BobbyLayne
Footballguy
What do you have to do to get people to pay attention to your first game?
IDK, maybe win a playoff game?
**rimshot**
Green Bay
After trading away DT Kenny Clark (2015 draft class) and two 1st round picks to acquire perennial DPotY candidate Michal Parsons, the Packers have now become the prohibitive favorite to win the NFC North. It would be their first division title since Aaron Rodgers won his 4th MVP in 2021.
The Pack drafted a WR in the 1st round for the first time since 2002. Besides Clark, GB also parted ways with CB Jaire Alexander (2017 class), CB Eric Stokes and C Josh Meyers - all disappointing either from a health or performance viewpoint. LG Aaron Banks was signed from the 49ers and CB Nate Hobbs from the Raiders. The new starting C, Elgton Jenkins, was previously at LG. All of the Packers IOL are mediocre at best, but RT Zach Toms is a stellar run blocker. LT Rasheed Walker is also above average - landing a guy who can handle that position in the 7th round is unbelievable. The hope is last year's 1st round pick, Jordan Morgan (Arizona), would grow into a larger role, even if it meant pushing him inside. For now he's the swing tackle along with rookie Anthony Belton (NC State.)
The offense will continue to revolve around veteran RB Josh jacobs, who topped 1600 YFS with 16 TDs, and TE Tucker Kraft. WR Jayden Reed is trying to play through a Jones fracture (he practiced today), Christian Watson is out after a late season ACL tear, Dontayvion Wicks is dealing with a calf strain, and rookie Savion Williams has been limited with a hamstring. Steady veteran Romeo Dobbs and Golden, the starting outside WRs, are good to go.
The Packers have gone 20-14 since Jordan Love became the starter, and they have the youngest roster in the NFL. They haven't drafted a Pro Bowl player since 2020 (McKinney), but they are still one of the better rosters in the NFL. I like the D, with Parsons they should have more consistent pass win rates. Their interior DL is the weak link on paper, but the S combo is one of the best in the league. Their Special Teams ranked dead last in 2024 by PFF grade. Their punter is one of the league's worst, both by average and not being able to pin opponents inside the 20, but Brandon McManus (20 of 21) proved to be a massive upgrade from Daniel Carlson.
9 new Assistant Coaches but HC Matt LaFleur - who has been phenomenal since he took over - retained all 3 coordinators. Of course the real OC & play caller remains the kid from Mount Pleasant.
Detroit
Manic regression
is searching my soul
The forecast calls for pain.
In a recent anonymous poll of 32 NFL executives, 17 named Detroit as the team most likely to regress. They lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators, C Frank Ragnow retired (plus RG Kevin Zeitler walked to Tennessee), and they still don’t have a Robin to compliment their Batman (ED Aidan Hutchinson.)
Less than a year after 22 players - including 6 defensive starters and several key contributors - landed on IR, they lost DT Levi Onwuzurike and DB Ennis Rakestraw to season ending injuries in July. In addition, 3-tech DT Alim McNeil, versatile DL Josh Paschal and reserve LB Malcolm Rodriguez are still rehabbing from 2024 injuries or offseason surgery.
After going 15-2 with 70 touchdowns, there’s only one place for this franchise to go. That’s the consensus opinion, anyways.
OFFENSE
Third verse, same as the first verse
New OC, same players. With the exception of Isaac TeSlaa taking over the Tim Patrick role, same guys it’s been the last two years. Goff, Gibbs, Monty, ARSB, Jamo, LaPorta, et al. GL stopping ‘em.
OL - Decker back for his 10th year at LT, Sewell might be the most athletic RT in the NFL. Obviously, Ragnow >>> Glasgow but Graham does have a couple thousand C snaps on tape; age 33 season but he ain’t dead yet. Future C / new RG Tate Rutledge (3rd round, Georgia) has been impressive, while LG Christian Mahogany showed his 2 starts last year were no fluke. He was the highest graded IOL in pass pro for either team in his lone regular season start, and had the highest PFF grade of any player (either team) in the DP loss to WAS. They might be OK here again.
DEFENSE
Hutch is back. The rest of the DL seems average, at least until McNeil comes back for the last two months. The entire defensive philosophy is predicated on stopping the run & making the other team one dimensional. Only the Vikings blitz more - like AG before him, Sheppard likes press man & sending extra guys. They give up a lot of explosives but that is their identity - be aggressive, live with the results.
Same LBs except the reserves now include Zach Cunningham & Grant Stuard. DC Kelvin Sheppard thinks he has 7 NFL starting caliber LBs. One big change is Jack Campbell has taken over the green dot helmet.
D.J. Reed came over from the Jets to replace Carlton Davis. Terrion Arnold - 8 penalties in his first 4 g as a rookie, 2 over the last 13 - looks primed to make the Y2 jump. SS Brian Branch (2x pro bowl) and FS Kerby Joseph (All Pro, led NFL in INTs) are one of the best tandems in the league. Veterans Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin can both line up anywhere in the DB.
SPECIALISTS
Mr Jack Fox is the all time leader in punting average, and set a new net average record in 2024. 18 months ago, Jake Bates had never kicked a FG in any game at any level. After making 6 (or 8?) 60 yard FGs for the Michigan UFL team, the former brick salesman hit 26/29 FGs & 64 XP. Huge leg. LS Hogan Hatten was stellar in his rookie season. Detroit hung 52 on the Titans with 61 yards passing, thanks to 262 kick return yards. ST are a point of emphasis thanks to Dave Fipp.
OUTCOME
Detroit has won the last 3 meetings at Lambeau Field, and 6 of the last 7 in the this rivalry under Dan Campbell (18-6 lifetime & 15 of the last 17 vs all divisional opponents.) But the Lions Super Bowl window closed - you hadn’t heard? - and the Packers are now the best team in the division. Don’t believe me? Just ask any NFL X-spurt.
Detroit 31, Green Bay 27
IDK, maybe win a playoff game?
**rimshot**
Green Bay
After trading away DT Kenny Clark (2015 draft class) and two 1st round picks to acquire perennial DPotY candidate Michal Parsons, the Packers have now become the prohibitive favorite to win the NFC North. It would be their first division title since Aaron Rodgers won his 4th MVP in 2021.
The Pack drafted a WR in the 1st round for the first time since 2002. Besides Clark, GB also parted ways with CB Jaire Alexander (2017 class), CB Eric Stokes and C Josh Meyers - all disappointing either from a health or performance viewpoint. LG Aaron Banks was signed from the 49ers and CB Nate Hobbs from the Raiders. The new starting C, Elgton Jenkins, was previously at LG. All of the Packers IOL are mediocre at best, but RT Zach Toms is a stellar run blocker. LT Rasheed Walker is also above average - landing a guy who can handle that position in the 7th round is unbelievable. The hope is last year's 1st round pick, Jordan Morgan (Arizona), would grow into a larger role, even if it meant pushing him inside. For now he's the swing tackle along with rookie Anthony Belton (NC State.)
The offense will continue to revolve around veteran RB Josh jacobs, who topped 1600 YFS with 16 TDs, and TE Tucker Kraft. WR Jayden Reed is trying to play through a Jones fracture (he practiced today), Christian Watson is out after a late season ACL tear, Dontayvion Wicks is dealing with a calf strain, and rookie Savion Williams has been limited with a hamstring. Steady veteran Romeo Dobbs and Golden, the starting outside WRs, are good to go.
The Packers have gone 20-14 since Jordan Love became the starter, and they have the youngest roster in the NFL. They haven't drafted a Pro Bowl player since 2020 (McKinney), but they are still one of the better rosters in the NFL. I like the D, with Parsons they should have more consistent pass win rates. Their interior DL is the weak link on paper, but the S combo is one of the best in the league. Their Special Teams ranked dead last in 2024 by PFF grade. Their punter is one of the league's worst, both by average and not being able to pin opponents inside the 20, but Brandon McManus (20 of 21) proved to be a massive upgrade from Daniel Carlson.
9 new Assistant Coaches but HC Matt LaFleur - who has been phenomenal since he took over - retained all 3 coordinators. Of course the real OC & play caller remains the kid from Mount Pleasant.
Detroit
Manic regression is searching my soul
The forecast calls for pain.
In a recent anonymous poll of 32 NFL executives, 17 named Detroit as the team most likely to regress. They lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators, C Frank Ragnow retired (plus RG Kevin Zeitler walked to Tennessee), and they still don’t have a Robin to compliment their Batman (ED Aidan Hutchinson.)
Less than a year after 22 players - including 6 defensive starters and several key contributors - landed on IR, they lost DT Levi Onwuzurike and DB Ennis Rakestraw to season ending injuries in July. In addition, 3-tech DT Alim McNeil, versatile DL Josh Paschal and reserve LB Malcolm Rodriguez are still rehabbing from 2024 injuries or offseason surgery.
After going 15-2 with 70 touchdowns, there’s only one place for this franchise to go. That’s the consensus opinion, anyways.
OFFENSE
Third verse, same as the first verse
New OC, same players. With the exception of Isaac TeSlaa taking over the Tim Patrick role, same guys it’s been the last two years. Goff, Gibbs, Monty, ARSB, Jamo, LaPorta, et al. GL stopping ‘em.
OL - Decker back for his 10th year at LT, Sewell might be the most athletic RT in the NFL. Obviously, Ragnow >>> Glasgow but Graham does have a couple thousand C snaps on tape; age 33 season but he ain’t dead yet. Future C / new RG Tate Rutledge (3rd round, Georgia) has been impressive, while LG Christian Mahogany showed his 2 starts last year were no fluke. He was the highest graded IOL in pass pro for either team in his lone regular season start, and had the highest PFF grade of any player (either team) in the DP loss to WAS. They might be OK here again.
DEFENSE
Hutch is back. The rest of the DL seems average, at least until McNeil comes back for the last two months. The entire defensive philosophy is predicated on stopping the run & making the other team one dimensional. Only the Vikings blitz more - like AG before him, Sheppard likes press man & sending extra guys. They give up a lot of explosives but that is their identity - be aggressive, live with the results.
Same LBs except the reserves now include Zach Cunningham & Grant Stuard. DC Kelvin Sheppard thinks he has 7 NFL starting caliber LBs. One big change is Jack Campbell has taken over the green dot helmet.
D.J. Reed came over from the Jets to replace Carlton Davis. Terrion Arnold - 8 penalties in his first 4 g as a rookie, 2 over the last 13 - looks primed to make the Y2 jump. SS Brian Branch (2x pro bowl) and FS Kerby Joseph (All Pro, led NFL in INTs) are one of the best tandems in the league. Veterans Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin can both line up anywhere in the DB.
SPECIALISTS
Mr Jack Fox is the all time leader in punting average, and set a new net average record in 2024. 18 months ago, Jake Bates had never kicked a FG in any game at any level. After making 6 (or 8?) 60 yard FGs for the Michigan UFL team, the former brick salesman hit 26/29 FGs & 64 XP. Huge leg. LS Hogan Hatten was stellar in his rookie season. Detroit hung 52 on the Titans with 61 yards passing, thanks to 262 kick return yards. ST are a point of emphasis thanks to Dave Fipp.
OUTCOME
Detroit has won the last 3 meetings at Lambeau Field, and 6 of the last 7 in the this rivalry under Dan Campbell (18-6 lifetime & 15 of the last 17 vs all divisional opponents.) But the Lions Super Bowl window closed - you hadn’t heard? - and the Packers are now the best team in the division. Don’t believe me? Just ask any NFL X-spurt.
Detroit 31, Green Bay 27
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