Expectations for Week 17?
Has Jordan Love cleared all his medical protocols in order to play this week yet?
To those who didn’t see Friday’s update, Love has been downgraded to out. Hopefully, Love is doing all right, but there really isn’t much more to say until Matt LaFleur speaks after the game. The Packers placed Kristian Welch on injured reserve Friday but haven’t made any corresponding roster moves yet. I can only assume Willis starts, with Clayton Tune either added to the 53-man roster today or elevated from the practice squad to serve as QB2.
How often do the Packers have three QBs active for a game?
The 2024 wild-card game in Philadelphia (when Sean Clifford was the emergency QB3) is the only time I recall during my time on the beat. Love wasn’t active at all during his rookie season in 2020.
Why wouldn’t the Packers rest their starters in the next couple weeks? I know the league doesn’t like it, but the Packers probably don’t like the way the officials have allowed some players to be the recipient if some questionable officiating. I’d think allowing the team to heal up and be prepared for hopefully a long playoff run might be a wise decision.
The Packers are still playing for the division and playoff seeding. At the same time, I am curious how Green Bay handles its banged-up stars over the next two weeks. Independent of Love’s situation, Josh Jacobs, Evan Williams, and Zach Tom could all use the rest. But I wouldn’t start sitting guys for the sake of sitting guys. Until Chicago wins the North, the Packers have something to play for.
Hi Insiders, no looking back, no dwelling…no RELAX ;-), but maybe a little bit time to rehab before the playoffs? GPG
To put it another way – the Packers should be healthier heading into the playoffs than they otherwise may have been while trying to clinch a playoff spot over the next eight days.
Several times I’ve read people saying they’d love to have us in X playoff spot. Be careful what you wish for. The Pack just needs to finish each game strong by winning and let the rest sort itself out.
First-round byes and division titles help get you to your goals, but a Super Bowl team still needs to win at least three games regardless. Never count your lumber when you’re working in the woods. There’ll be time enough for counting when the chopping’s done, ya know?
What to expect against the Ravens?
A battle of two good quarterbacks, just not the ones anybody forecasted when the NFL booked Green Bay and Baltimore for Week 17 back in May.
Comments on Malik’s last performance?
Exemplary. If I’m being honest, I look at tonight’s game the same way I viewed Matt Flynn starting the regular-season finale in 2011. This is a chance for Willis to make a lasting impression before free agency.
I am not old enough to remember watching Zeke Bratkowski play. However, I have read a lot about the history of the Green Bay Packers and the excellent play of Bratkowski backing up Bart Starr. Is it fair to say Malik Willis is on the same level backing up Love? When Willis is in the game, I am confident in his ability and poise. Keep up the good work.
That’s another great example. Again, what Willis has done on short notice is nothing short of extraordinary. He has posted four passer ratings of at least 120.0 in relief appearances, including two as a starter.
Not a question but an observation from past games. Here’s hoping the Packer defense can limit Derrick Henry’s running but also prepare for a backup quarterback. I remember Caleb Hanie and Tommy DeVito having career days against the Packers. Thanks again for all your work and Happy New Year.
Fair, but Jeff Hafley also wasn’t the defensive coordinator back then. My key to victory is containing Henry, who at 31 continues to play like the Hall of Fame running back he is. The Packers can’t take Tyler Huntley for granted if Lamar Jackson doesn’t play, but the task of stopping him becomes increasingly more challenging if King Henry is going off.
Watching the Lions and Vikings, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like it. Total control of the entire game by the Vikings’ defense. They completely took over game as to say, “It’s all on us, we know our offense will struggle.” Hats off to that defense and its preparation.
If you can take out the rooting interest that we all had in the outcome, it was a beautiful NFL game to watch because Minnesota’s defense was so completely and utterly dominant in a day and age when it’s not supposed to be. It is so hard for teams to play stingy defense, let alone dictate the entire tempo of a game.
Jon from Soldiers Grove, WI
Good morning, guys. I didn’t watch any of the games on Christmas Day. Looking at the stats from the Vikings vs. Lions brings up this question. Was the Vikings defense “that good” or was the Lions offense (Goff) “that bad”? Thanks.
The Vikings’ defense is real…and it’s spectacular. It again shows how formidable this 2025 Vikings team might have been this year if not for the issues at quarterback.
Three net yards passing and the Vikings win. Wow. My brother, whom(?) I love, is a Vikings fan. He figured I was cheering for them. I told him no way. Never. No exceptions.
The real treasure was the yards we gained along the way.
Keith from North Muskegon, MI
Good morning gents. Mike’s crunch-time article was a great recap of the highs and lows of this team this year. What’s not being mentioned is team maturity, especially as we are one of the youngest in the league. GB has some great talent, but experience is the better teacher. Didn’t Philip Rivers just prove that point against Bo Nix and Denver?
And there are quite a few young players who have learned a lot over the past three years about what it takes to win in this league. The Packers’ window to win is wide open, but I’m hopeful this year’s team can make a run because it’s likely Green Bay will lose at least a few players this offseason from a talented 2022 rookie class that helped expedite the franchise’s turnaround. The Packers arrived ahead of schedule thanks to their 2022 NFL Draft.
To me it’s obvious – we can’t keep wasting opportunities in the red zone. We need touchdowns, not field goals. How can this be fixed?
By staying disciplined, guys executing their assignments and players making plays. The Packers ranked second in red-zone offense going into the Denver game. On average, they’ve been very good at scoring inside the 20 this season but gotta get back to it.
Cindy from Minneapolis, LA
When Jordan Love is able to play again, what are the chances that he would wear a concussion helmet similar to Romeo Doubs’? How would that affect his performance as a QB, or would it?
I don’t believe I’ve seen a quarterback wear a guardian cap yet.
