Week 9 vs the Lions Pre-Week Chat

[Heyjoe4]

We need intensity this game and get pressure. So some blitzing and creative pass rushing. Stunts. Need to stay in this one from the get go.

The play of the defense will determine if the Packers get a W or a L. And the D needs to bring it. That means Hafley can't channel his inner Joe Barry as he did in the 2nd half against the Jags. No soft zones, play man, and get after Goff.

Goff and the rest of the Lions are extremely confident in themselves, as they should be. So the Packers need to bring the game to the Lions. As Mike Tyson said - everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth.

So come out swinging and hit some people in the mouth.

 

[OldSchool101]

Yup.

My thoughts 100% right now.

The bye week couldn't have come at a better time, unless it had been THIS Sunday. But yeah, use the bye week for what it is meant for, as well as link it to giving the guys that took this week off, an extra 1-2 weeks of rest.

At first I was lobbying to play Love because it is an important game. I get that. But 1 game does not make a season. We beat them in Detroit last year, we can do it again.
I still believe we can beat them at Lambeau. I’m reading Preston and the others are fired up right now for this game. These are just some miscellaneous reports coming out of the locker room.

The bye week is a gift from above. It potentially gives Love 3 weeks between games. Its ideal to get him healed up properly before our stretch run. The fact that Malik has been working with the 1’s is another signal for me. Love isn’t quite right.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Normally I would agree with you. Yet Jordan Love got bumped and could barely stand up on his own 4 days ago. I seem to remember him collapsed before he could get off the field of play. If he gets injured further in this game? I’d expect to see him miss significant time and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went in IR if he keeps stacking injuries.

Well when you play the best you bring your best. They shouldn't be reckless, but Love was practicing today. MLF will string this out with "game day decision" crap and then Love will start.

Playing it safe is like playing not to lose and that usually results in a loss. They're already 0-1 in the North so they gotta bring it against the Lions.

 

[OldSchool101]

I’m not conceding the Division. But right now we’re a 5th seed if the season ended. I’m totally ok with playing a 4th seed Wildcard. No problems there. We’re talking a 10-7 type team.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

PS.
If we beat Detroit, we will be the #1 Team in the NFC.

Only matters where you finish at the end of the season.

As good as the NFC North is this season, the Packers are tied with the Commanders for the 2nd best NFC record. But if the playoffs were today, we would be the #5 seed, behind the 4 division winners.

It's going to be a tall mountain to climb, to win the NFC North this season. Doable? Yes, but including Sunday, 5 of the remaining 9 games are with our division rivals, 2 of the remaining 9 are with 2 teams (49'ers and Seahawks) that despite being just .500 teams, are battling with their entire division to get to the top.

I think that maybe our best chance of making the playoffs might be to rest some guys on Sunday, those that really need the 3 weeks. Love being the most critical.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Normally I would agree with you. Yet Jordan Love got bumped and could barely stand up on his own 4 days ago. I seem to remember him collapsed before he could get off the field of play. If he gets injured further in this game? I’d expect to see him miss significant time and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went in IR if he keeps stacking injuries.

In case people missed it, Love practiced today.

I don't know just how much or just how hard, but he was out there.

 

[OldSchool101]

Well when you play the best you bring your best. They shouldn't be reckless, but Love was practicing today. MLF will string this out with "game day decision" crap and then Love will start.

Playing it safe is like playing not to lose and that usually results in a loss. They're already 0-1 in the North so they gotta bring it against the Lions.

Sure that’s 1 way to look at it.
Having to Put our QB on IR is also playing to lose imo. Just 2 different ways of looking at it.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Sure that’s 1 way to look at it.
Having to Put our QB on IR is also playing to lose imo. Just 2 different ways of looking at it.

Love and MLF will decide. I'm pretty sure he'll be playing.

 

[gopkrs]

Probably not a weakness but definitely a loss.

 

[OldSchool101]

Love and MLF will decide. I'm pretty sure he'll be playing.

The one thing about the types of decisions is that the Team keeps it tight lipped. No reason to give our opponent any extra information that might be helpful to their gameplan.

I’m not torn up about it either way. In some ways if they choose to play Jordan, it’s a positive sign that his injuries are very minor. Which is good for us.

I just have this gut feeling that we can run on Detroit. Having Malik is like having a good RB/QB combo. Its a different dimension that has to be accounted for by Detroit. Also Malik has done an outstanding job protecting the ball, that will 100% be a factor in this game.

 

[milani]

We need intensity this game and get pressure. So some blitzing and creative pass rushing. Stunts. Need to stay in this one from the get go.

Slowing down their run game is paramount. Maybe our crowd can trigger some penalties and put them behind the sticks.

 

[milani]

Normally I would agree with you. Yet Jordan Love got bumped and could barely stand up on his own 4 days ago. I seem to remember him collapsed before he could get off the field of play. If he gets injured further in this game? I’d expect to see him miss significant time and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went in IR if he keeps stacking injuries.

And it is not like we are playing Carolina.

 

[GBkrzygrl]

Well when you play the best you bring your best. They shouldn't be reckless, but Love was practicing today. MLF will string this out with "game day decision" crap and then Love will start.

Playing it safe is like playing not to lose and that usually results in a loss. They're already 0-1 in the North so they gotta bring it against the Lions.

If Love hadn't gotten injured last week with the groin injury I'd 100% agree with you. But Love is not the best at this time. If Love is not mobile he is gonna get killed. I'm not conceding anything by possibly using Willis.

 

[Heyjoe4]

The one thing about the types of decisions is that the Team keeps it tight lipped. No reason to give our opponent any extra information that might be helpful to their gameplan.

I’m not torn up about it either way. In some ways if they choose to play Jordan, it’s a positive sign that his injuries are very minor. Which is good for us.

I just have this gut feeling that we can run on Detroit. Having Malik is like having a good RB/QB combo. Its a different dimension that has to be accounted for by Detroit. Also Malik has done an outstanding job protecting the ball, that will 100% be a factor in this game.

Yeah MLF will keep this decision until game day just to make the Lions account for two very different game plans.

I'd like Love to play because he's the best QB. I'd be fine if Willis had to start, I just don't think it will happenu8. As you said, a heavy ground game may be the best way to win anyway, and Willis has definitely kept the ball safe when he's had to throw or run.

Aside from this upcoming game, I'm certainly happy with the backup QB situation. I don't think I've been able to say that since Matt Flynn was in town, a long time ago.

 

[Heyjoe4]

If Love hadn't gotten injured last week with the groin injury I'd 100% agree with you. But Love is not the best at this time. If Love is not mobile he is gonna get killed. I'm not conceding anything by possibly using Willis.

Oh I agree with you GB. To be clear, Love shouldn't start if he can't move around. It seems like this groin injury has been short lived. And I have no issue with Willis starting if Love can't go. He's proven he knows how to win, and how to take care of the ball. (And in that regard, he's certainly been better than Love, granted with a very different game plan.)

It sure as hell feels good having a very capable backup.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

If I was a betting man, I would bet that we see Love in street clothes on Sunday. You have a very capable backup in Willis. Only way that won't happen, is if Love's groin and knee are really close to 100%.

You don't sacrifice the health of your QB for 1 game, especially with a bye week to follow.

I also think that Love practicing (limited) yesterday wasn't much different than the weeks following his knee injury. MLF wants him in there, as much as he can, to keep connected, but he also doesn't want to give his next opponent any edge in knowing which of the 2 QB's they will be facing.

I guess my only other question is this. How many times has Clifford been called up from the PS? I'm seeing twice. They can only do it 3 times, before they either have to cut him or put him on the 53 man roster.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

3 Packer starters didn't practice all week, Alexander, Myers and Williams. As a result, the final injury report before Sunday will probably have them as out or doubtful to play.

Without Jaire and Williams, the front 7 are going to have to play really well to keep us in the game.

 

[El Guapo]

- Questionable: Jordan Love (groin), Jaire Alexander (knee), Josh Jacobs (ankle), and cornerback Corey Ballentine (ankle)
- Doubtful: Josh Myers (wrist)
- Out: Evan Williams (hamstring)

I'm optimistic about Love playing but think that Willis will start, especially in a wet game. I know that Jordan just practiced in the rain but a nagging groin can pop much easier in a game if you slip trying to get away from a 300lb man.

Besides the obvious of missing Evan Willians, the real gut punch would be if Myers can't play or isn't at full strength. That will hurt our power running game.

 

[Heyjoe4]

- Questionable: Jordan Love (groin), Jaire Alexander (knee), Josh Jacobs (ankle), and cornerback Corey Ballentine (ankle)
- Doubtful: Josh Myers (wrist)
- Out: Evan Williams (hamstring)

I'm optimistic about Love playing but think that Willis will start, especially in a wet game. I know that Jordan just practiced in the rain but a nagging groin can pop much easier in a game if you slip trying to get away from a 300lb man.

Besides the obvious of missing Evan Willians, the real gut punch would be if Myers can't play or isn't at full strength. That will hurt our power running game.

I think it's pretty likely Meyers won't be playing. I don't think that's as big a loss as Williams. So a W here rests with the Packers' D, and that means rushing the QB successfully without a blitz. The front four has been disappointing. That has to change Sunday for the Packers to pull off a win.

As for the offense - I think they can win with Willis if he has to play. But again, the defensive front four has to turn it on.

 

[Wayne G]

I’m not conceding the Division. But right now we’re a 5th seed if the season ended. I’m totally ok with playing a 4th seed Wildcard. No problems there. We’re talking a 10-7 type team.

What seed do you think we would be if we won? If Green Bay wants this game....they can win it! 100% We will be 7-2 probably with the No.1 seed.

 

[OldSchool101]

What seed do you think we would be if we won? If Green Bay wants this game....they can win it! 100% We will be 7-2 probably with the No.1 seed.

That’s true. Obviously we’d all like to be a #1 seed. It’s not off the table yet. Lots of advantages including watching elimination weekend. Then home games etc.

 

[Sanguine camper]

You never want to get into the habit of losing a divisional game but I would rather see the injured guys stay on the sidelines, get healthy and be ready to play a lot more football after the bye. They can take their lumps this week rather than go through a weekly injury circus the rest of the way.

 

[tynimiller]

Williams ruled out for Sunday. This sucks BIG TIME

 

[OldSchool101]

Evan Williams has not disappointed. That kid looks to be a steal there in RD4. No wonder we moved up to get him.

 

[Magooch]

If it's up to me I think I'm going Willis in this one. Obviously not a doctor, but IMO Love's yet to really look 100% since returning from his week 1 injury. That alone is enough to give me pause. Now I'm hearing it's supposed to be rainy on gameday - that tends to point more towards a run heavy game and I have to think it's going to be easier to risk reinjury (when it's a lower body/leg/groin issue) running around on a soggy/wet/slippery/etc field than a nice dry one. And to top it all off I do think there's some conventional wisdom that would suggest that the best way to try and beat a team like the lions might just be to play a game of ball control. I don't think "start Willis and go super run heavy" is enough on its own, but keeping the ball out of their hands as much as possible might be the ticket. And to top it all off with the rest of our guys carrying nagging injuries and the bye coming up....as much as I'd like to win and jump to #1, I just think it makes a lot more sense to rest some guys to let them heal up all the way, start Willis and perhaps be surprised.