Aren’t 75 and 73 backups? They are definitely getting rotational reps, and seem to be doing well!

Most teams don't have the depth to lose multiple starters at the same position and not be affected. It's possibility one of the things that helped GB's offense against KC. They were on their 3rd string MLB and he clearly wasn't up to speed on using the headset and calling the plays. Every team struggles through injuries. GB beat the Lions without 8 preferred starters, so is hopeful right there.

Nobody knows how the defense (or offense) will play each week. That's why we watch. I can't be concerned about something I can't do anything about.

"Corey Dillon" LOL

What position does he play?

There were two things that weren’t happening to the Chiefs prior to the game. Giving up sacks and significant yards in the air against them. They were the least sacked team and Love ended up with the highest QB rating against them. They remain the team with the 3rd least passing yards surrendered even after that game.

What the Chiefs had been poor at is run D and getting sacks. In fact we significantly underperformed recent opponents. Dillon got most of his yards without significant help. Credit to Dillon, little to the OL.

Most of the praise of the OL since seems to be for pass pro as a result. However, that has to be set against the fact that the Chiefs have the second least sacks this year of any team. They really only have Jones as a threat. The OL performance is, in my view, being over rated. It’s worth noting that the Giants have the most sacks in the league.

The D again leaked yards, but again key sacks saved us, but within that wad the fact that we expect Mahomes to get some. We probably expect him to get too many. This year the Chiefs came in averaging only a little more than us. What we did give up was a staggering 6.1 yards per carry. Thank goodness for the lead! As in Detroit, the run may have been under used.

The praise for the D is fair based on outcome. However, Kelce was wide open most of the day but mostly not thrown to. I still can’t fathom why, but a gift not earned I suspect. The run D was atrocious. Gary and Clark deserve praise for pressure, Enagbare played well, but outside of the rush the D was not particularly good.

So we won but without obvious improvement from in our weak areas. A lot of credit is being awarded because we win and because I think the Chiefs are being overrated for where they are at this time.

What I do see is a healthy Gary making a difference in the rush game and that’s helping others. I do see more use of Dillon from under center and s guy who is using his power and making yards moving piles his OL isn’t. Just enough to capitalize on Love forcing them to respect the pass and in turn to not let teams drop too many. That’s a virtuous circle LaFleurs game plans last year and in the first halves this year had completely ignored, adding pressure to a suspect OL in the process.

LaFleur has started to try things. Al noted that “He just decided to stop playing not to lose and just play to win instead. ” I’d couch that as finally learning the lessons of second halves where we took the brakes off out of desperation and consistently looked better.

Now we are finally playing like that from the start and, in doing so covering our defensive weaknesses and seeing that aggression before teams are well ahead actually helps our skill players (I mean catchers particularly Leotis) and Love gets in Rhythm.

So LaFleur finally caught up to the talent and started ( with encouragement from Love) to play to it. That’s great but it’s hardly the epitome of leadership or good coaching when the Head Coach has to be dragged to play to strengths. I’m doing so we have covered our worst defensive issues and started to force opponents into mistakes, tactically and in terms of turn overs.

I don’t know if Love can keep it up. I don’t know if a defense will find a way to knock him back out of rhythm, but it seems to me that he does have significant talent and it’s more than LaFleur wax willing to credit or plan for.

In essence, that LaFleur was holding the O back, making it and Love under perform. I’m glad he’s caught up, but that’s exactly why I don’t want him in charge of this roster of players. It’s why the Rodgers led teams prior to last year always failed to get over the hump against good teams when it mattered. We always found ways to make the task harder not easier.

The motion and dbl reverse action sets up the counter-plays if the opponent crashes the edges. Keep it rolling.

I noticed during the Chiefs game that Dillon was running a bit lower and using his powerful legs to bulldoze a few extra yds. I like 3rd and 2 much better than 3rd and 7.

Yes absolutely a win, but it will have to do until someone steps up in run blocking and Gute finds someone in the draft. I share your concerns about losing its effectiveness, if that too becomes predictable.

Sunday was so different that one point I thought we were even going to fake one of our punts. We have come a long way.

Hey Al, where're your 3 Plays that make you go Hmmm? That's usually out first.

Weren't there any? Even 1 or 2? HA!

For the last year or so I’ve found PFF seeming to favor centers when assigning fault, even in games where it’s really hard to see how that’s justified in rewatching. That’s not to say Runyon is great—I thought him out worst OL in the last game—but in part the biggest problem is more the gaps inside the guards. That’s seemingly typically seen as a guard issue by PFF. I’m not so sure that’s true consistently.

I do firmly believe that a better C would elevate Jenkins’ consistency. I do think Jenkins Is also, to a lesser extent, suffering from Walker’s tendency to make a mistake and their lack of chemistry. Jenkins seems more used to Nijman to me, unsurprisingly perhaps.

I think teams know that attacking Myers/Runyon is the optimal weak spot, something they had figured out initially in goal line defenses last year and then targeted generally. Jones was focused on that gap to collapse things, particularly in the second half.

If they continue on this current trajectory and play well--even if they don't make the playoffs--it may be that they don't churn any of their staff.

It's amazing what committing more to AGNB will do. The question is: what finally got him to do it?

I'm not sure this proves anything about anybody on the coaching staff. Just like last year when so many claimed to "know" AR12 was doing this or that; without actually being in the huddle, we do not. MLF said some things in a press briefing. That may or may not have ANY bearing on what he does with the team.

Whatever it is, something's better! A LOT of somethings are better. That can be very minor tweaks here and there that combine to allow the obvious things to take place.

I still think the same glaring weaknesses exist in more than a few coaching positions. Even if improved play by our O line is directly attributable to Butkus, isn't it poor performance for that to take so long? Wouldn't it still be a good idea to have a TE coach who's actually played TE, even though they've now all scored 1 TD? Has Vrable insisted the entire WR room work on CTFB at least 2 hours every day? Is that why drops have stopped? Even if that's the case, why didn't he do that from the very first OTA?

Doesn't JB still need something in his tool box other than an effective strategy for the end of a game when you're ahead?

I think you are right on the mark and I think that Love is working the system well. I see where strong TE play is fundamental to much of the play design. Early season whiffing on blocks blew-up too many plays. The best part - we are only getting started.

Love, for the most part, is getting the ball out quickly and--maybe not always really on target--giving his pass-catchers a chance to make a play.

There was a nice analysis the other day (I can't remember who put it out) showing how the sweep/jet action forces LB to commit early, manipulates the center of the D, and allows for Love to make quick and decisive reads.

Part of that is speed, and particularly in the slot. Reed is elusive and fast and can take in option routes, especially if Watson is also out there (and the reverse to some extent). The raw tools are there as long as we use them. Now we are.

If Watson is out, that’s why I’d like to see Melton active and used in tandem with Reed on a few plays. Not because he’s the next best receiver, but because of what 2 speedy players pose to defenses.

Yes, with time and effort these rookies are finally playing to their strengths. We now have some momentum and the energy of a group of hungry young players, which could be hard to defeat. However, the poor play in early games should keep the lid on overconfidence.

Oh to have a solid interior O-line. I am not sure of the mix but watching KC plow open paths for Pacheco was impressive. I would be reluctant to interrupt Tom's development with a position change. Lets draft a bloody GUARD and plug him into a position that he knows how to play.

I'm going to channel my inner LH here and say that Jenkins' future might be at C with Tom playing one of the T positions and (as Razer says) the Packers finding a G in the draft.

TK, agreed! No doubt Zach Tom has been playing well, but he's clearly out of position. We have guys with the size to dominate at T, and need people on the interior.

Tom has cemented his position as a starter. Whether his talent is best suited to RT or that is in fact his optimal position is I think highly debatable, but he’s going to be somewhere on the OL for a long time I hope.

"The change in LaF came after the Denver game."

I would've said it was that awful offensive performance against the Vikings--they had most of their guys back, and the Vikings squeezed the life out of them slowly--the offense was pathetic and surrendered the ball on downs time after time in the 4th quarter. That was the most painful loss, in my opinion, of the season--even worse than losing the lead v. the Falcons. The next week they finally let Love sling it more against the Chargers, and it's picked up from there.

CoachJV, if you're right, why not come out like that in week 1? That's my biggest fear with this coaching staff. If you want to win, you gotta START. Letting 6-8 weeks go by before you make an adjustment isn't ever going to cut it.

At least the O has been starting on their first possession, that's important too.

I'm not against Rodgers... I love Rodgers. He was one of our greatest to ever don green and gold. But until the day he signs that 1-day contract to retire as a Packer, he is our adversary. So I can find it easy to root against him based on that single regard. Just as it was with my all time favorite Packer... the Gunslinger.

Only one SB with him stings as much as it did with Brett only winning one. But I think of all the teams that never even get to go, and I am proud.

McCarthy"s decade long love affair with Dom Capers prevented more SB appearances, IMO.

MLF has had a similar mini affair with Joe Barry's D for some reason.

Rodgers and other complains he didn't get enough weapons to win SBs. I disagree. He didn't play much with complimentary Defense (or STs!).

In one of Mike McCarthy's first podium interviews he proclaimed that one of the team's biggest problems would be the ability to handle success. That's still as true today as it was then.

Mc Duffie plays downhill. He has instincts and guts. The other two shy away from engagement.

Teams are sticking with the run vs the Packers. They have the 3rd most rushing attempts against them in the NFL. And why not...teams get a first down on 25% of every attempt.

Razer,

from the good luck department, either of those last two wins could have been losses had opponents simply stuck with the run. We weren't stopping it. JB doesn't even consider it important. Giants can beat us like that too if nothing changes.

It might be a good time to call up #99 J Ford?

Therapy can be beneficial. lol

Stock, I like your positive comments.

I do, however, have a question for you about how it is written. You state 'There is still a lot of nice things to write about other players.' You end this with a period and your next line is:
'And this defensive unit.' Are saying that there are nice things to say about the defensive unit or is the 'And this defensive unit.' a separate comment or point?

Stock, I have noticed in some of your other comments as well where it is hard to follow how your comments tie together or if they are separate.

Not picking on you here but just trying to understand better. Thanks.

Yes, indeed, but remember you were calling for Clifford to see the field during the coaching/player malaise. Love
has not changed. The play calling and WRs are better. When a defense consistently gets the shit knocked out of it in the running game and the D-line gets worn down, the pass rush suffers in QTR Four. We saw it against Mahomes down the stretch. Fix the Gap fits. The ILBs have to show up.

I was thinking the defense needs to make a push with some picks, forced fumbles to generate defensive scores. If the offense stays on track, that would be an enormous shot in the arm.

Another fun thing: this is a TEAM! Not just a lone superstar.

Well put, PfNY.
It's an incredible opportunity to have a special season for these young Packers, and it would be a shame to waste it rather than getting the most out of it.
We hope we're looking at a great story to tell about the improbable beginning of a Super Bowl championship team, if not a dynasty.
It's up to the players and coaches to decide whether they are going to slack off or go for the glory.

"But when Love got sacked for the first time I saw it was the first time he had been sacked in the last 7 quarters. That is a hell of a credit to the OL."

I agree with that assessment, but I think Love deserves part of the credit for getting the ball out as quickly as he does. That was probably the first difference I saw between him and Rodgers, who held onto the ball for eternity at times it seemed.

If Josh Myers had his best game as a pro, it seems interesting that it was in a game that had Creed Humphrey as the center for the Chiefs -- the two being inextricably linked as both available to the Packers in the 2021 draft.
Would the Packers draft Humphrey out of Oklahoma "Sooner" than Myers, or would Myers of Ohio State dot the "i" for the Packers?

Maybe they will give us some insight when the first injury report has to be filed this afternoon. I doubt they will tell us much more than they have to though, so the Giants can’t plan with certainty.

PS: It is Thursday that the first report comes out this week due to it being a Monday game.

The only thing I saw was NOT definitive but I think it was Ian Rapoport who said that Watson dodged a “major” bullet BUT that was pending further testing. I have heard nothing since. He did say given his history he will miss time but that was not confirmed. Personally given the poor reputation of MetLife turf in New Jersey my guess is not playing 100% on Monday minimum. Best I got.

After 12 weeks it's like a new season for all these new kids. LOL

Swisch. I think the number one reason for the turnaround is that Love is getting the ball out on time and staying ahead of the chains.

If you go back and watch the first half of the season, you see Jordan time after time not taking what the defense gave him, instead he would look for the deep ball. By that time he was ready to throw, the pass rush was on him, resulting in a sack or an inaccurately thrown ball.

Now the ball is coming out, they're moving the chains, his deep balls and accuracy have improved dramatically, and Lafleur has opened up the playbook. Jordan's confidence is through the roof and he's letting it rip.

Add some defensive scores to loosen things up even more, and force other teams to play catch up, minimizing the run gouging. No cushions, etc

Unfortunately, I believe Bak is done. Not being able to play this season after a whole off season to get the knee ready spells retirement.

"The progress of the WR's and TE's - now THAT is the real pièce de résistance. Those Jackpots have put the Packers in realm of "a few pieces away" rather than "wholesale rebuild" status.

That's exactly how I feel. Been a long time where I felt this good about the team before the next year's draft.

Well, they do have $9M in cap space (vs Packers $4M), so they have a bit more leverage than the Packers to chase starters.

Maybe that's why Gute picked up Drake - the most serviceable player that he could afford.

Remember, Jones has a $17M cap hit next year ($12M dead) - that's going to need to be addressed before next year starts.

Love's contract will need addressing soon too now.

I haven't felt good about Alexander, Stokes & Bakhtiari for a year-Adios.