Packers Vs. Eagles in Brazil
The Green Bay Packers have navigated their way through the off-season, training camp, and preseason. Finally, they have arrived to week one of the 2024 regular season. Come Friday night, the Packers will kickoff their season against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo, Brazil. Until then, and honestly many weeks afterwards, the Packers will continue to have questions that need to be answered.
These are my top five questions that I want the Packers to answer. Hopefully starting Friday night against the Philadelphia Eagles:
Packers Questions Number Five – Jeff Hafley’s Defense
“I’m gonna let it rip.” – Jeff Hafley
That’s what Coach Hafley said when asked about what his play calling is going to look like. The question here of course is, what will the Green Bay defense look like? The preseason didn’t give us much in the way of answering this question other than that the defense can run simple defensive play calls.
That is why it’s important that Jeff Hafley responded the way that he did. We are going to be given quite a bit of the answer on what this defense will look like Friday night against the Eagles.
Of course, this is just coach talk. A defensive coordinator doesn’t want to show all of his cards too early in the season, but we should definitely begin to have an understanding of how much different this defense will look in comparison to what Joe Barry ran the past three years.
Number Four – Packers’ Run Game
I’m not just asking about the Packers offensive run game but also the defensive run game. It might be cheating to ask it this way, but I’m curious as to what Green Bay’s running attack will look like this year with Josh Jacobs and what will the Packers run defense look like in this new defense.
So, on the offensive side of things, will Josh Jacobs be a one man wrecking crew where he takes a majority of the reps or will some of the plays be split with Emmanuel Wilson and rookie Marshawn Lloyd (if healthy)? I assume that if Lloyd is healthy that he will get some touches. His touches in college were explosive to say the least.
Also, will Josh Jacobs be more of his 2022 self where he led the league in rushing yards or more of what we saw in the 2023 season? I hope that we will start to have this answered Friday. I also hope that we begin to see the Packers run defense look much stouter this season starting Friday night.
Green Bay hasn’t been known for having a good run defense but that could change with the Packers having a more aggressive scheme under Jeff Hafley. It’ll need to be against the Eagles who run the ball well.
Let’s continue with the defensive theme.
Number Three – Safety Rotation
The third question I would like to see begin to be answered on Friday is how will the safety position look? Obviously, Xavier McKinney will be starting somewhere but who will be starting with him? Both Javon Bullard and Evan Williams have looked more than ready to play. Could the Packers find a way for all three to get on the field?
All three of the safeties are also capable of playing the slot corner position as well. Maybe that’s what the answer is. Although, it doesn’t seem like Keisean Nixon is too eager to let that job go. There is a still a lot to be learned about the Packers defensive backs and how they will be used this season.
Number Two – Who Is The Number One Receiver?
I don’t think the above question is the question that needs to be answered. With all of these wide receivers who are getting paid 30 million a year to be the number one wide guy for their respective teams, the Packers don’t have a true number one. And, I think they are okay with that.
So, the real question is this, do the Packers need a number one guy at the receiver position?
I believe the answer is going to be no, but we can’t know until the season at least starts. On the contrary, Green Bay could have a similar question for each week they play. Who will be the number one receiver this week? I believe that each week, the Packers will have a different guy step up to the chagrin of those who play fantasy football.
So, who will be the number one guy this week against the Eagles? My guess is Jayden Reed. It just seems like a Jayden Reed week.
I guess we’ll find out Friday night.
Packers Questions Number One – Jordan Love Still?
Finally, the number one question. Was Jordan Love’s second half of last season just a fluke?
The Packers better hope not. They made Love the highest paid player in NFL history off of just that second half. In the final eight games of the regular season, Love threw for 2,150 yards, 18 touchdowns, and only one interception.
Now, this won’t happen, but if Love were to continue that pace heading into 2024, woah, look out. His 2024 stats would be: 4,569 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns, and only two interceptions.
That would be worthy of an MVP season for sure. Of course, I wouldn’t expect those numbers. Especially not those interception numbers. But if he could do something like 4,200 passing yards, maybe throw for around the same amount of touchdowns give or take, and throw fewer interceptions. Then, I would believe that the Packers were right in extending Love.
Of course, circumstances matter and stats don’t always tell the whole story.
So, the number one question is the same from last year. Sort of.
Is Jordan Love the guy? Obviously, the Packers believe he is. We will find out for sure this season and may get some of that answer this Friday against the Eagles in São Paulo.
Either way,
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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