E130: NFC North 2024 Season Preview: The Green Bay Packers

[Music] hey everybody this is Matthew soulc and you're listening to not the same old Lions podcast part of the minute media podcast Network this season it's all grit I speak with a variety of guests and interview key players gaining more insight on what makes this team go the Detroit Lions are now in a new grittier era and we look Beyond just a kneecap when a comes to the analysis welcome to another episode in this episode we preview one of the Detroit Lions divisional opponents we're going to preview the NFC North taking a closer look at the Green Bay Packers with a guest who covers the franchise we do a dive into the Green Bay roster hear thoughts on the Detroit Lions from a divisional rival and discuss projected NFC North Standings information that will help you fully prepare for the 20 24 NFL season let's get to it Lions fans this is jir Gibbs and you're listening to not the same old Lions podcast I'm joined today by Lauren helmreich sports reporter for the CBS affiliate wfrv TV out of Green Bay Wisconsin you can find her work at we areg greenbay.com Lauren also worked at NFL films and pit story ideas for HBO's Hard Knocks great to have you back as a guest on the show Lauren and how have you been I've been great Matthew it's so good to see you again we have just been chugging along this summer training camp in Green Bay is a huge production I personally have not ridden any bikes but I've seen a lot of players holding helmets maybe carrying a two-year-old's bike and some guys definitely get on there and ped their way to practice I I caught some of that the other day when you guys had the Ravens in town and Lamar Jackson was even riding a bike and so uh yeah it is definitely an event there in Green Bay well let's let's uh as we get started recap about last season real quick you know the Lions finished 12-5 Packers 9-8 Vikings and bears were seven and 10 and I think that was pretty close to where you and I thought the division was going to go last year and so let me ask you how were Packers fans feeling at the end of the season because they had that second half run where they won six out of their final eight regular season games including the final three to end the season they had that playoff game that nobody thought they were going to win against d so how are Packers fans feeling when it all ended last year I mean overwhelmed with excitement and possibility and hope is what I would say because the big test last season was is Jordan love the guy we've seen him sit behind Aaron Rogers we know that he's learned and developed in the system but can he be the guy and when the first half of the season was going on it was kind of looking Bleak I mean there were a couple of times there where the Packers just were losing and losing and losing and it was hard to know what this team's idea identity was but the big takeaway was that Jordan love needed more time with his receivers once he got that more time you could really see the the potential and he had one of the best if not the best turnover to interception ratio in the second half of the Season he led the Packers into cowboys territory and absolutely dominated them at Jerry's world just that game was unbelievable I I don't even think most of us in the media were expecting that and I I think it'd be fair to say some the Packers players weren't even expecting that kind of a beat down and then truly the Packers both on the team side and the fans side feel that they were just one play away from beating San Francisco as well so I think all of those factors contributed into Jordan signing his contract this off season but if the if you're asking about the the vibe the vibe is very good was very good in January was almost like wow if we can do this with one season of Jordan love and experience with his receivers what can we do with two three four and as from a media's perspective a lot of possibility is what we would say that makes a lot of sense and I think some of those feelings resonate over on this side of the lake as well I mean before the Lions kicked off for their uh their wild card game in Detroit my wife and I were were watching on somebody's phone the the game with the Cowboys and the Packers and I think we were in just as much disbelief as anybody else and and lions fans understand that one play away from beating San Francisco as well so um but A lot's changed since then and for the Packers let me tell you I mean let me tell you you're going to reiterate this stuff um but there's a lot that's changed let me go over just some of the the big things that have uh adjusted since the season ended you guys made some big free agent signings some uh Headliners are Xavier McKinny safety from the New York Giant to gave him a 4year $68 million deal you bring in Josh Jacobs the Raiders running back for 4year $48 million deal Jordan love gets his Mega contract we're going to talk about that shortly that keeps him there long term and then the draft first round you grab Jordan Morgan Arizona tackle second round you have two picks here you get a linebacker Edan Cooper out of Texas A&M and Javon Bullard safety out of Georgia in the third round there's two more picks you get a running back marshan out of your alma mater USC and linebacker Tyron Hopper out of Missouri and then you throw in a fourth round pick you get a safety out of Oregon and Evan Williams that's some serious draft Capital there along with those free agent additions is there any big key potential additions that I haven't covered this is not the most glamorous position Battle of all time but Packers fans definitely care about the kicking battle so Green Bay drafted Andre Carlson not this past season but but the year before and when we're talking about that one or two play away well in San Francisco he missed a really important field goal and a couple of times during the season felt like you know the cards were right there he had missed a couple early important field goals in games that came down to one two or three points and then it happened again in San Francisco so during the offseason Greg Joseph formerly of the Minnesota Vikings he came in they're currently trying to figure out who's going to end up being the kicker and then the Packers just gave their International play International player pathway program they gave their designation to Alex hail out of Australia he's also a kicker So currently the kicking competition is something that it's not very exciting maybe on paper but when you when it comes down to it the kicker's job is to make their kicks during pivotal moments and at points that did not happen last season so the battle who's going to be the starting kicker is kind of between those three I'll be honest it's more between Greg and ERS but Alex is there too you have any are you thinking it's Anders is in the lead right now I don't know I'll be honest I don't feel like neither of them are kicking higher than 80% of any much higher than 80% of the way through training camp including the preseason games and I was listening to another podcast that was crunching those numbers compared to last year and 80% puts you in the 20s of overall kicking percentage so it doesn't feel like one is really kicking their way to the top right now but I can't even tell you if the Packers kicker is in the locker room right now I think they would like it to be oners or Greg I think Greg and Anders would like it to be one of them but I don't know if either of them have done enough to make me feels confident in saying oh we have the kicker especially when the Packers just had joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens and Justin Tucker was in the house and I saw what Justin Tucker can do that's obviously a little not fair to compare to the best but the Packers would love to find their own Justin Tucker let me say that yes would wouldn't we all love for that and uh I think you know we've done one thing I'm sure of is we've probably spent way too much time talking about the kicker position in football um but but it is vital and it can come down to some important moments in a game but let's move on let's move to the offense let's move to quarterback Jordan love major contract lots of Praise let me ask you um are are Packers fans just ecstatic about this contract extension based on what they saw in half the season are some of them apprehensive and nervous uh what's your take on that feeling I'd say yes to all of the above I think people are very excited that Jordan love is the guy there's not the Packers are not known for living in quarterback turmoil when it comes to indecisions or not knowing who's going to be be behind the line of scrimmage Green Bay has now gone from Brett Favre to Aaron Rogers to Jordan love who have all learned from their predecessor and taken some of those skills translated them into their own however I will say that Jordan has half a season of good football play under his belt and so some people are rightfully skeptical in saying have have we seen enough do we know we're sure do we know that that wasn't just a oneoff or a really hot stretch and this is something that's sustainable now I can't say that the Packers organization does not think it was a hot streak that is just who he is and that he has things that he can work on to improve and be even better so I'd say the big things that he's been working on this training camp where when he's scrambling when he's moving his feet he still has his eyes down the field so that he can extend plays not just with his feet and then also working on the Deep ball there were a couple games last season where one one or two of plays he airs it out Christian Watson has the speed he's down the field and the ball is not connecting with this receiver so this season I wouldn't be surprised if there are more of those plays but Jordan's able to connect more of them because it's been such a point of emphasis but to your original question the The Vibes are excited it's it's hopeful like I've been saying but people are do know that there's not a lot of a huge body of work that Jordan has just yet and so they really really want to see more of that Dallas game they want to see more of those kind of plays more connections with the wide receivers more unbelievable plays where you think is that Aaron Rogers reincarnate and I think once the season starts and once Jordan's playing because obviously this preseason he hasn't done a lot connected with davan wicks for a 65 yard touchdown that's pretty much all we've seen so this regular season needs to start before people feel one way or the other committed to this contract that makes sense and you know a lot of times contracts are done on faith and belief and potential and and I think that's probably where the Packers found themselves now I got to give you some major credit here because last year when we talked and did the season preview you specifically said judge Jordan love on his second game against the Lions not his first game and you were spot on with that because the second half of the season was a different quarterback and so I got to ask you you know now he's got that full season under his belt a full season of training camp after having gone through a full season as a starter do you still see him Rising do you see him looking as good in Camp as last year better than last year how's he looking in Camp right now and again congratulations on calling that accurately last year thank you I was just waiting eagerly awaiting you to just give me my flowers for my prediction no I appreciate that Matthew I think he's looking better than looked last year in training camp and that's because of those games and that experience because you have to think last season they are learning how to work with each other this is a young wide receiver core and it still is very young that hadn't worked with Jordan as a quarterback I mean they' been practicing with him with the twos but Romeo dobs and Christian Watson were over with the ones that whole time so you're really not getting that many reps with your new future QB when you're on two different sides of the field during practice so now when it's a whole training camp where Jordan is the one and these wide receivers who are the ones are working with him now they're implementing now they're doing new things Jordan has the opportunity to call plays during some of the two-minute drills so they're now implementing new plays in practice because of Jordan's connection with his team so yes he is getting better now is he perfect obviously not against the Ravens in training camp he had a pick during one of the team periods but he also Al had four Red Zone touchdowns against one of the if not the best defense in the NFL so he is looking good he is the connection of course I just keep saying that but the connection is really developing and it's very obvious with Jaden Reed Davian Wicks Romeo dobs Christian Watson the wide receiver room I assume you'll we'll probably talk about that later still as deep as it was last year but he's getting he continues to get better and I do not think that he's reached his full potential which for other teams is frightening for Packers fans very exciting save on O'Reilly Brak Parts cleaner get two cans of O'Reilly Brak Parts cleaner for just $8 valid in store only at O'Reilly Auto Parts O'Reilly auts yeah especially NFC North fans it's it's uh yeah we're waiting to see what happens and that we're not passing any judgments and you can only imagine what Packers I mean what what Viking lions and bears fans might be thinking right now is like is lightning going to hit three times in a bottle um but we'll find out there's a lot that can happen and those wide receivers are going to play a pivotal role in Jordan Love's ability to to prosper so let's go there because last year they were extremely young and so I'm wondering are we expecting another step up from these receivers you know Romeo dos and and Jaden Reed led the team last year I believe with 64 and 59 catches each Christian Watson battled injury last year but now he is had the offseason to work on recovering from that you know you got Luke Musgrave who's now get enter his second year at tight end I believe he had 34 catches last year in his rookie season which that's pretty solid for a tight end so how is this receiving core looking and is it looking potentially as good as it sounds like it is on paper so it's still as young as we all feel it is I mean they have one season under their belt but still a very young core I think I think one of the things that the Packers have that other teams might undervalue is that Green Bay doesn't have a true wide receiver one Matt laflor was asked about it a couple weeks ago and said GH that makes me want to vomit whenever you ask me about wide receiver one and he did not throw up let it let it be known but he does not like the idea of a wide receiver one because we talk about it all the time Hey where's your Devonte Adams Hey where's where's your guy the Packers don't have that they have a bevy of top potential pass catchers pass catchers last season there were over a dozen different pass catchers who led that individual game in receiving so at any given game some guy will step up the first guy who had over 100 yards receiving in a game last season was Bo Melton we haven't even mentioned Bo Melton and he's still on the team so if you're thinking about the weapons that Green Bay has awesome if you're thinking about your fantasy team not great because you have no chance of winning in a wide receiver room if you have a packer because it could be anyone on any given day now we're talking about Christian Watson this off season he went down to W Madison to try and figure out what had happened with his hamstring he kept getting injured and that really hurt because I do think people thought he was going to be the wide receiver one just based on his speed and he just was injured so much over his first couple of Seasons well he found out that he was not carrying his strength equally between his legs and so therefore one hamstring was way weaker than the other so he spent all the offseason just trying to figure out how to strengthen that hamstring so that he can have that equal strength and he seems to think pardon me he seems to think that he's figured that out and the Packers do too so now Christian Watson is stronger and healthier and has a whole year of experience with Jordan love under his belt watch out with that Romeo dos is still the exact same player he runs routes phenomenally everyone notices his route running and he's got hands like no other some of the catches I see him make in practice it's like the quick twitch is what I would call it where he just up grabs the ball and brings it down so fast I can't imagine how he does that Jaden Reed the king of an Ender round at any given moment that man will do an Ender round that ends up with a 60-yard uh C catch and run and then davien Wix is kind of your all-around guy he also does really well route running he can get a lot of separation from the secondary Luke Musgraves very talented pardon me Luke Musgrave very talented he hasn't really shown in Camp I would say I'd say he's kind of chugging along and then you got to keep an eye on Tucker craft he's their other tight end another seconde player was drafted last season by the Packers he had a peck injury this off season so he was recovering and had to miss the first couple days of training camp but I would not be surprised if Tucker craft has a breakout season this year too so did I list enough pass catchers for you Matthew do you have your whole roster in front of you yeah I I wish I could share your enthusiasm for for all these pass catchers because there are a number there and if Christian Watson has figured out some things on staying healthy I agree he's the guy that we thought would be the number one guy there and and obviously injury and stuff didn't allow that last year but yeah there there is there's screaming potential right there and maybe that's part of the reason the Lions took defensive backs with the first two picks in the draft this year because uh the Bears have a pretty good receiving core too and the Vikings have a couple good receivers as well and sort of the Lions if I'm going to throw you know the whole division in there it's going to be a division and it's going to be a divisional fight and we're going to get to that at the end of this but uh yeah NFC North is going to have some amazing football this year I expect so let's put the ball on the ground a little bit not literally but figuratively let's go to running back okay you guys brought in Josh Jacobs from the Raiders okay I I wasn't thrilled about this because I think that's an addition to your team I think that's an improvement now you know people will say Jacobs had a down year last year but there were a lot of factors that go into that um he's only 26 years old as well I think the one thing that I saw was his yards per car was lower last year that was the only thing that really maybe concerned me but let's just focus just on him right now and comparing the Packers bringing him in and moving on from Aaron Jones who I know he's a few years older um what's your your take on that whole situation and how that all came about football's a business and it's tough is my takeaway Aaron Jones was one of the key factors for the Packers late season push he was a stalworth in the locker room just a really great person to work with and just a really great guy someone that there's a video that you may have seen where one of the wide receivers kind of had his head down after missing a play and Aaron Jones physically lifts his helmet up and say don't do that keep your head up that's just who he was as a person and towards the end of the season and after the season GM Brian gakin was asked whether or not they're gonna keep Aaron Jones and if he's goingon to come back and he made it sound like the answer was yes but the thing is Aaron Jones had taken a pay cut to go into the 2023 season to kind of help the team as a whole so he deserved to be paid and he was expecting to be paid and so when ultimately he and his team could not figure out the correct compensation that's when the divorce happened because he deserved to make the money in my opinion as well and it seemed like he knew that there was a number that he wanted and if the Packers couldn't get there then maybe this just isn't going to work so now he's at the Minnesota Vikings there are some people who feel like that was a little bit Shady whatever I personally think at that point you do what you got to do he wants to continue his career running back is a very young and hard game and I personally think it's one of the most devalued financially positions in the NFL right now so he's in Minnesota I wish him the best I look look forward to seeing him twice a year and I hope you do too even though obviously it's a competitor but he is a very great person to work with so then the Packers bring Josh Jacobs and the actual timeline was couple hours earlier in the day the Packers signed Jacobs for a few hours people are posting this is the best onew combo in the league and then Aaron Jones leaves so that's kind of a bummer but the way the running back Market works right now if you can go younger you're going to go younger because you want to save the money quote unquote and Jacob's contract is a little interesting when it comes to the total years and the total amount that he's going to get paid but he has a lot to prove he feels like the way things ended in Las Vegas is not how he wants his career to be looked at he has some connections with some Packers as well he knows kesan Nixon they played with the Raiders played for the Raiders together and then he knows Rich bace the Packers special teams coordinator so they gave him some heads up about what Green Bay's all about one thing I always talk about is when we first talk to him oh how do you like Wisconsin how do you like Green Bay oh it's great it kind of reminds me of Alabama because all we do is football there's not much else to distract you and I don't think he said that pejoratively or with any ill intent I think he genuinely just says hey I could just focus on Ball but he has a lot to prove this season he knows that he's going to walk into this room and be the rb1 the Packers also resigned AJ Dylan to a pretty friendly you know family deal kind of contract to bring it back Dylan has the most experience in this Playbook so I think that he will be an asset to the team but realistically it's Josh Jacobs running back room and he is the leader in there because of the body of work that he's already put on tape all right well seeing him in Camp has do you is he looking good in Camp do you think when he walks in he is going to be at the level Aaron Jones has played at in the last couple of years do you think he might be considered even a a little step above that I do think he's a step above that just because he's younger Aaron Jones as well as he did last season was very injury-prone and I think we forget about that because he did so well at the end of the season but there was one game where I think they lost three running backs in the same game it was I remember that game two three and we just kept getting the injury reports and going do they even have who else can play running back is jayen Reed gonna be running back that was kind of a joke but we really didn't know what was happening so as as much as you could look at Aaron Jones stats and see the 100 yard games and how well he did he was really injury proned so that's kind of a benefit for Josh Jacobs as he hasn't necessarily been known for getting a lot of injuries he's looking great in practice I will say versus maybe the wide receivers it's almost harder to gauge a running back during training camp because it's not live periods and so you can bust through the middle when Quay Walker Taps you on your shoulder but if Quay Walker is gonna tackle you with his full might it's kind of hard to see if that was going to be a 10 yard gain versus a 20 yard gain so he's not getting a lot of obviously game reps he doesn't need them during this preseason so again I kind of have to say let's see how he does in Brazil I think he does have that Quick Step he has that excitement he wants to prove himself but it's harder to gauge a running back during training camp when you're not actually tackling that makes total sense and you know I I too do think he elevates that room as well I that those was my thoughts the moment they signed him and that was announced um as you already mentioned they brought AJ Dylan back to have have a a known quantity there in the backup position and then you know Maron Lloyd out of us uh have you seen anything out of him in training camp the presumably the number three running back presumably yes he's also had a couple of injuries during training camp so he's missed some time he's been the first to tell us that he needs to get back in football shape I think with the injuries it's hard to to do that so I don't know where he's going to start if he continues to have these injuries so is he going to have to start on the injured list is he going to have to start on um the third string I don't know Emanuel Wilson is a very very viable third string running back he had some he got elevated a couple of times last year especially when the Packers had all of those injuries so obviously when you draft someone you want to keep them on your team I expect Marshon Lloyd to be that third string running back but if per se he has to start the season with an injury I wouldn't be surprised if Emanuel Wilson slots into that third running back and then when Marshon is no longer injured Emanuel goes down to the practice squad like he spent a majority of last season all right that makes a lot of sense well the only last thing to talk about on offense is the very crucial offensive line how has that looked in general what's the confidence level there with your offensive line this year I think the confidence is pretty strong I think this year's call to task was to try to figure out the composition of the line obviously Jordan Morgan is getting drafted to the Packers he's a tackler out of Arizona but right when he gets drafted all of these comments are about his arm length arm length arm length do you think that he might be better as guard what about maybe being a guard do you think he's gonna be a guard and the team kept saying well we drafted him because he's a tackle and he did really well as a tackle and then Jordan Morgan says I'm a tackle I do really well as a tackle and then inevitably during training camp he's playing both tackle and guard so I think the composition of the line is something that we will have to see Shan Ryan was a very successful backup last season he's trying to move into one of those starting positions but then the Packers draft Morgan in his same spot so now it's trying to figure out is Shawn Ryan gonna be the guy is Jordan Morgan gonna be the guy Jordan Morgan also had some injuries during this training camp and then you still have Elton Jenkins you still have Josh Meers some of those players who have really helped keep this offensive line strong throughout the years but I don't think the Packers know who their starting five on their offensive line is right now because they can move people around Zach Tom is kind of a I don't know a Swiss army knife when it comes to the line they can move him anywhere and he also was a little injured so again when people are back and healthy and everyone is at their their Peak or at least 70 or 80% there then the Packers will decide their top their five offensive linemen right now oh well wi Zach's injured but then Morgan's not injured and then Sean whatever it's a little too hard to figure out because they are mixing with a lot of people who aren't at full strength makes sense sounds like the first regular season game is when we're going to kind of get some of that answer and see what it looks like uh in live football now completely the Packers offense finished 12th in points scored last year averaging 22 and a half point points a game do you expect the offense to be similar to that improve from that I'm guessing you're not going to say worse than that but I'm going to leave that as an option out there as well what are your thoughts uh the end of the season how will the Packers offense look I think they will be better than that I think last year they struggled at points in the Red Zone where they would get the ball down to the Red Zone and then still not really be able to score and then occasionally it'd be a Mis kick and so they come away with nothing so I do think that they will be better than that that is my final answer all right well then let's switch over to the other side of the ball uh last time when we spoke last year you talked about how the defense had lots of talented individuals but that the whole might not be quite as good as some of its parts and uh that being said by the end of the season the defense was ranked 10th in points allowed which was actually a pretty pretty good number um and a pretty good representation of of the evolution um there's been free agency there's been draft picks um added into this as well how's the Packers defense looking to you different the Packers bring in Jeff hafley as their new defensive coordinator the former Boston College head coach he switches the Green Bay defense from a 34 to a 43 so now we got hands in the dirt we have more of an aggressive mindset ran Gary absolutely loves it he feels like he can go out and play free Quay Walker is saying the same thing Quay Walker is wearing the green dot so he's kind of running the defense as that linebacker position and to the sum of its parts versus the whole I think this scheme caters more to the individuals to therefore make them better as a whole I think something that we've really noticed recently is how the defensive line being disruptive is benefiting the secondary so Evan Williams is the rookie out of Oregon that you mentioned he's snagged five interceptions so far during training camp including the preseason but he would be the first to tell you that he's not getting those picks unless Devante Wyatt Preston Smith Kenny Clark are causing Havoc at the line of scrimmage and I think at times last season it felt disjointed where the defense wanted to do something but the scheme maybe didn't allow for it or the play call didn't allow for it or whatever it was Joe Barry was a really really nice guy very well-respected people really like like him and that's what almost makes it hard is because the defense and his defense was not doing well so you got to say goodbye to someone who's not successful in that capacity but I don't think people have bad words to say about him as a as a person you bring in Jeff Halley and Jeff Halley then brings in a lot of new coaches to to complement this scheme players are excited they feel like they have a lot to prove and against the Ravens in this joint practice they were in the back field a lot again joint practice you're not doing full tackling but it did look like Lamar Jackson was scrambling quite a bit he's known for using his feet but it to me it was because the defensive line was penetrating more so than because Lamar Jackson was just scrambling so I'd say this year a big point emphasis is turnovers getting interceptions being able to turn turn the ball over and give the ball back to your offense Packers struggled in that last season and so if the defensive line continues to be as disruptive Jer Alexander Xavier McKenna Evan Williams Javon bowler they'll be able to snag a couple picks to get the ball back to Jordan love all right are you thinking with the defense then do you think it's going to be if you were to compare it to last year's defense you put it on par you put it slight impr no I definitely put it better I definitely put it better I think last year's defense had some highs and lows but the lows were really low this year I think it will be better all right well then let's do a little scouting report for the whole team in general where are the Packers going to be the strongest this year you think what's going to be their strength I think their strength will be in the wide receivers because of the depth I think there will be games where your favorite wide receiver has two catches but the team scores three touchdowns out of the air and it wasn't your guy but that's okay because they have another guy and another guy and another guy and as a team continues to build their relationship with Jordan and continues to feel strongly with him I think Jordan's Talent paired with the depth will make this wide receiver room the highlight of the team from speaking with you I don't think there's a single weakness on the team other than maybe the kicking position but the kicking what would be the biggest weakness of this team I know it's not exciting but it is the kicking I don't feel confident that the Packers for sure have their best option in kicker in the locer room I think that knowing how how much potential this team had last year and then what was lost because of one or two k kicking mistakes the Packers can't afford that this year this feels like you're paying Jordan love you have this this talented young group who's really excited you bring in a new defense they want to win obviously but they want to win now and they feel like they kind of need to win now because they just gave Jordan all this money and it's not because they think he'll be great in five years they think he's going to be great right now and that's why they paid him right now and so the Packers can't afford to lose a game by two points because of a misfield goal they can't afford afford to not advance in the playoffs because of a missed kick they can't afford to lose a game by one because they missed a p earlier in the game that didn't seem like a big deal and then it came to bite them in the butt so yes it's not the sexiest position group but I don't think that people should overlook that the Packers need the kicking to be as good as it can be kicking's never perfect but as good as it can be so that that is a non-factor it needs to be a non-factor Matthew that makes a lot of sense and uh that's something else Lions fans can talk about as well and I I think we're starting to feel pretty good that we may have found our kicker but that's been a little bit of a carousel as well over on our side of the lake well let's talk about the lions from the Green Bay perspective here you know uh we did win the NFC North last year but it was again the first time in a long time but most people were expecting us to win it as well so it's not like we shocked people and and I don't think we had this magical season I mean the season was magical but it didn't come out of nowhere we weren't like the Vikings the year before when they suddenly were like 13 and four or something and nobody knew how that happened uh no disrespect to Vikings fans out there just that was a surprise um but how are you how are Packers fans viewing the Lions as we get ready to kick off for 2024 people are definitely not overlooking the Lions especially after last season I think Green Bay feels confident in the fact that they were able to split last year with the Lions especially given how well the lions were doing and from my perspective I think a split with the Lions again this year would be a win because the Lions do have that depth they're returning a lot of players and they're they've been composing this scary team so I think a split would be a win and then maybe a date again in the the postseason the Packers kind of felt like they were on a crash course to run into the Lions last year once things got going and so um I I definitely think and this is so annoying to say because this is what people always say but the Packers are really focusing on themselves right now and I'm kind of rolling my eyes as I say that but I do genuinely believe that because there are so many things that are going on with this team that they can't spend a lot of time looking at their left and their right because they have to just figure out how to get this to where it needs to be and then once we're once it's we're in the regular season the Packers are going to figure it out from there but right now if they're talking about oh I did you see who the Lions added XYZ well that's taking time away from focusing on their themselves and maybe I've worked in football for too long because I sound like such a cliche right now but I actually think that in the locker room at least people aren't really paying attention to what what's going went on around in the NFC North because if they're doing that who knows someone could come up and take their spot on the team so they got to focus on themselves oh yeah no I completely agree about in the locker room being solely focused in house and whatnot um but just following up on that how about Packers fans have you heard stuff from fans at all about the NFC Northern and again we'll get into the the predictions here in a minute but um anything from them about the Lions and how they are they expecting the Lions to be competitive again or are they think hey we want to see you prove it again before we believe you no I definitely think that the vibe is that the lions are who they are right now which is a good thing they're good people aren't really talking about oh the Lions think they're better than they are or oh the lions were a fraud season I think people respect the fact that no the lions are just actually that solid of a team I'd say the biggest points of conversation right now are really about the Bears and Caleb Williams and romad dun and trying toig figure out what that actually is because Caleb Williams has as much hype as any player coming out of college does and then adding Roma dun coming out of udub a very interesting wide receiver room with a really interesting quarterback and the Bears have done very well in the preseason so I'd say a big topic of conversation amongst Packers Twitter if you say would be what's up with the Bears are they actually legit are they not and if I'm going to interpret that even further are I would say people are trying to figure out if it's a three-way race in the NFC North I think unfortunately for the Vikings especially given a couple of major offseason issues slash injuries people aren't really talking about them that much except for just kind of feeling bad that people are getting injured left and right but I'd say when Packers are talking a lot about the Bears and not the Lions it's not because they don't respect the Lions but it's because they're trying to figure out what's going on with the Bears and if there's a three-way competition for the top or if it's more of a two-way that makes total sense and we're going to get even a little bit more into that here in just a minute when we talk about the division as a whole uh last couple questions here now I know you don't focus on the Lions you're focused on the Packers but is there any part of the Lions team that might concern you meaning this might be a challenge for the Packers at some point this season when they face each other I think the the offense is what I would say is that too generic is that too big to say I think no I think the offense has some guys that have their number the has Green Bay's number realistically and so with almond Ross St Brown obviously another former Trojan we're doing a lot of USC talk which is fine with me I'm happy to talk Trojans but he and Jer Alexander have kind of gone gone back and fourth and you know some of those games Alan raw is really walking away with with the win there and then I also I'm looking at the roster right now and I mean jir Gibbs very very legit and then David Montgomery's been around in the NFC North so he he knows so given the weapons that are returning to the Lions I would say their offense versus the Packers defense especially when the Packers defense were not looking their best last season Lions showed them hey you got some issues with your defensive structure and your scheme and we're going to take advantage of that second game the Packers figure things out I'd say that was more a whole team effort but now as the Lions continue to develop those connections and continue to be strong with Jared Goff say Alan raw would love to go up against savier McKenna and we'll see who gets the better of those two and then on the ground with Gibbs and Montgomery I'm eager to see if that new 43 scheme is able to get some penetration maybe get some tackles behind the line of scrimmage but when you're being really aggressive and you're on your toes and you're attacking if you get burned you can get burned so those are those three players primarily those are kind of who I would be keeping my eye on that makes a lot of sense those are some big Playmakers and if I'm not mistaken I believe after the Lions beat the Packers in the first game David Montgomery was like well this is what it's like to beat Green Bay or something like that exactly he's like oh is this what it's like all the time I haven't done it when I was in Chicago right right so uh well where do you think the Packers might find success against the Lions this year let's turn it around where where can they what do they have that you think is going to be hey this is a good matchup this year and we think that it might work well for Green Bay are you annoyed if I talk about the wide receivers again can I just say the wide receiver the receiving core definitely say it because uh yeah just I don't want to I don't want to sit here and say this is the best wide receiving cor I've ever seen but I cannot overemphasize how the depth in the past in the Packers pass catching room both tight end and wide receiver and even Josh Jacobs the team has been very complimentary of his pass catching ability I cannot overemphasize how in any given moment there are eight or nine players who are a very solid Target so you can put your guy on Christian Watson you can put your guy on Romeo dos and then Here Comes Josh Jacobs who and gets a 20 I don't know gets 20 yards off a catch and you're thinking okay well now we're going to put our guy on him well then davan Wick Subs in okay well and I could just keep going so I I really do think the past catching of this team the depth there makes it really hard to defend because it's it's hard to know where you're going to put your resources in any given moment when three new faces Sub in every every other play all right that makes sense and and in response to that I want to kind of take a page out of your book from last year and say don't judge the Lions defensive backs on the first half of the Season judge them on the second half because we we traded for Carlton Davis he's new but he's experienced and our two top draft picks Teran Arnold and I ra are going to be Playmakers I I firmly believe in this league and I think by the end of this season you're going to see them get really comfortable and we brought in other guys as well and so you have a lot of new guys who have to work learn to work with each other within the system and trust each other and and kind of feel what the other person's doing in that moment so uh so I'm going to say with that I I do think the lion secondary is going to develop into a strength I just think it might take some time to get there and that totally makes sense because that's what the Packers offense needed to do last year they needed to spend more time working together as a unit before it was fair to say who they were or were not all right well we're at that point now we got to talk division Packers won the division last time in 2021 it was three years in a row streak that they had done that and then the Vikings won in 22 and the Lions last year um again you and I were pretty spoton we picked the Lions to win we picked the Packers prob probably in second and then the Bears and Vikings after that and and so that's how it went down um what are your thoughts on this upcoming season do you know considering you know health and all that as it would be but what are your thoughts on the division so I think it'll probably be the same order but closer so I think the Lions might win by one game one or two games but I think that the Packers could be okay with that if they make the playoffs and beat the lions in the playoffs so I think that's kind of the focus is making sure the team makes it in the postseason and does well I'm not saying Super Bowl or bust but I'm saying pretty close I mean getting getting to the NFC Championship Game would be a factor so if the Packers were had a couple of those games where you know they just needed to figure some things out but in the end they put it together like they did last season then I think they'd be that would be successful I think like I mentioned the the Bears are inciting intimidating maybe be but because you don't know what it is and if it's legit and it's hard to have a lot of faith in the quarterback development of the Chicago Bears organization but as a US Trojan I have really loved watching Caleb Williams and I wish him nothing but the best as a as an individual player as a Packers beat reporter I'm very excited to see what the Bears Packers and Bears Lions new rivalries look like with these new faces so I personally think the Lions will will win by maybe one game then it will be the Packers and then the Bears will be a step below but not too far and then I think it'll round out with the V Vikings who are kind of having to figure some things out right now so so Lauren you just told me how good the Packers are going to be throughout this whole show and you're still picking the Lions to win the division I think so I I think like I said I think it will be one game though so given that it could also be the Packers win by one game I don't feel confident saying that either team is going to run away away with it and even last year you said based on the numbers the Lions won by three games but the Packers were one like like the team says one play away from meeting the Lions again in the in the postseason so when it comes to that those three games did they quote unquote really matter I mean you can obviously focus on the seeding in the postseason and therefore yeah who had the easier path whatever but I do think the Lions haven't done anything that would make me think that they've regressed and the Packers continue to improve but they are implementing a brand new defensive scheme and they are bringing in new players and I think it'll be close I think it'll be really close and it'll be one game up or down it makes a lot of sense there's a lot of logic behind that and uh so here here's a couple other things to point out I kind of feel the same way you do I think the lions are going to win but I think it's going to be by maybe one game I think it's going to be closer than last year and you know before the JJ McCarthy injury and the other things that have happened in Minnesota I thought Minnesota and the bears were right there I do think it's going to be a very tough Division if Caleb Williams uh does what most people are expecting that they could be fighting for a playoff spot very easily because there is so much talent on that Chicago roster now just want to share with you uh I've already spoken with someone from Minneapolis and someone from Chicago they both picked the Packers to win the division really yeah so I totally thought you were going to say the Packers too well I could just be being conservative because I did spend the whole podcast talking about how great they are but I they're very very solid team bear in mind I'm coming off watching joint practice with the Ravens where the Packers really held their own but that's that's the caliber the Ravens are a great team to measure up against with the best defense in the league and the Packers held their own but I think we've seen half a season of really really good Jordan love I want to believe for the Packers sake for their scouting sake and for Jordan's career that that was not the fluke I want to believe that that is actually how good he is but I need to see a couple game couple more games in this new season to know that it wasn't just a heater I I that's how I personally feel I I want to see more games before I mean I'm never jumping on a bandwagon I'm a reporter I'm just covering the team but before I can sit here confidently and say hey watch out they were totally right but smarter football mins than mine believe that they are right so that's probably why I'm saying the Lions just because I still I need to see 2024 Green Bay Packers in action Jordan love new contract wide receivers continuing to develop I just need to see some actual games that makes a lot of sense and I love it when uh arguments are made with logic and not just your heart I respect that and you know I honestly I hope your prediction comes true for the regular season of course you do but yeah well the NFC North is going to be that much more intense this year I I do believe probably every team has improved uh even Minnesota in their current state has added some key additions and uh every team's going to be very difficult ult this year and schedules are different and all that so Lauren thank you so much for taking the time to talk lions and Packers football with us today of course Matthew I always appreciate chatting with you reminder folks Lauren is a sports reporter for the CBS affiliate wfrv TV out of Green Bay Wisconsin you can find her work at Weg greenbay.com folks that is the Green Bay Packers NFC North preview I hope you've enjoyed that as well as the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears one drop and tomorrow will be our Detroit Lions season preview so please be on the lookout for that thank you so much for tuning in folks you can find more episodes and content at not theame old lions.com tell your friends about the show tell your family like comment on socials subscribe regardless of your listening platform and until next time stay gritty my friends just despite the unshakable Iowa Corn s Hawk rivalry there is one thing Iowa State and University of Iowa fans can both agree on getting hyped for unlet 88 it's cleaner burning and better for your engine and it's cheaper than other fuel options making unlet 88 the clear fuel choice if Iowa Corn s Hawk Rivals can agree on it you know it's worth the hype so Pump It Up with unlet 88 grown by Iowa Corn farmers