Breaking Down the NFC North, 2024

[tahoebum]

I take it you haven't watched a lot of Allen and a few games of Daniels.

Shoot just this year alone Allen in week 5 needed essentially the entire game to get more than 69 yards...he ended 9 of 30 and only 131 yards...since you like PFF his grade that day overall was 48.1 which was only helped by his run grade, but his passing grade was worst at 37.7. For note Love had his worse pass grade this year that same week at 40.1 and overall of 44.3.

Check out Burrow's game this year against the Browns...their entire team only had 86 yards TOTAL (run and pass) at the half. He ended the game 15 of 25 for 181 yards.

Allen also was on struggle bus in Week 16 vs New England going 16 of 29 for only 154 yards as well.

Daniels is having IMO one of the cleanest rookie quarterback seasons in a while and I love the young man...but look to their game against the Eagles...by halftime the team only had 114 net yards....they had a last drive of 70 yards to help him push his game figures to 22 of 32 for 191 yards.

Since the yardage production was brought up by you...this might shock you as it shocked me somewhat as well. Games under 200 yards through the air for guys:

Love - 4 games (crazy thing is the Jaguar game where Willis played half the game Love already had 196 and that is one of the four listed)
Allen - 6 games
Daniels - 3 games
Burrow - 2 games



I think it is fair and reasonable to state Love isn't in the upper tier of QBs in the league atm - arguably depending where your tier break is it is also reasonable to state he is. Either way I think you might just be far too critical on him (which you admit is likely) merely because as GB fans we expect ELITE performance because way above the average we have seen it for now nearly three decades is all.

EVEN if Love only ever is what he is, that a QB better than 2/3s of the league he plays in - which the fact we have that is insane for the third time in a row.

All valid points. Maybe the biggest surprise for our division is the elite QB play from the Vikings in a rebuild year after already knowing that Goff and his cast would be very tough competition. Kirk threw up some good numbers as a Viking but doesn’t have the big arm or that “dog” in him like Darnold does. Four months ago, NOBODY expected 3 of the best 4 teams in the NFC to come out of the Black and Blue division. It’s so rare that the Pack is likely to become the only 12 win team in NFL history to have the 7th seed.

 

[pacmaniac]

It’s so rare that the Pack is likely to become the only 12 win team in NFL history to have the 7th seed.

That's true, but it's only been 5 seasons since they've had 7 seeds.

 

[AKCheese]

To review - yes we’ve lost twice to both Detroit the Queens. We got blown up both first games. IMO we could have very easily won the second Detroit game. We didn’t - no excuses. But I don’t walk away from that game shaking my head saying “man those guys are a lot better than us… maybe next year”. The second Minny game we played very very very poorly on our own regardless of what Minny did. That said we were close. By way of evaluation not as close as the score indicates. But likewise I walk away from that game feeling we are fully capable of beating them. People who want to be able to point to a dominant team that is head and shoulders above everyone else and should waltz through the playoffs I think are unreslistic in todays NFL. We have a GOOD team that is getting better (backslide agsinst Minny). Hopefully we’ll get a little healthier most importantly at DB. Now the games that really count are coming. I can see us snap counting several players against the Bears and holding J’aire out even if healthy. Another week for a knee injury is never a bad thing. Assuming we beat the Bears how many people honestly thought 12 wins would be a poor showing by this team? If I’m a Packer I’m thinking if we play well AS A TEAM we are capable of beating anybody. Nobody owes us/them anything. The opportunity is there for us to make the most of. Enjoy!

 

[tahoebum]

That's true, but it's only been 5 seasons since they've had 7 seeds.

When there were only 6 playoff spots, the best record of a 6th seed was 11-5. Either way having only 5 losses and getting the lowest seed is rare, happening only about 3% of the time in the history of the Super Bowl era.

 

[XPack]

Honestly, I think the Eagles are a beatable team. For some reason, I'm more confident of facing them rather than the Rams.

 

[Pugger]

It is his second year as a starter. The next 2 seasons will be the measure if he has a decent team around him. Where were Goff and Darnold or even Stafford at that point in their careers? Favre showed a significant improvement in 1994-95 than he did in 1992-1993 thanks to Holmgren and Wolf building a team around him. But when Favre really displayed his skill was after Sterling Sharpe was forced to retire. Love needs to develop a strong rapport with these young receivers he has had for 2 years so that they are on the same page. Rodgers was spoiled with the weapons he had in his first 5-6 seasons.

We have a nice stable of young WRs but I believe we still need a true #1 guy who defenses have account for. Watson could be that guy but he is inconsistent as heck and can't stay healthy. Getting that stud WR will help Love for sure.

 

[tynimiller]

We have a nice stable of young WRs but I believe we still need a true #1 guy who defenses have account for. Watson could be that guy but he is inconsistent as heck and can't stay healthy. Getting that stud WR will help Love for sure.

The funny thing is with Kraft emerging as one of the best TEs and Jacobs - I’ve actually found myself thinking they likely should trade away Doubs or Watson, free up growth and draft another guy in the third or fourth to keep replenishing…and others are talking about dropping 20 plus million a year on a guy… different approaches for suer

 

[gopkrs]

If, for instance, Love had more time against minihaha; the receivers would have looked better. Infrastructure, that's the ticket. And if, for instance, Darnold would have had less time...well, same answer.

 

[milani]

We have a nice stable of young WRs but I believe we still need a true #1 guy who defenses have account for. Watson could be that guy but he is inconsistent as heck and can't stay healthy. Getting that stud WR will help Love for sure.

I believe Gute and MLF are waiting for one to EMERGE. Davante was not the go to in 2014-16.
But like 2009 Rodgers had SO many that it was hard to choose a #1. You had Jennings, Driver, Jones, Jordy, and Finley. A couple years later you have Cobb.
But look how many seasons Driver was on the roster. Only in a couple of seasons was he the #1 which may have been due to lack of other receivers.

 

[Firethorn1001]

I believe Gute and MLF are waiting for one to EMERGE. Davante was not the go to in 2014-16.

Seems the desire is for Watson to emerge since he has the best physical tools out of the group. Unfortunately, health has been a barrier to that.

 

[XPack]

I don't think Love is a #1 WR kind of guy. I tend to think he thrives in situations where he can cycle through multiple reads and pick the easiest. We have a good set and it has worked well till now.

 

[shockerx]

The funny thing is with Kraft emerging as one of the best TEs and Jacobs - I’ve actually found myself thinking they likely should trade away Doubs or Watson, free up growth and draft another guy in the third or fourth to keep replenishing…and others are talking about dropping 20 plus million a year on a guy… different approaches for suer

This is how it will play out. but musgrave could also be trade candidate...if looking for WR draft capitol.

 

[OldSchool101]

We have a GOOD team that is getting better (backslide agsinst Minny). Hopefully we’ll get a little healthier most importantly at DB.

I’m about 90% sure that the Packers have been ultra conservative to get players healthy once we statistically made the Postseason. Not officially, but that was about 3-4 weeks ago.

As examples. I’ve noticed we’ve held onto RB, Marshawn Lloyd. We easily could’ve ended his season, but very quietly he’s been kept in the shadows.
He’d been activated for the 49ers when he woke up with the Appendix issue. We’re at 6 weeks now and once he medically cleared he’s going to be a fresh RB added to our mix. His ankle was 10 weeks ago it’s not even an issue, if anything this helped him get way past it by keeping him off his feet.



They’ve been baby stepping Luke Musgrave. Luke had a nice showing in 2023 and an even better Camp in 2024. He could easily become a 1-2 TE punch and Redzone threat inside a couple more weeks. You could see how we ramped him slowly after Preseason and just as he started getting targets 3/3 against MN in the first half? he messed his foot up and had to have surgery. He’s back now and in 2 weeks he’s going to a part of our plans.

Just Evan Williams added and I think we might see a substantial uptick on Defense. We were playing with our Slot at Safety opposite Xavier. That was not a good time to start a new project.

These are just 3 reasonable factors that if added together could very well provide a “boost” on both sides. Even if just 2 of that group rises? It’s at minimum putting us at + health going into our Wildcard.

I think we have been planning ahead for some time. Not saying we “planned it this way” but more playing it safer approach to be a net + health into Wildcard Weekend. We give Gutey credit for being a very good GM in acquisitions, but he’s very adept at strategically looking into the crystal ball imo.

 

[pacmaniac]

The J’aire thing is a sore spot for all of us so give me latitude on him. Yet IF. and I know it’s a BIG IF. J’aire comes back by our Wildcard that’s a huge boost to our Pass D. Alexander is built for Big Games because he LOVES the attention. If he just happens to pop into the fray we’re instantly better because we can slide the other CB’s to their best position.

They're saying the only way he plays again this season is if the Packers make it to the Super Bowl.

 

[OldSchool101]

They're saying the only way he plays again this season is if the Packers make it to the Super Bowl.

Not good. Yeah I just read he went under the knife. I guess that news broke today?
He’s pretty much out then.

The only positive thing is our D has been playing good without him. Valentine has stepped up nicely. We will 100% need Evan Williams. Surprisingly J’aire did not play in 1 Divisional game this season. 0-6 in the NFC North

 

[milani]

Seems the desire is for Watson to emerge since he has the best physical tools out of the group. Unfortunately, health has been a barrier to that.

And he needs to get his head in the game more as well.