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On the plus side, we no longer have to worry over whether Joe Barry will allow Jaire to travel with Justin Jefferson on Sunday night. Soft Zone coverage it is!

https://twitter.com/KurtBenkert/status/1716900059500187802 Interesting insight from a guy who was literally an insider in the Packers QB room. Not complementary of the WRs, but still willing to acknowledge where Love should have done things differently.

Rodgers' worst year for INTs came after sitting behind Favre for 3 years....and he was throwing to a much more experienced group of WRs. Throwing primarily to rookies Doubs and Watson, he was 1 away from matching that total last season. I am much more forgiving of the INT in the Raiders game than this past week's, because there was time on the clock this week, and the team only needed a FG to beat Denver. (Not to mention, Watson needs to fight for that ball, if only to make the official think about calling PI when the defender pushes off.) As for the Doubs TD, Steratore has admitted he mis-applied the rules. Not surprising, considering the play was automatically reviewed by the league before Green Bay kicked the PAT. If the Packers do not make the playoffs, then evaluating Love is the most important takeaway from the season. Whether he learns from his mistakes, or whether he keeps finding ways to throw INTs at the end of winnable games, will make the determination one way or the other. I don't see the upside in giving up on him after 6 games.

Love went 10-for-13 in the first half, and only had a missed FG to show for it. In the 2nd half, he went 11 for 18, but led 3 scoring drives before the INT. The offense around Love makes too many mental mistakes (penalties, wrong routes, etc.) to sustain a short passing offense. I thought this was going to be a fringe playoff team, but I'm assuming the losses to Denver and Las Vegas will keep them out of a wild card spot. Outside of a handful of guys (Zach Tom, Aaron Jones, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark, and Quay Walker with the exception of the one big ST penalty), everyone on the team has to play more consistent for this team to win.

I guess I struggle with acknowledging the throw could not be made "on time" for lack of a window due to the free defender (#0), yet knocking the play for being late. Given there wasn't time to look to other coverages, nor to run with the ball (again, unblocked linebacker 3 yards away), I don't know what more could be expected than a spectacular throw within Doubs' catch radius...on 4th down.

So many moments from a 2-point loss which aggravate me. - Missing a 43-yard FG with ~45 seconds left in the first half. - Giving up another FG in the first half when the other team only had ~45 seconds. - Defense not being able to get a stop after the offense finally takes the lead. Carrington Valentine got picked on all game, but at least he managed to stay on the field (Stokes re-injured his hamstring 4-snaps into his comeback, only playing on ST, and Jaire didn't play). - The holding penalty that sent the offense back to midfield right after the 2-minute warning, when they only needed a FG. - Love forcing a throw into coverage when Dillon or Reed were more open. The INT in the Raiders game was at least late into the clock; this one you only needed 15-20 yards to give Carlson another chance, and they had time & time outs to do it. I am fine with this being a developmental year for the team, given the injuries and the cap....but if Jordan Love wants to get a real 2nd contract from the Packers, this is the throw he needs to stop repeating. This game, like the Raiders game (and, if I'm being honest, the Atlanta game) are the ones where I expect the team to find ways to win. There's a lot of season left, but confidence is a thing that builds, and this team keeps finding ways to lose.

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2023/10/17/one-big-reason-why-jordan-loves-completion-percentage-is-so-low/ Interesting article, breaking down Love's performance relative to down and distance. He's a 60+% passer when ahead of the chains. On 1st-and-10, a completely neutral passing situation, Love is completing 65.4 percent of passes (34/52). On 2nd-and-7 or longer, Love has completed 13 of 33 passes (39.4 percent). On 3rd-and-7 or longer, Love has completed 14 of 30 passes (46.7 percent). In any game situation other than 2nd-and-long and 3rd-and-long, Love is completing 63.6 percent of his passes. To be succinct about it, the problem with Love's passing game is that the offense doesn't seem to be able to run the ball (without Aaron Jones in the lineup). Small samples and confirmation bias to-be-certain, but I'd be curious to see how that compares to other QBs in the league.

Quoting this post, because it comes as close to my feelings on the game. Watson needs to make a play on that ball. The throw was exactly where it needed to be. The problem is the throw was late, which allowed the DB to catch up, get his hand on Watson and make the play in front of him. High-point that football, and they at least have a shot at a PI call (not a gimmie, since having a handful of jersey on the prior deep shot to Watson wasn't called). Maybe going for the ball turns it into an incompletion, and another shot on 4th down. ...and the deep shot on 3rd down was a direct product of catchable balls on 1st and 2nd down being dropped. This team is 1-3 without its best offensive player in Jones, and that lack of a credible run threat is what lead to the defender being in position on the first interception. (Don't know how the regular MNF looked at it, but the Mannings did a good job of showing the linebacker not biting at all on the play action.) It also opens up the playbook in the red zone, in a game where scoring an extra TD instead of a FG would have meant only needing 3 on that last drive. Giving a relative pass to the defense, but if the Raiders had gone for it on 4th and 2 on their last drive, it's the Atlanta game all over again.

Confirming what we mostly knew. I very much hope things get sorted out on the health front for Bakh, irrespective of the contractual implications for the Packers.

Bring on Chourio, Gasser, and Black sometime next season! Rookie of the Year field is going to be crowded.

Just seemed like every decision backfired. - Keeping Caratini out of the lineup so Canha could go 0-4 as the DH, and Burnes gives up 3 HR's and throws 92 pitches in 4 innings. - Garrett Mitchell had more HRs for the Brewers this year in 65 ABs (3) than Winker did in 166 ABs (1), but Winker got a spot on the post-season roster. (I would have a similar gripe for Wiemer, but I assume he made the roster as a pinch runner.) - Andruw Monasterio not getting an AB, while Winker did, despite Monasterio being the better player all season. (I can excuse starting Turang with Burnes on the mound, but once he was out...we needed offense. - Using Williams while losing, when we need to win 2 games this series. Not out of it yet - as last night showed, anything can happen in a short series - but that game hurt.

No need to panic, the Magic Number is Leskanic.

65% of snaps? He might not make 65 snaps period. Stunned right now; hadn't even switched over my 2nd screen to watch the game yet.

What are your predictions for the Packers this year? Record: 10-6-1 (I don't know who the tie is going to be; just go with it!) Will we make the playoffs? Wild Card (Detroit wins Central) Offensive MVP: Aaron Jones Offensive Most Improved Player: Zach Tom (I'd say Rasheed Walker, but I'm hoping we don't see much of him at LT) Offensive Rookie of the Year: Luke Musgrave Most Receiving Yards: Romeo Doubs Most Rushing Yards: Aaron Jones Most TDs total (rushing or receiving): Aaron Jones Love's QB line: Rating, Yards, TDs, INTs: 87.2, 3900 yds, 32 TD, 20 INT Defensive MVP: De'Vondre Campbell Defensive Most Improved Player: Quay Walker Defensive Rookie of the Year: Anthony Johnson, Jr. Most Sacks: Rashan Gary Most INTs: Rasul Douglas Carlson's FG%: 79% (just good enough to stick with; including some long kicks Crosby couldn't make) Others? Packers will start a safety during the season who's not yet on the roster (RoY prediction notwithstanding)

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38285769/lucas-giolito-host-los-angeles-angels-players-placed-waivers Isn't this just the annual "waiver-trade" deadline, only dressed up like an actual story? MLB teams routinely put players on the waiver wire around this time of year, with the ability to pull the player back if they can not find a trade partner. We just rarely hear about the actual names.

Daniel Whelan has apparently won the punting battle, as the Packers released Pat O'Donnell.

Optimism thread needs more love, especially after confining Hader to sit and watch as the Brewers swept the Padres. Offense has scored 5+ runs daily during the 8-game win streak. Trade deadline acquisitions have been a big part of things. Now keep the streak going against the Cubs!

We tend to forget just how young Jordan Love was when GB drafted him. He's still younger than his rookie backup (24 vs. Clifford is age 25. The NFL Draft is largely about potential, and I don't know that Clifford will be significantly better in 3 years than he is right now. That being said, he seems like a good fit for the offense, which is more important than any concerns he might have been over-drafted in the 5th round (vs. the 7th round / UDFA projection he had going into the draft). Clifford is still the guy who forced 2nd round pick Will Levis to transfer away from Penn State. The sense the offense won't fall apart if Love gets hurt - without having to commit big money to a failed starter from somewhere else - is a better situation than I would have expected. Other observations: Heath is fighting for the team keeping a 6th last WR spot, which is good to see. Will be curious if the Packers try to sneak him through to the practice squad for depth purposes; do they see value in keeping an extra LB for a few weeks while Gary reacclimates to the workload (or if De'Vondre is limited at ILB)? I keep hoping to see Tucker Kraft making plays in the passing game. I know his primary role is blocking, but the opportunity should be there for a 2-way TE after the Davis injury....and the lack of targets is an admittedly a premature concern. Nice to see Brooks and Wooden both flashing potential in the same game. Don't know when I've felt as good about depth on the DL (knock on wood). I don't feel like I have any good read on our safeties, either in who's going to play or in who's any good.

Smooth (...even if it's not that Carlos Santana) Sadly, even average production from 1b/dh would be an upgrade for this team.

Honestly a little surprised the Reds haven't struck a trade going into this series, since it's their last 3 head-to-head games against the Brewers (after losing every other series this season to the Crew).

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/suddenly-bally-sports-wont-airing-171203549.html That is a link to the JS Online story regarding the Padres situation in comparison to the Brewers, including a partial explanation of why the Padres are in a different boat than teams like the Twins, Guardians, etc. (I do not know why JS Online allows some of their stories to show up on Yahoo News, thereby circumventing their own paywall, but I assume a story that is free to read is free to be reposted.)

https://dnyuz.com/2023/05/31/as-cable-model-struggles-m-l-b-takes-over-padres-broadcasts/ Bally (Sinclair) missed their payment to the Padres, so MLB is taking over the broadcast; the on-air talent (including former Brewers prospect Tony Gwynn, Jr.) are being retained by the league. One would have to assume MLB would do likewise if Sinclair defaulted on the Brewers' payments.

I'm assuming that, by extending the contract over 2023 and 2024, the team frees up some cap space for this year....in case they wanted to sign that Amos guy to play safety again (or some similar roster move).

Didn't realize his RAS would be that high. Packers obviously believe in this metric.

The most surprising thing about that run on Edge rushers is that it started with the 15th pick, in part because Green Bay's pick swap allowed Pittsburgh to trade up to 14 and grab the last OT with a first round grade (Broderick Jones). The Packers met with Will McDonald during the pre-draft process (he's from Milwaukee)...but most analysts I read thought it was for the 2nd round. Getting that pick swap in the Rodgers deal meant the Jets didn't get the blocker (for Rodgers) which most pundits thought they would covet; something to watch if #8's sack totals start to rack up in the first few weeks of next season.