I have to admit, I didn’t expect the Packers’ season to begin like this.

I definitely wouldn’t have been surprised at a 2-0 start. But 40+ points in each game? A historically strong offensive start, and the top offense in the league by both points and yards? The top rushing offense in the league?

That’s wild.

I mused a bit last week about how well the Packers’ offense performed for a team with a supposed lack of weapons. Two weeks in, and the results have been beyond impressive.

What’s crazy is the personnel isn’t all that different from a year ago. The only real notable additions outside of the offensive line are Josiah Deguara, who didn’t play in week two, and AJ Dillon, who has only seen late-game snaps when the score was well in hand. Otherwise, this is basically the same set of offensive contributors from a year ago.

So what’s changed? Why are the Packers not just seeing better results, but historically great offensive results after the first two weeks of the season?

There are a few potential factors to consider here.

• The system: This is year two in Matt LaFleur’s system, and with basically the entire offense back from 2019, everyone has had extra time to get familiar with its intricacies and to be more comfortable with their responsibilities. 

• The coaching: Matt LaFleur cannot be commended enough for the job he’s done with this offense, which had flatlined in its final year under Mike McCarthy. He’s using a wider range of personnel packages and formations, and has clearly grown more comfortable as an in-game coach. His playcalling has been outstanding overall, and he appears to have developed a real in-game rhythm. Thus, not only have the Packers adjusted to LaFleur’s offense, but LaFleur has had another year to grow more comfortable in the role of head coach.

• Aaron Rodgers: We’ve all noticed it, and Rodgers himself has alluded to it, but there’s something different about number 12 this year. Rodgers has talked at length about finding peace this offseason and embracing his role with this team and his life in general, and so it could be that sort of positive mindset has helped him achieve a top-tier level of play again to begin this season. But Rodgers is also firing far more balls across the middle of the field than he has in years, and appears to be stepping into his throws with much more comfort and confidence. This is the first time Rodgers has played fully healthy in a familiar offense since before his injury in 2017, when he started the year on another MVP trajectory. That has been a massive factor.

Whatever it is that’s caused the Packers’ offense to get off to such a hot start, let’s just hope it continues to fuel that same sort of momentum throughout the season. Because this unit has been incredibly fun to watch.

Holy open receivers!

Packers are creating open receivers all over the field. So refreshing after the last couple years.

— Tim Backes (@timbackes) September 20, 2020

One of the most noticeable improvements on the offensive side of the ball has been the fact that there are open receivers all over the field on nearly every passing play. Say what you want about the quality of the secondaries in Minnesota and Detroit--this is something that’s been completely missing from the last couple years of Packer football.

Rodgers has been firing to wide open players at all levels and in all areas of the field. And the scheme has a lot to do with that. 

I’ve been particularly fond of the heavy use of the bunch formation the Packers have had going on. It’s become an integral part of the passing offense, and Rodgers is actually firing to receivers out of the bunch. The various route trees that come out of that formation can be quite versatile, and can also create some natural rub routes/picks right off the line of scrimmage. 

How great is it to not have to watch Geronimo Allison and Jake Kumerow be tasked with beating their man in single coverage on deep routes outside the hashes over and over again?

Wisconsin Beer of the Week

I’ve always been a fan of Central Waters Brewing Company. If New Glarus, Leinenkugel’s and Capital Brewing were my introduction to the world of craft beer while I was in college in the mid-2000s at UW Madison, Central Waters is the brewery that truly sucked me in for good after I graduated.

My in-laws live fairly close to Amherst, WI, where the brewery is located, so I’m fortunate to get out there every now and then to try some of their less widely available stuff. We actually got kegs of their Octoberfest and Honey Blonde for our wedding some years back. And of course, there are plenty of Central Waters beers you can find in liquor stores all over Wisconsin. 

The brewery is perhaps best known for its impressive collection of barrel aged beers. Let me tell you, I’ve been inside their barrel aging facility, and it’s like walking into the huge warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, where those “top men” are conducting “research” on the Ark of the Covenant. Barrels on barrels on barrels. You step inside and you get smacked in the face by the smell of bourbon. It’s magical.

I have a few Central Waters beers in my fridge at all times just as a matter of principle. The one I’ve chosen for Beer of the Week is one of their many delicious stouts, their Salted Maple Stout. 

At 10.75 ABV, this one packs a punch, but it’s so easy to drink. It’s sweet and thick like molasses, due to the large quantities of real maple syrup included in the brew. There’s a bit of salt added that gives some real depth of flavor. It’s a perfect beer for crisp fall and winter evenings. It’s a specialty beer, so it’s only available at certain times--this one had been sitting in my fridge since last winter, and as overnight temperatures started dipping into the 40s I felt it was appropriate to crack it open and enjoy.

Expect Central Waters beers to appear frequently in this space.

Around the NFC North

As always, it’s time to take a brief look at what the rest of the NFC North accomplished (or failed to accomplish) over the weekend’s action.

• The Chicago Bears are a surprising 2-0, but don’t exactly inspire a whole lot of confidence; they defeated the Lions only because the Lions managed to Lions it up in a big way in the fourth quarter, completely collapsing and then dropping a game-winning touchdown. Then they got to play the Giants, the worst team in the NFL by record over the last three seasons (and that includes the 0-16 Browns), who ended up losing Saquon Barkley to a season-ending injury. The Bears have a much tougher test in Week 3, traveling to Atlanta to take on the potent Falcons offense. If the Bears can emerge victorious, I may suddenly believe this team could be in the playoff race after all. But for now, even ardent fans of the team can’t put a whole lot of stock into the Bears being a legitimate threat based on its first two weeks of play.

• The Detroit Lions need to fire Matt Patricia as soon as possible. The guy is an absolutely awful coach, and by all accounts he’s generally despised. He should not have been given the chance to come back for another year; what could possibly be gained by allowing him to continue to spread his toxicity throughout the franchise for the rest of this season? Also, what the hell were the Lions thinking by going away from the run against the Packers after it helped them open up an early two-score lead? The Lions have to travel to play Arizona next, a young team with a whole lot of promise that will likely shred its weakened secondary. After that, they get the Saints. It’s quite likely the Lions are in for an 0-4 start, after which the season is essentially lost.

• The Minnesota Vikings looked bad against the Packers, but against the Colts they didn’t even resemble an NFL franchise. Kirk Cousins had an absolutely awful outing, one of the worst of his career, going 11 of 26 for 113 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions for a 15.9 rating. Those are Rex Grossman numbers, people. The Vikings had a lot of turnover at key positions coming into this year, and they’re looking very much like a team that’s having to make it up as they go along. With the Titans, Texans, Seahawks and Falcons all coming up, the Vikings could be fully out of it by mid-October. You just hate to see it.

Lambeau without fans just doesn’t sit right

How weird was it to watch a live NFL broadcast from Lambeau Field without any fans in the stands? It was especially strange when Aaron Jones dove into the stands for that first Lambeau Leap… with no one around him. It was just a strange sight.

I was watching reporters tweet out pictures from around Green Bay, with the town appearing dead just hours before game time, when the entire city is normally jam packed with people donning green and gold attire and holding their beverage of choice, and when grills are fired up at lots and fields all over within walking distance of the stadium. 

I’m very thankful that we’ve actually got football to enjoy this fall, but man, that was a tough site. It’s another reminder of how much we’ve lost due to this pandemic. Cities and businesses are hurting, and people aren’t gathering in ways they’re accustomed to. It’s unnatural, and a bit eerie, especially on a football Sunday in Green Bay.

Here’s hoping for a return to something remotely resembling normal as soon as possible.

Fall food is best food; you know I’m right

I’ve never been one of those people who goes crazy over the arrival of fall. I’m perfectly content with my 70-80 degree summer Wisconsin weather while I can enjoy it, thank you very much. I don’t need the arrival of fall to remind me that I live in a wintery hellscape approximately 7 months out of the year.

However, there is one thing about the arrival of fall that does bring me joy, and that is the seasonal food.

I’m not talking about Pumpkin Spice Lattes, either. (Frankly, I hate all coffee and find it disgusting, and I’m fully aware I’m unusual for this.)

I’m thinking casseroles, sweet potatoes, delicious soups, acorn squash, roasted vegetables, cranberry muffins, apple pie, and, of course, Oktoberfest beer and the beginning of stout and porter season.

There’s a reason why Thanksgiving is indisputably the best holiday, aside from the fact that you don’t have to worry about buying a ton of crap. It’s got the best food. Yeah, okay, turkey is great, but let’s talk about stuffing, pie, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, freshly baked bread… you cannot beat it.

This is a hill I am willing to die on. I love my summer barbecues, but fall food is best food. You can’t convince me otherwise.

Week three quick forecast

New Orleans is never an easy place to play, but the Packers have the benefit of making their visit at a time when it won’t be packed with fans screaming their faces off. 

That’s certainly one important factor to consider in the outcome of this game--it removes a lot of homefield advantage when you don’t have your fans getting loud while the opposing team is on offense.

Another important factor is the status of all-pro wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas suffered an ankle sprain in the Saints’ week one game against Tampa Bay, didn’t play against Las Vegas, and is day-to-day leading up to the game on Sunday against the Packers. Recent updates had Thomas out 2-4 weeks, which would put him out for the game this weekend, but you can’t entirely rule him out yet.

Without Thomas, the Packers’ job becomes much easier: stop Alvin Kamara, and nothing else matters all that much. Drew Brees, while still a good quarterback, is nowhere near the threat he once was--age has caught up with his arm. If the Packers can keep Kamara in check, Brees will have to do the heavy lifting he used to do for this offense, but simply cannot do any more at this stage in his career and without his top receiving threat.

This is going to be the Packers’ toughest contest yet on both sides of the ball, but right now, Green Bay is the better team. I think they do just enough to slow down Kamara, and I think their offensive line is capable of withstanding whatever the Saints’ pass rush throws their way.

Give me the Packers, 30-24.