot of opportunities. Could this become the most explosive offense in the NFL? All these questions are answered as we preview the Giants game on Sunday at 8:30 AM CDT in London.
Packers win a tight one in OT, but there were lots of mistakes the Packers have to address because there's no reason this game should've been even close. Offense improves overall as it begins pushing the ball down the field. Rashan Gary is basically what's holding this defense together whatsoever in his defensive player of the year performance so far this year.
The Patriots are not the team they once were, and this game should be the opportunity for the Packers to prove to themselves and the rest of the NFL just how dominant they can be.
The Patriots are not the team they once were, and this game should be the opportunity for the Packers to prove to themselves and the rest of the NFL just how dominant they can be.
UPLOAD FIXED! Some of my listeners, the update to the audio recording didn't go through on the first upload, so I am simply reposting this episode in full. Packers beat the Bucs 14-12 and we got a little lucky. The Packers defense really stepped up big in this game. This offense started out the game hot, but fell apart over the last 8 drives of the game. The missing key, Christian Watson is critical to the consistency of this offense.
UPLOAD FIXED! Some of my listeners, the update to the audio recording didn't go through on the first upload, so I am simply reposting this episode in full. Packers beat the Bucs 14-12 and we got a little lucky. The Packers defense really stepped up big in this game. This offense started out the game hot, but fell apart over the last 8 drives of the game. The missing key, Christian Watson is critical to the consistency of this offense.
Packers beat the Bucs 14-12 and we got a little lucky. The Packers defense really stepped up big in this game. This offense started out the game hot, but fell apart over the last 8 drives of the game. The missing key, Christian Watson is critical to the consistency of this offense.
Packers beat the Bucs 14-12 and we got a little lucky. The Packers defense really stepped up big in this game. This offense started out the game hot, but fell apart over the last 8 drives of the game. The missing key, Christian Watson is critical to the consistency of this offense.
While the Packers may have their own injury concerns currently, the Tampa Bay Bucs may have the most injured roster in the NFL. This is the weakest Tampa Bay team we have seen since Tom Brady arrived and should give the Rodgers and Lafleur the opportunity to steal a win from a very good Bucs team, which could be very important for the playoffs. But this Bucs defense still is one of the best in the NFL, and the Packers have had their offensive troubles, can they score enough points to win this game?
While the Packers may have their own injury concerns currently, the Tampa Bay Bucs may have the most injured roster in the NFL. This is the weakest Tampa Bay team we have seen since Tom Brady arrived and should give the Rodgers and Lafleur the opportunity to steal a win from a very good Bucs team, which could be very important for the playoffs. But this Bucs defense still is one of the best in the NFL, and the Packers have had their offensive troubles, can they score enough points to win this game?
The Packers came out and did what they had to do, and destroy the Bears in a 3 score win. But there were a few weaknesses that became very known in this game. This IOL in Royce Newman and Josh Myers could barely overcome a very bad IDL for the Bears, and that scares me. This running game while it can be very efficient, it could really doom this offense when it matters this season. Finally the depth on the Packers defensive line is going to lead to tough 2nd halfs for the Packers defense this season when we begin facing quality offenses.
The Packers came out and did what they had to do, and destroy the Bears in a 3 score win. But there were a few weaknesses that became very known in this game. This IOL in Royce Newman and Josh Myers could barely overcome a very bad IDL for the Bears, and that scares me. This running game while it can be very efficient, it could really doom this offense when it matters this season. Finally the depth on the Packers defensive line is going to lead to tough 2nd halfs for the Packers defense this season when we begin facing quality offenses.
After a very disappointing and slow start to the season, can the Packers turn it around against the 1-0 Bears?
The Packers may be without 3 of their preferred starting offensive lineman in this game with Bakhtiari, Jenkins, and JRJ all listed as questionable for this game. Who will start and can they protect enough to allow this offense to actually be run? Can Rodgers and these young rookie WRs get on the same page? Can we clean up this defense and live up to the expectations of a top 5 defense in the NFL? This Bears team is one of the worst rosters in the NFL, if the Packers do not win by 13+ points, this game will be a disappointment. Look for the Packers to bounce back on SNF in Lambeau.
While it was a very tough game to watch, we probably shouldn't overreact, and there is still hope for this Packers team moving forward.
On Sunday the Packers face off against the Vikings to start the regular season at U.S. Bank Stadium. The big news going into Sunday's game is that Allen Lazard will most likely not be playing in this game. Can the Packers muster up enough offense with an unproven group of wide receivers who most in the media would say are rookies(Watson & Doubs), coming off injury riddled seasons(Watkins & Tonyan), or some might say washed up(Cobb)? Luckily for the Packers both Jenkins and Bakhtiari are listed as questionable meaning hopefully they both play in this game on Sunday. Finally we will be able to see if our defense can live up to the hype of the off-season against a quite talented Vikings offense as well. It's going to be a close battle.
There's a lot to be hopeful about for the Packers this upcoming season including: possibly the best defense they've had since 2010, the fact that we have a healthy and deep offensive line, and the fact that we possibly have the best QB head coach combo in the NFL. But also there are a few things that I think could hold the Packers back from getting to the big stage in February including: inefficient offense because of incorrect utilization of our RBs, lack of depth at critical positions on defense, and special teams issues.
It's crazy to think how many moves happened this season for the Packers. From the Davante Adams trade, cutting Zadarius Smith, keeping Jordan Love, the NFL Draft, the list goes on and on. How would have my decisions fared against current General Manager Brian Gutekunst? This is the question I pose today as I redo the Packers offseason. At the least, we have this to go back to whether my takes are correct or not, and we can look at this at the end of the NFL season.
Gutekunst decides on the final 53 man roster, and decides to double down on his own guys he drafted over players who played much better in my opinion. The waiver wire at first glance seems like you can find some diamonds in the rough, but really is overrated. The Packers may have missed their last chance to really add some depth to the weaker positions on this team like edge rusher.
Who are the Packers going to keep on this 53 man roster and who should they keep? What matters most special teams, youth, or trusted veterans? Putting together this final 53 man roster, you'll notice this is the healthiest Packers team we have had in a very long time at the end of a training camp which bodes very well for a strong start to the the 2022 season.
There are a lot of position battles going on that will be determined in the last preseason game tonight against the Chiefs. What should you be watching for, and what should we be hoping for by the end of the night? And how will that affect the final 53 man roster moving forward.
This could be Jordan Love's last game as a Packer on Thursday night, this preseason game could be the what he needs to stick out and be a huge trade asset next offseason.
David Bakhtiari has been activated off the PUP which is a huge surprise. We all were nervous Bakhtiari wouldn't be ready to play until the middle of the season at best. Now with both Bakhtiari and Jenkins returning from injury early what does this mean for the rest of our offensive line? Who should start? Who should make our 53 man roster? Is there still an upgrade to be made?
The Packers have huge news as Tonyan, Jenkins, and Watson all are getting healthy and have begun practicing. This means that they could be ready by week 1. What kind of upgrade does this to each position group, and what does this mean for our offense moving forward?
Most of the media is slamming Jordan Love without even watching the game, which if they did they would understand Love played actually pretty well. Romeo Doubs is getting open constantly, but struggling with his hands a little bit which reminds me of a young Davante Adams. The Packers have 9 receivers they are excited about which 7 will make this final 53 man roster?
The Packers play their first preseason game on Friday night against the San Francisco 49ers. What are the real things we should be looking out for? Why does Jordan Love’s performance matter this preseason? Why will the 49ers be a great test for our young OL? How do our 1st round rookies do in their first NFL Action?
Training camp has started, and while the WRs have surprised, the OL is something to be concerned about. With injuries happening throughout the NFL, what free agents should the Packers jump on before the rest of the league does?
In today's episode, we breakdown why the Packers are one of the best rosters in the NFL, but not quite the best. But there are moves still the Packers could make to get them to the top, bargain veterans still out in free agency that need to be signed before it's to late.
Let's talk about the hard loss the Packers had to end the season, evaluate why the Packers lost to the 49ers, and what needed to happen differently for the Packers to win that game and make it to the Super Bowl.