Hod’s mudder was a muddler?
My question is about the upside of the roster. We’ve had a lot of injuries, but it’s good to see Brenton Cox Jr., Jayden Reed, and MarShawn Lloyd all practicing. Down this stretch for a playoff run, which one of those three do you see having the biggest impact in their potential return?
Getting Reed back will be huge for this offense. Before Tucker Kraft, Reed was that guy whom the Packers could consistently count on to move the chains. We’re inching closer to seeing Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Golden all available at the same time. Will it be Sunday? I don’t know, but that time draws near.
Diane from Hot Springs Village, AR
With defenses taking away deep shots, how does Jordan Love stay aggressive, and what creative ways (like moving Watson) can the offense create big plays?
By feasting on what the defense gives him. Spoff articulated well how Love and the Packers attacked Detroit’s man coverage last week. It’s going to be 50 degrees cooler on Sunday than it was at Ford Field, but Love won’t blink at throwing that pass again if the Bears allow it.
Doug from Union Grove, WI
It’ll be interesting to see if/how our run defense holds up against the Bears with Devonte Wyatt out…
It’s one of the two biggest keys to this game. The Packers twice showed they can stop one of the game’s best running backs in Jahmyr Gibbs this season. The same rules apply defending D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. While Quay Walker isn’t a defensive tackle, getting the Packers’ “Mike” linebacker back definitely helps that cause, too.
I’m excited to see Lloyd healthy and what he can bring to this team. Unfortunately, I’m struggling to see how he fits in at this point barring an injury to another RB. Josh Jacobs is the clear cut No. 1, Emanuel Wilson is playing great, and Chris Brooks is a solid third-down/blitz-pickup back. Do you see a scenario where the Packers could carry four RBs on the roster? Especially with other positions getting healthy as well, which will need roster spots (Reed, Cox Jr. and Collin Oliver).
Aside from maybe specialists, you throw roster numbers out the window this time of year. Green Bay will carry as many running backs, receivers, linebackers as necessary to deploy the best gameday roster. Barring injuries, I doubt Lloyd would have a featured role this year. However, a sprinkle of his talent could go a long way for this offense while also giving defenses one more playmaker to consider.
Hola amigos, speaking of the 2010 season finale vs. the Bears, I remember watching the game and thinking that if they scored a touchdown they would have gone for two points and the win. Thank you, Nick, or Jay for keeping that a secret forever.
I guess we’ll never know.
Weston, Joe from Swansea asked Mike what his best memories of the Packers-Bears rivalry are, and I’d love to know yours, too. For me, it was the 2010 NFC Championship, when dear friends Andy, Tracey, and I had two days earlier bought secondary-market Super Bowl tickets and were desperately hoping we’d made a smart investment. Or that time as a kid in border town Kenosha, when I cried because the Packers lost and I knew a snotty Illinois kid would tease me the next day. Memories. Richness indeed.
I didn’t cover the Packers yet in 2010, so my favorite memory remains sitting in the Soldier Field press box and seeing Randall Cobb come free down the field during the 2013 finale. The play was coming toward us, and I remember uttering, “Cobb’s wide open.” Aaron Rodgers delivered the ball and the rest was history.
