Merry Christmas Packer fans! If you celebrate, I hope you all have had a great holiday so far spending quality time with friends and family. Our Green Bay Packers delivered us an early Christmas gift on Monday night with the first shutout of the 2024 NFL season when they pummeled the New Orleans Saints. The Holidays are always so much better when you're celebrating a victory and don't have to discuss a loss with everyone around you. This year was the first since 2020 that the Packers didn't play on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I have to admit that it's a relief to me. While I can see how it's enjoyable for some to incorporate the game into their holiday festivities, for someone like me who prefers to lock into the game with minimal distraction, a game in the middle of the day on a holiday isn't as enjoyable trying to schedule around it.

Game or not, for me, the Packers are always part of Christmas in some way. The stocking hung next to the fireplace for me is always of the Packers persuasion, I decorate a Packers tree every year in my basement "Man Cave," I always wear a Packers Christmas sweater to at least one-holiday function, and I always have to have a Packers themed Santa hat to wear as well. Then, of course, are the gifts. I don't think I've gone a single Christmas since I was a kid without receiving at least one Packers-related gift. I'll never forget Christmas of 1996 opening up my first Packers my first Packers jersey, which was Robert Brooks' number 87. 1997 brought me Gilbert Brown, and in 1998 I think I may have received two, Mark Chmura and Leroy Butler.  As the years went on, and jerseys got more expensive, I started requesting cash to save up and buy my own jerseys every year. Either way, my Christmas wishes always included the Packers.

For those wishes this year I've decided to do something a little different. These are wishes for the remainder of the Packers' 2024 season. What can Santa put under the three at 1265 Lombardi Ave to help the Packers finish the season strong? Outside continuing the success they've already had, like running the ball effectively and having a kicking game that doesn't give us indigestion. Things that will improve their chances of further success and maybe the opportunity to reach the ultimate goal

A Clean Bill of Health

This almost falls under the category of being a given. If you're going to have a successful run through the playoffs, you need your key players to stay healthy. Even losing one key player can derail that chance. The Packers have had a few nagging injuries here and there this season, but thankfully none of them have completely ruined games. That's a testament to the Packers' front office having the depth to continue winning and the team itself for not losing momentum just because one wheel comes a little loose. My wish is for this to continue. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's wondering "What if?" What if this player didn't get hurt? So, hopefully, the Packers can stay healthy all the way to February. 

A Ramped Up Passing Game

Jordan Love has been much more consistent in keeping the ball out of harm's way since the Bye week, and for that, I'm very thankful. But the passing game still leaves a bit to be desired. The Packers have only had one game this season with over 300 yards passing. This is going to happen when your rushing attack is as effective as theirs has been this year, and I love watching my team play bully ball just handing the ball off for 5-6 yards every play.  But as we get into the playoffs we're going to encounter teams that are much more effective against the run, and we'll need to put the ball in Jordan Love's hands. We need more than just check-downs and 5-10-yard passes. We need to start creating more plays downfield if we want to make a deep playoff run. 

A Healthy Jaire Alexander

When Ja-money is healthy, he's one of the best cornerbacks in the league. But as of late, the term "healthy" has come with a big asterisk, as he's missed half the season. This has led to frustration over his status with the team, which most of us know is unwarranted as if he were healthy, he'd be on the field. Given that we've faced several teams that haven't been as effective through the air, his presence hasn't been missed as much. But down the stretch and into the playoffs, that's not going to hold. This team needs a healthy Jaire Alexander and I wish for him to be ready to go as early as the next game. 

An Effective Pass Rush

Santa may have delivered this one early this year. Sack totals have ramped up in the last few games, and for that I'm thankful. But, we've played some rough offensive lines. We need our pass rushers to keep that effectiveness even against the teams that are good at keeping their QBs upright. We've seen an increase in production from Devonte Wyatt, Kingsley Enagbare, and Edgerrin Cooper, but I want more from those guys we're supposed to see more of, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness. Gary has been effective at getting his rushes in still and he's also fallen victim to a few holding calls that went un-flagged, I want to see him on the sack stat sheet more. An increase in production from both Gary and Van Ness would be a dream come true heading towards the post-season.

Get Luke Musgrave Involved

We were treated to the news of Luke Musgrave being activated off IR before the game against Seattle. Tucker Kraft has been great this season, but the majority of it has been in Musgrave's absence. Both are talented tight ends who can be effective in the passing game, and my wish is for Luke Musgrave to find his stride and pick up where he left off last year. Imagine both Kraft and Musgrave stretching out defenses, it could lead to a lot of big plays that the tight end position hasn't seen in Green Bay in over a decade. That success will also trickle over to the receivers opening them up even further. 

Continue to Stop the Run

Ineffectiveness against the running game is something that's plagued the Packers' defense for years. Finally, it seems as though we have an answer and we're ranked in the top ten for run defense. Please for the love of all things holy, let's not go back to the dark ages. This team is built to stop the run this time around and they have some key players that have made a big difference in turning it around. Hopefully, that all continues and we don't have to curse out the run defense for another year as being part of our demise.

These are just a few Christmas wishes that I have for the Packers. Of course, I hope they keep up all the things that have gone well so far, and I believe these little extra treats will help them reach the ultimate Christmas wish, which is a Super Bowl victory. Go Pack Go.