With a makeshift line cobbled together to slow down one of the more efficient pass rushes in the league, Jordan Love might be in for a long day. It's going to test the cool and calm he's shown in the pocket and be a great indicator of how he operates under stress.

Since the Packers can't run the ball, look for Matt to rely on a series of static bubble screens, check downs, and throws short of the sticks to end drives.

They're a young team who've played one crappy defense, one middling one and now face a game-changing one. With the issues on the line, nominal reliability in the run game, and the probable absence of Jones and Watson, i see the Packers offense struggling, If there was ever a game the defense needs to show if it has any sand, it's this one.

Bench Dillon and go with Jones, Taylor and Wilson.

"Which makes Green Bay look good, but masks the other side of the coin. So far this year the team ranks 13th in pass protection, per ESPN analytics. In run-blocking win rate, the Packers rank 25th. "
-We are 2 games into the season, and we have already used backups at LT and LG. Bakhtiari missing this week hurt not question. But also when Jenkins went out it made our OL even worse. Its hard to come away with solid stats and rankings when they have had 3 different players playing LT and 2 playing LG in 2 games.

"Watching the New Orleans D this past Monday night was not an encouraging sight for any Packer fan. Until late in the fourth quarter, the Saints had not allowed a touchdown this season. The Packers catch a break with the injury to Marcus Maye, but this is a daunting squad, despite playing two nothing-special offenses so far. Yes, the Saints have not yet faced a powerhouse, but they a play smart, in rhythm defensive scheme with a strong pass rush that features significant talent."
-While the Saints do have a good defense, lets not forget the teams they played. They played against the Titans who are a hot and cold offense with Tannenhill at QB. And the Panthers who are starting a rookie QB in his 2nd nfl game. I think the Packers can attack the defense better especially if Jones and Watson can play.

"Taysom Hill was unstoppable against the Panthers, whose primary problems are not on defense. He pretty much did whatever he wanted, despite little attempt to disguise what he was going to do. The Packers often struggle with gadget pieces like Hill, another player they let get away."
-Expect to see a lot of Hill. With Williams and Kamara out, Hill should see a lot of playing time.

For all the problems on defense, JB failing to match personnel is really irritating.
Dillon has disappointed for sure, but could they please use him according to his strengths? Running parallel to the LOS ain’t it.

Hill and the Saints defense will give the Packers trouble...now we get to see what MLF is made of, not worried about Love too much but now that MLF is "free" of AR he is supposed to be able to show what an offensive genius he is....im waiting...personally I think he should be an O.C. somewhere not a HC...

The online is not as good as everyone thinks. We'll see this on Sunday. MLF was run orientated beginning the year
Seen no evidence of that. Falcons should have given him a clue. The online just can not make nor hold holes open long enough for AJ or AJ to get through between the tackles. Sad. Limits the offense to AR style of passing downs then punt. Sad.
GPG!!!

Good article Jonathan. Haven’t really bought in to the idea that Packer O-line is a strength for a while. The inability to run the ball is nothing new. With the fragile condition of 69 and Jenkins coming back from injury it doesn’t look like the Packers are prepared to reload. Appears the draft and develop machine is a bit overblown?

I think the team will be fired up this Sunday after losing a frustrating game. Carr will be under constant pressure, while I hope Love uses his running ability more often.

The Packers have the number one rated Red Zone offense in the League. However, the Saints Red Zone Defense is nothing to laugh at. I hope Dillon is ready to pound the ball, at Lambeau. I hope we have Watson, Van Ness and Jenkins back. I doubt we see Jones on the field, this Sunday. I can see Watson and Reed lining up on the outside and flying past NO defenders so Love can throw bombs to them for scores.I see Wicks and Heath involved in the middle of the field and under the coverage. I see Musgrave involved in blocking and then peeling off as an outlet for Love, who will be under pressure. I hope the Packers make Home Field Advantage a thing again, at Lambeau Field! GO PACK GO!!!

Just take care of the ball and get some first downs. An early score (offensively OR defensively) will change the whole complexion of the game.

TDs not field goals when we get into the red/gold zone will make the Saints have to play into their weaknesses.

Of course, we put Atlanta into that position so, I really don't know what I'm talking about.

If we can't run at Lambeau, a win will prove extremely difficult.

Who will be the RB star for the Saints on Sunday?

I hope we win the toss and the O comes out crisp and efficient. Work play action, and let Jordan roll out. Remember the weapon we have in Musgrave, and dust off the screen pass calls.

Historically, remember how the Packers D has the gift of making folk heroes out of opposing pedestrian RBs. Maybe Kendre Miller won't enjoy such success? Improvement in all areas would be great to see. My gut tells me disappointment awaits.

GPG

Maybe trading for Taylor wasn't so crazy an idea after all.

I look at this from a learning standpoint having spent 37 years in training others. The HC has only so much time between games and thus cant really change up things to fit the team coming in. I'm sure in Lefleur's mind set its still were going to run first, pass second and try and play that stupid Bary bend don't break defense and hope things go our way.
I just think that the lefleurs of the world don't change up their plans because of ego and time. We can all say, short passes, lateral run plays, using the tight ends more but in reality the HC has to work that in in a week with limited practice time allowed.
Besides Lefleur knows his won lost record and may be dam satisfied with his game planning and may not try to do anything different. Maybe none of the HC's do for that matter.

I watched the New Orleans games and have another armchair prediction.

The Saints' offense is weak. They have a good receiver group and sometimes useful TEs (including, believe it or not, Jimmy Graham), but a truly bad O-line gives up pressure and opens nothing for the running game. They are led by the uneven Derek Carr.

Their defense is pretty good. They haven't played anybody good so their stats are misleading, but the front is fast and disguises its intentions well. They get pressure on the QB often, and they were able to confuse young CJ Young last week.

This will be a tough one for GB. If they play on-and-off as they did in ATL, they will likely lose by 8-10. If they play better, then it will come down to the final minutes.

The explosion of data for every conceivable motion a player makes('The Packers rank 24th in the number of times players scratch their backsides") has really bogged me down.

I see these 'analysts' making all these number-crunch assessments and think, 'how many of these folks ever put on a pair of shoulder pads?' The speed and emotion of the game aren't often factored by these nerds.

Another element is plain human behavior. Maybe a generation or two from now all human behavior will be predicted by an algorithm but for now I like my football sans nerds.

A.J. Dillon has proven to be just a guy, or at least not a special back you can rely on. Aaron Jones is all we have, and next year he's probably gone. I realize the rumors of trading for Jonathan Taylor were just that, rumors with probably little substance, but I wish Gute would revisit the possibility. It reminds me of the time we could have gotten Marshawn Lynch for a 4th or Randy Moss for, I think, a 4th. They both signed elsewhere and led teams to the SB. Taylor is in that class. Look what McCafferty has done for the 49's. I'd easily offer a 2nd and 5th for Taylor. He, like, Lynch and Moss, would love to play for the Pack, come back to Wisconsin, and he'd immediately make life easier for Love because of the threat he poses. I don't believe money is an issue, and If it is, find it. Opportunities like these, getting a great young player in his prime, don't come along often.

I just realized that this will be Jordan Love's first significant regular season action at Lambeau Field. A few years ago, he started in that game at Kansas City, then there was the game at Detroit at the end of the 2021 season, where I think he played the whole second half because the Packers had clinched their playoff position, and last year he played in that game at Philadelphia. Sunday's game will be a really special occasion for him. It shouldn't hurt for him to get an emotional boost from the fans, and I think his teammates will be feeling it too.

Taysom Hill worries me. Jonathan makes a good point about how the Packers often struggle with gadget-type players like that. I think Hill will be a thorn in their side, but aside from him, I like the matchups on defense.

This is going to be a really tough week for the Pack and their fans. Deep sigh. GPG.