Hangin’ with Havel

Chris Havel’s sports columns appear during the week on The FAN’s website. The columns are brought to you by these fine advertisers (click on hyperlink to go to their website/Facebook)

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Bisaccia steps down as Packers’ teams coach 

Thursday, February 19th, 2026

By Chris Havel 

Special to The FAN 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Rich Bisaccia’s four seasons in Green Bay were eventful, and at times fruitful, but his special teams units ultimately hurt more than they helped. 

Bisaccia, 65, stepped down as the Packers’ assistant head coach/special teams coordinator earlier this week. 

There was no indication that he was forced out by the team, and in fact, it very well may be that the Packers wanted Bisaccia to return but he decided against it. 

Bisaccia’s departure comes a week after Packers GM Brian Gutekunst professed his confidence in Bisaccia’s handling of special teams, and described the coach’s presence as impactful to Green Bay’s culture. 

Nevertheless, Bisaccia walked away. 

A year ago, he wavered on whether to return as the Packers’ special teams coordinator, saying that he’d felt as if he’d let down head coach Matt LaFleur. 

Ultimately, he elected to return for a 2025 season that produced a 9-7-1 team whose special teams units cost it dearly in a 31-27 loss at Chicago’s Soldier Field in the NFC’s wild-card round of the playoffs. 

The Packers allowed fourth-quarter punt returns of 22 and 37 yards to the Bears’ Devin Duvernay in coverage. Kicker Brandon McManus left seven points on the table. He misfired on two field goal tries and an extra point. 

In the regular season, the Packers’ special teams had costly PAT and field goal tries blocked in a tie at Dallas and a loss at Cleveland. In addition, Romeo Doubs’ mishandling of a Bears’ onside kick – and Chicago’s subsequent recovery – was the difference between Green Bay being the No. 2 or No. 7 seed in the NFC. 

It was the difference between a home game and a road game. It was costly, to be sure, but the question is this: Was it Bisaccia’s fault? He had Doubs in perfect position, but like a bad shortstop, he botched a routine grounder. 

For his part, LaFleur expressed his gratitude for Bisaccia’s efforts during the past four seasons, and his disappointment in losing his assistant head coach. 

“While we are disappointed to lose a person and coach as valuable as Rich, we respect his decision to step down from the Packers,” LaFleur said. “Rich was a tremendous resource to me and our entire coaching staff who had a profound impact on our players and our culture throughout the building. We can’t thank him enough for his contributions to our team over the last four years. We wish Rich, his wife, Jeanne, and the rest of their family all the best moving forward.” 

That said, Bisaccia’s timing couldn’t have been worse in that it comes AFTER no less than 10 teams hired new special teams coordinators this offseason. The cupboard is bereft of experienced, successful special teams gurus who are available and have done it in the NFL. 

The Packers are the NFL’s only team without a special teams coordinator currently on staff. Rest assured LaFleur will have one in place by the time training camp opens. 

The question is who? 

I shook nearly every branch from the LaFleur-Jonathan Gannon-Packers’ in house assistants tree. 

Nothing fell out. 

Anyone and everyone who worked with LaFleur, Gannon or the Packers earlier in their careers appears to already be gainfully employed by another NFL team. 

The pickings are slim. 

It’s possible the Packers hire from the college coaching ranks, but given the premium on NFL experience at that post it seems a reach. 

Special teams coordinators have the most thankless job of any on an NFL coaching staff. The offense and defense are the priorities, coach-speak aside, and inevitably when stuff rolls downhill special teams is forced to adjust. 

If a starting linebacker and special teams contributor such as Quay Walker is injured in-game, it triggers a chain reaction that’s challenging to say the least. 

The defense gets the “next man up.” 

The teams get a diluted “next man up” – he was already immersed in teams, but now he’s an every-down ‘backer – so he’s not only distracted but likely fatigued. 

Or teams is forced to go with a less-experienced player. 

Either way there’s a lot of moving parts. 

In Bisaccia’s defense, it’s not his fault McManus botched kicks and the coverage units broke down late in the game. The misses are on McManus and the big punt returns point to the fact that Green Bay doesn’t prioritize the return game. Perhaps if they had a returner of Duvernay’s caliber, that player could’ve sparked a late-game rally. 

Either way, the Packers’ musical chairs in the return game had to be frustrating to Bisaccia. In addition, his All-Pro kick returner, Keisean Nixon, elected to quit returning kicks in order to focus on being the CB1. 

Since when do players get to decides their job description? Oh, that’s right. It’s when the head coach allows them to. 

LaFleur should’ve put his foot down and said, “No, Keisean, you’re returning kicks. If you don’t like it, you can ride the bench altogether.” 

Bisaccia also was in the final year of a two-year deal. 

I can’t imagine he’d be totally OK with working on a lame-duck contract while the guy he hitched HIS wagon to – Matt LaFleur – is enjoying a big-time extension. 

Didn’t Bisaccia contribute to LaFleur’s recent success? 

Of course he did. 

That’s why I question the Packers’ commitment to desiring Bisaccia’s return. If they really and truly wanted him back, why didn’t they offer a contract extension immediately after the playoff loss? They could’ve said, “Thanks, here’s your extension, but if you’re considering parting ways, let us know by the Super Bowl’s end.” 

That didn’t happen. 

Furthermore, Byron Storer, who is Bisaccia’s right-hand man, had already departed to become the Cleveland Browns’ special teams coordinator. 

That’s right. One of the 10 hires came from within the Packers’ organization, and that was BEFORE Bisaccia announced that he was stepping down. 

Why wouldn’t Bisaccia make a decision sooner, if for no other reason than to give his protege a chance to replace him right here in Green Bay? 

That alone is telling. Perhaps neither Bisaccia nor Storer were pleased with something here in Green Bay. 

Another possibility is that the hire of ex-head coach Jonathan Gannon to replace Jeff Hafley as the Packers’ defensive coordinator was a factor. 

The DC and special teams coordinator absolutely have to be on the same page in terms of which players do teams double-duty and so forth. 

It’s not inconceivable to think Gannon and Bisaccia – while both true pros – simply didn’t quite see eye-to-eye on things. That’s not an indictment against either. It’s just the way things play out some times, no blame necessary. 

Bisaccia is to be credited with punter Daniel Whelan’s soaring success, as well as the success he’d shared with McManus as well as Lucas Havrisik, his temporary replacement, who is still on the team’s roster. 

Nixon also had a terrific run as a return man. He performed at an All-Pro level and was honored accordingly. The coverage teams also improved under Bisaccia’s direction, and plays such as Zayne Anderson’s early season strip-fumble and recovery on a punt seem to get lost in the shuffle. 

Here’s what Bisaccia said regarding his decision: 

“After taking some time to reflect over the last few weeks, I have made the decision to step down as the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator of the Green Bay Packers,” he said. “I am incredibly grateful to Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst, Ed Policy and Mark Murphy for their unwavering trust and support throughout my time in Green Bay. I am also thankful to the players for their consistent work and relentless effort to improve every single day. I would like to thank everyone in the organization for their dedication and commitment. The people in this building make it a special place to work. 

“I want to also thank our fans and the people throughout the Green Bay community for their passion and love for this team. Coaching for the Green Bay Packers was truly an honor, and I will always be grateful for my time here. I look forward to whatever is next for me and my family, and I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the organization.” 

Now, whether for better or worse, we await LaFleur’s hiring of a new special teams coordinator. This might be a good time to take a serious inventory of special teams and how the Packers intend to proceed going forward. 

It’s time to reshape the approach. 

Otherwise, it’ll be a new coach, but a whole lot more of the same-old, same-old, and that’s just not good enough. 

Brewers’ expectations

high off 97-win season

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – If pitches were predictions the Milwaukee Brewers would be a hanging curveball about belt-high right down Wisconsin Avenue.

That’s how the majority of baseball’s “experts” perceive them, or so it seems, at least based upon their annually underwhelming if not insulting season predictions.

Ask an “expert” if the Brewers will win the division. They’re apt to sneer a response both swift and purposeful … you know … like a brush-back pitch.

The Brewers? Win the NL Central? With their payroll?

They’re a glorified Triple-A team that doubles as an off-season feeder system for the wealthy.

Now, the Dodgers and the Yankees … blah-blah-blah.

It’s a tired refrain.

One popular model in the prediction market gives the Brewers less than a 12-percent chance to win the division. It also has them pegged for an 81-81 season.

Where can I bet those odds? I’ll darn sure take them.

Christian Yelich wouldn’t bet them, I suspect, but I’m darn sure he would wholeheartedly agree.

It’s just that he doesn’t care if the Brewers get low-rated. It goes with the territory, like spring training in Phoenix, Barrel Man coming down the slide like an Olympic gold medalist in the luge, American Family Field in full throat, and the list goes on and on.

It’s a tradition unlike any other … at least in baseball.

So how do the Brewers feel about the sorry predictions?

“We just don’t care,” Yelich said. “It’s the same story every year.”

The Brewers are the most lovable underdog of them all.

They’re the rare underdog that out-thinks and out-works a lot of opponents. If the Brewers were a breed of dog, they’d be Border Collies.

Smart. Instinctive. Athletic. Incredible awareness.

Here’s the thing: If the Brewers’ roster really and truly equates to an 81-win team, as the experts say, then why do they perpetually over-perform?

Could it be that other teams under-perform?

Perhaps other franchise’s more talented, better-paid players fall short by different measures such as ATTITUDE … TEAMWORK … SELF-SACRIFICE …

I realize those factors are more difficult to gauge when compared with batting averages, slugging percentage, RBIs and home runs.

But in a 162-game marathon I’ve got to believe being a big league player surrounded by a hornet’s nest of high-priced prima donnas could wear thin by June.

That doesn’t appear to be the case in Milwaukee.

Nevertheless, the experts are forecasting a third-place finish behind the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Again, Yelich takes it like a slider in the dirt.

“Just because they say you’re going to be bad, or just because they say you’re going to be good, you still have to play the six-month season and everything that goes with that,” Yelich said. “When all that settles, then you find out what kind of team you were.

“So we kind of block it out. It’s business as usual every single season, kind of the same story. So go out and play, and we’ll see where we’re at.”

Yelich, 34, is entering his 14^th big league season.

He’s also healthy coming off a strong season in which he hit .264 with 29 home runs and 103 RBI in 2025. He was the Brewers’ DH in 128 of 146 games played, but when he was in left field he made routine plays look easy.

The Brewers’ lineup looks promising with Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio and William Contreras along with Andrew Vaughn, Garrett Mitchell and others.

Yelich is a key ingredient in Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy’s mix.

“He’s really in tune with the game, he understands it. And he understands his role with the Milwaukee Brewers,” Murphy said. “Yeli knows how to get into a meeting or a team session and impart something simple, and yet, profound. When he speaks, people listen. And when he speaks from his heart and he’s serious about something, everyone listens and it’s impactful. I go to him all the time.”

Yelich underwent back surgery in the off-season leading up to 2025. He needed time to work back into full swing, but once he felt ready he proved he could still play at the highest level.

“I think that especially with a back surgery, you want to make sure you can still do it, and I think I proved to myself [last season] that I can still do it,” Yelich said. “I got off to a slow start last year. It felt like I was playing catch-up in Spring Training and at the beginning of the season with just trying to get your feet under you after missing time and not having a real offseason.

“But it’s part of sports, right? Our team picked it up in the middle of the year and we kind of rode that out. Obviously, the postseason didn’t go how I wanted it to go and how we wanted it to go.”

Yelich told reporters how much he enjoyed Milwaukee’s fan base getting 100 percent on board last season. If you’ll recall, Milwaukee had awful flooding last spring that shut down the I-90/I-94 system for some time.

In spite of that, Brewers’ fans still managed to ski, boat or swim to American Family Field for a weekend series.

Yelich appreciated the fans, and his words reaffirm that fact that a full house with fans in full throat matters. His only regret is that Milwaukee didn’t win the World Series.

“You wish you could have taken it the whole way because of how special it was. But guys who were around last year can try to create the same kind of magic this year.”

True words from a true pro.

The fact is Brewers’ fans relish the underdog role because they see it as an opportunity to win a lot of games – which they totally believe will happen – while getting to prove all the doubters wrong along the way.

Valentine’s Day roses

for Badgers, Brewers

Friday, February 13th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – You gotta love the juxtaposition.

There is the sappy, sugary sweetness of Valentine’s Day preceded by none other than Friday the 13th and all the crazy superstitious silliness that goes with it.

It’s a weird dichotomy that’s a perfect analogy for sports.

One minute you’re a perfectly normal adult rooting on your favorite team. The next minute you’re wearing your cap backwards, your sleeves are tucked inside-out and your hands are clasped in prayer … dear god, could you please help Giannis make this free throw?

Then you realize that sometimes miracles on go so far.

Then there’s the other side of the spectrum.

Valentine’s Day is the culmination of a sports calendar bursting with love professed. It happens quite often, and almost always after a huge win. Fans love their team. Coaches love their players. Players love each other … and themselves, of course … and even the Almighty above.

It’s hugs and kisses all around, or at the least, until the next first pitch, opening kickoff or tip off.

The smiles, the flushed cheeks, the smeared lipstick … all replaced by that most menacing of mugs: The game face. Fortunately, it’s subject to change, depending upon good shots, bad calls and all the rest.

The most lovable of all dogs is sports’ underdogs.

Most everybody relishes a story of overcoming adversity, pulling off the greatest upset, beating all the odds.

It’s why I have no problem admitting my addiction: It’s total, complete euphoria when the Brewers or the Badgers men’s basketball team finds a way to prevail.

If I feel an urge to close my eyes – pretending not to watch – as the outcome hangs in the balance, or to offer up a quick “Hail Mary,” I don’t feel guilty in the least.

The Brewers’ pitchers and catchers reported to spring training earlier this week. They traded ace Freddy Peralta (to the Mets) and NL Rookie of the Year finalists Isaac Collins (to Kansas City) and Caleb Durbin (to Boston) during the offseason, which is how Milwaukee does it.

Nevertheless, they’ve got Brandon Woodruff – one of the most lovable underdogs of all time – along with Quinn Priester, Chad Patrick, Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill and all the rest on a terrific pitching staff.

Young burgeoning stars such as Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang and Sal Frelick are also easy to root for. The annually overlooked Brewers will be a force in the NL Central once again.

The Badgers (17-7, 9-4) host 10th ranked Michigan State (20-4, 10-3) on Friday night at Madison’s Kohl Center.

If it’s a tight game down the stretch – and there’s a strong likelihood of that – I’ll be sweating it out right there with coach Greg Gard and the rest of the UW bench.

Wisconsin, the ultimate underdog, is coming off an incredible 92-90 overtime win against No. 8 Illinois on Tuesday night at Champagne.

“This league is not for the faint of heart,” Gard said after the win at Illinois. “As I told Brad (Underwood, the Illinois coach) after the game, ‘he’s got a heck of a team, which I knew coming in, but we’re growing into a heck of a team, too.”

The Badgers endured a painful 78-77 OT loss at Indiana last Saturday. Despite having two brutal officiating calls go against them in the final seconds, Wisconsin regrouped and responded by defeating Illinois.

Coach Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans also are coming off an overtime win against Illinois. The Spartans have been idle since an 85-82 OT win in East Lansing.

The Spartans trailed by nine points early in the second half but rallied past the Illini. Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 22 of his game-high 26 points after the intermission and OT. He also added 15 assists to pace Michigan State.

Fears has a ton of talent, but he also has a bit of a temper. At times he has allowed his passion to devolve into anger and inappropriate responses to bad calls or physical play.

Izzo has been able to keep Fears under control, which is critical because as he goes, so go the Spartans.

Jaxon Kohler scored 11 points and pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds in the win at Illinois. The Badgers must find a way to slow down Fears and keep Kohler from dominating as a physical presence inside.

The Badgers’ defense must be mindful of boxing out Kohler and Co., and getting back in transition. Michigan State outscored Illinois 22-0 on fast-break points.

Izzo was pleased with the win, but he’s got his eyes on the Big Ten title and perhaps a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the fast-approaching NCAA Tournament.

“(Illinois) had won 12 in a row, and we were limping,” Izzo said. “That’s a better team right now, and yet, I thought we played better, and that’s why you play the games on this night. But just think, all the things we’re talking about, and it still took overtime.”

Michigan State is 8-2 on the road. They outscore opponents by an average of 79.1 to 65.6 and hold the nation’s second-best rebounding edge at 13.1 per game.

The Badgers are led by guards John Blackwell and Nick Boyd, one of the country’s most potent back-courts.

Boyd had 25 points and Blackwell 24 in the Illini win.

Austin Rapp, who has been a 3-point whiz, came off the bench to finish with 18 points.

The Badgers only committed four turnovers at Illinois, but will face a much more physical, tenacious defense when it tips off against Michigan State.

Wisconsin is 12-2 at home. The Badgers have won six of the past 10 games against Michigan State.

It’s a sure bet I’ll be cheering for the Badgers when they tip it off against Michigan State, and I won’t hesitate to deploy superstitions if I feel it necessary.

The only thing better than lovable losers?

It’s gotta be lovable winners.

You know … like the Badgers and the Brewers.

Packers own 7th-best 

Super Bowl LXI odds 

Monday, February 9th, 2026

By Chris Havel 

Special to The FAN 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Deploying a great defense doesn’t guarantee a Super Bowl win, but it’s the smart way to bet. 

Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense proved it by hitting New England’s Drake Maye with a six-sack barrage on its way to a lopsided 29-13 victory in Super Bowl LX Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 

The Seahawks’ “loose and focused” mantra established by second-year head coach Mike Macdonald was ingrained in the defense’s DNA. 

Maye, the Patriots’ 2nd-year starter, completed 27 of 43 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. 

That was the good news. 

The bad news? Maye was sacked six times. He was hit or harassed repeatedly. He threw two interceptions. He finished with a season-low 79.1 passer rating. 

The painkiller injection he received in his right shoulder before kickoff may have been a preemptive move for what was to come. 

(A quick question: Why was New England left tackle Will Campbell wearing cement blocks for cleats? At least that’s what it looked like while Seattle defenders blew past him like a stalled car on the side of the highway.) 

Maye led the Patriots in rushing with 37 yards on five carries. It wasn’t because he wanted to. It was because he had to. It was a matter of self-preservation on most snaps. 

So what was Seattle’s secret? 

Tenacity? Relentlessness? Pure cussedness? 

In fact it’s quite the opposite. 

“We love each other,” said Seattle safety Julian Love, who had one of the two fourth-quarter interceptions. “We’re constantly messing around, never taking ourselves too seriously; but when that whistle sounds and it’s between the white lines, that’s when it’s serious. When there’s work to be done, we go to work.” 

It has been said love conquers all. 

Let’s hope the Packers’ GM, coach and players were watching and taking notes during Super Bowl LX. 

Here’s what Green Bay needs to remember when it “goes to work” this offseason: 

** No. 1 – Defense wins championships. 

Packers’ take: They’ve got Micah Parsons, Xavier McKinney, Edgerrin Cooper and presumably a defensive coordinator in Jonathan Gannon who knows what’s up. The ingredients are there to be dominant. 

It’s time for key second- and third-year pros to grow up and take the next step. 

** No. 2 – It doesn’t take great quarterback play to go all the way. Consider Sam Darnold’s career rehabilitation from failed first-rounder to Super Bowl champion. 

Darnold kept the Seahawks’ offense out of the ditch, but he was hardly the driving force behind this championship. 

Darnold completed just half his pass attempts. 

He was 19 of 38 for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions – which was the key statistic. His 74.7 passer rating was even lower than Maye’s, yet he walked off the field as a Super Bowl winner. 

“Put some respect on it! He’s the best!” Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said while cutting into Darnold’s postgame interview in the locker room. “We’re not here without that guy.” 

That may be true, but in terms of the Packers’ perspective, I’d take Jordan Love over Darnold every day of the week. 

Green Bay’s quarterback is BETTER than Seattle’s. 

If the Packers’ offensive line plays more like the Seahawks’ O-line and less like the Patriots’ shabby unit it won’t be long before Love and Darnold each have a ring. 

** No. 3 – The Seahawks’ “team” approach is a thing of beauty. The coordination and timing of Seattle’s blitzes – in concert with the linebackers and DB’s – was amazing. 

At times it looked like Seattle’s 12th man wasn’t its fans. It was literally a 12th MAN playing defense. It was as if Maye was trying to throw through a maze. 

And when he took a split-second too long to throw, he was buried beneath a pile of Seahawks. 

Maye had been sacked five times in each of the first three playoff games. The Seahawks did that one better. 

Seattle cornerback Devon Witherspoon blitzed with impunity on Sunday. His approach was the result of a coordinated attack by the Seahawks’ defense. 

“Just from watching film and studying, we kind of knew how their tackles were going to set in pass protection, and we know how they were kind of struggling this postseason,” Witherspoon said. “So we were going to attack them.” 

It is instructive listening to Seattle’s defenders talk about their craft. They realize that the purpose of film study is to put it into action on game day. 

At times, the Packers appeared as if they hadn’t even practiced some of their coverage schemes – or run plays on offense, for that matter – during last season. 

That foolishness has to change, or the results will be the same dissatisfying 9-8-1 type season. 

The Packers’ path toward a title begins now. 

The injuries, the excuses, the negativity needs to stay in the past. Meantime, the Packers need to stay in the moment. Some might see the 2025 season as a failure. I see it as a reason to have high expectations in 2026. 

When Parsons and the defense is locked in Green Bay’s unit can be among the NFL’s best. Even after injuries to Parsons and Devonte Wyatt the Packers’ defense played well enough to give the team a legit chance to win. 

Likewise, when Love and the offense is locked in Green Bay’s group is among the NFL’s finest. 

The trick is getting them to play that way together. 

Seattle was up 12-0 in the third quarter but somehow it felt like New England was trailing 21-0. Great defenses exert pressure even when they’re not on the field by allowing their offense to bang away with the run game. 

Kenneth Walker III deserved to be MVP after rushing 27 times for 135 yards – a 5.0-per-carry average – while catching two passes for 26 yards. 

But Walker III doesn’t win the MVP unless Seattle’s defense totally stonewalls the Patriots’ offense. Darnold had the luxury of handing it off repeatedly until New England’s front seven was gasping for air. 

To Walker’s credit he kept hammering away while holding onto the football as if his life depended on it. 

To Darnold’s credit he stayed true to who he is and what his role is with this team. He didn’t try anything crazy, and when he did throw passes into narrow windows he did so with velocity and precision. 

Complementary football is critical. 

The Seahawks had it. 

The Packers never captured it, or if they did, they failed to sustain it. 

Super Bowl LX convinced me of two things: 

** No. 1 – The Seahawks aren’t a dynasty and the NFC is there for the Packers to take. 

** No. 2 – Green Bay’s greatest obstacle – in addition to its less-than-stellar offensive line – is itself. 

Packers GM leaves no doubt as to goal in ‘26 

Friday, February 6th, 2026

By Chris Havel 

Special to The FAN 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Brian Gutekunst isn’t all that different from Packers fans. 

Green Bay’s GM expressed his bitter disappointment in the team’s quick descent into a five-game losing streak as the 2025 season came to a crashing, premature halt. 

The Packers held a 21-3 halftime lead against the Bears in the NFC divisional playoffs at Chicago’s Soldier Field. They frittered it away in a crushing 31-27 loss. 

The theme going forward: Finishing strong. That goes for individual games AND December/January games. The Packers were proficient at neither. 

Gutekunst didn’t hide his disatisfaction during a wide-ranging season-ending news conference earlier this week. 

“Finishing games is certainly something that we’ve got to concentrate on as we head into 2026,” he said before specifically discussing the disaster in Chicago. 

“Certainly we played very, very well in the first half and had a lot of things in front of us. And when you get in situations like that, you expect to win the game.” 

Clearly, the Packers fell short of expectations last season. They were 9-3-1 entering their Week 15 game at Denver. 

The Packers held a 23-14 lead in the third quarter when Jordan Love’s pass intended for Christian Watson was intercepted by Patrick Surtain at Denver’s 29. Watson was injured on the play, the Broncos converted the turnover into a touchdown, and it was “game on.” 

Micah Parsons’ season-ending knee injury occurred on the next series, with Evan Williams also being injured and forced to exit on the same play. 

In the span of a half hour, in real time, the Packers’ season took a massive hit and never recovered. 

So who’s to blame for the collapse? 

The players? The coaches? Bad luck? 

“It’s all of us, right?” Gutekunst said. “It’s players, it’s coaches, it’s everybody. In certain football situations, we have to be better, and we have to be more consistent. 

“For me, there’s two things. One, do we have the right people out there that can handle those situations? And then two, are we doing everything to give them the best chance to succeed? We’re looking at it from all avenues.” 

The Packers’ inability to close out games is one sore spot. The other is their inability to play their best football when the games matter most in December and beyond. 

The Packers had a knack for playing their best football late in the season under coach Matt LaFleur. 

That has evaporated in recent seasons. 

“In Matt’s first five years, we were 25-8 in December and January,” Gutekunst noted. “I think we’re 3-9 the last two years, so we’re looking at that from a lot of different angles, to make sure that we’re playing our best football in December and January. 

“We’ve got to win the games that matter the most. That was a strength of ours prior to these last couple of years, was how we finished. We were playing our best football at the end of the season. 

“We haven’t done that the last two years.” 

Even when the Packers were 9-3-1 and vying with the Bears for the NFC North title and the No. 2 playoff seed they hadn’t been playing close to peak performance. 

The Packers had a chance to go one of three ways: They could get better, stay the same or get worse. 

They got worse. 

“I thought we had an opportunity to kind of round into form there in the second half of the season, and obviously it didn’t work out that way,” Gutekunst said. “I did think there were moments that we played at a very, very high level, championship-football type level, but it wasn’t consistent enough. We didn’t sustain it. 

“As we go into this offseason, we continue to evaluate 2025 before we get on to 2026. It’s on the front of our minds.” 

Injuries aren’t excuses not to win games, especially games that are eminently winnable. Nevertheless, injuries are a factor for every team, including Green Bay. 

Gutekunst didn’t hold up injuries as the reason the Packers failed to deliver, although it could be argued that they lost their best non-quarterback on offense (tight end Tucker Kraft) and their best player overall (Parsons), in addition to their top interior defensive lineman (Devonte Wyatt) and their best offensive lineman (Zach Tom). 

Still, Gutekunst believed the Packers had enough horses to run, and win, the race down the stretch. 

Clearly, the Packers matched up favorably with the Bears, injuries included, and still lost. 

“I felt through the end of the season and into the playoffs we had everything we needed to win those football games,” Gutekunst said. “I never felt underhanded at any time going into those games.” 

Some fans were disappointed with Gutekunst’s assessments of special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, edge rusher Rashan Gary and 2025 free-agent acquisitions Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks. 

Of Bisaccia, he said: “What Rich brings to our culture, this football team, he’s a very impactful coach around here. I’ve got a lot of faith in Rich and his staff, what they do around here, not only the X’s and O’s, what they bring to the field, but what they bring to this place culturally is really important.” 

It’s true that kicker Brandon McManus killed the Packers by leaving seven points on the field at Chicago. He had made 32 straight kicks going into the game, but failed miserably when it mattered most. 

So who’s fault is that? McManus’s or Bisaccia’s or both? 

The coverage units were good until they weren’t in the second half at Chicago. The punter was excellent, but the kick and punt return units left a lot to be desired. 

It appears Bisaccia will be back, for better or worse. 

Gary’s production waned terribly last season. He had 7.5 sacks through seven games. He failed to register a single sack in the final 10 games. 

Gary’s future in Green Bay remains uncertain. The problem is twofold: Parsons won’t return until after the season begins, leaving Green Bay short on edge rushers, and Gary is at least serviceable until they can cut ties. 

Banks and Hobbs were disappointing, to say the least, but at least Banks played well once he got healthy and was able to stay in the lineup. Hobbs contributed next to nothing in his first season with the Packers. 

Banks most assuredly will return. Hobbs’ future is sketchy in Green Bay, but as is the case with Gary at edge rusher, the Packers also are painfully thin at cornerback. 

Gutekunst did make a point to state his full support and belief in LaFleur. 

“He’s an excellent football coach,” Gutekunst said. “To get where we’re going, he’s the guy we need. I think he’s as eager as anybody to get back at it. 

“Nobody’s really satisfied obviously with how the season ended. We’ve been through this before, where as soon as the season ends, you want to get started on the next because you’re not satisfied with where we want to be.” 

Packers fans would co-sign on that. 

Now it’s time to get to work. 

Packers extend ‘Big 3’

with BIG expectations

Monday, February 2nd, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – When an NFL team hires a new head coach it’s all sunshine and seashells.

The owner and/or GM pinkie swears with fans that (insert team) is going to win games. Lots of games. Then, as if sharing a secret, they lean into the mike and not-so-subtly whisper “the ultimate goal … is within reach.”

All of that before a single win is posted.

Then, after two (or fewer) losing seasons, it’s the same owner/GM “dog-and-pony show,” often with a new pony … I mean new GM … standing beside the owner.

It’s different in Green Bay.

The Packers don’t have a dog … I mean owner … which is why they tend to display more patience than most.

Packers first-year president Ed Policy is a good example.

Policy’s first mega-decision on the job wasn’t done to stoke his ego, or to have an excuse to bluster before the media how HIS HIRE is going to be the next Lombardi.

Policy doesn’t appear to have time for all that.

He isn’t a wealthy businessman.

He’s a football guy at heart.

It’s where he made his chops.

It also could be why Policy – in a most understated way – announced contract extensions for GM Brian Gutekunst, head coach Matt LaFleur and executive VP/Football Ops Russ Ball in a Friday (Jan. 24) afternoon news release.

No news conference. No video. No soundbites.

Where is the happy talk? Where is the silly prediction?

Where’s the sunshine and seashells?

That would be in Miami, where Dolphins owner Stephen Ross mumbled about how Jeff Hafley – the Dolphins’ new head coach – was going to make Miami great again.

I have my doubts in spite of the fact that I think Hafley, the Packers’ former DC, is a top-notch football coach. But that hardly guarantees Miami a wild-card berth, let alone the opportunity to play in “the ultimate game.”

Meantime, some fans and media cast Policy’s late-Friday “news dump” as a way to sidestep – or at least delay – having to explain why he’d retain a head coach that:

** A) Can’t regularly advance in the playoffs …

** B) Rolled into a healthy contract extension on a dreadful five-game losing streak …

** C) Isn’t “tough” enough … (Whatever that means).

In fact, Policy expressly addressed the above with a resounding vote of confidence and a caveat.

“We are excited to extend our commitment to Brian, Matt and Russ as the leaders of our football operations,” Policy said in the release. “Their steadfast dedication, passion and collaboration have remained constant in our drive to compete at the highest level.”

Here comes the caveat:

“While we are all disappointed with the way this season ended, we remain aligned in purpose and have spent considerable time over the past weeks collaborating on a path forward,” he continued. “I am exceedingly confident we have the right people to achieve our goal.”

That goal is singular: Winning the Super Bowl.

“The entire Packers organization looks forward to supporting every effort to bring our community and fans another championship that they very much deserve.”

But like Will Munny (Clint Eastwood) told Little Bill (Gene Hackman) before he shoots him in the movie Unforgiven: “Deserves got nothing to do with it.”

Every fan “deserves” a Super Bowl appearance by their favorite team, one could argue, but that hasn’t happened.

The Bills, Browns, Chargers, Jaguars, Lions, Panthers, Texans, Cardinals, Falcons, Bengals, Vikings and Titans haven’t won a Super Bowl. Of these the Browns, Lions, Texans and Jaguars have never been to a Super Bowl.

Those Packers’ fans who had a healthy appetite for LaFleur’s firing may prove to be correct. In fact, the odds are incredibly high it won’t happen (see above).

Where I sit it’s difficult to fathom Policy making a better decision moving forward.

Gutey became the Packers’ 10^th GM and Ball his sidekick on Jan. 8, 2018.

LaFleur was named the team’s 15^th head coach exactly one year later to the day.

Since Gutekunst’s hiring the Packers have made six playoff appearances in seven seasons. That ties Kansas City for the second-most playoff berths in that span. Only Buffalo, with seven, has more. And the Bills recently fired their head coach, Sean McDermott.

The Packers also are just one of four NFC teams to reach multiple conference championship games from 2019-25.

Gutekunst also helped build the first team in NFL history to post three straight 13-win seasons (2019-21), with 39 victories ranking No. 1 in team history for a 3-year span.

He also acquired 21 players who earned Associated Press All-Pro honors, were named to the Pro Bowl or were on the PFWA All-Rookie team.

LaFleur’s achievements are equally impressive.

He led the Packers to 76 regular-season wins so far in his career, tied with Paul Brown for No. 2 in NFL history for the most wins by a head coach in his first seven NFL seasons (George Seifert, 86).

LaFleur has the fourth-highest regular-season winning percentage (.654) on the strength of a 76-40-1 record among active head coaches (min. 50 games).

Along the way, Ball has ensured that the Packers have adequate resources to trade for a mega-star such as elite pass rusher Micah Parsons and safety Xavier McKinney.

Don’t be fooled by Policy’s low-key news release. The expectations are high at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. Without saying it, there is a “Super Bowl or bust” mentality.

The beauty of that is it isn’t predicated on an “all in” approach that hopefully works as a one-shot deal. The Packers are “all in” pretty much “all the time.”

That is why Policy extended his top lieutenants.

It wasn’t the only move. But it was the correct move despite the notoriously long odds to reach the Super Bowl, much less to win one.

Don’t believe it?

Just ask fans of the Browns, Lions, Texans and Jaguars.

Say it ain’t so …first

Peralta, now Giannis?

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Occasionally, conclusions are forgone, Freddy Peralta’s trade being one such occasion.

Pardon me if I don’t celebrate.

The Brewers’ best, surest path forward is the one charted by owner Mark Attanasio and kept on course by GM Matt Arnold, manager Pat Murphy and a first-rate farm system.

I won’t argue the logic of Milwaukee’s decision to maximize the return on its investment by trading Peralta.

I believe most fans, begrudgingly or otherwise, agree.

Nevertheless, there’s a vast difference between liking something and accepting it.

This is the difference.

Milwaukee won 97 games last season. It earned the National League’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs. It was one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

It was a 100-plus on a scale of 1 to 10 for fan satisfaction. It felt as if it featured a different amazing, captivating story line on a weekly basis.

Andrew Vaughn getting his groove. Jacob Misiorowski dazzling baseball with his brilliance. Rookie Caleb Durbin developing into a solid big-league third baseman.

Trevor Megill becoming a high-end closer. Quinn Priester realizing his potential as a high draft pick-turned-trade bait. The Brewers also authored the longest winning streak in franchise history.

It was a daily direct flight to Sudsville.

Peralta was a central figure, fashioning a 17-6 record to go with his minuscule 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts.

The Brewers’ ace, the home-grown kid, toed the rubber nearly 30 percent of the time last season. The right-hander was nearly unbeatable at American Family Field, and he was the mainstay in times of turbulence.

Some fans and media criticized him for having a notoriously high pitch count, which meant multiple five- and six-inning starts, despite multiple W’s along the way.

Now those fans can only wish they were still counting, and complaining, about a starting pitcher that grew up to be incredibly reliable and once-in-a-while fantastic.

Peralta was traded to the New York Mets last week.

In return for their starting rotation’s heartbeat, Milwaukee received starter Brandon Sproat and centerfield/middle infielder Jett Williams.

Soon, Sproat and Williams will report to the Brewers’ spring training home in Phoenix, where they will begin trying to earn a trip north to Milwaukee with the big club.

The question is whether they will endure, much less endear, for both Sproat and Williams. The Brewers’ recent history suggests Arnold and Milwaukee milked as much as they could out of a Peralta trade.

Given their status as Top 100 prospects and players described as “Major League” ready, it won’t take long to assess the acquisitions. Even if Sproat becomes a quality starter and the speedy 5-foot-7 Williams develops into the next player short on stature but long on skill.

“Looking from top to bottom of the lineup and the way they play,” Williams said, “it’s a bunch of short guys that are a little bit scrappy. So, it’s similar to me. The way they play the game is similar to how I play.”

Sproat said he’s pleased to be in Milwaukee, especially given the Brewers’ reputation for pitcher development.

“I think a lot of players with the Brewers organization are people who go to work every single day and keep their head down,” Sproat said. “There’s really not much to it, just constantly grinding through the good and the bad. That’s something that I think I have in common.”

Even while the wounds from the Peralta trade are fresh, news out of Milwaukee has the Bucks lining up a deal to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to the team offering the best package, which should be a sizable haul.

Giannis is one of the game’s best players.

He’s a human triple-double. He only knows how to play at one speed: full speed. He’s a joy to watch and it was the fans’ greatest pleasure to see him win the NBA title here in Milwaukee for the first time in 50 years.

Giannis is a singular reason to watch the Bucks, no matter what their win-loss record or who the opponent. He is a generational talent who – like Peralta – has the distinction of being drafted and developed by the Brewers and Bucks, respectively.

Fans of those teams got to watch two of the game’s top stars grow up and blossom in front of their eyes. Often, two of the NBA’s and MLB’s finest were only a drive across town, or perhaps a two- or three-hour drive from around the state of Wisconsin.

Peralta is gone. It appears as if it’s a foregone conclusion that Giannis is going to be traded.

It’s the reality of pro sports.

It’s understandable. It’s logical. It’s two teams making the difficult but necessary decision in their best interests.

I get it. Pardon me if I don’t celebrate it.

LaFleur’s DC search

lands Cards’ Gannon

Monday, January 26th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Matt LaFleur’s decision to hire Jonathan Gannon as the Packers’ defensive coordinator looks to be as unpopular with fans as his second-half play-calling in the wildcard loss at Chicago.

Packers’ fans had their own personal favorites to replace Jeff Hafley, who departed last week to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Fans loved the idea of Al Harris being pilfered from the Chicago Bears almost as much as they did the idea of Wisconsin native Jim Leonhard coming home.

After all, Green Bay fans watched Harris play cornerback at a Packers Hall of Fame level. He also built a strong reputation as a rising star in NFL coaching circles.

In Leonhard’s case, fans saw him play safety at Wisconsin, and then in the NFL, before becoming Denver’s assistant head coach/pass game coordinator.

LaFleur hired neither of them, instead opting for … Jonathan Gannon? Fan reaction was nearly as icy cold as Green Bay’s sub-zero temperatures this past week.

Some media members who cover the Packers also chided LaFleur for his decision to hire Gannon even though his defense has yet to allow a single yard in Green Bay.

Talk about a lack of objectivity.

Neither Harris nor Leonhard has been an NFL defensive coordinator before, much less an NFL head coach.

Gannon, 43, has held both titles.

That experience seems to matter to LaFleur, who enters his eighth season with his fourth defensive coordinator. If he doesn’t get it right with this hire, it’s doubtful he’ll get the chance to hire a fifth defensive coordinator.

Mike Pettine was a capable coordinator who took Green Bay’s defense as far as it could go given the personnel.

Joe Barry was a disaster from the start. By the time the 2023 season was concluded, LaFleur seemed weary of having to hold his DC’s hand much of the season.

Hafley was a plum hire in 2024. He worked as an NFL assistant and college defensive coordinator before becoming Boston College’s head coach.

Hafley’s only apparent shortcoming was that he held those jobs in college, not in the pros, and it took time for him to adjust to being an NFL defensive play-caller.

Theoretically, as least, Gannon should hit the job running.

The importance of that can’t be overstated.

The Packers’ defense isn’t in a “rebuild” mode. It’s in an “if not now … when?” mode.

John Harbaugh, now coaching the Giants, and Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers’ coach, both were interested in hiring Gannon, according to multiple reports.

Those reports indicated LaFleur needed to hire Gannon before he lost out to one of the Harbaugh brothers.

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, a source confided that LaFleur “loved the fact that (Gannon) has sat in the (head coach’s) chair.”

Perhaps LaFleur has figured out it’s time to hire a defensive coordinator that has had a successful run as an NFL defensive coordinator. Gannon did that in his two seasons with the Eagles in 2021-22. The Eagles finished in the Top 10 in total defense each of those seasons.

In fact, the Eagles were 2^nd in 2022, when they led the league in fewest passing yards allowed and sacks while ranking fourth in interceptions.

Gannon, like Hafley, had worked previously as a defensive backs coach before becoming a coordinator.

Other candidates including Christian Parker, Daronte Jones, Harris and Leonhard also served as defensive backs coaches. It appears LaFleur covets a defensive coordinator who can build a unit back-to-front.

In Green Bay, Gannon inherits a unit that features edge Micah Parsons, one of the league’s top pass rushers, and safety Xavier McKinney, a perennial All-Pro.

Safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt are all young, ascending, top-notch defenders.

It’ll be incumbent upon Gannon to bring out the best in Lukas Van Ness, Rashan Gary (if he’s still on the roster), and Keisean Nixon.

Gannon was fired by the Cardinals following a 3-14 season that capped a 15-36 run in three years.

Sources say LaFleur is still “working through” other potential changes to his coaching staff, according to ESPN. That could include offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, who has been linked to Miami’s offensive coordinator job under Hafley, as well as offensive line coach Luke Butkus, whose unit greatly underperformed.

Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia also could be in jeopardy of losing his job following another mostly underwhelming performance by those units.

LaFleur’s DC search

includes Bears’ Harris

Friday, January 23rd, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Matt LaFleur’s search to replace defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley includes Bears’ Al Harris, a Packers Hall of Fame cornerback, and former Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Harris is attractive to the Packers’ head coach in part because he’s built a strong reputation in coaching circles. Harris coaches the same way he played. He’s intense, detail-oriented and demanding of himself and others.

There’s the added bonus of addition by subtraction in that the Bears’ defense would take a hit with Harris’ exit.

Jim Leonhard, the Denver Broncos’ assistant head coach/pass game coordinator, interviewed with LaFleur for the DC opening in 2021 but declined an offer.

Leonhard helped construct a Broncos’ defense that has developed into one of the NFL’s finest. They stand just one game away from a Super Bowl berth.

Leonhard, who could make the leap from Flambeau (High) to Lambeau (Field), may have been persuaded to stay at the University of Wisconsin based on reports that said he was next in line for the head coaching job there.

That didn’t work out when Paul Chryst was fired, but Leonhard moved on to the NFL and is similar to Harris in that the traits that made him an excellent player carry into his coaching career.

I give Leonhard credit for acknowledging it wasn’t the right time to make the move in 2021. It couldn’t have been easy for an in-state product to say no to the Packers.

Perhaps now is the right time for Leonhard.

Ex-Falcons head coach Raheem Morris also is thought to be a top defensive coordinator candidate with the Packers, the Commanders and the Cowboys, to name a few.

Morris’ experience as an NFL head coach could be invaluable to LaFleur, who spent too much time babysitting Joe Barry rather than running the offense.

The Packers’ head coach appears to be focusing on candidates with experience coaching DBs. Hafley’s vision-based scheme didn’t create interceptions in Year 2, but the framework is in place to take a leap this season.

Vikings defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Daronte Jones also remains in the mix in Green Bay.

I suspect it’ll be Leonhard or Harris as the Packers’ next defensive coordinator. Either candidate looks good.

** PREDICTION TIME **

The NFL’s championship weekend is upon us.

In the AFC, the top-seeded Denver Broncos (14-3) will host No. 2 seed New England (14-3) with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at Empower Field at Mile High.

In the NFC, the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks (14-3) host No. 5 seed Los Angeles (12-5) with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. at Lumen Field.

Let’s start in the AFC, where the Patriots are 4.5-point road favorites over the Broncos, who will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who fractured his ankle on the penultimate play of their AFC divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Denver will turn to Jarrett Stidham to replace Nix.

Stidham was signed to a two-year, $12 million contract extension in March. He hasn’t thrown a pass in the past two NFL seasons, but has NFL starting experience.

The Patriots are 8-0 on the road this season and feature MVP candidate Drake Maye at quarterback to go with a truly rugged defense.

The Patriots have allowed just 19 points TOTAL in their playoff wins over the Chargers and Texans. They also have posted nine sacks and six takeaways in the playoffs.

Defensive tackle Milton Williams is a beast and corner Christian Gonzalez is among the NFL’s finest.

Stidham has good arm talent capable of delivering passes accurately and on time, but he has difficulty eluding a pass rush and improvising – two of Nix’s top traits.

New England has had problems protecting Maye in the playoffs, where he has been sacked 10 times and pressured 31 times in 66 drop-backs. Maye also has fumbled six times in the two playoff games.

The Broncos’ Nik Bonitto and pals harassed the Bills’ Josh Allen into four turnovers, so it’ll be interesting to see how Maye holds up.

THE PICK: PATRIOTS 23, BRONCOS 16

In the NFC, the Seahawks are 2.5-point home favorites against the Rams as they brace for a third meeting this season. The teams split the first two in close games.

This game also may come down to the final possession.

The weather won’t be a problem for the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who struggled mightily in a 20-17 overtime win at Chicago last weekend.

The Rams rushed 20 times in the fourth quarter and overtime, which suggests head coach Sean McVay wasn’t comfortable with Stafford’s accuracy in the clutch.

Much of the Rams’ success against Seattle comes down to its ability to protect Stafford long enough to hook up with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams for big plays.

Seattle’s Sam Darnold remains a bit of a wild card in the NFC Championship game. He has ample help with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and others, but the loss of running back Zach Charbonnet to injury eliminates one tested lifeline.

The Seahawks’ defense is arguably the NFL’s best unit. I’m looking for a low-scoring, down-to-the-wire finish.

THE PICK: RAMS 26, SEAHAWKS 23

Packers, LaFleur seal

deal to extend contract

Monday, January 19th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The pall cast over the NFL’s divisional round by Green Bay’s inglorious exit a week ago was mitigated by some positive news this weekend.

Packers fans hoping Matt LaFleur would receive a contract extension – while praying the Bears would suffer a painful playoff exit – hit the jackpot.

One day after the Packers and LaFleur reached agreement on a multi-year contract extension, the Rams eliminated the Bears 20-17 in overtime Sunday night at Soldier Field.

Even those Packers fans wishing for LaFleur’s firing at least had the Bears’ brutal loss as a consolation prize.

In addition to LaFleur’s extension, reports indicate Packers president Ed Policy is working on contract extensions for general manager Brian Gutekunst and executive vice-president Russ Ball.

It appears he’s retaining the whole kit and kaboodle.

To the fans who were calling for LaFleur’s dismissal, or at least a “prove it” deal, consider the positives.

A “prove it” deal isn’t merely a slap in the face to LaFleur, it would be even worse than keeping him on as a lame duck head coach. If the franchise isn’t entirely invested in its head coach, why should players or fans be?

In addition, nearly every NFL writer/radio host interviewed on Sports Line the past week has said the same thing: LaFleur is a top 10 NFL coach, at the least, and the Packers would be foolish to move on from him.

LaFleur, 46, is an established winner. His 76-40-1 record during seven seasons is fantastic. The fact that he’s only 37-30-1 in the past four seasons – on the heels of a 39-10 run – might be a cause for a concern.

However, the past four seasons overlapped with the team’s transition from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and all that came with it, to Jordan Love.

Even without their four-time MVP QB the Packers still were able to stay competitive and qualify for the playoffs.

Love’s ascension despite the fact that he has played behind an average offensive line – especially in 2025 – indicates just how good he can be.

In fact, Love’s best stretch came near the end of the 2023 season – his first as the full-time starter – when he threw for 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions in an epic eight-game stretch which included a blowout win at Dallas and a narrow loss at San Francisco in the playoffs.

LaFleur’s greatest task entering this offseason isn’t having to replace Jeff Hafley if the defensive coordinator leaves for a head coaching position.

It isn’t figuring out how to regain traction in the running game (see above).

And it isn’t replacing special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich and O-line coach Luke Butkus – all moves that need to be made.

His most important task is fixing the offensive line.

That requires critical decision-making in collaboration with Gutekunst and Ball to undo the damage they wrought last off-season.

Obviously, the Packers wouldn’t have signed Micah Parsons to a mega-contract if they didn’t believe he could enable the existing roster to reach a Super Bowl.

The determination to sign Parsons to pair with an ascending Love would be seriously undercut by replacing the entire coaching staff.

Parsons came here to play for the Packers and LaFleur. Love has a strong attachment to LaFleur, the only NFL head coach he has ever known.

Both expressed strong sentiment in favor of LaFleur. Perhaps it can be brushed off as something employees say about their boss so long as he’s still … well … their boss.

That said, both Parsons and Love are financially set for life, they know their value, and they believe the ingredients are in place – coaches and all – to win a title.

Now, LaFleur and the rest need to prove it.

If you ask any NFL coach or player if they’re always on a “prove it” deal, the smart ones would reply, “Hell yes!”

Super Bowl championships, like job security, can be fleeting in a league littered with ardent but impatient fans.

Now it’s up to LaFleur, Hafley (if he stays), and the players to make Policy’s decision stand up. The Packers have taken this negotiation seriously from the start. It’s Policy’s first big decision while seated at the head of the table. His legacy, for better or worse, is intertwined with LaFleur’s, Parson’s, Love’s and all the rest.

On a nasty, windy, brutally cold January Monday, Packers’ fans can take heart in two things:

** No. 1 – The Packers are in good hands, and if they fix the offensive line, the sky’s the limit to their success.

** No. 2 – The Bears … still … suck. They just do so at a higher level than any time in recent memory

Packers, LaFleur look

to extend coach’s deal

Friday, January 16th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – While the Packers and coach Matt LaFleur presumably are finalizing a contract extension, it’s difficult to begin looking ahead in earnest.

On the other hand, with or without LaFleur, Green Bay fans have strong opinions regarding who should stay, who should go, and who needs to be acquired to fix problems.

Before diving into that, though, I’m fairly flabbergasted by those media members and fans who:

** A) Want LaFleur fired for his failings in the past two postseasons, for being too soft, for calling terrible plays, for being unable to finish games and sew up victories.

They operate under the assumption that the Packers’ next head coach is going to be Vince Lombardi incarnate. They refuse to entertain the notion that he also could be the next Dan Devine.

** B) Want him to return but on a two-year, low-ball deal in which the Packers can cut him loose at no risk to the organization. In what world do these people live? I’d consider going there just for the getaway from reality.

Why should LaFleur, whose regular-season record is outstanding, be OK with being the NFL’s 17^th highest-paid head coach? Why should he give the Packers a hometown discount? Since when does Green Bay wish to be renowned for going on the cheap?

LaFleur’s playoff failings each of the past two postseasons can be distilled into two words: offensive line. It was atrocious against the Eagles in a 22-10 loss at Philadelphia in 2024, and it was worse during the second-half meltdown in a 31-27 loss to the Bears Saturday night at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Clearly, the gross errors in judgment that led to the $77 million free-agent signing of left guard Aaron Banks … to moving Elgton Jenkins from left guard to center against his will … to trusting a lame-duck left tackle, Rasheed Walker, to protect your franchise quarterback.

The decision to draft Jordan Morgan in the first round in 2024, and then getting his head to spin until he was dizzy by playing musical positions never made sense.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, LaFleur, perhaps offensive coordinator Adam Stenovich and offensive line coach Luke Butkus all had a hand in these erroneous decisions.

In essence, the Packers intentionally ticked off 40-percent of their offensive line by hanging out Walker, and forcing Jenkins – who looked miscast at the outset – to switch to center against his will.

Journeyman Sean Rhyan was an improvement when Jenkins was lost to a season-ending injury, but that’s mostly because he at least knew how to play the position.

Rhyan graded out as the NFL’s worst pass-blocking center last season. Remember the A and B gap blitzes that went uncalled and unchecked against the Panthers, and Bears, and Ravens? That’s on Rhyan’s shoulder pads.

It’s no coincidence Jordan Love’s single-greatest stretch of games occurred at the end of his first full-time season as a starter. He had an eight-game stretch where he threw 21 touchdown passes to three interceptions. The Packers’ offensive line, if memory serves, didn’t allow a sack.

Love is much-better quarterback now than he was then, nevertheless the wins don’t align with his growth.

All of this isn’t to pardon LaFleur’s failings as a coach. It’s merely to point to the single-greatest reason why the Packers have failed to advance in the postseason the past two years, and why it’ll keep happening – not because LaFleur’s here – but because he can’t fix the O-Line.

The receivers are above average. Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed have had few opportunities to work over a defense as a trio.

Injuries have prevented that, but with health and luck the Packers’ wide-outs should be as dangerous as any in the league. That’s without mentioning Savion Williams, who showed promise, and Dontayvion Wicks, who flashed his considerable skills when he was healthy.

Tucker Kraft’s return is the other difference-maker in LaFleur’s run to the Super Bowl. In addition to Josh Jacobs, when healthy, the Packers have a top-10 WR corps, a top-5 tight end, a top-10 running back, and one of the best quarterbacks in the business.

Oh, and then there’s the offensive line.

The quickest fix is (fingers crossed) Morgan develops into a bona fide left tackle, Banks begins to earn his keep, they acquire – by hook or crook – an upper-tier center who knows how to play the position (or draft the best-available center in the second round), Anthony Belton continues to grow at right guard, and Zach Tom regains his health after surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon.

** C) Want LaFleur to stay and get this thing right.

To me, after considerable thought, I’m thinking that’s the best course of action. It’s also the most sensible way to continue Love’s upward ascension, and the offense’s shot to reach its potential.

Meantime, we wait for the smoke signal. Is it one green puff and he stays? Or two gold puffs and he goes?

I can never remember.

Packers suffer brutal 

crash in loss to Bears 

Monday, January 12th, 2026

By Chris Havel 

Special to The FAN 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers answered their fans’ prayers on Saturday night. They came out red-hot and fired up against the Bears on a cold, blustery winter evening at Chicago’s Soldier Field. 

They were playing from ahead. It was pure bliss. 

Sadly, they reversed the course as abruptly as a bad punt returner, only to give up ground and give away the game. 

The pain of Green Bay’s 31-27 gut-shot loss to Chicago in their NFC wild-card game is going to linger like an unrelenting flu that persists with no relief in sight. 

That the Packers led 21-3 at the half, and still led 21-9 entering the fourth quarter, provides no solace. If anything, it makes the fourth-quarter collapse all the worse. 

Packers coach Matt LaFleur tried to put into words the disappointment he felt. 

“Obviously this one is gonna hurt for a really, really long time,” he said afterward. “When you are in complete control of a football game and the script gets flipped in the second half, and it was a lot of self-inflicted things … 

“Credit to them. We knew they were a team that could come back and fight. We had opportunities to put them away and didn’t get it done.” 

It would be easy to blame the Packers’ defense and coordinator Jeff Hafley for the loss. Hafley’s unit allowed 22 fourth-quarter points. 

By the end they looked tired and spent. 

The defense’s conditioning – which falls on the strength and conditioning staff – looked absolutely substandard. And it wasn’t the first time this season, either. 

Changes need to be seriously considered. 

Nevertheless, the Packers had multiple opportunities to bury the Bears long before the fourth quarter. 

The problem was an offense that went totally limp. 

Instead of sabotaging the sideline heaters, the Bears took a more direct approach: They blitzed with impunity while treating the run as an after-thought en route to the QB. 

Jordan Love was sacked just once, but he was constantly under pressure as the Packers’ offensive line and running backs appeared to miss block after block. 

Love accepted the blame for the defeat, which is what leaders do, but he was hardly the scapegoat. He was the reason they were still clinging to life at the end. 

“It’s tough and very disappointing,” Love said. “I think everybody in that locker room feels the same way. We had a game we couldn’t finish and let a team come back and beat us. Very disappointing to end the season on a note like that. Everybody’s very disappointed, I’m disappointed, that’s it.” 

Love finished 24 of 46 for 323 yards and four touchdown passes for a 103.8 passer rating. The problem is his passer rating was an eye-popping 130 at halftime before the bottom fell out after intermission. 

That disparity coincided with the Packers’ utter inability to run the football in the second half. A rejuvenated Josh Jacobs barreled for 49 yards on 12 attempts in the first half. He scuffled for six yards on seven carries after that. 

The run game’s implosion prevented the Packers from going to their bread-and-butter play action pass game. 

Suddenly, the receivers weren’t running free anymore, and Love’s time to get rid of the ball seemed to dwindle with each play. 

LaFleur summed up the Packers’ offensive ineptitude. 

“Just could not get anything going,” he said. “It was too many opportunities when you have the ball and you’re not scoring. They brought more pressure … firing corner blitzes and safety blitzes, and unfortunately there were multiple occasions where they should’ve been picked up and weren’t.” 

Coming in the Packers knew they couldn’t afford to turn the ball over, and they couldn’t leave points on the field. 

They only won half that battle, which is why they didn’t WIN the entire battle. 

Green Bay fumbled four times but didn’t lose any. In fact, Romeo Doubs’ heads-up recovery of an end zone fumble led to a touchdown. 

However, kicker Brandon McManus left seven points out there with a pair of missed field goals (from 55 and 44 yards) and a missed PAT. 

Clearly, the Packers’ special teams units failed them. 

The Bears’ Devin Duvernay posted second-half punt returns of 22 and 37 yards to give quarterback Caleb Williams and the Chicago offense great field position. 

Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia needs to be fired. He acts like he is god’s gift to football. He adopts a surly, almost combative tone with the media while explaining its various failures each week. 

Parting with Bisaccia – among other moves – is one LaFleur definitely needs to make. 

All of the special teams’ failures set the stage for the Bears’ big-time comeback. 

“Obviously the conditions were windy, but the difference was (the Bears) made theirs and we did not,” LaFleur said of McManus’ missed kicks. 

The Bears’ Cairo Santos was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 on PATs. 

The Packers’ margin for error was thin. 

To blow a 21-3 halftime lead isn’t unprecedented. It isn’t even unforgivable. It happens all the time in the NFL. 

The trick is to learn from the failures. 

For instance, when San Francisco needed to jump-start its offense in Sunday’s 23-19 upset win at Philadelphia, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan drew up a flea flicker-option pass from Jauan Jennings to Christian McCaffrey 

It hit for what was the game-winning touchdown. 

The Packers’ absolute lack of creativity – why not the old hook-and-ladder on the final desperation drive? – has limited them under LaFleur. 

He’s still coaching like it’s in-his-prime Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback. Love still needs a little help from his head coach and teammates, and it’s been in short supply. 

Now the Packers have the entire offseason to figure out how to fix what’s broken. 

Meantime, the wreckage cleanup begins. 

Media reports early Monday morning suggest LaFleur will be retained. On Saturday night LaFleur didn’t wish to discuss it. 

“I’m just hurting for these guys,” LaFleur said. “I can only think about what just happened, and there will be time for that.” 

Packers-Bears Rd. III

figures to be tight tilt

Thursday, January 8th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers don’t care much for the Bears and likewise, I am sure.

Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say, and the Packers and Bears hold each other in the highest. It stems in part from the respect they share as worthy adversaries.

The age-old NFC North rivals have rekindled a dormant grudge match that features not one but two playoff-caliber teams in a high stakes game of lose-and-go-home.

The Packers (9-7-1) come in as 1.5-point road favorites against the Bears (11-5) in this NFC wild-card game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Bad blood bordering on bad intentions reared up in the Packers’ 22-16 overtime loss in Round II at Chicago on Dec. 20. The Bears knocked out Packers starter Jordan Love with eight minutes to play in the first half.

Love was just heating up and moving the Packers up and down the field but only had a 3-0 to show for it when the Bears’ Austin Booker KO’d him with an illegal head butt.

Love was replaced by Malik Willis, who suffered a right shoulder injury when he was body slammed by Bears pass rusher Montez Sweat.

Willis played through the pain and nearly led the Packers to victory. Green Bay’s OT loss came 13 days after the Packers’ 28-21 victory over Chicago at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay dominated the stat line in the first game, scoring four touchdowns on eight possessions.

But the Bears were within a game-tying touchdown when Keisean Nixon leaped in front of the Bears’ Cole Kmet to make a game-ending interception against Caleb Williams.

If that prelude – especially the most recent physical battle – mimics the tone for Saturday night’s game it’s going to be one hard-hitting contest.

“It’s a crazy rivalry and the fact that we’re playing them in the playoffs, too, it just magnifies it another notch,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. “You don’t get to see moments like this.

“They don’t come around that often, so when you get this type of moment, you definitely got to take advantage of it as much as you can.”

The Packers come into the game reasonably well-rested following coach Matt LaFleur’s decision to sit most starters in a 16-3 loss at Minnesota Sunday.

Meantime, the Bears were extended in a 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions in their season finale.

Both teams’ most recent win was against the other team.

Packers right guard Anthony Belton, who is a rookie only in name at this stage of the season, said he’s already feeling the ramp up building toward a playoff game.

“It’s an opportunity,” Belton said. “We’re in the playoffs. Bears, it’s a good rivalry. You definitely feel it. My first time playing them, I wasn’t aware that it was a rivavlry until that week came and you definitely could feel it.

“It’s a lot of excitement. It’s a good atmosphere and it’s gonna be fun.”

The Packers were flying high following their 28-21 victory over the Bears, but quickly came crashing back to NFL’s harsh reality: Injuries suck.

Micah Parsons, one of the top pass rushers in the NFL, was lost for the season with a torn ACL the following week. Right tackle Zach Tom, the Packers’ best offensive lineman, also was injured in that game.

While the Packers defense and coordinator Jeff Hafley continue exploring all means of generating a pass rush, the good news is Tom is expected to return Saturday.

Safety Evan Williams, running back Josh Jacobs and a handful of others benefited from the “bye week” at Minnesota last Sunday.

Green Bay ended the regular season on a four-game losing streak, including a 41-24 beat-down by the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field two weeks ago.

The Ravens’ Derrick Henry rushed for 216 yards to set the single-game rushing record at Lambeau Field. He surpassed Walter Payton, Adrian Peterson and Gale Sayers in the process.

The Packers know Henry is one of one as running backs go, but still responded with urgency by signing Jonathan Ford to replace injured defensive tackle Jordon Riley to add more bulk up front.

Defensively, with a host of new starters, the Packers went to Minnesota and kept the Vikings’ offense in check. Minnesota converted just 2 of 10 third-down tries, had a pair of turnovers and struggled to get to 16 points.

Now, the Packers are looking to go to Chicago with a singular purpose: Win and advance.

They’ll have their shot with Love to start and Willis ready if needed. Love has missed the past couple games while in the concussion protocol. He didn’t play but he did get to take snaps in practice throughout.

Love said it doesn’t feel like a three-week layoff.

“I think still just practicing all week, staying locked in. obviously suited up last week, was ready to go. But yeah, you know, it’s been a couple weeks, but no it doesn’t feel like that, just staying with it in practice.”

Neither Love nor LaFleur expressed any concerns about the Packers’ QB1 being rusty Saturday night.

“He looked good,” LaFleur said. “He had, I would say, a pretty normal workload, so he looked good.”

The Packers will have their full complement of receivers with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Golden all healthy.

Reed said the Packers have been reminded of the NFL’s harsh reality – and he wasn’t just talking about injuries.

“It’s all about executing down to the last whistle. That’s what it’s going to come down to,” Reed said. “You can’t let up, you can’t relax, because we learned that when you relax and take your foot off the pedal, it can bite you in the ass. We learned that and we got to figure out how to not let that happen anymore.”

McKinney, for one, has a good vibe entering the game.

“When you’re playing a team multiple times, it just comes down to play style and who’s going to really play the hardest,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be about when you get in between those white lines, who’s going to go the hardest every play for 60 minutes.

“Whoever does that is usually the team that comes out successful.”

Will it be the Packers?

I think so. Their coach and quarterback have been together longer. They’ve also got a lot of players with postseason experience despite their relative youth.

It won’t be easy in the playoffs. It seldom is.

But I think the Packers will be ready to roll Saturday night and take care of business.

PACKERS 27, BEARS 23

Packers rest starters in 16-3 loss to Vikings

Monday, January 5th, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ Clayton Tune passed with flying colors.

Not the football … the test.

The Packers’ No. 3 QB-turned-starter affirmatively answered head coach Matt LaFleur’s two big “asks” going into what became a 16-3 loss at Minnesota in Sunday’s regular-season finale.

** Number 1: Can you (wink, wink) play well enough to keep us IN the game?

** Number 2: Can you play safely enough to keep Jordan Love OUT of the game?

Tune accomplished both by operating LaFleur’s tedious game plan to its underwhelming finest. With most of the starters sitting out, and the rest likely wishing they were, the Packers muddled forward a couple yards at a time, give or take, to enter the postseason licking their wounds.

For all the unknowns entering the Packers’ game Sunday, there is no mystery regarding the path forward. It starts when No. 7 seed Green Bay (9-7-1) faces No. 2 seed Chicago (11-6) Saturday night with kickoff set for 7 p.m. at what will be a raucous Soldier Field.

If the Packers win (wink wink) they get the top-seeded, well-rested Seahawks (14-3) at Seattle’s Lumen Field.

By then, if Green Bay gets that far, the harsh reality of a four-game season-ending losing skid will have dissipated.

With Love a healthy scratch after a week in the concussion protocol, and Malik Willis nursing a sore right shoulder, Tune was pressed into service.

The third-year pro completed 6 of 11 passes for 34 yards with a long completion of eight yards. He was sacked four times, didn’t throw an interception and finished with a 60.4 passer rating in his second career start.

The Packers didn’t commit a turnover and were penalized just four times for 47 yards. Their time of possession was a reasonable 26 ½ minutes.

Green Bay ran for 128 yards on 35 tries and was 3-of-12 on third-down tries. The Packers finished with minus-7 net yards passing.

LaFleur tipped his cap to the Vikings’ defense.

“That’s a really good defense, one of the better defenses in the league,” he said. “They’re really aggressive. They got us on a couple things in protection when we tried to throw the football.

“We wanted to lean on the run game, but it wasn’t good enough. They had free hitters in the hole at times.”

The Packers started Jordan Morgan at left tackle with incumbent Rasheed Walker a healthy scratch. Darrian Kinnard started at right tackle and played well while Morgan struggled mightily at left tackle.

It appears the Packers expect Zach Tom to return at right tackle after being held out with knee and back issues with Morgan in the wings.

Anthony Belton continues to improve at right guard.

Still, the Packers surrendered four sacks. Not all of it was on the offensive line, but the unit had several breakdowns.

LaFleur acknowledged the challenge Tune faced and reserved judgment on the quarterback’s performance.

“It’s a very tough one to judge based on, it’s the perfect storm,” LaFleur said. “Going against one of the most aggressive defenses in the NFL, in a tough environment on a silent count.”

Give Tune credit for hanging in there for all 50 snaps.

Defensively, coordinator Jeff Hafley went with the young players while resting veterans such as Xavier McKinney, Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Kingsley Enagbare, Karl Brooks, Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary.

The Packers held the Vikings to a touchdown and three field goals. Minnesota was a miserable 2-for-10 on third down attempts and rushed 31 times for 137 yards.

The Packers also forced a red-zone turnover.

“I told the guys I was proud of their effort, the way they competed,” LaFleur said. “Guys played physically for four quarters, that was the style we wanted to see.”

Green Bay wasn’t outgunned on either side of the line, which was a welcome departure from the previous week’s mauling at the hands of Baltimore.

JJ McCarthy started at quarterback and completed 14 of 23 passes for 182 yards and an 85.8 passer rating. He left with a right-hand injury early in the second half.

Max Brosmer finished up and was 7 of 8 for 57 yards. He also was sacked twice.

Justin Jefferson caught eight passes on 11 targets for 101 yards. He needed 53 yards to reach 1,000-yards receiving for a sixth straight season to begin his career.

Jefferson, despite substandard quarterback play, nearly hit the 1,000-yard season mark by halftime. He’s that good.

Jefferson’s exploits aside, the Packers’ young defenders acquitted themselves nicely for the most part.

Safety Kitan Oladapo played with a physical edge and had five tackles and a pass defended.

Defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell had a big game. He made eight tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery. Sorrell was active up and down the line. He likely earned more playing time this Saturday night in Chicago.

Brenton Cox Jr. also played well with two tackles, a sack, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble. He also could see more action in passing situations come Saturday.

LaFleur was impressed.

“I thought both those guys played really hard,” he said of Cox Jr. and Sorrell. “I’ve got to go take a look at it, do a deeper dive on it and critique it, but the energy and how they competed, I was happy with that.”

In addition, veteran corner Trevon Diggs played 32 snaps at right cornerback and two more on special teams. Diggs is a good-looking athlete, and at 26, he still should be an ascending player. It appears he’ll have a role on the Packers’ defense as Hafley prepares for the Bears.

“Certainly it was good for him to hear some of the calls, get acclimated to our defense, and we can build on that going into this week,” LaFleur said.

The Packers escaped Minnesota unscathed except for Bo Melton, the Swiss army knife, who sustained a knee injury and didn’t return.

Slot corner Javon Bullard also left with a knee injury, but both LaFleur and Bullard said he’ll be fine and expects to play against the Bears.

A four-game losing streak isn’t the way the Packers wanted to enter the postseason, but it’s better than the alternative.

At Chicago … at Seattle … so be it.

“We’re in the tournament,” LaFleur said. “Everybody is zero-and-zero. We’re going to have to go on the road and embrace the opportunity.”

Packers sign Ridder, Diggs to depleted team

Friday, January 2nd, 2026

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers-Vikings game Sunday is injury-riddled, late-season NFL football at its worst.

The Vikings (8-8) are riding an unimpressive four-game winning streak into their regular-season finale. It’s nothing to get excited about considering they defeated the Giants, Commanders, Cowboys and Lions – teams that are a combined 22-41-1 this season.

The Packers (9-6-1) are trying to avert their first four-game losing streak under head coach Matt LaFleur.

It won’t be easy.

Minnesota isn’t a juggernaut. More like a jugger-NOT.

Nevertheless, roster-wide injuries have seen the Packers swing from 1.5-point favorites to 7.5-point underdogs on the news that quarterback Jordan Love (concussion) and backup Malik Willis (shoulder) won’t play.

The projected combined point total has plummeted faster than the temperatures this week. It began as a reasonable 45.5 points to a preseason-like 35.5 points.

The Las Vegas experts are predicting a Vikings’ win by the score of 23-12 give or take.

The Packers signed several players they hope can at least provide Band-aids at quarterback, cornerback and defensive tackle.

Green Bay signed ex-Falcons and ex-Vikings quarterback Desmond Ridder to back up starter Clayton Thune, or as I call him, “Clayton Who?”

In Thune’s limited appearance against the Ravens, he looked like every Badgers quarterback who’s stepped into the huddle this season. He looked overmatched.

Ridder may begin the day on the bench for the Packers, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s running the show as best he long before halftime.

As bad as Thune and Ridder may be – and it could be really ugly – it’s better than putting Love or Willis in harm’s way for no good reason.

On the defensive side, the Packers signed the recently released Trevon Diggs, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. Diggs has an All-Pro reputation, but his production has been severely lacking due to injuries the past two seasons.

After the Cowboys’ game at Washington last week, Diggs asked head coach Brian Schottenheimer if he could stay in the D.C. area to be with family and friends for Christmas.

Schottenheimer told him no because it wasn’t team protocol, and that he had to return on the team flight.

Diggs skipped the flight and stayed anyway. He was released two days later.

Now, he comes to Green Bay with an opportunity to reverse the negative publicity and begin playing quality football again.

Micah Parsons vouched for Diggs when he arrived, and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is familiar with the Cowboys castoff, even suggesting he’ll play Sunday.

The Packers also added Jonathan Ford, a massive defensive tackle that was originally signed by Green Bay as a seventh-round draft pick out of the University of Miami.

Ford provides immediate size and depth up front after Jordon Riley’s season-ending injury.

The Packers’ other players on the injury report include: RB Josh Jacobs (knee/ankle), WR Jayden Reed (illness), LG Aaron Banks (illness/ankle), RT Zach Tom (back/knee), DE Lukas Van Ness (illness/foot), and LB Edgerrin Cooper (shoulder).

I wouldn’t expect Van Ness, Cooper, Jacobs or Tom to play. Evan Williams, who is coming off a knee injury, also might sit this one out.

Veterans such as Xavier McKinney, Rashan Gary and Christian Watson also may get the day off.

It’ll be important for players such as Jordan Morgan to continue playing well, in Morgan’s case at right tackle. It’s possible he may be the starting right tackle in the wild-card round if Tom isn’t ready.

Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper should see plenty of snaps, and young pass rushers such as Collin Oliver and Barryn Sorrell should get plenty of reps if they’re activated.

At any rate, the outcome is meaningless. The Packers are locked in as the NFC’s No. 7 seed. They await a first-round road game at Chicago or at Philadelphia.

If the Bears beat the Lions, the Packers will be at Soldier Field. If the Bears lose and the Eagles defeat Washington, Philadelphia would be the No. 2 seed and play Green Bay.

PREDICTION

This has the look of a low-scoring bump-and-grind game.

Vikings 13, Packers 6 … and on to the postseason.

Packers humiliated in

41-24 defeat to Ravens

Monday, December 29th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – To quote the eternally irascible Ebenezer Scrooge: Bah-humbug.

The Packers’ 41-24 blowout loss to the visiting Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night at Lambeau Field was the proverbial lump of coal in their stocking.

Check that. It was worse.

At least a burning lump of coal radiates heat. The Packers? They showed few signs of life. They resembled dried-out, overcooked chicken clinging to a rotisserie.

It was unsightly, unappetizing and totally forgettable.

It’s likely Packers head coach Matt LaFleur wishes the whole thing was just a really bad nightmare.

“That was a humbling night,” LaFleur said. “Give Baltimore a ton of credit. They came in here and were in complete control the whole game.”

Despite the loss, the Packers (9-6-1) remain locked in as the NFC’s No. 7 seed in the playoffs. If NFC North champion Chicago (11-5) defeats Detroit (8-8) in its Week 18 regular-season finale, the Bears would be the No. 2 seed and host Green Bay in the wildcard round.

If the Bears lose and the Eagles (11-5) defeat the Commanders (4-12) on Sunday, the Packers would be at Philadelphia for a rematch of last year’s wildcard game.

Either way, the Packers look nothing like a playoff team and appear headed for a one-and-done scenario.

It’s tough to think otherwise after the Ravens dismantled the Packers while handing them a third straight loss.

Green Bay safety Javon Bullard took the loss hard.

“We got our (expletive) whooped,” he said. “Call it like it is. I mean, (expletive). We knew what they were doing. They ran the ball. We couldn’t stop the (expletive) run. Point-blank-period.”

Bullard paused to breathe.

“And we got to fix that (expletive) tomorrow if we want to go past the Wild-Card game in the playoffs. If we don’t we’ll be sitting our (expletive) right back in Green Bay.”

The numbers bear out Bullard’s pointed appraisal.

With starting quarterback Lamar Jackson sidelined with a back contusion, Ravens backup Tyler “Snoop” Huntley took over and turned in a command performance.

Huntley was 16 of 20 for 107 yards with a touchdown, no interceptions and a decent 105.6 passer rating. He was sacked once and rushed eight times for 60 yards, including a 25-yard jaunt that set up a Ravens touchdown.

Huntley’s best play of the night – one he repeated over and over – was turning and handing it to Derrick Henry.

The Ravens’ future Hall of Fame running back bullied the Packers’ outgunned defense to the tune of 36 carries for 216 yards and one … two … three … four touchdowns.

Henry was unstoppable.

It appeared he could move mountains. In truth, he only had to move the Packers’ over-matched run defense a few yards before breaking ankles and arm tackles.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has been a football coach his entire adult life. Even he was amazed, calling it, “one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen.”

The Packers’ Lukas Van Ness, despite playing what arguably was the best game of his career, found no consolation in that or anything else after the loss.

The defensive tackle told it like it is.

“We got punched in the mouth tonight,” he said. “We got embarrassed tonight and it’s one of those that you walk away with a feeling that you don’t want to feel again.”

Packers safety Evan Williams didn’t blame defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. He put the onus on the players.

“Rarely somebody out-schemes you for 300 yards (rushing),” he said. “At the end of the day, this game is always about play style and it just didn’t show up like we needed it to.”

The numbers from Saturday night were staggering.

The Ravens had 307 rushing yards to Green Bay’s 79.

They held better than a two-to-one edge in time of possession (40:16 to 19:44).

Baltimore scored on seven of nine possessions with one kneel down. They had five touchdowns and two field goals. They punted just once.

They converted 10 of 14 (71.4 percent) third-down tries.

Through all the ugliness, the Packers only trailed 27-24 late in the third quarter. That came after a Brandon McManus field goal, followed by the Ravens’ lone punt, after which Malik Willis led the Packers on a seven play, 86-yard drive capped with his 11-yard touchdown run.

It was here the Packers’ defense needed to make a stand.

It failed miserably.

Henry barreled for a 9-yard gain on third-and-5 from Baltimore’s 20-yard line. Then he closed out the third quarter with a 30-yard jaunt up the right sideline.

Those two runs helped set up Huntley’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers on third-and-8 with 10:10 to play. Baltimore added another TD to win going away.

LaFleur acknowledged that was a turning point.

“You’re giving yourself a chance, absolutely,” he said of pulling to within 27-24. “Unfortunately, in those critical moments when we needed a stop, we didn’t get it done.”

“That’s why I need to go back, take a peek at this to see what exactly went wrong. But yeah, that’s why I thought our guys did battle. I mean, we were fighting – they were in complete control of the first half, it was 27-24 with an opportunity to get them off the grass.

“We didn’t get it done.”

Willis was one of the few Packers who did get it done.

The Packers’ backup QB completed 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards with a touchdown pass, no interceptions and a 134.6 passer rating. Willis also rushed nine times for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Willis was the reason the game stayed remotely close.

Christian Watson also had another A-plus performance. Watson caught five passes (six targets) for 113 yards, a 22.6 yards-per-catch average, and a touchdown.

Packers’ quarterbacks have a 122.6 passer rating when targeting Watson with 28 first downs on 35 completions.

Aside from Willis and Watson, the bright spots were few.

Now, the Packers must prepare for a Week 18 regular-season finale at Minnesota. Kickoff is set for noon at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Then it’s on to Chicago or Philadelphia for what the Packers hope is more than a one-and-done playoff run.

Ravens-Packers game of Secret Santa at QB

Wednesday, December 24th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Oh, the joys of late-season football.

The Ravens and Packers enter Saturday night’s consequential game with one key question unanswered: Who’s playing quarterback?

It makes predicting the outcome close to impossible.

Imagine what Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur and Baltimore’s John Harbaugh have agonized over trying to concoct a thorough, creative, can’t-miss offensive game plan.

The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the Packers’ Jordan Love and Malik Willis all are enduring injuries that could either limit or prevent them from playing.

Love is in the concussion protocol, Willis is dealing with a sore right shoulder, and Jackson was kneed in the back while sliding to protect himself in the Ravens’ loss to the Patriots last week.

Jackson was grimacing mightily when he limped off the field, while holding his lower back. The injury is listed as day-to-day but it may be a while before he returns.

Crazy as it is Baltimore’s backup, Tyler Huntley, is the only quarterback of the four that’s 100 percent healthy.

The Packers (9-5-1) can lock up a playoff berth with a win and a Detroit (8-7) loss against the Vikings (7-8) on Christmas Day. The Ravens (7-8) currently sit in second place in the AFC North behind Pittsburgh (9-6) to earn the conference’s No. 4 seed. It’s that or elimination.

Love is in the NFL’s concussion protocol after enduring a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago’s Austin Booker in the second quarter of the Packers’ 22-16 overtime loss to the Bears Saturday night at Soldier Field.

The hit was especially vicious.

Love lay prone while clenching his fists with his eyes pinched shut. He eventually exited with the help of the training staff.

His availability is unclear.

However, LaFleur said Love attending meetings and was a limited participant in Tuesday’s walk-through practice.

That’s encouraging, but a far different thing than being cleared to play. Based on the hit – and Love’s involuntary reaction to it – I’ll be pleasantly surprised if he plays.

LaFleur all but seconded the notion.

Asked if he felt better about his quaterback situation on Tuesday than he did on Sunday, he replied, “Not necessarily.”

“We’ve got to see how they progressed through the course of the week, so by no means are they in the clear.”

“Not necessarily,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Tuesday when asked if he feels better about his quarterback situation than he did on Sunday, a day after a brutal collapse against the Bears. “We’ve got to see how they progressed throughout the course of the week, so by no means are they in the clear.”

The Packers also got a bit of positive news regarding Willis, their sensational backup, who suffered a right shoulder injury when he was body-slammed to the Soldier Field turf by the Bears’ Montez Sweat.

No flag was thrown even though Sweat drove his body into Willis after he threw him to the turf. Willis could be seen trying to loosen up the shoulder before he returned. On the bright side, he unleashed a strike to Jayden Reed on his first pass attempt.

Willis expressed confidence he’d play.

“I try to take it one day at a time, but I would assume that I’m going to be ready,” he said.

Aside from the quarterback position, the Packers’ Josh Jacobs is still dealing with a knee issue, so it’ll be interesting to see what Green Bay’s skill positions look like at kickoff Saturday night.

Regardless, the Packers should be able to handle their business and capture a critical late-season win.

PREDICTION

PACKERS 23, RAVENS 19

Bears cheap shot KOs

Love in Packers’ loss

Monday, December 22nd 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers and Bears provided their fans with a textbook example of the old proverb, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”

That type of contempt can lead to a brand of hard-hitting, fight-to-the-finish football that’s crisp, clean and frequently downright exhilarating.

Sad to say it also can lead to the kind of dirty football played by the Bears’ Austin Booker, who used the crown of his helmet to blast Jordan Love into Downer’s Grove in the Packers’ 22-16 OT loss Saturday night in Chicago.

The Packers’ loss was fueled mostly by their own mistakes at critical times.

Green Bay went 0-for-5 in the red zone, while the Bears weren’t much better by going 1-for-2, that one touchdown decided the game’s outcome.

That said, there’s no place in the game for a thug like Booker who appeared to intentionally light up Love.

Booker was penalized not once, but twice, for roughing the Packers’ quarterback. He wasn’t ejected, though, and instead was allowed to play on as if nothing happened.

It is laughable to hear FOX studio analyst Michael Strahan declare it wasn’t a dirty hit. Strahan knows better, and if he doesn’t, he isn’t much of analyst.

The Packers will find no solace in Booker’s fine and potential suspension. They’re simply praying their starting quarterback will be OK and – with some luck – be cleared from the concussion protocol this week.

Frankly, I’d settle for Love being cleared in time for the playoffs, if the Packers get there.

After the hit by Booker a prone Love clenched his fists, pinched his eyes shut, and tried to unscramble his brain.

Perhaps it’s also a cheap shot to use this occasion to bring up the fact that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was a member of Broncos’ coach Sean Payton’s staff in New Orleans at the height of the “Bounty Gate” scandal.

Payton was suspended for the 2012 season without pay facilitating a pay-for-hit bounty program with the Saints. Allen was on the defensive staff, and while he wasn’t disciplined due to a lack of evidence directly linking him to paying players to go head-hunting, only a fool would believe he didn’t know anything about it.

If conjuring up news from Allen’s past is a cheap-shot, so be it. Making a truthful observation scarcely rises to the level of what Booker did to Love.

While Love convalesces, the Packers (9-5-1) have to focus on trying to qualify for the playoffs.

The NFC North is nearly out of reach.

Chicago (11-4) has to lose out, and the Packers (9-5-1) must win out in order for Green Bay to take the crown.

The Bears are at San Francisco (10-4) next week before hosting Detroit (8-7) to wrap up the regular season.

The Packers are home against Baltimore (7-8) before closing out on the road at Minnesota (7-8) in two weeks.

The Packers also can reach the playoffs if they win one game and the Lions lose one game.

The Lions are at Minnesota on Christmas before finishing up against the Bears in Chicago.

Green Bay must regain its mojo or none of it will matter.

The Packers have blown 10-point second half leads in each of their past two games, both on the road.

They also outplayed the Bears for much of the game Saturday night. Chicago didn’t reach the end zone until late in the fourth quarter.

The Packers led 16-6 with four minutes to play.

The Bears’ offense managed a field goal to cut it to 16-9 and then a touchdown after Romeo Doubs failed to corral an onside punt. If Doubs reels it in the Packers win.

A Josh Jacobs fumble near the goal line and Malik Willis’ fumbled snap on Green Bay’s first drive of overtime effectively killed any chance the Packers had to win.

Afterward, a somewhat subdued Packers coach Matt LaFleur took to the podium.

“I have to process what happened, how that happened, and try to find ways for us not to put ourselves in these tough situations,” LaFleur said. “The majority of the game I felt we were in control of the game, and certainly it’s disappointing when you can’t finish the job.

“It’s tough. It’s always tough in this league to have to rebound and get it together, but that’s exactly what we have to do and exactly what we will do.”

LaFleur bemoaned the missed opportunities.

“We had a lot of opportunities. We were up two scores late in the game, and unfortunately it flipped pretty quick.”

The Packers’ defense had a chance to stop the Bears and seal the victory late but came up short.

Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense faced fourth-and-4 at the Green Bay 6-yard line with 28 seconds to play. Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs miscommunicated in coverage, allowing Jahdae Walker to catch an uncontested lob from Williams for the game-tying touchdown.

LaFleur acknowledged it was a busted coverage.

“Obviously someone let their man go,” he said.

The Packers’ multitude of mistakes, coupled with Love’s absence and Micah Parsons’ season-ending knee injury the week before, was too much to overcome.

“It’s never one play,” LaFleur said. “There were so many plays in that game, if they go different … if we go make a play, if we don’t fumble, if we don’t go 0-for-5 in the red zone. …”

Now, the Packers must brace for the Baltimore Ravens, who they host Saturday night in a 7:20 p.m. game at Lambeau Field.

The Packers may be without Love, while the Ravens may be without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was injured Sunday night when a Patriots’ player kneed him in the back as he was going into his slide.

Jackson left and didn’t return with a lower back bruise.

If the Packers-Ravens game is played by the backup quarterbacks, Tyler Huntley versus Malik Willis, I’ll take Green Bay every time and twice on Saturday night.

By the way, the Ravens also will be fighting for their playoff lives. It could get chippy and definitely hard-hitting, but I doubt coach John Harbaugh’s Ravens will sink to the Bears’ level.

I’m also guessing the visitor’s sideline will have functional heaters and warm benches to sit on Saturday night.

Some NFL teams have class. At least one team doesn’t.

It’s as simple as that.

Packers-Bears II may

rekindle epic rivalry

Friday, December 19th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers face internal and external challenges entering Saturday night’s NFC North showdown with the Bears at Soldier Field.

Inside 1265 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley must concoct and implement a game plan to defeat the Bears.

Nothing new in that.

Only this time they’ve got to work around key injuries and questions that may not be answered until the inactive list is revealed 90 minutes before kickoff at 7:20 p.m.

They also have to factor in the Bears’ injuries to receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden II, both of whom have been ruled out.

Does the Packers’ defense go all-out to stop the run and force Caleb Williams to throw to D.J. Moore, the running backs and the tight ends? Or do they play it straight, especially early, and react to Chicago head coach Ben Johnson’s plan as it unfolds?

Clearly, the game of “cat and mouse” begins long before the Packers (9-4-1) and Bears (10-4) kick it off.

LaFleur didn’t waste his breath trying to downplay the impact of Micah Parsons’ season-ending knee injury.

“You’re taking a really good player off the field,” LaFleur said. “It’s not foreign to us, I would say, in regards to the scheme. You’re always trying to throw wrinkles in each and every week as well … some unscouted looks, and I think Haf has a great mind and is able to formulate all that stuff and make it simple for our players where they can go out and execute.”

In the wake of the Packers’ 34-26 loss at Denver, and all the injuries that went with it, Hafley insisted that his players keep the same mindset going forward.

“As far as the team goes, I told them you can’t let circumstances dictate behavior. A week ago, we’re in here after we beat the Bears and we’re all walking in here all upbeat and ready to roll. I said, ‘Shame on you if you walk in here any different today.’

“That’s not who we are. That’s our job as leaders and coaches, to make sure that we don’t do that. We’ve got really good players. We’ve played good defense, and we’re going to continue to play good defense. Our guys understand that.”

Parsons’ boundless energy, in addition to his irrepressible talent, made him a near unstoppable force, a force multiplier if you will.

Hafley said Parsons isn’t the only player wired like that.

“We’ve got guys who’ve been doing that around here for a long time. Guys like Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper and Xavier McKinney and Rashan Gary – all those guys – that’s what they’ve done.

“We’ve played good defense, and we’ll continue to play good defense. Are we going to miss Micah? Yeah, we’re going to miss Micah, absolutely. But we’ve got good players who are ready to go. That’s their whole mindset right now. They know that. They take pride in that. I think they’re looking forward to this. We’ve got guys that are getting ready to go in there 4-0 in the North with a game in Chicago to go put us up in the North, and that’s all they’re focused on right now. And I can’t wait for it.”

Clearly, Hafley’s outlook is one of optimism and anticipation, rather than fear and loathing.

Hafley turned the Packers’ defense into the NFL’s fifth-best unit in 2024, its highest ranking in 15 years.

Despite the absence of a true high-end pass rusher, he devised a variety of blitzes featuring Walker, Cooper, slot corner Javon Bullard and even McKinney last season.

Perhaps he’ll go that route again Saturday.

Hafley put it in simplest terms.

If the Packers’ defense needs to ratchet it up against the run, they’ll position more defenders closer to the line.

If they need to defend the pass, they’ll bring pressure.

What the Bears’ Williams has to figure out is which times the Packers are loading the box to bring pressure or to stuff the run? Then, he has to make the correct adjustment at the line of scrimmage prior to the snap.

Hafley’s ability to camouflage his intentions is A-plus.

The Bears’ Odunze and Burden aren’t the only key players who will be ruled out or somewhat limited.

Bears’ running back De’Andre Swift has been dealing with a groin injury and is listed as questionable. If Swift is limited, in addition to the absence of Odunze and Burden, Chicago is going to have to rely on its backups to step up.

Meantime, the Packers are excited about the upcoming challenge and opportunity the game presents.

That feelings the same with or without Parsons.

“I’ve been saying from the jump, (Parsons) added to what we had for sure,” McKinney said. “He’s a hell of a player and he’s a game wrecker, but we have a lot of talent as well. I think that’s a good thing for us that we have these guys that are really talented, so they’ve just got to go in there and step up and be ready to go.”

Gary said the Packers’ solution to not having Parsons is to keep playing full speed.

“Everybody just playing fast,” Gary said. “Everybody still having that swagger, confidence and just understanding Micah made us better as a group, but understanding that we’re still the same players and still got that same group.”

Gary said the Packers can still write their own story.

It begins Saturday night in Chicago.

“Just understanding what’s in front of us,” he said. “Understanding that we’ve still got the pen in our hand. We can still write our own story. Guys that’s been out the season – Tuck, D-Wy (Devonte Wyatt), (Parsons) – are going to be a reason why we’re going to finish strong, keeping those guys in mind.”

Gary is 100 percent correct.

The Packers still have everything they need to go into Soldier Field, knock out the Bears and capture first place in the NFC North and move into the NFC’s No. 2 seed.

PREDICTION

PACKERS 23, BEARS 19

Packers fall at Denver,

lose Parsons to injury

Monday, December 15th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – When Josh Jacobs crossed the goal line to cap his 40-yard TD run the Packers and their fans were experiencing a very special Rocky Mountain high.

The Packers were up by nine points early in the second half and they had the home-town Broncos on the run.

The moment’s afterglow quickly flickered out.

Ecstasy turned to agony in a horrific twist of fate when an untouched Micah Parsons fell to the turf, clutching at his left knee, late in the third quarter.

Parsons exited and the Packers never recovered.

Parson’s season-ending injury was one of many setbacks incurred by the Packers in a 34-26 loss to the Broncos in front of 75,555 Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.

Christian Watson (chest), Zach Tom (knee), Josh Whyle (concussion), Evan Williams (knee) and Parsons (knee) all exited with injuries and didn’t return.

“That’s obviously a really tough night in a lot of ways,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “It was a dogfight for most of the game and they kind of ran away with it in the second half. Also a double whammy for us losing some pieces critical to our success.”

The Packers’ loss, coupled with Chicago’s 31-3 victory over Cleveland, drops Green Bay (9-4-1) into second place behind the Bears (10-4) in the NFC North.

Green Bay and Chicago also swapped playoff seeds: The Bears move back into the No. 2 slot behind the top-seeded Rams (11-3), while the Packers fall to the seventh seed previously occupied by Chicago.

Speaking of the Bears, they’re the primary reason that the Packers can’t afford the luxury of self-pity.

Green Bay has a short week to sort through the injuries and get ready to tackle the Bears in a Saturday night battle for NFC North supremacy.

The winner looks like a sure bet to win the division. The loser will be left clawing for the seventh and final seed.

Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. at Soldier Field.

LaFleur had an eye on Chicago before he left Denver.

“I told our guys nobody’s going to feel sorry for us and we have to rally around each other,” LaFleur said.

Jordan Love echoed his coach’s sentiment.

The Packers’ quarterback didn’t sound like he’s ready to throw in the towel on the season.

“There’s still so much more out in front of us,” he said. “Just that mindset we have to stay together, go into this next week, a big game against the Bears in Chicago, get everybody ready for that.

“We’ve been there before in these tough games, and we have to stay together and keep going.”

Packers safety Xavier McKinney, who played a wonderful game Sunday, also spoke the truth. He doesn’t want anyone wallowing in negativity.

“I mean, the season ain’t over,” he said. “So s—, we’ve still got work to do. And obviously with this loss, it puts us in a different spot, but we’ve still got a chance to do what we want to do: win the division and make a big run in the playoffs.

“Obviously guys got hurt today, but that don’t mean the season’s just over. We’ve just got to keep working, keep finding ways to where we can get better, we’ve got to try to be as healthy as possible and that’s just what it is.”

The Packers opened a 23-14 lead early in the second half on Jacobs’ long touchdown run, but the Broncos (12-2) had no intention of conceding a thing.

The Broncos responded as Bo Nix led them on consecutive touchdown drives to retake the lead.

Nix connected with Courtland Sutton on a 14-yard touchdown pass to narrow the gap to Packers 23-21.

On the Broncos’ next possession, he led them on an 11-play, 75-yard march capped by Nix’s 23-yard scoring strike to Tony Franklin to make it 27-23 Denver.

The Packers used Brandon McManus’ fourth field goal of the game to close it to 27-26, but Denver tacked on a late touchdown to secure the eight-point win.

Denver has won 11 straight and is undefeated at home.

Nix was 23 of 34 for 302 yards, four touchdown passes, no interceptions and a 134.7 passer rating. He wasn’t sacked and frequently bought time with his legs.

LaFleur was suitably impressed.

“He’s a great athlete, number one,” LaFleur said of Nix. “The guy made a ton of plays. He made plays in rhythm, he made plays off-schedule. That’s what the great ones do and he played great tonight.”

The Packers didn’t do themselves any favors by committing a god-awful 10 penalties for 72 yards. Their utter lack of discipline at times was staggering.

“Some of those are inexcusable, totally within our control,” LaFleur said of the penalties. “That was obviously a contributing factor in not having the success we’d like to have. There were a lot of them out there. You can’t have that many penalties, especially against a really good football team.”

The Packers’ offense moved the football but failed to get the job done in the red zone. Green Bay was 1 of 4 once it got inside the Broncos’ 20-yard line. Meantime, Denver was a perfect 4-for-4 in the red zone.

Love’s day seemed to turn on a single play.

Leading 23-14 early in the second half, Love tried to deliver the dagger by throwing deep to Watson. The pass was intercepted and Watson landed hard with the football between his chest and the ground. Watson was taken by ambulance to a local hospital but was healthy enough to accompany the team home on the return flight.

Before that play, Love was 18 of 24 for 221 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 122-passer rating. He also hadn’t been sacked to that point.

On the Packers’ next five possessions, Love was 6 of 16 for 55 yards, two interceptions and a sub-zero pass rating.

He also was sacked three times on the final five drives.

“The second half we had the two turnovers, which are drive-killers,” Love said. “Give them credit, they got their pass rush going, tightened up their coverage.”

Some of the Broncos’ pass rush success was due to the absence of injured right tackle Zach Tom, who left after 27 snaps with a knee injury. Tom didn’t believe there was any structural damage and that he hopes to play on Saturday.

Watson’s future is a bit clearer, it appears, after his father posted on social media that his son was “fine” and would be able to play against the Bears.

That’s another glimmer of hope, although even that was offset, perhaps, by the fact that Jayden Reed was seen limping off the field near the game’s end. Reed was playing in only his second game after returning from a broken collarbone and knee injury.

There was no word on Reed’s status after the game.

One of the few bright spots was Jacobs’ performance.

The Packers’ workhorse back rushed 12 times for 73 yards, a 6.1 average, and the 40-yard touchdown. He also caught two passes for 19 yards, including a sensational 14-yard touchdown catch from Love.

“I probably should’ve given him more opportunities when you look back in hindsight,” LaFleur said. “We knew this was one of the best pass rushes in the league, and you could feel it at the end of the game. We had plenty of opportunities and didn’t get it done.”

Packers aim to tame

Broncos at Mile High

Thursday, December 11th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ defense has limited opposing offenses to 20 or fewer points in eight games.

That should be enough to win given the Packers’ offense.

It’s a bit surprising but that hasn’t been the case.

Green Bay is just 5-3 on those occasions. That includes losses to the Browns (13-10), Panthers (16-13) and Eagles (10-7), with the latter two setbacks at Lambeau Field.

When the Packers (9-3-1) tangle with the aspirational Broncos (11-2) at 3:25 p.m. Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High, it could be another low-scoring tug-of-war.

That’s because the Green Bay and Denver defenses rank among the NFL’s best for a reason: They’re outstanding.

The Packers’ defense ranks third in DVOA slightly ahead of a Broncos’ defense that ranks fifth in that category.

It’s interesting that Green Bay’s offense also ranks fifth in DVOA, while Denver’s offense ranks 14^th.

Essentially, if the numbers play out, Green Bay’s defense under coordinator Jeff Hafley should be able to control quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense.

That’s where the Packers’ offense comes into play.

The Broncos’ defense is one of the league’s finest. In fact, it’s arguably the NFL’s best, most complete unit.

“What a great challenge,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said this week. “But also … there’s a great opportunity that goes with that.”

That “opportunity” is a chance to go face mask-to-face mask with one of the league’s best units and prevail, or at the least, compete for four quarters.

If only it were as simple as it sounds.

Denver’s defense is allowing 16.8 points per game during its last five games. The Packers’ offense is averaging 27.3 points in its most recent four games.

Denver also defends third down with its life.

Opponents are converting a measly 30.9 percent on the money down. Meantime, Green Bay’s offense moves the chains an NFL-best 50.6 percent on third downs.

Something’s got to give.

Despite Denver’s capricious weather, the elements won’t be a problem. Sunday’s forecast calls for a daytime high of 63 degrees with 3 mph winds and no precipitation.

It’s a Rocky Mountain gift to both offenses.

Nevertheless, Green Bay’s recent ascension in the O-line, coupled with a healthier Josh Jacobs, a rising Christian Watson and the return of Jayden Reed bodes well.

It’s just that Denver’s “D” isn’t inclined to yield.

“There’s really not a weak link out there,” LaFleur said.

That’s true of a defensive secondary led by Pat Surtain II, a perennial All-Pro who is among the best in the business.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love is familiar with Surtain’s work.

“I think he’s just a smart corner,” Love said. “His ability to read what the receivers are doing and just play that sticky coverage … there’s sometimes you see on film when he’s breaking on things before the receiver’s even breaking. I think it just goes into his film study, his knowledge of the game and his confidence in himself.”

Indeed, Surtain and friends comprise a formidable group.

As good as the secondary is, Nik Bonitto and the Broncos’ bruising pass rush is even better.

Denver leads the NFL in sacks by a significant margin with 55. It is on pace to eclipse the Chicago Bears’ single-season record of 72 set in 1985.

Bonitto, one of the game’s top pass rushers, leads the way with 12.5 sacks, followed by opposite edge rusher Jonathon Cooper’s 7.5 sacks. Inside, the Broncos’ defensive line features Zach All and John Franklin-Myers, who have a combined 11.5 sacks.

In fact, Denver has 11 defenders with multiple sacks.

Love didn’t downplay the challenge the Broncos’ defense presents the offense.

“It’s not just one guy that you can finger point out,” Love said. “It’s a little bit different than a team that maybe only has one solid edge rusher that you make sure you get chips and lock down that side.

“(In Denver) you’ve got five guys who have all won at different times versus different teams,” Love continued. “So we’ve just got to do a good job up front. I’ve got a lot of confidence in our O-line. They’ve been getting better and better as the season has gone on in pass pro.

“It will be a good test.”

That isn’t to say Jacobs and the Packers’ run game get a free pass. The Broncos’ defensive front is the NFL’s best against the run, allowing just 3.7 yards a carry.

Working behind that unit is Surtain and Co.

It’s a formidable challenge that comes at a good time.

The Packers’ NFC North lead is razor thin. They have the second-place Bears (9-4) at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Saturday night.

It might be tempting to look ahead, but the Packers know a loss at Denver – coupled with a Bears’ win versus the Browns – would drop them into second place.

The Broncos are on a 10-game winning streak. They haven’t lost at home all season, or anywhere, for that matter, since mid-September when they fell to 1-2.

Watson, for one, respects Denver’s defense.

But he isn’t willing to concede a thing.

“I wouldn’t say they have no weaknesses or holes,” Watson said. “I definitely think there’s plays to be made. We’ve got to be solid in our game plan, and there are some ways we can go out there and make plays.”

Watson has been explosive since his return from a wicked season-ending knee injury in January. He has five touchdown catches in the past four games. He also has been winning one-on-ones at the line for big plays.

“They’ve got a really good defense,” he said. “But we’ve got a lot of confidence in our offense. If we want to get to where we want to go, we’re going to have to play against really good defenses, and if we want to achieve the goal we want to achieve, we’re going to have to be one of the best offenses in the league.”

There you have it.

The Packers are up for the challenge Denver presents.

They’re capable of matching the Broncos’ intensity – Denver clinches a playoff berth with a win – and performing at a high level in a playoff-type atmosphere.

Injuries notwithstanding, the Packers’ performance Sunday – win or lose – won’t move the needle for me in terms of their potential to go deep in the playoffs.

Green Bay is one of the NFC’s top three teams.

There’s no reason to think they haven’t put their penchant for self-induced disaster behind them. Nevertheless, Denver presents a tall challenge in the Mile High City.

BRONCOS 23, PACKERS 22

Packers fend off Bears

28-21 to win Round 1

Monday, December 8th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers took the Bears’ best shot and Sunday and didn’t go down.

They were still standing … standing atop the NFC North, in fact, after a hard-fought 28-21 victory over Chicago that warmed the hearts of the 78,214 fans inside frigid Lambeau Field.

Green Bay (9-3-1) rode its fourth straight win to first place in the division and the NFC’s No. 2 seed behind the top-seeded L.A. Rams (10-3) and ahead of No. 3 seed Philadelphia (8-4).

With the loss the Bears (9-4) plummeted from the NFC’s top spot all the way down to the No. 7 seed. The eighth-seeded Lions (8-5) currently are on the outside looking in.

Sunday’s Bears-Packers game proved to be an instant classic.

The Packers thoroughly outplayed Chicago in the first half.

Green Bay raced to a 14-3 halftime lead on a pair of Jordan Love touchdown passes and a stingy defense. Green Bay held the Bears to a measly 71 total yards, with Caleb Williams going an icy 6 of 14 for 32 yards and a 50.3 passer rating.

Nevertheless, the Packers couldn’t put the Bears away.

Chicago scored on its first three possessions of the second half. Two touchdowns, a two-point conversion and a field goal pulled the Bears even at 21-21 with eight minutes to play.

That’s when Packers coach Matt LaFleur and his quarterback worked their magic.

They conjured an eight-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was capped by Josh Jacobs’ 2-yard touchdown run. Jacobs appeared to be stopped short of the goal line, but his sheer will and determination got him into the end zone on third-and-goal.

Chicago cornerback Jaylon Johnson was one of a handful of defenders that tried to gang-tackle Jacobs, but to no avail.

“I think we all got there, all made good reads and then I felt like I got bumped off and didn’t finish the play, honestly,” Johnson said. “It’s hard to say what happened in the moment. But at the end of the day, that’s a play we’ve all got to make again. There was four people there, including myself. I at least got to finish the play and make it off the field.”

Jacobs rushed 20 times for 86 yards (a 4.3 average) and the touchdown. Jacobs’ longest run of the day covered 21 yards and set the Packers up before Jacobs’ TD run.

LaFleur said the Packers missed a block on the play, but Jacobs made it work anyway.

“That was a hell of an individual effort, because, I mean, we missed (the block),” LaFleur said. “All of a sudden, I just see a burst right in front of my face.”

Love was a cool 17 of 25 for 234 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 120.7. He was sacked once but adroitly eluded pressure and bought time.

“Everybody in that huddle, nobody blinks,” Love said of the key drive. “We know what we need to go accomplish.”

Jacobs’ rushing touchdown put Green Bay up 28-21 with 3:32 to play, but the Bears weren’t finished quite yet.

Williams, who finished 19 of 35 for 186 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, nearly garnered his sixth fourth-quarter comeback of the season.

Williams opened the Bears’ final drive with a 27-yard pass completion to rookie Luther Burden. Then he hit Devin Duvernay for a 24-yard hookup to move it to Green Bay’s 23.

Following three straight running plays, including no gain by rookie Kyle Monangai on a terrific third-and-1 stop by Kingsley Enagbare, the Bears were down to their final play.

Bears coach Ben Johnson called a bootleg in order to give his athletic quarterback the option to throw or run. Johnson was right to put the football in his quarterback’s hands, but he should’ve been less ambiguous.

I suspect Johnson thought Williams would find an easy completion or tuck it and run for the first down. He did neither. Instead of throwing it to a wide-open D.J. Moore, or running for the first down, he tried a difficult pass to Cole Kmet in the back of the end zone.

Williams under-threw the pass and Keisean Nixon leapt high in the air to come down with the game-clinching interception.

“Seeing Keisean go up in the air and get it, it was awesome,” Love said. “To be able to end it on an interception and be able to get that turnover was huge.”

Johnson didn’t second-guess his play call at the end.

“Yeah, we had a lot of options there, don’t know exactly who’s gonna pop there necessarily, but between the options we have and then Caleb using his legs, was hopeful we could find a way to get a yard there,” he said.

Translation: I never imaged Caleb wouldn’t tuck it and run.

Johnson’s inexperience showed in the biggest moment.

In fact, a healthy argument could be made that the Bears should’ve just run the ball and not bothered with a bootleg. After all, they were pounding it down the Packers’ throats, and Green Bay’s defense was sucking wind.

Nevertheless, Johnson outsmarted himself, and his quarterback, in the process.

Williams blamed himself.

“In those moments it’s, you know, a got-to-have-it moment,” Williams said. “And they had a guy trailing me, I didn’t feel like I could go get it myself (by running the ball). Just got to give Cole a better shot at it. I think next time, just extend him a little bit more and kind of lead him.”

Next time.

That’ll be in 12 days at Soldier Field with “Browns at Bears” and “Packers at Broncos” sandwiched in between.

Packers’ red-hot ‘D’

aims to chill out Bears

Thursday, December 4th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – This is the stuff football fans dream of.

Bears’ fans keep pinching themselves to make sure they’re not simply having a hibernation-induced dream. Is Chicago really sitting atop the NFC North at 9-3 in early December?

Are they actually LEADING the entire NFC?

As difficult as it is to believe … it’s true.

The Bears and first-year head coach Ben Johnson are feeling pretty good entering Sunday’s 3:25 battle with the Packers at what will be a frigid Lambeau Field.

The Packers, at 8-3-1, are a half-game back of Chicago in the division. A victory and Green Bay would leapfrog the Bears and claim first place in the NFC North. It would be a significant step toward claiming the division title, provided the Packers also defeat the Bears again in two weeks at Soldier Field.

If Chicago prevails Sunday, its team will be viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Frankly, that’s an upper case IF. … at best.

Here are three reasons why the Bears, who are a 6 ½ point underdog, just might upset the Packers … but won’t.

Let’s kick it off …

** No. 1 – The Bears’ offense ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards and first in the league in explosive plays, defined as rushes of 10-yards plus and passes at least 20-yards plus.

Caleb Williams’ accuracy is a subpar 58-percent completion percentage, but he has the knack of making high-difficulty throws in the most high-pressure situations.

It’s uncanny.

Williams, who has directed four fourth-quarter comeback wins this season, has learned how to use his legs in big moments. With the game on the line, and caution to the wind, Williams will tuck it and run at the first chance.

The thing is he also possesses plenty enough arm strength to deliver a strike should a receiver get behind the secondary. He brings a formidable dual threat, especially late in games.

Here’s the problem for Chicago: The Packers’ defense does not surrender big plays. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley deploys his excellent safeties – Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams – to stop whatever fits the situation.

It’s doubtful Hafley will allow the Bears’ running game to eat them alive. He’ll commit more bodies if he has to, but that’s where the safeties’ prowess comes into play.

Furthermore, as talented as Williams is, with eyes in the back of his helmet and all that, Micah Parsons is faster. In fact, the Green Bay defense is considerably faster to the ball than most.

Hafley will have an A-plus scheme to defend the Bears.

Look for him to force Williams to have to throw it to the perimeter because of a lot of traffic in the middle of the field.

** No. 2 – Johnson is a heckuva play caller.

He’ll overcome any of Hafley’s planning because he’s just that good. He’s got Williams playing his best football. He’s got an offensive line that has a reputation of being big and bad. He’s got plenty of offensive weapons in Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, Luther Burden II, Colston Loveland and the back: De’Andre Swift and Kyle Mongangei.

It’s a talented group.

But here’s a question: How do they play from behind?

The history has been to grow impatient with the run, force the pass and send Williams into a downward spiral of disastrous decisions. The Bears would say he’s beyond that now. The statistics and eyes-on say otherwise.

** No. 3 – The Bears’ defense is opportunistic. It forces turnovers in bunches. It has been able to put its offense on a short field repeatedly, and it defensive backs fly to the ball.

The pass rush is lacking but not atrocious.

The linebackers are getting healthy and the cornerbacks – Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon – are among the NFL’s finest. Safety Keith Byard is an interception magnet.

The defense is decent.

The trouble is the Packers’ quarterback is better. He’s better than he was last year. He’s better than he was at the start of this season. Heck, he may be better than he was a week ago, which was pretty darn good considering he had a perfect passer rating in the second half of Green Bay’s 31-24 victory at Detroit.

Jayden Reed may be returning Sunday to torment the Bears.

Christian Watson has re-established himself as one of the NFL’s top play-makers and Love’s most lethal target. Dontayvion Wicks had multiple belief-defying catches in the win.

Meantime, the Packers’ run game is getting healthier with Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks all rested and ready to be unleashed on the Bears’ mediocre run defense.

The Bears have raised their fans’ expectations to nearly laughable proportions. Packers’ fans should be pleased. It merely makes the fall that much further.

The Packers are one of a handful of teams with a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl. The Bears are an ascending team that is vastly improved over last season, but they’re about to learn a harsh reality.

Getting to the top is a lot easier than staying there.

Packers 31, Bears 16

It’s Packers-Bears for

top spot in NFC North

Monday, December 1st 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers took a significant step toward dethroning the Lions as NFC North champions.

Green Bay’s 31-24 victory at Detroit on Thanksgiving secured a season sweep of the two-time defending NFC North champions.

If indeed Detroit (7-5) fails to capture a third straight division title, and it’s a distinct possibility, Green Bay (8-3-1) would be in line for its first NFC North title since 2021.

Green Bay would be in line alright … in line right behind the Chicago Bears, who occupy first place following a 24-15 upset of the Eagles at Philadelphia on Friday.

So much for the 7-point underdog Bears being on fraud alert.

Chicago gave “Black Friday” a whole new meaning to Philly fans by going into Lincoln Financial Field and pummeling the defending Super Bowl champions start to finish.

Bears running back D’Andre Swift was asked what message the victory sent to the rest of the NFL.

“That we’re for real,” he replied.

The Bears’ win at Philly definitely got the Packers’ full attention. Green Bay has lost four straight games to the Eagles, including a 10-7 home loss in Week 11.

The Packers know firsthand how tough it is to win at The Linc.

They also know the Bears will be a formidable foe when they square off Sunday with the NFC North lead up for grabs. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. at Lambeau Field with the forecast calling for sunny skies and a frosty 23 degrees for the high.

The Bears’ upset of the Eagles, coupled with the Packers’ upset of the Lions, means the NFC North truly is shaping up to be a two-team race … and the Lions may not be one of the two.

The Lions were hit with a double whammy over the weekend.

First, they got mauled by the Packers on both sides of the ball. In addition, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown injured his ankle when he got bowled into by friendly fire and will miss some time.

Second, they learned that All-Pro center Frank Ragnow wasn’t coming out of retirement to save the day after all. Ragnow, 29, failed to pass his physical and won’t be playing this season.

The Lions tangle with the Cowboys (6-5-1) at Dallas on Thursday night to kick off Week 14. A Detroit loss and a Packers win Sunday would catapult Green Bay into first place, a half-game up on the Bears and three games up on the Lions.

Meantime, the Packers-Bears game will resurrect a rivalry that has been dormant mostly because Chicago has been a doormat.

First-year coach Ben Johnson has done plenty to change that perception.

Bears safety Jaquan Brisker said his team’s confidence is merited.

“We should be confident in ourselves,” he said. “We shouldn’t shy away or anything like that. We’re on a roll right now, and we could just keep getting better. But that’s what we should be thinking (the playoffs).

“I mean, we got a whole bunch of dogs in the locker room and things like that, and that’s the way we’re trending, and we’re changing the culture. So yeah, that’s how we should think.”

Odds are Johnson, Chicago’s brash, young head coach, will hear it from Packers’ fans Sunday. They haven’t forgotten what he said about enjoying beating Matt LaFleur’s team twice a year.

In January at his introductory news conference, Johnson told the assembled media, “Dan Campbell, Kevin O’Connell, you’re talking about two guys that are up for coach of the year awards as the season ends here.”

“And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”

LaFleur responded by calling the remarks “interesting” and left it at that. If LaFleur wanted to say more, but restrained himself, he’ll get a chance to let his team do all the talking on Sunday.

If Johnson truly has resuscitated Chicago’s football team – and it’s even money – the odds are he’s also rekindled a rivalry.

The Bears manhandled the Eagles on Friday. They ran 85 plays to Philadelphia’s 51. They rushed 47 times for 281 yards and two touchdowns.

Caleb Williams wasn’t particularly sharp, throwing for just 154 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

In some ways, it’s reminiscent of the Carolina Panthers’ upset win over Green Bay last month. The Panthers’ run game controlled the action and quarterback Bryce Young made just enough throws to keep the Packers’ defense on its cleats.

The Panthers, by the way, knocked off the previously No. 1 seeded Los Angeles Rams, 31-28, to establish themselves as a team to be reckoned with.

Now, it’s the Bears atop the NFC with the Packers currently the sixth seed and the Lions on the outside looking in.

In the Packers’ Thanksgiving Day win at Detroit, LaFleur’s offense regained its traction in the run game. The Packers rushed 30 times for 125 yards, a 4.2 average, with Josh Jacobs’ 17 carries for 83 yards leading the way.

Jordan Love was 18 of 30 for 234 yards with four touchdown passes, no interceptions and a 124.2 passer rating. Three of Love’s completions came in crucial fourth-down situations.

Love threw touchdown passes to Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks on the first two, and he hooked up with Wicks again with the game-clinching completion.

Meantime, the Packers’ defense held Jahmyr Gibbs to just 68 yards on 20 carries for a 3.4 average. Jameson Williams led the Lions with seven catches for a career-high 144 yards and a touchdown, but it was Williams’ drop that dashed Lions hopes.

Now it’s the Bears up next.

The Packers have positioned themselves nicely in terms of winning the NFC North. Now they have to seal the deal by beating the Bears twice in the next three weeks.

That alone won’t clinch the division, but at 10 wins (with two over the Bears) they’ll also own the head-to-head tiebreaker against Chicago and Detroit.

The cold, the stretch run and December have all arrived right on time. Come Sunday we’ll find out if the Chicago Bears also have arrived. The Packers might beg to differ.

The Bears made their statement on Friday.

Now it’s the Packers’ turn to make theirs this Sunday.

Packers look to feast

on Lions’ offense line

Wednesday, November 26th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The quickest route to Jared Goff’s demise runs straight through the “A” gap.

If the Packers’ defense can control the space between the guards’ inside shoulder pad and the center’s on either side it should make for a blissful Thanksgiving for Green Bay fans.

Goff is susceptible to pressure between the tackles. The Packers’ Micah Parsons is apt to line up anywhere along the line of scrimmage. Most assuredly that will include the “A” gap.

The Lions have reshaped the interior of their offensive line. Left guard Christian Mahagony is out with an injury, so Kayode Awosika will get the start for Detroit.

Where will the Packers’ defensive front attack? Find Parsons, or perhaps Awosika, and you’ll likely have your answer.

Whether the Packers can exploit the interior of the Lions’ offensive line remains to be seen. We won’t have long to wait.

When the Packers (7-3-1) and Lions (7-4) kick off at noon Thursday inside Detroit’s Ford Field, it’ll launch a battle for control of the NFC North between evenly matched teams.

Both have lost their terrific tight ends for the season. Neither has entirely figured out how to fill the void.

Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft and Detroit’s Sam La Porta rank among the NFL’s finest at their positions.

Kraft caught two passes for 16 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ 27-13 victory over the Lions in Week 1. His strong in-line blocking also enabled Green Bay to rush for 75 yards and a touchdown. It was just enough to keep the Lions’ pass rush on its heels and help Jordan Love have a sack-free afternoon.

La Porta led the Lions with six catches (on a team-high nine targets) for 79 yards.

Now it’s up to John Fitzpatrick, Luke Musgrave and Josh Whyle to carry on at tight end for the Packers. In Detroit it’s Brock Wright and any opportunity to bring in a sixth offensive lineman (Dan Skipper) instead of a second tight end.

Suffice it to say it’s a work in progress on both sides.

The Packers’ offense has been steadily improving despite losing left guard-turned-center Elgton Jenkins to a season-ending injury two weeks ago.

Do-it-all journeyman Sean Rhyan stepped in at center and has played well. The Packers’ O-line is cleaning up its earlier miscommunication and subsequent mistakes.

Rhyan may actually be an upgrade.

To his right, rookie Anthony Belton has gotten healthy and has earned significant snaps at right guard. Jordan Morgan has been occupying that spot, but Belton is a bigger-bodied athlete who is much more imposing in the run game.

Meantime, Morgan might be prepping to challenge left tackle Rasheed Walker, who hasn’t been as crisp as the Packers would like. Walker’s play has been so-so and that’s not likely to be good enough come the postseason.

Challenging him with Morgan’s presence makes sense.

Christian Watson has re-established himself as the team’s true WR1 regardless what the court of opinion finds. Watson is a game breaker who also has refined his skills to be able to make the clutch third-down catch to move the chains.

Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks need to find their stride down the stretch, and it would be a godsend if Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, or preferably both make an impact from here out.

Defensively, Jeff Hafley has his unit in a good place.

It’s playing fast, confident football. It seems to have a great overall awareness and isn’t easily rattled. Furthermore, its best play-makers remain disciplined and team-oriented.

Parsons and safety Xavier McKinney elevates everyone around them. Edgerrin Cooper is the wild card in Thursday’s game. Cooper has the talent, the surrounding cast and the coordinator to be an ascending superstar at off-ball linebacker.

Devonte Wyatt is another player capable of making an impact down the stretch. Wyatt’s ability to conjure up interior pass rush would be the key to unlocking the Parsons-Rashan Gary duo.

Parsons is tremendous regardless the circumstances. Gary is a terrific Robin to his counterpart’s Batman. With Cooper and likely Quay Walker (stinger) back together the Packers’ speed on defense should help to neutralize the great Jahmyr Gibbs.

Gibbs is a threat to beat the Packers by himself.

He’s that special.

He had a 49-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game against the Giants. Then he added a 69-yard touchdown gallop in overtime to secure a 34-27 victory.

Gibbs is arguably the most explosive weapon in the game.

Nevertheless, the Packers’ defense should be up to the task, especially with a little bit of help from the offense and special teams.

PREDICTION: PACKERS 27, LIONS 24

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Packers’ defense drills Vikings in 23-6 victory

Monday, November 24th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers played their most complete game of the season.

The defense completely suffocated Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

The offense completely controlled the line of scrimmage.

And special teams completely smothered kicks and muffed punts while converting three field goals and a pair of PATs.

Green Bay outplayed Minnesota in all three phases, from start to finish, in a sharp 23-6 victory over the visiting Vikings Sunday in front of 77,971 at Lambeau Field.

The Packers’ defense was especially dominant.

“It was amazing,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said of his defense. “It was a big-time job by everybody on the defense.”

The Packers sacked McCarthy five times. He completed just 12 passes for 87 yards and a 34.2 passer rating. He also threw interceptions on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions to extinguish the Vikings’ feint hopes of a rally.

Isaiah McDuffie snared McCarthy’s first interception with a diving catch of a tipped pass. Evan Williams nabbed the second when the Vikings’ QB took an ill-advised shot down the middle.

“We had a bunch of opportunities a week ago,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of the interceptions. “And today we made them pay.”

The defense set the tone early and slammed the door late. In between, it totally dominated Minnesota’s offense and its overwhelmed quarterback in his sixth NFL start.

LaFleur adjusted his play-calling accordingly.

“When you have a defense that played the way that we did today, that kind of can dictate what you do offensively,” he said. “I thought, just, we did what we needed to do.”

LaFleur called 42 runs, including the same running play on three straight downs during one second-half possession. The Vikings’ offense was struggling and LaFleur didn’t intend to gift them any unnecessary openings.

In fact, LaFleur’s offense did its defense another great service.

It started fast for a change. It posted its first opening-drive points since Week 4 with a terrifically executed 7-play, 70-yard touchdown drive capped by Emanuel Wilson’s 1-yard run.

It answered the Vikings’ opening-drive field goal and the Packers never trailed after that.

With the win, the Packers (7-3-1) kept pace with the NFC North’s first-place Bears (8-3) and a half-game ahead of the third-place Lions (7-4), who they play Thursday in Detroit.

It’s a lightning-quick turnaround.

“Obviously the prep has got to get started today,” Love said. “Everybody’s trying to get their bodies back, get back healthy as quickly as possible.”

LaFleur acknowledged the task’s difficulty.

“It’ll be a great challenge for us, but one our guys will be ready for.”

Green Bay’s defense will be up for it.

When it wasn’t mauling McCarthy it was manhandling the Vikings’ ball carriers. Ex-Packers great Aaron Jones rushed nine times for 41 yards. Jordan Mason had 42 yards on eight carries.

Minnesota (4-7) was 2 of 9 on third-down tries and finished with 145 net yards.

Packers’ safety Xavier McKinney liked what he saw.

“I think we got one of the best defenses in the league, if not the best; the talent we have,” McKinney said. “We have a hell of a DC (Jeff Hafley). He called a great game today and we went out there and executed. Great DC, great players all coming together, it looks good.”

The Packers already are down one cornerback with Nate Hobbs’ injury. Starter Keisean Nixon was injured during the game and didn’t return. In their stead, Carrington Valentine has been strong at right cornerback, and Kamal Hadden (he wears No. 36) played well on the left side after Nixon’s exit.

Hadden was drafted by Kansas City and subsequently released. He spent all of last season on Green Bay’s practice squad preparing for a moment such as Sunday’s.

“Kamal has made as much progress as any player that we’ve had here,” LaFleur said. “Just to see where he’s come from to where he is now … he practices the right way, he approaches it the right way. Really proud of him.”

As for Valentine?

“I think CB’s done a helluva job, ever since his role’s been expanded. I mean, he’s answered the bell.”

So did Wilson on offense in place of the injured Josh Jacobs. The Packers said Jacobs was a game-time decision with a knee contusion, but clearly, they wanted him a full-go at Detroit.

They also believe in Wilson’s ability to hold it down in his absence.

Wilson rushed 28 times for 107 yards to become the Packers’ first 100-yard ball carrier of the season. He flashed power and speed while breaking tackles with hard runs inside the tackles.

“That’s something that we’re stressing to him all the time because E is a big, powerful back,” LaFleur said. “He’s kind of unassuming at times, but he’s powerful, and when you run with the right pad level, it just shows you what he’s capable of doing.”

Chris Brooks added 21 yards on eight carries behind an offensive line that played mistake-free football. Sean Rhyan has done yeoman’s work replacing the injured Elgton Jenkins at center, and rookie Anthony Belton got reps at right guard.

Clearly the Packers are getting Belton ready in case starting right guard Jordan Morgan – who is the next tackle up – has to make a position switch in the event of an injury.

They don’t intend to get caught short like they did against the Eagles in the playoffs last post-season. When Jenkins was injured in that game the left guard position became a turnstile.

Christian Watson stepped up with a team-high five catches for 49 yards. And tight end Luke Musgrave used his speed to draw a 24-yard pass interference penalty on the team’s opening drive.

Slowly but surely the offense is finding its way without Jenkins, who is on IR, and tight end Tucker Kraft, who was lost for the season to a knee injury.

Love wasn’t sacked and scarcely touched.

LaFleur made it a point to credit Zayne Anderson, a special team’s mercenary, with making the play of the game.

Green Bay was forced to punt on its opening drive of the second half, but Daniel Whelan landed a punt perhaps 6 yards behind returner Myles Price, who was standing at the 10. Anderson saw the loose ball and drove Price straight back into its path.

The ball touched Price’s leg and Anderson recovered it at the Vikings’ 5-yard line. Wilson barreled into the end zone two plays later to push the Packers’ lead to 17-6.

“That changed the entire game,” LaFleur said of the muffed punt. “I can’t say enough about that play. It was a great punt, first of all, by Daniel, and then Zayne Anderson, his ability to drive his man into the football and then somehow come up with it, I thought that was the play of the game. That was the difference-maker right there.”

Anderson appreciated his coach’s post-game praise. He also noted the importance of the special teams’ contributions.

“I think we’re a very hard team to beat when we play complementary football and we have the units to do it,” Anderson said. “When our offense is rolling and our defense is rolling and our special teams is rolling, we’re dangerous. It felt good to play complementary football today.”

It’ll feel even better if the Packers carry it into Thursday’s game.

Packers’ defense aims

to rattle Vikings’ QB

Friday, November 21st 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – J.J. McCarthy can make all the throws.

He’s got first-round arm talent.

The problem for the Vikings’ quarterback is that he doesn’t always know where he should throw it, or when for that matter.

Indecisiveness is common, if not to be expected, among NFL first-year starting quarterbacks. It leads to poor decision-making, inaccurate throws and a loss of confidence.

McCarthy will be making his sixth start Sunday when the Vikings tangle with the Packers in a noon kickoff at Lambeau Field. He has fallen prey to all of the above. That’s the difficulty with on-the-job training. There’s really no way to replicate the many challenges they’re going to encounter in any given game.

McCarthy’s mid-week news conference sounded like a pregame “walk through” in his mind. It was quite the trip.

“Just understanding that it’s one to three little things that I need to change about my game that is going to make a huge difference in the outcome of every single drive in the game,” he said. “So yeah, I feel like it’s really close, but it all comes down to the consistency of the fundamentals.”

Neither McCarthy’s consistency nor his fundamentals were good the past two games. In a 27-19 loss to the Ravens at home, he was 20 of 42 for 248 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a passer rating of 54.5.

That was bad.

It got worse in a 19-17 last-second loss to the Bears at home last Sunday. He was 16 of 32 for 150 yards one touchdown, two interceptions and a 47.7 passer rating.

McCarthy is completing just 52 percent of his passes. His average target depth feels like it’s behind the line of scrimmage. He’s been reluctant to throw it deep, even with fabulous deep threats such as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

It’s why the Packers need to accomplish two things early.

The first is to have Green Bay’s offense score on its opening possession, or at the least, put up at least 14 first-half points.

Of the Packers’ 10 opening drives this season, two have gone for touchdowns. The rest have gone for naught.

A Packers’ lead – preferably a double-digit lead – would enable Green Bay’s defense to do something it hasn’t done in weeks. That’s pin its ears back and go sic ‘em.

Some in the media act as if it’s a big mystery why the Packers’ defense hasn’t put up the sack totals it did in the first two games, home wins over Detroit and Washington.

A big reason why is the Packers grabbed early leads in both games.

They haven’t done it since so opposing quarterbacks have been able to pass when they want to, not because they have to.

The second thing Green Bay needs is to have its defense provide its own sputtering offense with great field position. That typically means forcing a fumble or picking off a pass.

The Packers have been dreadful in both areas.

Nevertheless, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit should have plenty of opportunities to make plays against the Vikings.

McCarthy has thrown two interceptions to every one touchdown pass. The running game has been spotty. When Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are providing decent down-and-distance situations with positive runs, McCarthy has played better.

Without the threat of the run he has been abysmal.

McCarthy’s footwork and pocket presence both need work.

“We just have to find that when it comes to the post-snap,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “And sometimes it’s not even reads and progressions, it’s simply just the fundamental foundation that we need to start seeing the concrete kind of dry a little bit on the work that’s being put in.”

The Packers (6-3-1) need to take advantage while McCarthy is still wet behind the ears, so to speak.

That begins Sunday when the Packers kick off a stretch of three straight NFC North games against the Vikings Sunday, the Lions on Thursday at Detroit, and the Bears the following week.

Minnesota (4-6) can be really good – see the 27-24 wins at Chicago and at Detroit – or it can be really bad.

The Packers also have been inconsistent, especially on offense.

On Sunday, they may have to make do without running back Josh Jacobs, who is dealing with a knee contusion. He practiced lightly on Thursday, but I suspect he’ll sit Sunday out.

That means Emanuel Wilson has to step up as the RB1.

It also means tight end Luke Musgrave has to contribute as a receiver and a run blocker, and a banged up receiving corps needs to suck it up this week.

A third straight home loss would send Packers’ fans through the roof – if Lambeau Field had one – and make it an uphill challenge during the remaining six games.

The Packers mauled the Lions 27-13 in the season opener. They haven’t been back inside the NFC North ever since.

“It’s been a weird schedule for us, playing Week 1 in a division game and now I don’t even know what week it is,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said.

It’s Week 12.

“Yeah, so it’s been a long time,” he said. “It’s felt weird, and obviously we’ll have a couple back-to-back right now. It’s definitely a stretch that we’ll have to take advantage of.”

A loss Sunday would put the Packers at risk of going 1-2 in the three-game stretch and leave them at an underwhelming 7-5-1.

The Packers were the only team in the NFL to play one division game in the first 11 weeks.

In the NFC North, the Bears lead at 7-3, followed by the Packers, Lions (6-4) and Vikings (4-6). Chicago and Detroit are 1-2 in division games, while Minnesota is 2-1.

According to ESPN Analytics, the Packers have a 44% chance to win the division, the highest of any NFC North team.

However, according to ESPN BET, the Packers have the second-shortest odds to win the division (at +140) while the Lions have the shortest (+135).

“It’s super important,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said of the upcoming stretch. “Last year we went 1-5. That’s not where we want to be as a team in this division. And so I think this year we want to provide a new outlook on what type of team that we are, and we don’t want to repeat that same stuff we did last year. So I think this is an important game. I think all division games are important, so we’ve taken it very seriously.”

It doesn’t guarantee a Packers win Sunday, but it’s the right approach, especially against a young quarterback whose inexperience can be taken advantage of.

PREDICTION

PACKERS 31, VIKINGS 13

Packers outlast Giants

27-20 in rugged battle

Monday, November 17th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers just couldn’t shake them.

The reconstituted New York Football Giants pushed the Packers to the limit before Green Bay rallied to a 27-20 victory Sunday at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Led by interim head coach Mike Kafka and journeyman QB Jameis Winston, the Giants grabbed a 20-19 lead on Winston’s 1-yard touchdown run with 7:22 to play in the fourth quarter.

Imagine that.

The Packers (6-3-1) found themselves staring a three-game losing streak in the face-mask. The Giants (2-9) pounded out a 15-play, 85-yard drive to take the one-point fourth-quarter lead.

It was similar to the Giants’ nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive to start the game.

Green Bay’s defense simply couldn’t stop the run for several alarmingly long stretches. And even though it was Winston’s first start of the season, the veteran still has enough guts, guile and arm strength to challenge a legitimate NFL defense.

The Giants’ opening drive touchdown ruined any chance for Green Bay to start fast and take an early lead. Winston’s late touchdown drive gave the Giants a chance to win.

If only the New York defense could hold.

It couldn’t.

When it mattered most Jordan Love and the Packers prevailed.

The fact that it wasn’t easy is disappointing. The fact that the Packers rallied for the victory in spite of themselves, especially on the road, is encouraging.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur admitted his team’s failures. But nothing could dampen his enthusiasm with the outcome.

“Obviously just extremely happy with the win,” LaFleur said. “We definitely didn’t make it easy on ourselves, but the bottom line is we overcame a lot of adversity and found a way, and sometimes that’s what it takes in this league.”

What it takes is plays like the one rookie Savion Williams made trailing 20-19 in the fourth quarter. Facing third-and-10 from the Green Bay 47, Love went to-and-fro in the pocket with enough time to spot Williams breaking free, and enough arm to put it one the money.

Williams leapt over a defender to haul it in.

The 33-yard catch set up the Packers at the Giants’ 20-yard line

It was the only pass targeted for Williams all day. Entering the game, he ranked among the league leaders in touches-per-snaps played, and his big-play ability paid dividends.

By the way, Williams only played two snaps Sunday.

It begs the question, “Why not more?”

Whatever LaFleur’s reasons, Williams will be difficult to keep off the field if he continues to make plays in a limited role.

In fact, the play targeting Williams was an off-schedule play (designed to go elsewhere).

“It went off schedule,” Love acknowledged. “In the pocket I had time, but I didn’t like the initial read and told him to go deep. He did a good job wheeling up there and I threw him a 50-50 ball. He went up and made a big-time catch.

“Really a phenomenal play by him.”

After an offensive holding penalty threatened to ruin the drive, Romeo Doubs hauled in a 13-yard catch, to set up Love’s best throw of the game.

It was a “go” ball for Christian Watson from the 17-yard line. The corner-end zone laser breezed past the would-be defender’s ear-hole and into Watson’s outstretched hands for the score.

“Christian was running a slot fade right there,” Love said. “You’re seeing the one-on-one so I tried to put it up for a place he can go make a play. Not trying to throw a perfect ball … he did a great job high-pointing that one and coming down with it.”

Love and the Packers’ offense stayed poised while executing the two-point conversion, a pass to Emanuel Wilson, who finished with 40 yards rushing and a touchdown for Josh Jacobs, who left in the first half with a knee injury and didn’t return.

Watson’s first touchdown catch came with Love temporarily sidelined with a left shoulder injury.

Malik Willis coolly stepped in and converted a third-and-8 with a 16-yard scamper to set up the Packers’ offense. On third-and-goal at the Giants’ 1-yard line, Willis bought just enough time to deliver a bullet to Watson in the back of the end zone. He released the pass as he was flattened by a Giants’ pass rusher.

Watson made a fairly amazing catch in which he simply used his strong hands to overpower the Giants’ defender.

“We don’t win that game without Malik,” LaFleur said.

Willis was an efficient 2-for-2 for 6 yards with the touchdown for a118.8 passer rating. Love finished 13 of 24 for 174 yards, two touchdowns and a 105.2 passer rating. He was the victim of at least three drops, by my count, and was sacked twice.

Romeo Doubs, who had two drops, finished with four catches for 53 yards. That includes the huge 13-yard grab on the Packers’ final touchdown drive.

Watson had four catches (in five targets, to Doubs’ eight) for 46 yards and two touchdowns.

Seven other players caught one pass.

Jacobs finished with 40 yards on seven carries before exiting with the injury.

Jacobs’ status is unknown at this point.

Love said his left shoulder injury was “definitely not fun” but that it was “something I can play through.”

Watching the Giants’ offense chip away by converting a whopping 10-of-18 third- and fourth-down attempts was nearly as painful as seeing Love injury his shoulder.

The Giants posted consecutive second-half drives of 16 and 15 plays that sucked some wind out of the Green Bay defense.

The first drive went 56 yards before ending on a fourth-down shared sack by Micah Parsons and McDuffie.

“That was huge,” LaFleur said of the stop.

The second drive gobbled up 7:59 off the clock. Winston capped it with a QB sneak to give New York a temporary 20-19 lead.

The Giants’ last-ditch attempt failed when Evan Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal the victory.

“I was really relieved when we needed a play at the end of the game we got one,” LaFleur said.

Relief is an apt description.

The Packers host the Vikings (4-6) at noon Sunday at Lambeau Field. It begins a stretch where the Packers play five NFC North opponents during the season’s final seven games.

After the Vikings’ game Sunday, Green Bay travels to Detroit to face the Lions on Thanksgiving Day with kickoff set for 11:30 a.m. at Ford Field.

First up, though, is Minnesota.

“We’re going to have our hands full for another 60-minute, four-quarter battle (with the Vikings),” LaFleur said. “We’ll enjoy (the Giants’ win) but we know what we have in front of us, a division rival, they us twice last year. Last two times at home we’ve come up short (against Minnesota).

“We’re going to have to get healthy, recover and put the work in to go play our best football.”

Something less than the Packers’ best was just good enough to eke out the win against the Giants. A similar effort may not be good enough to get past Minnesota despite its ineffective first-year starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy.

If the Vikings had Jameis Winston at quarterback, I’d be worried if I were the Packers. Fortunately for them, McCarthy is no Winston. Not even close.

Packers’ O-line faces

talented Giants’ front

Friday, November 14th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – How ingenious of the Packers.

Head coach Matt LaFleur and his team have put all the pieces in place to create a sense of urgency within their locker room.

That it stems from their own ineptitude isn’t exactly ideal. And that’s something of an “if” a tangible urgency is growing.

The Packers lost back-to-back home games in which their fans and their defense showed up in full throat, whereas as the offense went down with scarcely a whimper.

The Packers’ 16-13 loss to the Panthers (5-5) got everyone’s attention The 10-7 loss to the Eagles (7-2) pushed their collective backs that much closer to up against the wall.

Green Bay (5-3-1) needs a win in the worst way.

Shoot, they need a win any way they can get it.

On offense it starts with the run game.

It seems like forever ago when the Packers and Josh Jacobs regularly ruled the line of scrimmage. Lately it’s been difficult simply getting up a head of steam.

It didn’t help that the Eagles’ defense either knew or guessed correctly that Green Bay’s 4th-and-1 inside zone run was coming with Jacobs in a critical moment.

Whether the Eagles knew play or not, this much is clear: They sensed the moment and rose to it. The Packers did not.

The Giants (2-8) haven’t had much in the way of big moments and the Packers would like to keep it that way.

New York has an interim head coach in Mike Kafka, who stepped in when Brian Dabol was fired after the Giants’ 24-20 loss at Chicago.

What a turn of events. The Bears are used to getting their own coach fired, not the opponent’s.

Now we’ll see if the shakeup puts a little bounce in the Giants’ step. Sometimes a coach’s firing lights one under that team. Other times it merely creates additional confusion, mistrust and miscommunication, which the Giants already had in waves.

What the Giants do have is a defensive line teeming with former first-round draft picks.

Brian Burns leads the quartet – and the NFL – with 11 sacks. Kayvon Thiobodeaux has dealt with injuries, but he’s an explosive, high-end pass rusher off the edge.

Inside, Dexter Lawrence is among the league’s top tackles. He has nifty pass rush moves to go with a daunting bull rush. He is paired next to Abdul Carter, the former Penn State pass rusher, who just might be the most innately talented of the bunch.

The Bears’ Caleb Williams counteracted the Giants’ pass rush by running for dear life. Williams did his best Fran Tarkenton impression and spun, pirouetted and danced his way out of trouble from start to finish.

He dropped back 43 times, threw 36 passes and scrambled the other seven snaps.

“He was amazing,” LaFleur said of Williams. “I can’t believe how he was able to get out of a lot of things. It’s an extremely disruptive front whether they’re getting home or not. So we’re going to have to do a great job in protection.

“You can’t let off for one second versus this group.”

What the Giants don’t have is starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, talented receiver Malik Nabers and elusive back Cam Skattebo. All are out with injuries.

They’ll look to Jameis Winston to be their signal caller, bypassing the ineffective Russell Wilson. That’s already one move in the right direction for Kafka.

Winston marches to the beat of his own drum. He belted out a tune from “Hamilton,” the Broadway musical, during his news conference earlier this week.

He still has enough arm strength to be dangerous, and he’s got an undeniably charming “devil-may-care” attitude for a backup quarterback. He’s not playing for his future. He’s playing because he still loves the game and the paycheck.

There’s nothing Winston hasn’t seen.

Then again, he hasn’t seen Micah Parsons in a Packers’ uniform. Parsons didn’t point fingers at the offense this week. Instead, he restated his trust and confidence in Love and the offense.

He also said the defense intends to keep being aggressive and delivering the goods.

Meantime, Love remained his low-key self.

He didn’t point fingers, either, but instead talked at length about how he needs to play better. While it’s apparent the offensive line has been a sieve at times, he didn’t go there, either.

Frankly, the O-line may be better with Rhyan at center, who’ll be replacing the injured Jenkins. Rhyan will have had an entire week’s worth of reps at the position, something he welcomed.

He also has more experience at the position than Jenkins at the NFL level.

I suspect we’ll see early on whether Rhyan’s presence, coupled with the fact that the line is settled now (no rotating), it should be a much smoother operation.

That should be especially obvious in the running game.

The Giants have an incredibly talented group of pass rushers. The problem is it appears none of them are too interested in playing the run. It’s as if they’ll tackle the runner – if they can – on their way to the quarterback.

The Packers need to own the line of scrimmage and kick-start the offense by virtue of the running game.

Jacobs should have a big day against that Giants’ defense, which in turn should enable Love to play with a lead and cut loose.

Matthew Golden, Savion Williams and Romeo Doubs are all healthy for Sunday’s game. So is Christian Watson, whose name appeared on the injury report with knee/lower leg soreness.

Watson told the media that it’s only precautionary and that there’s nothing to see here. I’ll take him at his word.

So how’s it going to unfold Sunday?

Packers 27, Giants 16.

A win is much-needed especially if the offense finds its groove in the process. A victory, followed by a strong showing against the Vikings the next week at Lambeau Field, would set the Packers up nicely for their Thanksgiving showdown at Detroit.

But first they need to take care of business at New York.

Packers’ ‘O’ no-shows in 10-7 loss to Eagles

Tuesday, November 11th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Rock … meet bottom.

That “splat!” you heard was the Packers’ offense crashing into the frozen tundra after careening downhill for two weeks now.

Green Bay’s abysmal 10-7 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles in front of 78,254 at Lambeau Field was a study in self-loathing. How else to explain why the Packers would mistreat themselves so badly?

Green Bay (5-3-1) is the epitome of death by self-inflicted wounds. They are a mistake in waiting. Each time the Packers huddle it’s as if a black cat crosses its path to the goal line.

The Packers scored 13 points in a seven-quarter stretch spanning home losses to Carolina (5-5) and Philadelphia (7-2). It didn’t sit well with home-town fans hoping to see a real live NFL offense.

Instead, they get “Football Follies: the unfunny edition.”

Jordan Love had one of his worst games in recent memory, the other being last week against the Panthers.

Love was 20 of 36 for 176 yards and no touchdowns. It was the fourth-straight game he has thrown for fewer than two touchdowns. He was sacked three times, didn’t complete a pass longer than 25 yards and finished with a 68.8 passer rating.

“We’re not getting any consistency right now,” Love said. “We’re not getting into a rhythm. We’ll have a good play here, and then a negative play, whether it’s a turnover, penalty, drop, sack … you know, it’s a lot of things.”

The Packers gained just 261 yards. They rushed for 104 yards. They converted just five of 13 third-down attempts. They committed a false start penalty that negated a successful fourth-down run, forced a punt and killed a promising drive.

Love and Josh Jacobs – the players who touch the football the most week in, week out – each lost a fumble. Between their fumbles, the false start penalty and a dropped pass/illegal formation penalty – the Packers shot themselves in the foot no less than four times in a 10-possession game.

The Packers’ first four drives netted 12, 5, 19 and 2 yards, respectively. Their longest drive was an 11-play, 75-yard march that included 21 penalty yards courtesy of the Eagles. It resulted in Green Bay’s lone touchdown: A Jacobs 6-yard run to close it to 10-7 with 5:46 to play in the fourth quarter.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was unceremoniously booed on his way to the locker room after the loss.

“Obviously, we’re struggling with finding the right solutions right now, so we’ve got to take a long, hard look at that and come up with a better plan,” LaFleur said. “The bottom line, you score seven points in this league, you’re probably not going to win many games.”

With rookie receiver Matthew Golden sidelined by a shoulder injury, Christian Watson (two catches for 45 yards), Dontayvion Wicks (four catches for 38 yards) and Romeo Doubs (one catch for five yards) were rendered inconsequential.

The absence of Packers tight end Tucker Kraft to a season-ending knee injury was noticeable. Kraft was one player who could turn a short completion into a huge gain by breaking tackles and running defenders over.

The Eagles’ defense sat in a 2-high shell most of the night.

It is designed to take away the big play and make opposing offenses execute short passes, stick with the run and grind out lengthy drives.

It forced Love to be patient and precise. He was neither. It also forced the receivers to be more disciplined in their route running, and to snag it cleanly and get yards after the catch.

That didn’t happen.

LaFleur’s insistence upon sticking with the run would be laudable if it was producing positive results.

It’s not.

The Packers’ offense looks like it didn’t practice all week. That isn’t the case all the time, but it is too much of the time.

The game got off to an ominous start for Green Bay.

The Packers took the opening drive and marched inside the Eagles’ 40-yard line. A sack wiped out the drive.

Early in the second quarter, the Packers had fourth-and-1 but a false start penalty forced a punt and killed a promising drive.

Late in the first half, the Packers got inside the Eagles’ 30 before Love was sacked on consecutive plays, with the latter producing a fumble when he tried an ill-advised pass to Jacobs.

It was another critical error by Love in a key situation.

Those types of mistakes have been way too frequent this season.

It was more of the same in the second half.

The Packers dropped a fourth-down completion in Eagles territory. A 22-yard completion into the Philly red zone was nullified by an illegal formation penalty.

And finally, the Eagles’ defense blew up a fourth-and-1 running play at Green Bay’s 44 with 1:30 to play. After the game, Philly defenders said they heard the call for a run out of shotgun and reacted accordingly to stuff Jacobs and the play.

Love didn’t deny that the Eagles’ defenders either heard the call or simply guessed correctly. It happens.

“They probably heard the call. Or were guessing,” he said. “There was a D-lineman saying some stuff, but I still thought we had a light box.”

Love thought wrong as it turns out.

“In those critical moments … the money down, third down, fourth down, we just malfunctioned,” LaFleur explained. “Situational ball, we just weren’t clean.”

The Packers’ defense gave its offense every opportunity to find its rhythm and join them in the heavy lifting. Green Bay didn’t post a sack, but it did limit the Eagles’ explosive plays.

Unfortunately for Green Bay, two of the Eagles’ “explosive” plays occurred on consecutive downs. Faced with third-and-7 Jalen Hurts dumped the football off to Saquon Barkley, who broke Carrington Valentine’s would-be tackle and went 41 yards. Hurts connected with Devonta Smith for a 36-yard touchdown on the next play to make it 10-0 Eagles.

Smith leapt over safety Evan Williams to make the grab.

Otherwise, the Packers’ defense was strong.

Barkley rushed 22 times for 60 yards with a long run of 15. Hurts managed 27 yards on five carries. The Eagles were 0-for-2 on fourth down tries and 0-for-1 in the red zone.

Green Bay’s defense did its part.

If only the Packers can find their offense before they depart to Newark, N.J., to face the New York Giants on Sunday.

Packers begin 4-game, 17-day stretch against

Eagles Monday night

Friday, November 7th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers lost a game to the Panthers, and a terrific tight end in Tucker Kraft to injury, but it doesn’t mean they’ve lost the season.

Self-pity is a luxury the Packers can’t afford.

They also can’t afford to have a $77 million free-agent left guard play like something from the lost-and-found box. Neither can they afford many more disasters like Hurricane Carolina.

Last week’s 16-13 loss to the Panthers, worrisome anywhere but especially at Lambeau Field, didn’t wreck their season. But it did chisel away a chunk of their margin for error.

That’s because the Packers (5-2-1) face a four-game, 17-day stretch that is demanding to say the least. It begins with a tantalizing Monday Night Football match-up when the Packers host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) in a 7:15 p.m. kickoff at Lambeau Field.

The Packers’ 2024 season started with a loss to the Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and it ended with a loss to the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round at Philadelphia.

Monday night’s game is going to be a gauge as to the Packers’ potential (realized or otherwise) at the season’s midpoint.

A win would make the Packers 6-2-1 with NFC wins over the Lions, Commanders and Eagles in addition to at Pittsburgh.

A loss would set the tone for a particularly rough stretch.

Green Bay is at the Giants (2-7) and host the Vikings (4-4) the next two Sundays, followed by Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Lions (5-3) in Detroit.

Any given four-game stretch is important, of course, but in this instance it’s especially so because it’s November – time to begin flexing for a playoff run – and because it comes in rapid fashion.

The Packers won’t have time to dwell on the last game.

They’ll be on to the next game.

It may make it easier to get locked in and stay that way. There is precious little time to over-analyze the situation. Maybe their mantra should be an oldie but a goody: Think long, think wrong.

When the Packers’ offense breaks the huddle and sprints to the line like it means business good things happen. When it waltzes and lollygags its way to the line it’s often not good.

Green Bay’s offense must reinvent itself – minus Kraft – by reestablishing the running game, tightening up the pass protection (blitz pickup has been non-existent of late) and involving tight end Luke Musgrave in the passing game.

Musgrave can do damage in the middle of the field, not so much with quick hitches, but up the seam. He also can be effective on the perimeter and in the red zone because of his 6-foot-7 frame.

Beyond that, the Packers’ defense needs to tighten up, and it would be helpful if it had a touchdown lead to work with. It’s much easier to be aggressive ahead than when tied or trailing.

At any rate, this stretch will either galvanize the Packers or derail their progress.

Injuries aside, no matter what the balance of November brings, Green Bay should be in solid contention for an NFC North title, or at least a playoff berth, especially in a jumbled NFC.

The Packers received good news on the injury front.

Receivers Dontayvion Wicks (calf) and Matthew Golden (shoulder) returned to practice. Wicks’ ability to attack the middle of the field, coupled with Golden’s deep speed, should help neutralize the loss of Kraft.

Furthermore, Golden and Christian Watson have played together sparingly. Golden exited the Carolina game early, so Monday night will be the first time the dual speedsters will be on the field together for an entire game.

Also, left guard Aaron Banks (stinger) returned to practice. The hope is he begins to fulfill his contract and plays like his nickname suggests: The Enforcer.

On defense, Colby Wooden (shoulder) returned as well. The importance of Wooden’s presence on the defensive line was amplified every time Carolina’s Rico Dowdle burst through it for a substantial gain.

Meantime, Lukas Van Ness (ankle), Nate Hobbs (knee) and rookie receiver Savion Williams (foot) sat out practice.

The Eagles’ offense presents a terrific challenge.

Jalen Hurts has thrown 15 touchdown passes to just one interception. The Eagles’ offense has been choppy at times, and running back Saquon Barkley is having a subpar season by his standards, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous.

A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith are among the NFL’s top receiving tandems, and Barkley is as explosive as any ball carrier in the league.

The Eagles’ “tush push” remains legal, as well as a major pain in the butt for opponents to deal with. Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s plan to defend it includes not allowing them to get into those situations, as unavoidable as it may be.

Green Bay’s offense and Jordan Love are going to see an Eagles’ defense that has underachieved to this point, but also has been depleted by injuries. The Eagles will get pass rusher Nolan Smith back from injury just in time for Green Bay.

Cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are among the best. If Love is off-target, or he and his receivers aren’t in sync, it’s going to be a long Monday night in Green Bay.

PREDICTION

The Packers are a surprising (to me) 2.5 point favorites over the Eagles. The total is a reasonably low 45.5 points.

I can’t understand why Green Bay is favored. Then again, Las Vegas has an annoying tendency to be right.

I’ll take the Eagles plus 2.5 and over 45.5 points.

GREEN BAY 28, PHILADELPHIA 27

Panthers’ bite deflates Packers in awful loss

Monday, November 3rd 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers were outplayed, outflanked and outclassed by an allegedly inferior Carolina team much to the dismay of the 77,864 in attendance at Lambeau Field.

And that wasn’t even the worst of it Sunday.

The Packers’ greatest loss wasn’t the 16-13 disaster against a pesky Panthers team that came to play. It was the loss of tight end Tucker Kraft to a knee injury early in the second half.

Kraft was carted to the locker room and didn’t return. Early indications suggest it is a season-ending torn ACL.

It comes just one week after Kraft’s seven-catch, 143-yard two touchdown display in the Packers’ 35-25 win at Pittsburgh.

“Yeah, it doesn’t look good,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said after the loss. “I know how much Tuck puts into this and he’s a big part of our team, a great leader, and it’s hard to replace that. But that happens with teams across the league. It’s one of those things that you’ve got to be able to overcome.”

In fact, it’s one of MANY things the Packers have to overcome.

Last season, the Packers were criticized because they would beat up on the bad teams but lose to the top teams.

This season, they’ve got wins over the Lions, the Commanders (with a healthy Jayden Daniels) and the first-place Steelers. In turn, they’ve lost to the Browns, tied the Cowboys and fell to the Panthers at home. Those teams are a combined 11-14-1.

On Sunday, the Packers’ offense lacked precision in the red zone, where it was a dreadful 1-for-5. The utter lack of sound decision-making by the coach and quarterback were the culprits.

Jordan Love had one of his worst performances of the season.

Love was 26 of 37 for 273 yards with no touchdowns, an interception and an 80.1 passer rating. It wasn’t the way he intended to celebrate his 27^th birthday.

His interception off an ill-advised pass to Christian Watson in double coverage set up Carolina’s 8-play, 38-yard touchdown to take a 13-6 lead entering the fourth quarter.

“It was pretty much a punt,” Love said of the interception, calling it “a bad decision.”

Not to be outdone, LaFleur made bad decisions on consecutive plays to sabotage the ensuing possession. After driving to the Carolina 4, where the Packers faced third-and-goal trailing 13-6, LaFleur called a receiver screen.

Good grief.

Even IF the defenders bit on the run fake, how far are they going to drop in coverage to create space for the receiver? Not surprisingly the play went for 4-yard loss.

To compound matters, LaFleur called a timeout to think about whether to go for it on fourth-and-8 or take the points. A field goal would’ve closed it to 13-9. Instead, he dials up a disastrous play with Love running for his life and throwing it away.

“Hindsight’s 20/20,” LaFleur said. “I wish we would’ve taken the points. Didn’t do that there. Bad decision.”

The problem is it isn’t the first time that’s happened this season.

LaFleur’s late-game play-calling and clock management have been at times abysmal with the outcome hanging in the balance.

If LaFleur didn’t have a play that he absolutely LOVED on fourth down he had no business going for it. The fact that he needed a timeout to make the decision suggests he was buying time to figure out what play to call.

Hall of Fame finalist Mike Holmgren – a pretty fair play-caller in his own right – told me a long time ago: “In that situation if you have to think long and hard about what play to run you don’t run it. You take the points and kick it.”

If LaFleur’s decision was influenced by a lack of faith in his wayward kicker, Brandon McManus, or in his defense’s ability to stop the Panthers on the next possession, he needs to revisit what he said just a week ago: “Scared money don’t win.”

It all sounds so clever after a 10-point win at Pittsburgh.

Perhaps the coach should heed his own words.

The Packers’ first half resembled too many first halves this season. Instead of dissecting the opposing defense and building a lead so Green Bay’s defense can cut loose, Love and company manage to derail themselves with self-inflicted wounds.

The Packers drove into the Panthers’ red zone five times. The first four trips netted a grand total of six points.

Savion Williams fumbled deep in Carolina territory to kill a promising game-opening drive.

Two false start penalties and a sack on the ensuing drive forced the Packers to settle for a field goal.

A pair of holding penalties blew up a third drive and Green Bay settled for another field goal to end the first half.

The fourth excursion into the Panthers’ red zone was sabotaged by LaFleur’s poor decision-making in terms of play calls, timeouts and whether to kick the field goal or go for it.

It didn’t help that McManus missed a 43-yard field goal wide left early in the third quarter.

“We did enough things that we deservedly got our ass beat,” LaFleur said. “You’ve got to maximize those opportunities. If you don’t, then you’re sitting here with 13 points.

“I would say nine out of 10 times, you hold somebody under 20 points, you should win the game.”

The Packers lost to a Panthers team led by Rico Dowdle’s big day. The running back had 25 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry while routinely knifing his way through the Packers’ front seven.

Dowdle was the Panthers’ primary weapon entering the game.

The Packers knew it, but they couldn’t do anything to stop it.

Certainly Colby Wooden’s shoulder injury and subsequent exit was a factor. The defensive lineman – aka “The General” – left early and didn’t return.

But the loss of one player can’t be the reason for not being able to stop the Panthers’ running attack.

Bryce Young beat the Packers while completing just 11 of 20 passes for 102 yards, an interception and a 48.3 passer rating.

And defensive tackle Derrick Brown, their best player, was allowed to disrupt the interior of the line all day long. Packers left guard Aaron Banks, aka “The Enforcer,” exited early with an injury and didn’t return.

I’m not sure if Banks’ departure was a help or a hindrance. The $77 million left guard has been an abject failure to this point.

LaFleur’s admission that he knew what the Panthers wanted to do – play ball control, run it and ugly it up – only makes it all the more maddening.

If you knew what was coming and you couldn’t stop it, or score against it, how are you going to fare when it’s a surprise?

“They came in and played the game they wanted to play,” LaFleur said. “They wanted to play keep away, run the football, make it just a game where we have to consistently execute on offense, and they did it better than we did.”

Say this for the 5-4 Panthers: They know who they are and what they need to do to win.

The same can’t be said for the Packers or their head coach.

In addition to Kraft, Banks and Wooden, the Packers also lost receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder) to injury. No updates were given during the post-game session.

The Packers (5-2-1) host the Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) in a week when Monday Night Football comes to Title Town, USA.

“I expect us to attack this head on,” LaFleur said. “It’s tough. It’s a tough pill to swallow. I don’t think it was for a lack of effort or anything like that.

“We have to get back to making sure that we have a solid week of practice. And I know that’s probably not the sexiest answer that everybody wants to hear, but that’s the reality. You lose, you’ve got to go back to the drawing board and you’ve got to go back to work.”

Green Bay is currently a 2 ½ point favorite over the Eagles.

For the life of me I’m not sure why.

Packers’ leaders are

delivering the goods

Friday, October 31st 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Another week, another award.

It’s downright scary for the rest of the NFC to think just how good the Packers could be as Halloween arrives and November beckons.

The Packers (5-1-1) own the NFC’s top seed entering Sunday’s noon game against Carolina (4-4) at Lambeau Field. They also own the in-season awards race, so to speak, with top dogs Jordan Love and Micah Parsons leading the pack.

Love was the NFC’s “Offensive Player of the Week” after completing 20 straight passes while posting gaudy stats in the Packers’ 35-25 win at Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

Not to be outdone, Parsons was named the NFC’s “Defensive Player of the Month” for October.

The awards are a welcome acknowledgment of a job well done.

It means the NFL is noticing what’s happening in Green Bay.

Beyond that, and more important, is that the Packers’ two highest-paid players are earning every cent through Week 8.

And when the best players on each side of the ball are on top of their game the odds are team success will follow suit.

The Packers’ offense is averaging 32-plus points in its last four games. The defense features two pass rushers (Parsons and Rashan Gary) ranked among the NFL’s top 5 in sacks.

The special teams has been slowly but surely improving.

Now comes a middle-of-the-pack Panthers team that some believe presents the proverbial “trap game” for Green Bay.

If the Packers start slowly and come out flat Sunday I’ll be shocked. They don’t have to look too far back to know that the match-ups on paper don’t mean much once kickoff arrives.

The lowly Cincinnati Bengals tested the Packers before losing 27-18 in mid-October at Lambeau Field.

After that win, Packers coach Matt LaFleur was asked how he felt.

“I feel a sense of relief right now,” he replied after a nine-point win. “We always try to take it one game at a time. The bottom line is you’ve got to find a way to win the game. And you see each and every week around the league, a lot of these games are going down to the wire.”

That’s where elite players and leaders such as Love and Parsons come in. They set the tone on offense and defense, respectively.

It’s no secret the Packers’ offense has had too many “three and outs” especially early in games. It’s also no secret that Green Bay’s defense – while playing at a high level – has yielded numerous lengthy, clock-eating drives.

LaFleur was asked specifically about the offense’s habit of having too many “three-and-outs.”

“It’s very annoying,” he said. “It’s frustrating when you know there’s opportunities and you don’t convert. In those third-and-manageable situations, you’ve got to come through.”

The Packers rank second in third-down efficiency at 48.3 percent. It wouldn’t be discussed if it wasn’t for the slow starts.

“Anytime you go three-and-out it just feels like you’re barely on the field,” Love said. “It feels like you didn’t do anything. You definitely didn’t help the defense out at all. I think for us, as talented as we are on offense, it’s just disappointing.”

Love definitely didn’t disappoint Sunday night.

He completed 29 of 37 passes for 360 yards, three touchdowns and a regular season career-high 134.2 passer rating.

“I thought it was impressive because he was making some high-level throws down the field,” LaFleur said. “We were pushing the ball from early on in the game down the field. We didn’t connect on a couple of those, but I thought all in all, he did a great job. He was in complete command of the game, made a couple of off-schedules. He played really, really well.”

Love’s NFC “Offensive Player of the Week” award was his first since Weeks 17 and 18 of the 2023 season. That was when Love and the Packers’ offense really clicked into gear.

Defensively, Parsons’ NFC “Defensive Player of the Month” award for October follows his “Defensive Player of the Week” award for Week 7 in a win at Arizona.

Parsons, whose contract averages $46.5 million annually, is playing like the NFL’s best edge rusher.

“He’s been outstanding,” LaFleur said. “All those guys are kind of feeding off one another. Certainly (Parsons) gets a lot of attention in regards to protections and a lot of times he’s defeating a chip. Then, they might even slide to him, which opens up opportunities for everybody else.

“I do think (defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley) Haf’s done a really good job and D.C. (defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington) of trying to get creative in terms of you’ve seen him rush inside, outside. It does put a little bit of stress on the offense in regards to you’re not quite sure where he’s going to line.”

The Packers’ most recent NFC “Defensive Player of the Month” winner was safety Xavier McKinney following his ball-hawking October in 2024.

Now comes Parsons.

He had five tackles (four solo) and a career-high three sacks against Arizona. He also tied career marks with four tackles for loss and five QB hits.

Clearly, Gary has benefited immensely from Parsons’ presence. Gary has 7.5 sacks and is on pace to easily reach double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.

It’s the first time the Packers have had two pass rushers with 6.5-plus sacks through the first seven games since the NFL began tracking sacks in 1982.

On Sunday, they’ll face the Panthers’ Bryce Young, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. The Carolina quarterback had his best game of the season the week prior against Dallas.

But that was against a Cowboys’ defense not to be confused with Green Bay’s Parsons-led crew.

Sunday’s game shapes up to be a blowout based on the Packers’ talent and mindset going into the game. To those who suggest they might overlook the Panthers because Philadelphia is up next, I would say this: The Eagles ARE the reason the Packers won’t take a step back against the Panthers.

They appear to have no intention of losing their focus, or the game, just because a high-level NFC opponent looms.

That’s where leaders like Love and Parsons make all the difference.

PREDICTION: Green Bay 30, Carolina 13

Love rallies Packers to

35-25 win vs. Steelers

Monday, October 27th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – On a Sunday night replete with quarterback comparisons – some accurate, others forced – it turns out Jordan Love’s performance proved incomparable.

Love didn’t just outplay Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers.

The Packers’ quarterback beat him at his own game.

Love’s play was efficient, effective and at times effortless in Green Bay’s 35-25 win over the Steelers in front of 67,386 at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium.

Love, who succeeded Rodgers after his 18-year Hall of Fame stay in Green Bay, was okay in the first half (13 of 18 for 146 yards and a touchdown). He was insane in the second half.

Love completed 16 of 19 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns to finish with a 134.2 passer rating. He wasn’t sacked and seldom harassed while completing 20 straight passes at one point to tie Brett Favre’s team record for consecutive completions in a game. Rodgers had a 22-completion streak that spanned two games during his days in Green Bay.

That’s how near-flawless Love was Sunday night.

Micah Parsons came away suitably impressed.

“He’s showed he’s the successor,” the Packers’ defensive end said. “He’s the up-and-coming (QB). Like J-Love, talking about when I was coming here, I was like, ‘I know they’ve got a quarterback. I know I’ve got a quarterback.’ I’m just so proud of him, everything he’s been through, how he’s developed as a player, how he’s developed as a person, and he’s just playing some really good football right now.”

So is Parsons and the Packers’ defense.

Parsons had a sack and was constantly disruptive. Rashan Gary had two sacks and was emotional talking about how Parsons received a game ball, and promptly handed it to Gary, saying, “This is yours. You were the best player on defense tonight.”

And Love was clearly the best on offense.

He completed 11 of 15 passes for 183 yards against the blitz. Each of his three touchdown passes came when the Steelers elected to rush five or more.

Love said he learned a lot as Rodgers’ understudy.

“Obviously, being behind A-Rod for three years, being able to see him and just the high-level play that he was capable of going out there and doing and being able to put the ball on the money at all times was very cool for me to be able to see,” Love said.

Christian Watson, who played for the first time in nine months following knee surgery, was asked to explain the difference between the slow start in the first half and the 28-point second half explosion.

Watson credited his quarterback.

“He really took command,” he said of Love. “We knew that in the second half, we had to go out there and execute a lot better. I think he took the helm and just led us and put us in position to make plays, and that’s exactly what we needed from him. He was definitely huge.”

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was effusive in praising Love.

“He was on fire,” LaFleur said. “That’s why I kept wanting to throw the football.”

There’s that, of course, in addition to Watson’s return and Tucker Kraft’s incredible game on National Tight End Day.

Watson caught four passes for 85 yards, including second-half grabs of 33 and 28 yards that directly set up 10 points. The Steelers’ respect for Watson’s speed as a deep threat enabled Kraft to find soft spots in zone coverage.

And when Pittsburgh elected to play man-to-man coverage, Kraft merely outmaneuvered and out-muscled the defender.

Kraft had seven catches on nine targets for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He had a whopping 131 yards AFTER the catch, the most by an NFL tight end since the 49ers’ George Kittle had 135 yards after the catch in 2018.

Kraft’s touchdown catches were a 16-yard catch-and-run in the first half – the Packers’ lone first half TD – and a 24-yard grab in the fourth quarter to bump Green Bay’s lead to 10.

Love relishes having big No. 85 as a security blanket.

“He’s a big-time player and I think everybody’s seen what he’s capable of when he gets the ball in his hands, running people over, getting those extra yards,” Love said of Kraft. “He’s just an explosive play-maker. I’m glad that everybody’s kind of seeing what he’s all about now.”

In turn, Kraft is thrilled to be playing with Love.

“The legacy that (Rodgers) left, I would say Jordan’s filling those shoes,” Kraft said. “When you’re talking about Favre to Rodgers to Love, Jordan has stepped up and fulfilled his end of the bargain.”

Rodgers finished 24 of 36 for 219 yards, two touchdowns and a 101.5 passer rating. He was sacked three times and routinely under duress in part due to an ineffective run game. The Steelers rushed 18 times for 93 yards to no great effect. Pittsburgh was an awful 1-for-10 on third down conversions. They were 1-for-1 in the red zone, the point being they only got their once.

Meantime, Rodgers could only sit and watch as Love carved up the Pittsburgh defense.

“He played great, played fantastic,” Rodgers said of Love. “He’s had a really nice season. He’s been really efficient with the football. He’s opportunistic, though I felt like he was very patient tonight. He took the run solutions, he took the check-downs, moved in the pocket well.

“Thought he played really well.”

The same can be said of the Packers (5-1-1) who sit atop the NFC North and remain the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Packers were the NFC’s only team to win an inter-conference matchup after the AFC went 6-0 entering Sunday night’s game.

The Packers host the Carolina Panthers (4-4) in a noon game Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Crazy as it seems, the Packers’ most pressing question entering the Panthers’ game might be this: “Should they go with Brandon McManus or Lucas Havrisik as their kicker?”

The question is less about McManus’s two misses Sunday night and more about Havrisik, who hasn’t missed yet and hit a 61-yard field goal to set the franchise record a week ago.

It’s rare when a “kicker-related” question isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Maybe it was the poor footing. Maybe it was coming off a quad injury. Whatever it was McManus needs to figure it out because the Packers have another option.

In truth, I think McManus will be okay and Havrisik will be a full-time kicker somewhere else in the league.

Packers-Steelers game pits Love vs. Rodgers

Thursday, October 23rd 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’ll take a few snaps to get used to seeing anyone in the Steelers’ “throwback” uniforms, which bear a striking resemblance to Packers’ “throwbacks” of the past.

It’ll be especially strange seeing Aaron Rodgers in that getup.

It’ll add a layer to the “Rodgers vs. Packers” angle: It’ll be like “Rodgers’ old Packers vs. Jordan Love and the current Packers. It’ll be the aging legend vs. the young blood who replaced him.

On Sunday night, it’ll be Packers (4-1-1) at Steelers (4-2) with kickoff set for 7:20 p.m. at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium. Green Bay sits atop the NFC North, while Pittsburgh is in first place in an AFC North that’s seen the Bengals lose quarterback Joe Burrows for the season, the Bengals go without an injured Lamar Jackson for multiple weeks, and the Browns go with rookie Dillon Gabriel after trading Joe Flacco to … the Browns.

It’s a crazy division that AFC North, but not a lot crazier than the NFC North, where the Packers are first with four wins, percentage points ahead of the five-win Lions (5-2) and the Carson Wentz-led Vikings (3-3).

The Lions are on their bye week, while the Vikings are at the Chargers following a 28-22 home loss to Philadephia. Wentz will be making his fifth start in Thursday night’s game against the Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert.

The Bears (4-2) have won four straight games. They are at Baltimore to face the Ravens (1-5) and Jackson, who is still dealing with a hamstring injury, back at quarterback.

Chicago could be 5-1 and atop the NFC North if not for JJ McCarthy’s “Player of the Week” fourth-quarter rally as the Vikings edged the Bears 27-24 in Week 1.

Bears’ fans would be insufferable if that were the case.

I should say more insufferable.

I’ll pick the Chargers to edge the Vikings, 24-21, and the Bears to upset the Ravens, 19-17, in a defensive struggle. Jackson’s alleged limited mobility could be the difference.

That leads to the Packers at Pittsburgh.

Rodgers’ limited mobility but pinpoint passing will be put to the test by Green Bay’s defense and Micah Parsons, whose “get off” is nearly as quick as Rodgers’ release.

Rodgers, at 41, is having a good season.

He’s completed 118 of 172 passes for 1,270 yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has a passer rating of 105 and he’s been sacked nine times.

Jonnu Smith, Pat Friermuth and Darnell Washington are a versatile veteran trio of tight ends. The Steelers are fond of starting games with three tight-end personnel.

Friermuth and Smith are capable down-field pass catchers, while the big-bodied Washington is a strong in-line blocker and capable short to mid-range target.

DK Metcalf remains a dangerous downfield threat.

Rodgers said he’s focused on winning games, rather than dwelling on the past. And he certainly feels no resentment toward the Packers.

“I don’t have any animosity toward the organization,” Rodgers said this week. “This is not a revenge game to me. I’m just excited to see some of those guys.”

When asked if that was always his feeling about the Packers, who traded him to the New York Jets in 2023, Rodgers said, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder, maybe.”

“I knew the writing was on the wall when Jordan (Love) was picked, and it was a matter of time.”

Jaylen Warren leads a middle-of-the-pack run game.

Meantime, Love is going to see a Steelers’ defense that isn’t quite as salty as in recent years. Nonetheless, it’s a unit that features a powerful front four with speed at linebacker backed by an inexperienced, underwhelming secondary.

If Love has time to deliver the football it may be a 300-yard day.

In 2023, Love’s “coming out party” occurred at Pittsburgh.

The Packers lost 23-19 but Love’s play was so “on point” that it’s generally referred to as a turning point early in in career.

Love completed 21 of 40 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating was just 71.8, but it was the way in which he answered every Steelers’ score with one for the Packers, it was fairly inspiring.

It also added credibility that it occurred on the road in a hostile environment against a strong Pittsburgh defense.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur discussed the Steelers’ defense and compared today’s versus two years ago.

“You can definitely see, there’s some similarities between two years ago,” he said. “I think they’ve upgraded some of the talent. They still got the front, which is phenomenal. It’s one of the best in football, but they’ve upgraded in some areas.”

Love may be reunited with receiver Christian Watson, who on Wednesday said “It’s my goal and I plan on playing” against the Steelers. Watson is in the midst of his 21-day window to return to the active roster. He has until Monday to be activated, so there’s still a chance he may not play Sunday.

Watson’s return would offset the absence of Jayden Reed, who is on injured reserve while recovering from foot surgery and a broken collar bone.

Watson and rookie speedster Matthew Golden would give the Packers a pair of the NFL’s fastest receiving threats to with Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and rookie Savion Williams.

The Packers’ ability to force the Steelers to back off the line of scrimmage based on the deep threat may be critical Sunday night. That’s especially true considering what LaFleur had to say about Pittsburgh’s defense.

“I think they’ve gotten much more aggressive with their scheme,” he said. “A lot more man coverage than we saw a few years ago. So, it’ll be interesting to see how they try to attack us. They’re very competitive, and they’ve really feasted on sacks and takeaways. You see it in every game. There’s a lot of carnage in the backfield, and they do a great job of getting the ball out, whether it’s through interceptions or forcing fumbles. Their style of play is as good as it gets in this league.”

It sets up to be a legit challenge for the Packers, especially if T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and the rest get any traction against Green Bay’s offensive line.

I think it’ll be close, but I’m going …

PACKERS 27, STEELERS 24 …

Packers, Parsons find a way to save the day

Monday, October 20th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Matt LaFleur did what good coaches do.

The seventh-year Packers’ coach instilled confidence in his players by expressing a great deal in them – not at practice or in a meeting – but during the game with the outcome in doubt.

The Packers responded to LaFleur’s emphatic “yes” vote of confidence with a hard-fought 27-23 victory over the Cardinals in front of 64,810 at State Farm Field in Glendale, Ariz.

Trailing 23-20 with 2:32 to play, the Packers’ Josh Jacobs was stymied for a 1-yard loss to set up fourth-and-2 at the Arizona 28-yard line.

LaFleur initially called on Lucas Havrisik to try a game-tying 47-yard field goal. But according to the coach, the expression on his quarterback’s face made him rethink it.

After a timeout, LaFleur elected to go for it.

What’s more he didn’t call a run play, especially after Jacobs had been stopped cold, he went with the dagger. He dialed up a pass play and Jordan Love delivered a strike to Tucker Kraft. The resulting 15-yard gain set up a refreshed Jacobs, who blasted into the end zone on his third straight run for the lead.

Micah Parsons and the Packers’ defense did the rest.

Love called it “big-time” when asked about his coach’s decision to trust in his offense.

“For Matt to decide to go for that right there in that situation, to have the confidence in the offense to go make a play … it’s going to suck if we don’t get it,” Love acknowledged.

“If you do, it pays off and you get the win.”

That wasn’t LaFleur’s only gutsy call.

The Cardinals held a surprising 13-3 lead with seven seconds to play in the first half. The Packers were sloppy and repeatedly hurt themselves with self-inflicted mistakes.

LaFleur could have told Love to take a knee, and then headed to the visitor’s locker room to try and figure it out. It would have seemed prudent, especially after the pre-halftime debacle at Dallas, when LaFleur called a pass with 23 seconds to play and Love was strip-sacked, which led to an easy Cowboys’ TD.

LaFleur hadn’t forgotten. He just wasn’t going to give in.

He called a pass play and Love delivered a 22-yard strike to Romeo Doubs with one second on the clock. Havrisik trotted in and delivered a franchise-record 61-yard field goal.

That made it 13-6. One swing of the leg effectively swung the momentum the Packers’ way after an underwhelming first half.

“That’s big-time right there to make that,” Love said of LaFleur’s decision and Havrisik’s bomb. “Those three points came back to be so beneficial in this game.”

LaFleur’s reaction was one of genuine satisfaction, undoubtedly in his decision and especially in his players’ response.

“Scared money don’t make money,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve gotta shoot. A 61-yarder, I didn’t envision that going into the game. Helluva job.”

That goes for the coach as well as the kicker.

In addition to the obvious gutsy calls, LaFleur also deployed several four-receiver, single-back sets. It’s a way to exploit the Packers’ significant depth at receiver. It’s also a way to spread out defenses and either have Jacobs in to pass protect, or slip out of the backfield as a would-be pass catcher.

He also ran some “hurry up” offense. It had little effect, which is to be expected given that it’s rarely utilized unless necessary. At the least it was an opportunity to appraise and assess the tactic.

The Packers’ win did illuminate some recurring problems.

Green Bay committed 10 penalties 94 yards. That’s almost one penalty for every 12 plays (52 on offense, 70 on defense) for nearly a football field worth of real estate.

It’s way too sloppy. That’s obvious. If only a solution were.

At some point, the Packers’ players must decide what type of team do they want to be? Are they going to continue to play undisciplined football and ultimately suffer the consequences?

LaFleur and his staff can only do so much.

The Packers gave the Cardinals’ Jacoby Brissett two free plays because of offside penalties, and they enabled Arizona to sustain drives because of defensive holding calls.

On offense, the pre-snap penalties are becoming insufferable, as are the seemingly automatic holding calls on kicks and punts.

LaFleur was particularly peeved at the offside penalties.

“We cannot do that,” he said. “We’ve done it way too many times. Trust me, it’s preached regularly every day. We’ve got to clean it up if we want to become the team I think we’re capable of being. Too many undisciplined plays, and we’re lucky it didn’t come back and bite us.”

It’s true the Packers’ self-inflicted mistakes ultimately didn’t cost them the win. But is there any doubt that won’t happen if the sloppiness continues?

On the bright side, the Packers’ offense – especially the left side of the line – is making progress. Rasheed Walker and Aaron Banks have the potential to be a reliable if not dynamic duo.

And defensively Parsons and friends keep getting better.

Parsons’ career-high three sacks made all the difference. He had two sacks on big third-down plays with Arizona in Green Bay territory. Both times the Cardinals had to settle for a field goal.

Parson’s hat trick occurred with 32 seconds to play. Arizona had driven to the Packers’ 26-yard line needing a touchdown to win. Parsons shot off the left edge and got Jacoby for a 9-yard sack.

That led to fourth-and-11 and a desperation end zone shot by Brissett that landed incomplete.

Love marveled at Parsons’ greatness.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I can’t say enough how fun it is just to have him on this team. I can’t say enough about how much of a playmaker he is.”

I’m guessing Parsons’ hope is that Love shows his gratitude by giving the “D” a double-digit lead to work with now and then.

All in due time.

Brewers on the brink

of elimination in L.A.

Friday, October 17th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’s “last call” for the Brewers.

Milwaukee is down to its final nine outs in what’s been an incredible, expectation-surpassing season – that is unless one of two things happens in Friday’s Game 4 at Dodger Stadium:

** No. 1 – They shut out the Dodgers’ MVP-laced lineup.

** No. 2 – They find a way to score more than one run.

The Brewers have done neither and trail 3-to-1 to the defending World Series champions in their best-of-seven NLCS series. With their backs to the centerfield fence, Milwaukee must find their offense against Dodgers’ right-hander Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani, 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in the postseason, will make his second start after striking out nine in six innings against the Phillies in the NLDS. Arguably the game’s best player, Ohtani was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts on Thursday. He has one home run and six RBI in nine postseason games.

The Brewers will counter with right-hander Chad Patrick, who was an early season revelation while enabling the team to survive despite an injury-ravaged rotation.

Then, Patrick went to the bullpen, where he quickly became one of manager Pat Murphy’s most trusted right-handers in high leverage situations.

Now, Patrick will try to come full circle in the first postseason start of his fledgling MLB career. After seeing the rookie pitch this season, it’s easy to have confidence that he’ll be ok.

The more troubling question is this: Will the Brewers score runs enough runs to win? The mismatch between Brewers’ hitters and Dodgers’ pitchers has been glaring.

Milwaukee has lost 2-1, 5-1 and 3-1 to the Dodgers.

Blake Snell and Yoshi Yamamoto were epic in back-to-back starts that were nothing short of dazzling. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow followed with it with the Dodgers’ third straight overpowering outing.

Glasnow scattered three hits over 5.2 innings while walking three and striking out eight. Four relievers followed with scoreless, one-hit ball over the final 3.1 innings to seal it.

Brewers’ third baseman Caleb Durbin was one of the few hitters who had good swings.

He drilled a triple and scored on Jake Bauers’ single to tie it 1-1 in the top of the second. He led off the seventh inning with a double but was stranded when Bauers flew out, Isaac Collins popped out and Jackson Chourio struck out.

Chourio grabbed his right hamstring after a violent swing-and-miss to go down 0-2 in the count. He exited the game and Blake Perkins finished the at-bat by striking out.

After the game, Chourio said it was only cramps and that he’ll be good to go for Friday’s Game 4. That’s one of the few bits of good news the Brewers had all day.

Now they face the daunting task of winning four straight to advance to the World Series.

“It’s going to take more than what we’ve shown so far,” Durbin said.

Christian Yelich, who managed an infield single, followed up.

“Obviously,” he said, “You can’t win four before you win one.”

Bauers has been one of the few hitters who has been able to muster competitive at-bats against the Dodgers’ arsenal of arms.

“It’s challenging,” he said. “These guys are the best in the world, right?” he said. “But that’s what you get when you get to this point in the season: the best arms that anybody has to offer.”

One of the best arms in baseball belongs to Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers’ rookie flamethrower, who was one of the few bright spots in Thursday’s 3-1 loss.

Misiorowski was charged with one earned run on three hits spanning five innings. He struck out nine of the 19 hitters he faced in what was an overpowering appearance.

Abner Uribe’s throwing error allowed the game’s final run and went down on Misiorowski’s stat line, but the young right-hander was outstanding nonetheless.

He came out throwing 101 mph fastballs that started on a sunlit mound and seemed to disappear as it entered the shadows that engulfed home plate. He threw strikes on 51 of his 73 pitches and blended his fastball, slider and curve.

At times, Misiorowski was straight up unhittable.

Who knows? If the Brewers find a way to survive Friday’s Game 4 and something magical happens in Game 5, Milwaukee would find itself in a Game 6 at American Family Field.

It’s a longshot, to say the least, but nothing is impossible. If Patrick, Jose Quintana and Freddy Peralta come up big, Misiorowski still might factor into this series.

“If we can do something extraordinary,” Murphy said, “he’s lined up to pitch the last game.”

The Brewers and their fans will keep their fingers crossed.

No matter what happens there’s no crying in baseball, tears of joy notwithstanding.

Brewers outslug Cubs 

to advance to NLCS 

Monday, October 13th 2025

By Chris Havel 

Special to The FAN 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Milwaukee’s 100th win was the charm. 

After posting a franchise record and MLB-best 97 wins in the regular season, the Brewers reached the century mark with a 3-1 victory over the Cubs in a decisive Game 5 of the NLDS Saturday night at American Family Field. 

A standing-room-only crowd of 42,743 went wild as the Brewers’ William Contreras, Andrew Vaughn and Brice Turang outslugged the Cubs and Seya Suzuki, 3-to-1, to advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2018. 

The victory snaps a streak of six straight playoff series losses for Milwaukee, and puts them four wins away from the second World Series berth in franchise history. 

It also sets up a tantalizing NLCS between the Dodgers and Brewers in a best-of-seven series. Game 1 is scheduled tonight with the first pitch set for 7:03 p.m. at American Family Field. 

“It takes every single one of these guys in the locker room, and they’ve done it,” Turang said. “We’ve got to keep it going.” 

To keep it going the Brewers must get past the Dodgers – the team that eliminated them in a heartbreaking Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS. Milwaukee swept Los Angeles, 6-0, in the season series, but getting past the defending champions won’t be easy. 

The Dodgers, who eliminated the Phillies to advance, will start left-hander Blake Snell in the opener. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2 for the Dodgers. 

The Brewers have yet to name a Game 1 starter. 

They have three true starters, but plenty of options. 

Freddy Peralta will start Game 2, leaving Quinn Priester, Jose Quintana or an “opener” as Game 1 possibilities. 

The Dodgers’ lineup frequently features left-handed hitters Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman among the first three hitters. That means left-hander Aaron Ashby or lefty Rob Zastryzny could be used as the “opener” with Priester or Quintana to follow depending on who’s on deck and in the hole. 

Meantime, the Brewers’ pitchers neutralized the Cubs’ potent bats for much of the five-game series. 

Suzuki’s solo home run to lead off the second inning made it 1-1 after Contreras’ 389-foot blast off Drew Pomeranz in the first. The Cubs failed to score over the final 24 outs. 

Vaughn’s home run in the fourth inning gave Milwaukee a 2-1 lead and Turang’s 416-foot blast off Andrew Kittredge in the seventh provided an insurance run. 

“We fight back. That’s our mentality,” Vaughn said. “We’re going to punch someone else. We’re going to throw it right back.” 

The fact that the Brewers eliminated the Cubs, their NL Central rivals, wasn’t lost on the players. 

“This was more than the usual Division Series,” Christian Yelich said. “Everyone wants to point to past postseasons, but the majority of these guys weren’t even here for that. So, you try to downplay it going into this series against the Cubs and call it any other Division Series, you say you just want to advance. 

“But the rivalry between these two teams – I feel like it’s been our two teams going at it the last eight years … all of the storylines there. We just really wanted to perform for our city and this organization, and our fan base. 

“We knew it meant a little bit extra.” 

Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who is the winningest manager in Brewers history, said he was sad and disappointed. He also had high praise for his former organization. 

“It’s a team that deserves and earned their way for the right to go to the World Series,” Counsell said of the Brewers. “That’s a good baseball team.” 

The Brewers used five pitchers – including All-Star closer Trevor Megill as the “opener” – and allowed six baserunners on four hits, a walk and a hitter batter while striking out eight. 

Rookie Jacob Misiorowski notched his second win of the postseason by pitching four innings of one-run, one-hit baseball while walking no one and striking out three. 

Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick and Abner Uribe covered the final four shutout innings, with Uribe getting the first two-inning save of his MLB career. 

Misiorowski was impressive on several levels. 

He stayed calm and focused despite surrendering the leadoff home run to Suzuki to open the second. He easily could’ve gotten rattled and started overthrowing. 

Instead, he settled in and pitched scoreless baseball after that. 

“It’s been crazy,” Misiorowski told reporters after the game. “It’s been a whirlwind and it’s been fun.” 

The Cubs’ best threat came with two on and nobody out in the sixth inning of a 2-1 game against Ashby. Michael Busch led off with a single and Nico Hoerner was hit by a pitch. 

Ashby stayed in to face left-handed hitter Kyle Tucker and it paid off as he fanned him on a 3-2 pitch. Chad Patrick came in and struck out Ian Happ after inducing Suzuki to fly out. 

Turang’s home run in the seventh made it 3-1. 

The Brewers went into the ninth inning with a two-run lead just as they had in last year’s Game 3 of the Wild Card series against the Mets. The Mets rallied for the victory. 

That was then and Devin Williams. 

This was now and Uribe. 

“We talked about it before the game,” Murphy told reporters. “It absolutely entered my mind. We talked about it at the end of the last season. We sat down in the room. We were all shell-shocked. And I said, ‘Guys, I don’t know what to tell you. Somehow this is going to help us.’ And sure enough, it was prophetic.” 

Brewers on the brink

as Cubs come to town

Friday, October 10th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Brewers manager Pat Murphy’s decision to start Freddy Peralta on four days rest was a hot topic entering Thursday night’s Game 4 of the NLDS against the Cubs.

It turns out it didn’t matter.

The Brewers’ bats failed to deliver in the clutch. Check that. They failed to deliver … period.

Cubs’ starter Matthew Boyd and a quartet of relievers combined on a three-hit shutout in Chicago’s 6-0 victory at Wrigley Field to draw even in the best-of-5 series.

Now the NL Central rivals return to Milwaukee for Saturday’s decisive Game 5 with the first pitch set for 7:08 p.m. The winner will advance to the NLCS to face the Dodgers, who eliminated the Phillies 2-1 in 11 innings earlier Thursday.

The Brewers’ 2-0 series lead couldn’t have been more inspiring. Then it vanished in what felt like the blink of an eye.

The Cubs put up four runs in the first inning of Wednesday night’s win and held on for the 4-3 victory. It was more of the same the following day as Chicago hit Peralta for three runs in the first thanks to Ian Happ’s three-run home run.

The Brewers’ starters were bad in Games 3 and 4.

Murphy put up a brave front after Thursday night’s loss, which was preceded by Wednesday night’s agonizing 4-3 setback.

“The Cubs earned it,” he said. “They had their backs against the wall and they played great these last two games. They pitched great. They played great. They played great defense. They hit in the clutch. They hit homers.

“Yeah, they’re built to be great, and they played great these two games. Hopefully the tables will turn when we get into Game 5 at our place. But we have to find out how bad we’re going to fight back. We have all season.”

The Brewers have been clutch at the plate all season. They delivered seven two-out runs in last Saturday’s 9-3 victory in Game 1. They plated four two-out runs in a 7-3 win in Game 2.

Milwaukee didn’t muster a single two-out run in the two losses.

Sal Frelick’s double was the lone extra-base hit Thursday night. Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn added singles.

That was it for the Brewers’ offense.

Milwaukee was 9-for-20 with runners in scoring position in Games 1 and 2. They cooled off in Chicago, where they’ve gone a dreadful 2-for-13 in Games 3 and 4.

That includes promising rallies that fell short in both losses.

Now it’s Cubs-Brewers in an elimination game. According MLB.com’s Adam McAlvay, of the previous 35 teams to win Games 1 and 2 in a Division Series under the current 2-2-1 format, only five teams ended up in a winner-take-all Game 5.

Three of those five teams lost.

Christian Yelich alluded to the inevitability of a Game 5 between the Cubs and Brewers. He talked about critical moments presenting themselves in the playoffs.

How you respond is what matters.

“It’s part of the story, man,” Yelich said. “Sometimes you’re going to have to win some big games. You face some adversity in the postseason and you have to keep going. We played well at our own field and they took care of business here.

“We’ll go back and get ready for Saturday and make sure we play well.”

It’s uncertain who will start Game 5 for the Brewers.

Quinn Priester seems the logical choice. Priester had a disastrous start in Game 3, but he has been really good all season. The Brewers set a franchise record with 19 straight wins in games that he pitched in during the regular season.

Priester taking the baseball and the Brewers winning isn’t new.

Nevertheless, if Milwaukee is going to advance it’s going to need a strong start by whomever Murphy calls upon.

William Contreras was asked if he knew the identity of the Brewers’ Game 5 starter. He seemed more focused on “how” (they pitch) rather than “who” pitches.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “I don’t know who’s going to start. I don’t know what the pitching plans are. But I know whoever is needed will be ready to go and ready to pitch that game. If we need to start (closer Abner) Uribe, I’m sure Uribe will be ready to make that start.”

Murphy was being second-guessed for starting Peralta even before the smoke cleared in the Cubs’ three-run first inning. The fact is the Brewers have to score AT LEAST one run to win.

They didn’t even come close.

Peralta was disappointed in himself. That the poor start occurred against the Cubs – a team he has owned during his career – and in the playoffs made it especially difficult.

But Murphy wasn’t going to play the second-guessing game.

“You think about everything this time of year,” Murphy said. “You just want to win. With our starting pitching the way it is right now – we’re limping in with the starting pitching. It hasn’t been our strong point. But we’re playing to win it all (Thursday). We’re all in to win it all. In order to have Freddy sure for two times in the next series, it was imperative – best available pitcher, let’s go.”

Milwaukee comes out

swinging versus Cubs

Monday, October 6th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – How would the Milwaukee Brewers’ brand of baseball play in the playoffs? It was the pre-eminent question entering Game 1 of the Cubs-Brewers NLDS matchup.

The Brewers’ answer was an emphatic 9-3 blowout win on a hot, steamy and totally amazing Saturday afternoon in front of 42,678 fans at sold out American Family Field.

Chicago out-homered Milwaukee 3-0.

The Brewers outplayed the Cubs in every other facet on their way to a 1-0 edge in the best-of-five series. Game 2 is Monday night with the first pitch set for 8:08 in Milwaukee.

The Cubs will start left-hander Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73 ERA) after a four-inning stint in Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Wild Card Series versus San Diego. The Brewers will counter with lefty Aaron Ashby (5-2, 2.16) as an opener.

Ashby had one start and three saves during the regular season. He pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings with a strikeout Saturday. Brewers manager Pat Murphy declined to speculate on who will be the first pitcher out of the bullpen.

Quinn Priester is the likely choice, but Murphy could go with righty Chad Patrick or left-hander Robert Gasser based upon how the game is playing out early on.

If it’s anything like Saturday’s wild Game 1 early on, Murphy just might hold back Priester for Game 3 at Wrigley Field.

In fact, Saturday’s first inning was as wild as it gets.

Michael Busch greeted the Brewers’ Freddy Peralta with a home run to give the Cubs a brief 1-0 lead after a half-inning.

Milwaukee’s retort was immediate and impressive. It seemed as if the Brewers’ six-run bottom of the first was underway almost before Busch touched home plate.

It was that stunning of a quick-strike response.

Milwaukee sent 11 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the first.

They sent Cubs’ starter Matthew Boyd to the showers before he could record the third out. Boyd surrendered doubles to Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang and William Contreras to make it 2-1 Brewers before Christian Yelich made the first out.

After Andrew Vaughn walked, Sal Frelick reached on a rare error by Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, allowing Contreras to score. After Caleb During struck out, Blake Perkins singled to cap an 11-pitch at-bat that plated another run.

Cubs’ manager Craig Counsell was greeted by massive boos as he emerged from the visitor’s dugout to take the baseball from Boyd after Perkins’ magnificent at-bat.

“Bottom line, they had really good at-bats,” Counsell said after the loss. “They hit balls hard. They spoiled pitches. The Perkins’ at-bat was just a great at-bat. You’ve got to give him credit.”

Michael Soroka followed Boyd but was equally awful.

Soroka walked Joey Ortiz and Chourio followed with a two-out, two-run single to give the Brewers a 6-1 lead.

Contreras, Yelich and Vaughn singled to open the Brewers’ half of the second before Sal Frelick lined out. Durbin followed with a two-run single, and Chourio legged out an infield hit to drive in Vaughn and make it 9-1.

Chourio’s infield single may prove costly, though, as the Brewers’ slugger pulled up after crossing first base as he grabbed for his right hamstring.

After setting a MLB record with three hits in the first two innings of a playoff game, he exited in hopes that it was only a minor re-aggravation of the hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for more than a month.

On Sunday, it was reported that Chourio’s MRI came back inconclusive, and that Brewers manager Pat Murphy planned to make a game-time decision in Game 2.

Aside from Chourio’s exit it was an otherwise perfect day.

“It was loud,” Turang told MLB.com afterward. “I heard the Brewers’ fans. I didn’t hear anything else. It was a good time.”

Boyd’s ill-fated outing was the shortest by any Cubs’ starting pitcher in the postseason since 1945.

“It was an electric atmosphere, especially the first couple innings there,” Yelich said. “Those games are awesome. We live for playing in games like that.”

The Brewers’ 97-65 record was the best in baseball, but they entered the Cubs’ series with a 2-11 mark in their last 13 postseason games.

Peralta reversed that trend with an outstanding start.

The Brewers’ ace scattered four hits over 5 2/3 innings while allowing a pair of solo home runs. He walked three and struck out nine to tie Brandon Woodruff, Yovani Gallardo and Don Sutton for the most strikeouts in a playoff game in team history.

“Tremendous,” Contreras said. “The same Freddy we’ve seen all year long.”

Peralta returned the compliment.

“It wasn’t just me,” he said. “It was me and William … he called a great game for us.”

Peralta (17-6) led MLB in wins while posting a 2.70 ERA. He had a team-high 33 starts and 204 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings.

Brandon Woodruff, who is sidelined with a “lat muscle” injury, appreciated Peralta’s start from the home dugout.

“I was thinking about it today – he’s going to drive the bus for us,” Woodruff said. “We need to win every game he starts, we really do. Then we can piece stuff together. But if he can drive the bus for us, it’s going to take us a long ways.”

For a historical perspective, teams that win Game 1 at home have advanced 40 of 54 times (74.1 percent) in the Division Series since the current 2-2-1 format was adopted.

If you liked the Brewers’ chances before the series, you’ve got to love them entering Monday’s Game 2.

It’s only one game, but so far the Brewers’ brand of baseball plays pretty darn good in the postseason.

Brewers to face Cubs

in NLDS showdown

Friday, October 3rd 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It is easy to gain a deep appreciation of the Brewers’ style of play during the course of a full season.

Their selfless at-bats, timely hitting, superb defense and stellar pitching are admirable, if not rare, in this day and age.

That’s the fairly obvious stuff.

What makes them truly special is all of that in addition to their aggressive base running and relentless hustle. They play hard all day, every day, whether it’s the season’s opener or the finale.

Manager Pat Murphy has affectionately referred to his team as “a bunch of Joes.” In fact, they’re a bunch of Charlie Hustles, minus the gambling.

It was evident while watching – of all things – Game 3 of the Padres-Cubs NL wild-card game Thursday.

The Cubs led the decisive game 2-0 entering the top of the 6^th at Wrigley Field. The Padres’ Luis Arraez led off with a line drive to the left of Cubs’ shortstop Dansby Swanson. The two-time Gold Glove winner made a diving stop, bobbled the baseball, picked it up, whirled and threw out Arraez by a step.

Actually, it was by a full step and not even close.

Arraez, a left-handed hitter, appeared to be jogging toward first base until he saw Swanson’s rare mishandling of the baseball. That’s when he turned on the jets and tried to beat the throw.

It was too late.

Manny Machado followed the groundout with a walk. Instead of having runners at first and second with nobody out, Jackson Merrill stepped to the plate with one on and one out.

Merrill promptly hit into an inning ending double-play.

The Cubs went on to win 3-1 to advance to the NLDS where they’ll face the Brewers in Game 1 on Saturday. The first pitch of the best-of-five is set for 1:08 p.m. at American Family Field.

While watching Arraez lackadaisical trot down the baseline, I couldn’t help but think, “How many times have we seen Christian Yelich, or Brice Turang, or even William Contreras beat out that same throw with all-out hustle?”

And then I thought, “And how many times has that prevented an out, extended an inning, and led to a crooked number?”

It’s the difference between the Brewers and the rest.

Milwaukee (97-65) owns the best record in baseball and the talent to go with it. They also have a team in the truest sense of the word. They play with and for each other, and they exude the enthusiasm of a wide-eyed Little Leaguer on every play.

If they don’t there’s a chance Murphy will sit them down as a not-so-gentle reminder of the right way to play baseball.

It’s why the 2025 Brewers aren’t only the franchise’s winningest team of all time, but also why they’re one of the most adored teams in Brewers history.

Now they have a chance to make more history.

The Brewers host the Cubs in the NLDS with Game 1 featuring the postseason return of ex-Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell, who calls the shots for the Cubs now.

The Murphy-Counsell relationship dates back to Counsell’s days as a player at Notre Dame, where Murphy was the baseball coach. Murphy later became Counsell’s bench coach for either seasons, and then succeeded him as Milwaukee’s manager.

Now they square off with a trip to the NLCS at stake.

The Cubs won the season series, 7-6, but the Brewers won the division for a third straight year and have home ballpark throughout the postseason.

Chicago is expected to start Colin Rea, the ex-Brewers pitcher, or Javier Assad. Both right-handers are familiar with Milwaukee’s lineup and vice-versa.

Milwaukee is going to counter with right-hander Freddy Peralta, the MLB’s wins leader with 17. Peralta, the Brewers’ ace, has been dynamite at American Family Field this season.

So have the Brewers, who look to advance out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever.

Milwaukee features a deep lineup that’s especially effective against left-handed starters. They’re likely to see Matthew Boyd and/or Shota Imanaga in Game 3.

The Brewers’ two biggest advantages are their bullpen and the bottom third of their batting order. Postseason baseball is a different animal in terms of pinch hitting, moving runners over and use of the bullpen.

Baseball’s a crazy game, and anything can and often does happen, but I like the Brewers to advance, 3 games to 2, and face the Phillies-Dodgers winner in the NLCS.

Packers fit to be tied 40-40 in OT at Dallas 

Monday, September 29th 2025

By Chris Havel 

Special to The FAN 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers’ highly unusual and improbable 40-40 tie at Dallas on Sunday night was: 

** A: Extremely disappointing. 

 ** B: Encouraging in some areas. 

** C: Better than a loss … sort of. 

** D: All of the above. 

The correct answer is “D: All of the above.” 

The Packers’ first tie in head coach Matt LaFleur’s tenure was unexpected because his team was unexpectedly bad. The defense was a sieve from the first half’s final minutes to the end, and the offense sputtered, caught fire and ultimately flamed out. 

 “Obviously, we didn’t come down here to tie a football game, but that’s what happened,” LaFleur said. “It’s disappointing in regards to too many critical mistakes that led to that tie.” 

Jordan Love was more succinct. 

“It sucks,” the Packers’ quarterback said. “It doesn’t feel good. It feels kind of weird.” 

The Packers (2-1-1) were in control for much of the first half while building a 13-0 lead five minutes into the second quarter. Green Bay seemed on the verge of a blowout win. 

Then stuff happened. 

The Packers had their second kick blocked in as many weeks. Last week it was a field goal attempt in Cleveland. Last night it was a blocked PAT that the Cowboys returned for 2 points. 

Then the Cowboys put together an 11-play, 95-yard drive to make it 13-9 with 41 seconds remaining in the first half. 

LaFleur elected to get cute rather than run out the half. 

The Packers paid a heavy price when Love was strip-sacked by Dallas’ James Houston at the Green Bay 15 with 13 seconds still on the clock. The Cowboys only needed four ticks to hit a Prescott-to-George Pickens 15-yard touchdown pass. 

That gave Dallas a 16-13 lead at half and appeared to make the Cowboys realize they could win this game. 

LaFleur’s poor decision opened the door and Dallas walked in. 

“We tried to be aggressive at the end of the first half and it bit us in the butt,” LaFleur said. “It backfired. It killed us.” 

The blocked PAT and 2-point return didn’t help, either. 

Packers’ kicker Brandon McManus hit a 53-yard field goal to tie it at 37 at the end of regulation. He also drilled a 34-yard field goal at the end of overtime to seal the 40-40 tie. 

But the blocked PAT stands out. 

“My vantage point, I’m looking down at the ball to kick it,” McManus said. “Points are at a premium in this league and anytime I go out on the field, I expect to make it. It sucks it happened again.”  

Packers’ special teams’ coordinator Rich Bisaccia needs to figure it out during the bye week. Either that or start looking for a new line of work, because right now Green Bay’s “teams” is awful and arguably cost them two wins. 

The game’s bizarre nature in many ways overshadowed all the hype regarding Micah Parsons’ homecoming after being traded from Dallas to Green Bay just days before the season opener. 

Parsons had a sack, three tackles and three quarterback hits on the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott. The sack may have saved a touchdown run by Prescott, but otherwise it was a heavy dose of double- and triple-teams that kept Parsons at bay. 

Clearly, the Cowboys felt they had a better chance 8-on-10 (when they triple-teamed Parsons) than they did straight up. 

Dallas’ educated guess was the correct one. 

Prescott finished 31 of 40 for 319 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 118.1 passer rating. Javonte Williams rushed 20 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. 

With All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb sidelined by injury, the Cowboys’ George Pickens had a terrific night. He hauled in eight passes (11 targets) for 135 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Cowboys gained 436 yards and put up the 40 points. 

In turn, the Packers rolled up 489 yards in total offense on their way to the 40-point explosion. 

Love’s stat line was nearly identical to Prescott’s. 

Love was 31 of 43 for 337 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 124.9 passer rating. Josh Jacobs rushed 22 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Emanuel Wilson spelled him at times and gained 44 yards in eight carries. 

The most obvious difference offensively was the Packers’ lone turnover, which the Cowboys converted into seven points. 

The Packers have two interceptions through four games. They also haven’t forced a single fumble after making that a huge emphasis throughout training camp. 

“Giving up 40 points, bro, I don’t care where we’re playing,” Parsons said. “That’s just unacceptable for me and everyone. I’m not even pointing fingers, just like, we got to find a way to get off the field, and we didn’t do a great job of that tonight.” 

LaFleur put it in perspective. 

“They made some big plays, they executed, we missed a lot of tackles,” he said. “We’ve got to find a way somehow, some way, to generate some takeaways.” 

Right now, the Packers’ biggest “takeaway” is that they’re nowhere near a finished product. They blew a game they should’ve won at Cleveland, and were fortunate to escape with a tie after dominating early in Dallas. 

Furthermore, the Packers’ special teams units have provided the spark both the Browns and Cowboys needed in order to believe they could stay with Green Bay right to the final gun. 

The Cowboys’ 14 points in 41 seconds late in the first half had a lot to do with Dallas’ resiliency, but the Packers were guilty of aiding and abetting the home team. 

LaFleur appeared to have smoke coming out of his ears during the end-of-half interview. He was steaming mad – mostly at himself – for being overly aggressive before the half. 

“We talked about it at halftime – that it’s an extremely deflating situation,” LaFleur said. “The key to this game, as in life in my opinion, is you’ve got to have resiliency. 

“As deflating as it was, you’ve got to find a way to overcome it. I thought our guys battled back from it, just obviously didn’t do enough to get the win.” 

The Packers’ upcoming bye week should give them ample time to heal up along the offensive line. Left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom presumably should be good to go when the Packers host Cincinnati in two weeks. 

Furthermore, receiver Christian Watson also might be ready to come off the injured list and help Doubs with the heavy lifting. 

The Packers also need to reflect on exactly what their identity is going to be this season. Both the offense and defense have ample talent and proven play-makers. 

Right now it’s not coming together. 

Is LaFleur going to keep putting his defense in harm’s way for no good reason? Is the kicking game going to continue to take points off the board, as opposed to putting them on it? 

There’s a lot of work to be done. 

It’s a cliché for a reason: The bye comes at a good time. 

Brewers closing in on NL’s #1 playoff seed

Thursday, September 25th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Many MLB know-it-alls saw the Brewers as a mediocre, middle-of-the-pack ball club entering the season.

The reasons for their dismissive opinions were unassailable … but only through April.

The “experts” admitted the Brewers’ defense was A-plus but they quickly predicted the pitching – particularly the starting pitching – would be ho-hum and the bats would lack punch.

Those weaknesses were laid bare in a disastrous weekend in the Bronx during which the Yankees belted 15 home runs while outscoring Milwaukee 36-14 in a robust three-game sweep.

The Brewers extended that three-game losing streak to four after an 11-1 loss to Kansas City in the home opener. They stumbled to another four-game losing streak by month’s end after not having a single four-game losing streak in all of 2024.

It’s no wonder manager Pat Murphy called last April the longest year of his life, or something to that affect.

The Brewers were still four games below .500 on May 17.

They are 75-38 (.663) since then.

By any measure the Brewers (96-63) have put together an amazing season.

They had a franchise-record 14 game winning streak in August, in addition to an 11-game winning streak earlier in the season.

They have 38 comeback wins to 28 blown leads.

They have 11 walk-off wins to 6 walk-off losses.

They are 46-35 against teams that were .500 or better. They are 37-16 in blowouts (decided by 5-plus runs). They are 28-20 in one-run games. They are 29-17 versus left-handed starters. Their run differential is an MLB-best plus-131.

In March, the notion of the Brewers’ magic number being 1 to clinch anything (except playoff elimination) was preposterous.

And that’s not just to clinch an NL wild-card berth or even the NL Central title for a second straight season under Murphy. The Brewers’ magic number is 1 to be the NL’s top playoff seed.

Any combination of a Philadelphia loss or a Milwaukee win means the Brewers get a first-round bye and home ballpark throughout the NL playoffs.

Here is a “Hanging with Havel” recap of an amazing season … with the best to come.

Packers look to go 3-0 

with win at Cleveland 

Thursday, September 18th 2025

By Chris Havel 

Special to The FAN 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – An 11th-hour trade for Micah Parsons and back-to-back blowouts of NFC elites Detroit and Washington has made the Packers serious Super Bowl contenders. 

This week’s ESPN Bets has Buffalo (2-0) and Baltimore (1-1) at +550 with the shortest odds to win Super Bowl LIX. 

The Packers at +650 and the Eagles at +700 are the next closest. 

It’s interesting that Green Bay (2-0) only needed two weeks to leapfrog Philadelphia (2-0) as the NFC’s favorite despite the defending Super Bowl champion’s win over Kansas City (0-2). 

Speaking of the Chiefs, head coach Andy Reid’s team is next at +900, followed by the Lions (1-1) and 49ers (2-0) at 16-1 and the Chargers (2-0) at 18-1. 

The season is still in its infancy, but the Packers’ impressive wins against two of the conference’s top teams – and especially their defensive dominance – has gotten the league’s attention. 

Most NFL observers believed Green Bay would compete for the NFC title this season BEFORE the Parsons trade. His arrival elevated expectations – and the pulses of Packers fans – instantaneously. His performance in Week 1 and Week 2 wins against top-notch teams cemented Green Bay’s top-tier status. 

Now, the Packers must work to retain it by refining what they do well and refraining from what gets them in trouble. 

The Packers’ “To Do” list seems fairly obvious. 

** No. 1 – No self-inflicted wounds such as pre-snap penalties, needless holding penalties on run plays, blown routes, drops and generally undisciplined play. 

** No. 2 – See No. 1. 

Green Bay is that good. If the Packers don’t self-destruct – and there’s scant evidence to suggest it – they’ll be there at the end. Whether that means advancing to and winning the Super Bowl is anyone’s guess. But its strongly suggests the Packers will be playing meaningful football deep into January. 

The journey continues Sunday at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field against Myles Garrett and the winless Browns. 

Garrett, a future Pro Football Hall of Fame lock, is one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers. Whether he lines up over the Packers’ left tackle, Rasheed Walker, or right tackle (question mark), at high noon, rest assured the battle will be enjoined. 

Garrett’s a man-eater. He doesn’t appear to play for the joy of the game. He seems to play it for the love of combat and the sheer pleasure of physically and mentally crushing the foe. 

What makes Garrett so lethal is the difficulty offenses have trying to neutralize his unyielding seek-and-destroy mentality with the physical prowess to pay it off. 

The Packers’ offensive line has been effective despite being without starting left guard Aaron Banks and starting right tackle Zach Tom for all or some of the first two games. 

Jordan Morgan has been decent at left guard while the rotation of rookie Anthony Belton and veteran Darian Kinnard at right tackle has been a work in progress. Kinnard is savvy enough to battle through his physical limitations. Belton is immensely blessed in terms of raw talent, but that’s exactly what it is: raw. 

Belton was flagged for holding to nullify Jayden Reed’s touchdown catch against Washington. He also surrendered a sack that ruined what was a promising Packers’ drive. 

The hope is that Tom returns to anchor right tackle, which would allow Morgan to hunker down at left guard if need be. Based on Wednesday’s locker room interviews, it seems likely Banks will be at left guard, Morgan at right tackle and Tom out. 

When asked about their optimism in terms of playing Sunday at Cleveland, Banks quickly replied, “I’m playing!” 

That was news to the assembled media. 

When asked the same question, Tom replied, “Ask me again tomorrow.” 

That strongly suggests he isn’t going to play. If the Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur elect to rotate Belton and Kinnard, rather than start Morgan at right tackle, I’ll be flabbergasted. 

I suspect LaFleur can’t be that foolish. Besides, if the rule of thumb is that the “best five” play in the O-line then it has to be Walker, Banks, Jenkins, Rhyan and Morgan (if Tom’s out). 

At receiver, the Packers will be without Reed for a lengthy stretch after he underwent surgery to repair his foot and clavicle. 

“He’s going to miss a lot of time,” LaFleur told reporters. “We’ll see how fast he can recover and heal, and certainly I would expect him back at some point this season, but obviously it’s a big blow to us.” 

Reed has led the Packers’ receivers in catches and yards each of the past two seasons. His absence will be notable. 

The Packers will try to offset it by utilizing rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams on more snaps, particularly Golden as regular member of the three-receiver sets. 

Williams, like Golden, possesses terrific speed and will be lined up in the backfield while being used on sweeps and screens. 

Offensively, the Browns (2-0) rely on veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who won a Super Bowl once-upon-a-time in Baltimore. Flacco still has just enough mobility to protect himself and his accuracy and arm strength are good enough to make the throws. 

The problem is Flacco is zero threat to run. He’ll try to buy time in the pocket, and he’s still pretty nimble, but when’s under pressure he’ll either be sacked or forced into an incompletion. He’s simply not going to take off and hurt you with his legs. 

The Browns’ troubles also include a so-so O-line and what to this point has been an ineffective run game. 

The Packers’ pass rush should feast. 

Meantime, the Green Bay offense should view the Browns as a great opportunity to get the run game firing on all cylinders. Josh Jacobs has been good through two weeks, and his mere presence forced the Lions and Commanders to load the box early in games, which has opened up the passing attack. 

At Cleveland, I suspect LaFleur will continue to bang away on the ground until the Browns’ run defense ultimately cracks. 

PREDICTION: Packers 27 (until they don’t), Browns 12 

Lions eat Bears alive,

Vikings fall to Falcons

Monday, September 15th 2025

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Detroit Lions needed more than 50 plays and three quarters to score a touchdown in a 27-13 Week 1 blowout loss at Green Bay.

On Sunday, the Lions needed just five plays and fewer than three minutes to get into the end zone against the Chicago Bears.

Chicago responded on the next drive to tie it at 7-7 midway through a wild first quarter.

That was the Bears’ last hurrah, as it turned out.

The Lions (1-1) proceeded to outscore the winless Bears 45-14 the rest of the way to score a 52-21 rout at Ford Field.

After the first matchup of former co-coaches – the Lions’ Dan Campbell and ex-offensive coordinator/new Bears head coach Ben Johnson, the scoreboard reads: Campbell 1, Johnson 0.

The Lions were salty after getting a butt-kicking at Green Bay. Apparently they elected to take it out on the Bears.

“I knew the guys would respond,” Campbell said.

The Lions rolled up more than 500 yards with Jared Goff throwing for five touchdowns – including three to Amon-Ra St. Brown – and Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each adding a rushing TD while running for a combined 151 yards.

Some questioned whether the Lions’ record-setting offense of a year ago would be as dynamic without Johnson calling plays. John Morton, the Lions’ new coordinator, did a nice job Sunday.

But Campbell was quick to take an indirect shot at Johnson.

“This train keeps rolling and it’s always going to start with the players,” he said.

Translation: If you have first-rate thoroughbreds you’ve got a great chance to win the race, regardless of the trainer or jockey.

Meanwhile, the Bears’ train got derailed a second straight game.

Chicago (0-2) turned it over on downs in each half, committed eight penalties and allowed four sacks. Caleb Williams was 19 of 30 for 207 yards with two touchdowns to Rome Odunze.

Williams, the No. 1 pick a year ago, also threw an awful interception midway through the fourth quarter.

Tyson Bagent replaced Williams on the next series.

Afterward, Johnson was asked if Williams’ benching was due to his poor play. The Bears’ coach, perhaps trying to pre-empt a negative narrative, chalked it up to the game being out of reach.

Hey, it’s Johnson’s dumpster fire. He can try to extinguish it any way he chooses. After all, he lit it.

Where the Bears go from here is anyone’s guess.

My guess is downward.

Chicago faces an invigorated Cowboys team coming off a crazy 41-38 victory against the New York Giants.

As for the Lions, they’re off to Baltimore to face the Ravens in a matchup of 1-1 teams with Super Bowl aspirations.

Later Sunday night, Vikings’ fans and ex-Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins spent the evening doing the same thing. They spent it watching the Falcons’ defense make J.J. McCarthy look like the first-year starter that he is.

The Falcons sacked McCarthy six times – five in the first half alone – to lead Atlanta to a 22-6 victory over the Vikings.

McCarthy was named the NFC “Offensive Player of the Week” after a 27-24 win at Chicago in Week 1.

Some said it was a farce for McCarthy to win the award because he was awful for three quarters. They were right, of course, and that opinion was confirmed against the Falcons.

Atlanta’s defense got so far inside McCarthy’s helmet I expected the Falcons’ logo to come flying out of one of his ear holes. An array of five- and six-man defensive fronts – coupled with a mix of zone and man-to-man coverages – was stifling.

Without doing any research, I write with confidence that McCarthy’s absolutely awful performance Sunday night was THE WORST encore by any NFC “Offensive Player of the Week” winner in the award’s history.

On the other hand, McCarthy’s showing had to be the most “offensive” by any NFC quarterback this weekend, which makes him the back-to-back “offensive” winner, so to speak.

McCarthy was 11 of 21 for 158 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a passer rating of 37.5. He was absolutely in over his head against a middle-of-the-road defense.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is a terrific teacher. He worked wonders to help Sam Darnold turn his career around while leading Minnesota to a 14-2 record last season.

Nevertheless, Minnesota lost in the first round of the playoffs.

That prompted some Vikings fans to call for Darnold to be replaced by the first-round quarterback out of Michigan. Some even deluded themselves into believing he is the second coming of Tom Brady. While it’s true they both played quarterback for the Wolverines in college, that’s where the similarities end.

Today, many of those same Vikings’ fans will be wailing and gnashing their teeth and wishing Darnold was still the QB. Naturally, they conveniently forget they wanted him out after the Vikings fell to the Rams 27-9 in the wild-card round.

So what does all of this mean for the Packers (2-0) as they prepare for their upcoming game at Cleveland?

Clearly, the NFC North has two frontrunners and two also-rans.

The Packers and the Lions look like they’ll be fighting it out for the division title, while the Vikings and Bears struggle mightily.

On the other hand, if Green Bay’s defense can dismantle Detroit like it did in the opener, it’s difficult to see the Lions successfully defending their division title.

Jordan Love and Goff are the two best quarterbacks in the division, and Matt LaFleur and Campbell are the top two head coaches in the NFC North despite the fact that the Vikings’ O’Connell was named “Coach of the Year.”

Of all the storylines, my favorite might be Johnson and the Bears playing the Packers on Sunday, Dec. 7, at Lambeau Field. It’ll be the first meeting between the teams since Johnson became the Bears’ head coach.

I recall Johnson saying something about how much he’ll enjoy continuing to beat LaFleur’s Packers – like he did with the Lions – at his introductory news conference.

Yeah, right. Johnson’s wins over the Packers all occurred with him standing squarely in Campbell’s shadow.

We’ll see if Johnson’s Bears can cash a check that was written by their first-year head coach’s big mouth.

It remains to be seen how the season plays out, but as it stands it sure looks like Johnson didn’t do his Bears any favors.

It also looks like the Packers – who know there’s a mountain of work still to be done – are well on their way to displacing the Lions as the king of the NFC North.

Friday, September 12th 2025

Packers’ ‘D’ hammers

Commanders in win

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers and their defense set the tone for the next five months in as many days.

The Micah Parsons-led barrage saw Green Bay hit, hammer and harass Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels wire-to-wire in a convincing 27-18 victory Thursday night at Lambeau Field.

The Packers’ dynamite defense kept the Commanders out of the end zone for three quarters, just as it had in a 27-13 victory over the Detroit Lions in Sunday’s season opener.

In two games, the Green Bay defense has allowed 97 yards rushing on 41 attempts for a 2.4 average per carry. It’s all the more impressive considering the opposing offenses.

The Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs was the centerpiece of the most potent offense in Lions history last season. He was stifled last week.

The Commanders’ Daniels entered Thursday night’s game needing 41 yards rushing to become the NFL’s fastest quarterback (19 games) to reach 1,000 yards. He exited the game still 24 yards shy of a grand.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur was asked what adjective he’d use to describe defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s unit.

“Relentless,” he replied without hesitation.

“Just physical, aggressive, attacking … The play style is exactly what we want from these guys, and it always starts with the energy and effort. That’s going to get you through and can overcome some of the mistakes.”

What mistakes? Oh, I’m certain there were several by the Packers’ defense, but not very many.

Keisean Nixon was a beast against the run, and Javon Bullard had his best game as a pro. Bullard had five tackles including several where he was a heat-seeking missile blowing up ill-fated receiver screens. The eternally physical Nixon had two tackles, which isn’t big news, but he also defended five passes. He looked every bit the part of a CB1.

Speaking of which, free agent acquisition Nate Hobbs debuted at cornerback for the Packers and looked good.

Lukas Van Ness consistently generated pressure, including several times where his “get off” was stunningly quick. Rashan Gary added another sack to make it 2.5 through two games.

It appears that Parsons’ arrival was the key to unleashing four first-round defenders: Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Gary and Van Ness. Each one of them has looked better through two games than they have at any two-game stretch in Green Bay.

Gary may have had more sacks in any given two-game stretch, but he’s never been this down-in, down-out dominant. That’s not to mention great work by Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks and Wyatt in terms of run defense and collapsing the pocket.

All of that is made much easier when Parsons is the key chess piece up front, and Xavier McKinney is that on the back end. McKinney had a nice pass breakup to go with three tackles. He kept the Packers’ linebackers and corners on point all night.

The Packers haven’t blown a coverage in two games.

Daniels completed 24 of 42 passes for a mostly nondescript 200 yards with two touchdowns for an 85.4 passer rating. He was sacked four times – just like Goff – and never got comfortable.

The Commanders’ running game pounded out 51 yards in 19 carries for a 2.7 average with a long run of 8 yards. Gibbs had a long of 14 yards to finish with 19 yards last Sunday.

That’s crazy good run defense in addition to a lethal pass rush.

The Packers have eight sacks through two games and that’s with precious little time to integrate Parsons. It didn’t matter. Hafley already ingrained the need to rally to the football, do the “Peanut Punch” when possible, and to play with and for your teammates.

Hafley’s crew is doing all of that and then some.

“That’s a helluva day defensively,” LaFleur said of Daniels rushing seven times for a mere 17 yards. “If you told me that’s what it was going to be after the game, I’d say advantage us.

“Our players are doing a great job feeding off one another, and it’s definitely exciting to watch our defense go out there and perform, because they allow us to get up on somebody.”

Getting up on somebody is coach slang for getting the lead.

The Packers haven’t trailed this season.

That will become a talking point if it continues with the obvious storyline line being, “Green Bay’s defense is terrific,” with the next question being, “But can the offense come from behind?”

It’s a fair question. It may seem a foolish one sooner than later.

The Packers play four of the next five games on the road. Certainly fan hostility and unfamiliar terrain can help the home team grab a lead, but all Jordan Love does is respond.

Love was 19 of 31 for 292 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked twice, but also rushed three times, including a sensational 14-yard gain along the sideline in which he ran over one defender and side-stepped another.

Love didn’t have that mobility due to injury last season.

Now, it’s another fail-safe weapon when the Packers’ offense has nowhere else to turn.

Love’s completions including a brilliant sideline throw to Jayden Reed for a touchdown at the pylon. The play was nullified due to an Anthony Belton holding penalty, and Reed broke his collarbone on the play, but it was a great throw-and-catch all the same.

Love’s big night included hitting Tucker Kraft for a 57-yard gain up the seam. It led to the Packers’ first touchdown. He also connected with Kraft for an 8-yard touchdown later on.

Kraft had six catches (seven targets) for 124 yards – his first 100-yard day as a pro – for a whopping 20.7 yards per catch.

“That’s what Tuck is every day,” Love said. “I don’t think it’s a secret for him to go out there and ball like he does. Tuck’s a guy that’s going to have a big year.”

Kraft was integral during the Packers’ two 90-yard plus scoring drives. That’s a first in the LaFleur Era.

The lengthy scoring drives were especially impressive considering Green Bay was without two of its starters along the offensive line. Aaron Banks (ankle) was out at left guard and right tackle Zach Tom (hip) also wasn’t activated.

The Packers played Jordan Morgan at left guard and alternated series with Anthony Belton and Darian Kinnard at right tackle. Kinnard played well. Belton didn’t. The rookie committed a holding penalty that wiped out Reed’s touchdown, and he allowed a sack that killed a promising Green Bay drive.

The Packers won despite Belton’s mistakes, but if Tom is unable to play in 10 days at Cleveland, it’ll be interesting to see if LaFleur still alternates at right tackle. That’s because the Browns’ left end, Myles Garrett, is a man eater. He’s already being fitted for a gold jacket and he’s as dynamic a pass rusher as Parsons. Some might even say Garrett is better.

At any rate, he’s going to be handful (and I don’t mean holding) for whoever has to line up across from him.

Oh, well, there’s plenty of time to fret over Garrett – and get Tom healthy.

Meantime, the Packers have shown themselves to be serious Super Bowl contenders in just five days and two games.

It’s an amazing start to what they hope is a super season.

Monday, September 8th 2025

Packers feel Parsons’ presence intro to exit

 By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

 GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay’s greatest edge Sunday was the one its defense played with in a dominant, double-digit takedown of reigning NFC North champion Detroit.

The Packers’ 27-13 victory over the Lions featured the debut of Micah Parsons, whose presence was felt from his intro to exit.

When No. 1 was the home team’s final defender introduced, the 77,239 fans erupted inside Lambeau Field. They did likewise when he chased down Jared Goff late to earn his first sack.

On his first snap, Parsons hurried Goff into completing a pass short of the sticks. On the Lions’ third drive, he forced Goff into a poor throw that safety Evan Williams parlayed into a nifty interception at the Green Bay 13.

It halted what looked to be a promising 13-play drive by Detroit.

The Packers’ defense – featuring its new “Cheetah” package under coordinator Jeff Hafley – registered four sacks while generating constant pressure. Hafley deployed Parsons and Rashan Gary (1.5 sacks) on the edges, with Lukas Van Ness (1/2 sack) and Devonte Wyatt (1 sack) lining up inside.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur praised his defense’s edge.

Clearly, Parsons’ presence elevates his teammates.

“He definitely has an aura about him,” LaFleur said. “They all benefit from that.”

The pass rush was consistent, but just as important was Green Bay’s ability to stifle the Lions’ vaunted running attack.

Colby Wooden (six tackles) also had a strong game while making his first NFL start in place of the departed Kenny Clark.

The Lions mustered just 46 yards rushing on 22 carries. That’s scarcely more than 2 yards per feeble attempt. The dynamic Jahmyr Gibbs had a 14-yard run. The other eight went for 5.

“They key to the game was just holding this offense to 46 yards rushing,” LaFleur said. “That’s typically how they operate. They’re a tough team to stop the run against. That’s just great run defense and … sets you up for a lot of success.”

Gibbs also caught 10 passes for 31 yards with a long of 7.

When the Packers’ defense wasn’t swarming, the offense was scoring on its first three possessions. For all of the fanfare of Parsons’ arrival, the greatest difference from last season to Sunday was that the Packers’ offense got a lead.

Green Bay played fast and clean.

The Packers didn’t have a turnover, looked to have only one dropped pass and committed just four penalties for 40 yards.

LaFleur was pleased.

“Our guys were dialed-in,” he said. “(They were) locked into the game.”

Jordan Love directed three straight scoring drives to open a 17-3 halftime lead. Last season, in a monsoon, the Lions led 17-3 and pushed it to 24-3 early in the second half.

The Packers flipped the script, and the offense did its part.

The opening drive was a 12-play, 83-yard masterpiece capped by Love’s 15-yard laser to Tucker Kraft for the touchdown. Kraft beat Lions safety Brian Branch for the score, just moments after Branch was penalized 15 yards for ripping off the tight end’s helmet and throwing it.

Kraft and the Packers proved frustrating for the Lions early on.

Detroit’s intentions were clear at the outset: Its defense was going to load the box to stuff Josh Jacobs and force Love to beat them through the air.

Love appeared to shrug his shoulder pads and say, “Ok, fine.”

He completed 16 passes to 10 different receivers for 188 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 128.3 rating. Love was fortunate to have a Detroit penalty wipe out one interception while Lions’ linebacker Alex Anzalone dropped another.

Nevertheless, he came out razor sharp and entirely on point.

Love’s second drive featured a 26-yard catch-and-run by Jayden Reed to set up Brandon McManus’ 34-yard field goal. His third was highlighted by a bit of both Reed and Doubs.

After Detroit cut Green Bay’s lead to 10-3, the Packers’ offense struck lightning fast. Love hit Doubs on a terrific 48-yard completion. He hit Reed for a 17-yard touchdown the next play.

“Those money downs,” LaFleur said. “(Love) definitely delivered in those clutch, critical situations.”

Love wasn’t sacked and scarcely pressured.

It wasn’t because the Lions were back on their cleats do to play-action passes. It was because the Packers’ offensive line – despite two in-game injuries – was that much better.

Right tackle Zach Tom exited with a hip injury and was replaced by the recently acquired Darian Kinnard, who stepped in and played well in place of Tom. Also, Jordan Morgan handled left guard when Aaron Banks exited with an ankle injury. Morgan also rotated some at right guard with Sean Rhyan.

“The O-line did great today,” Kraft said. “They were passing stuff off early. They were doing great with picks. They were getting depth. They were using their eyes, their hands … It was just the front seven, front eight up there just trying to contribute and keep the quarterback safe.”

The Lions’ strategy thwarted Jacobs throughout the first half, but the powerful back still got 66 yards on 19 carries (3.5). He also scored on a 3-yard run with 7:57 to play in the fourth quarter to boost Green Bay’s lead to 24-6.

Jacobs has scored a touchdown in a franchise-record nine straight games. He didn’t realize it was a record, he said, or he would’ve retrieved the football after the play.

It’s Ok. Jacobs won’t have to wait long for a chance to extend his touchdown streak to 10 straight games. The Packers (1-0) play host to the Commanders (1-0) on Thursday night.

Washington defeated the Giants 21-6 on Sunday by literally running them over. The Commanders rushed 32 times for 220 yards – a 6.9 average – and two touchdowns.

Green Bay’s defense also gets to test itself against the elusive Jayden Daniels, who threw for 233 yards and rushed for 68 in Sunday’s win.

LaFleur intends to give his team all the time to regroup it needs.

“I told the guys, you can enjoy this for about five minutes, or five hours,” he said. “We’ve got a quick turnaround.”

Thursday, September 4th 2025

Lions looking to end

Packers’ home streak

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Hate is too strong a word.

Let’s just say I intensely dislike writing NFL preview/prediction columns. The storylines, stats and matchups going into a game offer a measure of insight, and can be enlightening as well as entertaining, which is always welcome.

But to proceed believing one can routinely and accurately predict the outcome of NFL games is embarking on a fool’s errand. It can’t be done. The parity is real. So is the inconsistent officiating, impact of inclement weather and a thousand other variables that come with any given matchup.

Fortunately, all of the above rarely prevents sports writers – yours truly guilty as charged – of thinking at least for a fleeting moment, “What if?” Suppose I start the season 1-0, 2-0 and then 3-0 and 4-0 – unbeaten entering October – on Packers’ picks?

Rest assured it would be cited during Sports Line on The Fan.

Such a streak – should it near double-digits – may draw national interest. Who knows where it might end?

I do. I know where it ends. I’ll continue to pursue perfection, knowing full well it isn’t attainable … thanks to my Week 1 prediction of the Packers’ painful loss to the visiting Lions.

Detroit 28, Green Bay 23

I take no delight in taking the Lions and the money line. Truth told I feel like a traitor, a non-believer among devout Packers faithful, if I choose to predict a Green Bay loss.

But that’s where I’m at this week.

While it’s true the Packers have won 12 straight home openers – season openers or otherwise – it’s also true that neither of these teams has ever met in a single one of those delightful dozen.

The 49ers in 2012 were the last team to knock off the Packers in their season opener at Lambeau Field. Quarterback Alex Smith led the 49ers to a 23-7 edge entering the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers could only muster a TD pass to Jermichael Finley through three frustrating quarters.

That’s when a thunderbolt struck as the Packers’ Randall Cobb returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown, and Rodgers found James Jones for a 10-yard TD to make it 30-22 but that was it.

Thus the winning streak was born.

Starting in 2013 with Washington, the Packers continued the streak with home-opening wins against the Jets (2014), the Seahawks (2015), the Lions (2016), the Seahawks (2017), the Bears (2018), the Vikings (2019), the Lions (2020), the Lions (2021), the Bears (2022), the Saints (2023) and the Colts (2024).

The Lions have been the victim not once, not twice but thrice during the Packers’ streak. The Bears and the Seahawks have twice obliged the Packers in their home openers.

On Sunday, the Lions just might lose to the Packers in Green Bay’s home opener for a fourth time. There are plenty of reasons to believe Matt LaFleur and his Packers get it done.

Jordan Love – his left thumb aside – was more accurate as a passer, more vocal as a leader, and more comfortable in his role as “The Guy” in the Packers’ offense.

First-round pick Matthew Golden, good old number 0, has been nothing short of sensational. He appears to be one of those rare plug-and-play receivers who dazzles from Day One. The prevailing wisdom suggests he’ll do likewise in Week One.

Not to bury the headline, but Micah Parsons’ arrival instantly changes how the Packers are viewed, and more important, how the Packers view themselves.

Love didn’t try to hide his excitement at Parsons’ presence.

“It gives us a big jolt,” Love said of acquiring Parsons. “Everybody was excited, just because we know what type of player he is. Some exciting things can happen.”

The Packers’ offensive line also will be interesting to follow as Elgton Jenkins has been struggling with a hip issue. The Packers’ new center still isn’t a sure thing to play Sunday. That means it’ll be Rasheed Walker at left tackle, Aaron Banks at left guard, Sean Rhyan at center, Jordan Morgan at right guard and Zach Tom at right tackle.

Jenkins’ absence, if it goes that way, severely curtails the Packers’ O-line depth. After the starting five it’s a lot of unknowns and question marks.

The Packers’ tight ends should provide trouble for the Lions’ defensive secondary. As good as Detroit’s defense is, especially with Aidan Hutchinson’s return, Tucker Kraft and an emerging Luke Musgrave size up as a formidable one-two punch.

Josh Jacobs is a beast and Emanuel Wilson runs like his hair is on fire.

The Packers’ defense with Parsons is another matter. While I like hearing Love talk so excitedly about their new pass rusher, I’m just not sure he’ll be that impactful in Week 1.

Certainly he could go the way of Khalil Mack in Week 1 as the Bears’ new pass rusher. Mack almost single-handedly ruined the Packers’ evening in that home opener in 2018.

The problem is the Lions’ offense.

Quarterback Jared Goff is a statue, but he’s got the most accurate throwing arm in the history of statues. He carved up the Packers without being inconvenienced. He’s had more challenging practices, I’d wager.

Amon-Rah St. Brown remains one of the NFL’s pre-eminent weapons at wide receiver, and Jahmyr Gibbs is likewise at running back, where he’s spelled by David Montgomery.

The Lions’ interior of their offensive line is new, and the loss of center Frank Ragnow is considerable, so it’ll be interesting to see if Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley rushes Parsons on the interior at times, and whether Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks can generate pass rush against the guards and center.

At the end of the day, I believe the Packers are a serious Super Bowl contender. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if they get there. All the pieces are in place. They already got one massive break when Parsons became available and was acquired.

The significance can’t be overstated.

In addition, the Packers’ running game should be even better than it was in 2024. And it was devastating last season.

With all that, I still can’t pick the Packers to defeat the Lions until I’m convinced that the self-inflicted wounds are a thing of the past. The pre-snap penalties, holds on run plays, dropped passes and poor execution have been lingering problems.

If that gets cleaned up, and stays cleaned up, the Packers can beat anyone, including these Detroit Lions.

I’ve just got to see it before I believe it.

Tuesday, September 2nd 2025

Brewers tread water;

Reset for stretch run

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Manager Pat Murphy and the Brewers have endured two particularly challenging stretches this season.

Back in late April, the National League’s reigning “Manager of the Year” called it “the longest month of his career.” Milwaukee started 0-4 but rallied to finish 16-15 by month’s end.

On Monday, the Brewers’ 10-8 loss to Philadelphia in a wild Labor Day affair at American Family Field capped a stretch that saw Milwaukee go 9-10 in 18 days.

Despite short stints by the starters and a drained bullpen, Milwaukee still came out the other end in decent shape. They battled the Blue Jays on Sunday before losing and they did the same against the Phillies the next day.

Milwaukee (85-54) led the Phillies 4-0 early and 5-1 entering the fifth inning with rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski pitching wonderfully. Then disaster – and the Phillies’ big bats – struck to grab an 8-6 lead in the top of the eighth.

No matter. The resilient Brewers rode Isaac Collins’ two-run single to an 8-8 tie entering the ninth. That’s when the umpires appeared to blow several “check swing” calls, which led to Murphy blowing his cool and getting ejected.

The Phillies ended up winning, 10-8. Murphy didn’t like it, but he took it in stride.

“I guess I need to realize that,” he said. “I’m disappointed about today, but you’ve got to credit the Phillies. They’ve got a great club and we swept them (in Philadelphia). They remember it.”

The Phillies (80-58) trail the Brewers by 4.5 games in the chase for the National League’s No. 1 playoff seed. The Los Angeles Dodgers (78-59) sit six games behind the Brewers.

Milwaukee holds a 5.5-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs (79-59) in the NL Central.

Interestingly, the Brewers have played their best baseball against the MLB’s division leaders. Milwaukee is 15-4 against other first-place teams: Blue Jays (2-1), Tigers (2-1), Astros (2-1), Phillies (3-1) and Dodgers (6-0).

On the season, the Brewers are an MLB-best 43-30 against teams that are .500 or better when they play.

It’s quite an accomplishment considering the challenges they’ve had to face, especially with injuries to the pitching staff.

Relievers Shelby Miller (elbow – no return date) and Trevor Megill (right flexor strain – Sept. 9 earliest return date) are difficult to replace. Grant Anderson, a third reliever, is out with ankle tendinitis until Sept. 8 at the earliest.

Fortunately, Megill is expected to return healthy.

In addition, reinforcements have returned with more help on the way.

The biggest development during the weekend was Jackson Chourio’s sizzling return to the lineup. He picked up right where he left off, despite a 19-day layoff, and carried the Brewers at Toronto. He is critical to their playoff success and after seeing what he did the past few days, it’s even more amazing Milwaukee was able to win 14 straight games without him.

First baseman/DH Rhys Hoskins is due back soon, perhaps just in time to give Andrew Vaughn a breather and a push (wink, wink). And Joey Ortiz’s return from a left hamstring injury restores the Brewers’ Gold Globe-caliber middle infield.

Left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny’s return provides depth and a way to spare Aaron Ashby from overuse.

Reliever Abner Uribe told MLB.com that it has been a pretty rugged stretch for the pitching staff.

“I’d be lying to you if I said the past few days and this stretch has been easy,” he said. “But we have the off-day and I think we’re going to be able to bounce back as a whole.”

Uribe doesn’t believe the 19 games in 18 days stretch took the wind out of the Brewers’ postseason sails. He thinks they’ll just relax, catch their breath and press forward.

“I can see how people outside of this could see it as a complicated situation,” he said. “But for us in here in the clubhouse, that’s just how it goes. We’re used to this and this lifestyle, and just being ready to show up the next day ready to go. All of us, we feel good physically and mentally. But we’re definitely ready to enjoy the off-day.”

The Brewers will send left-hander Jose Quintana (10-5, 3.69) to the mound Wednesday night against Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola (3-7. 6.47) with the first pitch set for 6:40 p.m.

In Thursday’s 3:10 p.m. matinee, Milwaukee will start NL Cy Young Award candidate Freddy Peralta (16-5, 2.58, 168 Ks) against Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez (10-6, 3.02).

After Monday’s game, Murphy was asked if Misiorowski will continue as a starter or be moved to the bullpen ahead of the postseason.

“I think we’re learning as we go,” Murphy said. “We need him as a starter right now and he’s developing as a starter. That discussion hasn’t begun about what else could happen.”

Misiorowski has struggled in his past six starts after looking fantastic in his first five appearances.

“You can’t expect to go perfect in every game and go out there and give up one run,” the rookie right-hander said. “Everyone is like, ‘What’s happening?’ It’s baseball.”

Misiorowski added that he needs to be more reliant on his defense. In the minors, he said, a pitcher can do his thing and carry a team. That’s not the case in the big leagues.

“You have to rely on the defense,” he said. “It’s not just all you. Going through the Minor Leagues, you can kind of fly by the seat of your pants and make it happen by yourself, but up here, you have to rely on those guys.”

What Misiorowski said is code for, “Above all else – throw strikes and limit the walks.”

Whatever The Miz can give them here on out will be a bonus. The Brewers have proven they’re the best team in baseball to this point. Now it’s up to them to reset, catch their breath and finish with a flourish.

Packers’ blockbuster

trade lands Parsons

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Micah Parsons checks all the boxes for Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.

He is an elite player at his position.

He is entering his prime at age 26.

He is coming off his rookie contract and being paid what he’s worth for the first time in his four-year NFL career.

He wants to be in Green Bay, where the low-key culture and “football focused” mindset can help him achieve his No. 1 career goal: Going to and winning the Super Bowl.

Oh, and there’s this, too: His skillset as one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers aligns with arguably Green Bay’s greatest need entering the 2025 season.

The great question looming over Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense was this: Can the Packers put enough heat on opposing quarterbacks when they rush four?

Today, the answer is an unequivocal “Yes!” because the Packers could generate pressure by sending one: Micah Parsons.

The Dallas Cowboys inexplicably traded Parsons and his 52.5 sacks in four seasons to the Packers on Thursday. The blockbuster move saw Dallas receive two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

In return, the Packers receive Parsons and the right to pay him a four-year, $188-million contract that includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees.

The deal makes Parsons, the 12^th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

The idea that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes trading Parsons makes Dallas a better team is laughable. Whatever misguided notion led to Jones’ utterly ridiculous decision to send Parsons to the Packers is the Cowboys’ problem.

Here’s how Jones tried spinning it in Dallas:

“This was a move to get us successful in the playoffs,” he said. “This was a move to be better on defense, stopping the run. This was a move to, if we get behind, not be run on. And it was a deliberate move, a well thought out move to make this happen.”

None of that makes sense, but it’s all good in Green Bay.

Packers’ fans are too excited over the acquisition to weep for the Cowboys’ loss. In fact, many of them are sending Jones well-wishes and their undying appreciation for his benevolence.

It would be a stretch to say Parsons’ acquisition is Green Bay’s greatest roster move since signing Reggie White on April 6, 1993, in free agency. Not because Parsons isn’t that good. But because he’s only 26, which is six years younger than White when the Packers brought him to Green Bay.

At 26, White terrorized the NFL while recording a career-high 21.5 sacks in 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles. He followed it up with an 18-sack season in 1988.

Interestingly, the Steelers’ TJ Watt – a pass rusher on par with Parsons – had his finest NFL season at age 26. That year Watt, now 30, racked up 22.5 sacks and was the league’s “Defensive Player of the Year.”

It appears 26 is the “sweet spot” for premier NFL pass rushers.

For all the excitement in Title Town, USA, on Thursday, there were some NFL naysayers who argued the Packers overpaid to acquire the star pass rusher.

My reaction: “Down … Set … Huh?”

Why would anyone in their right mind second-guess this decision? For months now, the Packers’ perceived greatest weakness was its pass rush, with a shortage of exceptional cover corners the second-greatest concern.

By landing Parsons (6-3, 245) they cemented their pass rush AND improved the defensive secondary in one move. Thanks to Parsons’ presence in a defensive front seven that also features Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker, the “pass rush” problem is solved.

Rest assured the Lions’ Jared Goff, the Vikings and first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the Bears’ Caleb Williams – in addition to their left tackles – don’t like it.

The Packers’ odds to win the Super Bowl were +2000 before they acquired Parsons. Afterward, the Las Vegas odds-makers took note and adjusted accordingly.

Today, the Packers’ odds are +1200. That’s a significant drop based upon a single player.

Gutekunst, for his part, has been clear in the past that rarely, if ever, does he think a team is one player away from a title. In fact, he said exactly that on Wednesday.

Apparently, he believes Parsons is one of the few exceptions.

Parsons is four-for-four in terms of seasons played and Pro Bowl appearances. He joins Zack Martin and Hall of Fame players Emmitt Smith and Mel Renfro as the only Cowboys to do so.

Parsons also is one of only two players in NFL history (Reggie White is the other) to record at least 12 sacks in each of their first four seasons. Parson’s 52.5 sacks are fifth-most all-time in a player’s first four seasons.

While Parsons has never had less than 12 sacks in any of his four seasons, the Packers haven’t had a double-digit sack artist in any of the past four seasons.

In fact, Gary is still searching for his first double-digit sack season. The 12^th overall pick in the 2019 draft might flourish with Parsons presumably chasing quarterbacks his way.

The Packers have been trying to instill an aggressive, physical mindset on both sides of the football.

On offense, they signed left guard Aaron Banks in free agency in an attempt to upgrade what already ranked among the NFL’s top running games behind Josh Jacobs.

On defense, they brought in the Raiders’ Nate Hobbs to play cornerback and set a tone. Hobbs is in jeopardy of missing the season opener while recovering from knee surgery, but in his brief time in training camp he brought a physical element.

Now, Parsons joins a defense that might have been one terrific pass rusher away from being dominant.

The Packers and their fans won’t have to wait long to see how this blockbuster deal plays out on the field. Green Bay hosts the defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 7 in a nationally televised 3:25 p.m. game.

Considering the Packers’ and Cowboys’ rich tradition and incredible fan bases, the Green Bay-Detroit game just shot up to the No. 1 contest in Week 1 of the NFL season.

For those fans wondering how quickly Parsons will be able to learn Hafley’s defensive scheme, the answer lies in a simple three-word phrase: Go sic ‘em.

Brewers’ Ortiz badly

missed over weekend

By Chris Havel

Special to The FAN

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Brewers and their fans showed their deep, unwavering affection for the great Bob Uecker with a truly wonderful celebration of Mr. Baseball’s life over the weekend.

On Sunday, it culminated with Brewers’ Hall of Famer Robin Yount giving a mini-eulogy. Yount said he met Ueck in Spring Training 1974, when he was an 18-year-old shortstop.

They became and remained close friends for the next 51 years.

Yount said he was amazed at how Ueck never changed.

“Right to the end,” he said, “he told me he wasn’t afraid of dying. He just didn’t want to be there when it happened.”

The sellout crowd of 42,053 erupted in a standing ovation.

Uecker, a humble master of self-deprecation, would’ve enjoyed the moment right along with the fans. He was one of them, only he was situated behind the mike bringing the Brewers to life.

It was a perfect day until Brewers closer Trevor Megill allowed a two-out, two-run single by Heliot Ramos to turn a one-run lead into a disappointing 4-3 loss at American Family Field.

Luis Matos’ two-run home run provided the balance of the Giants’ offense, while Caleb Durbin’s solo home run gave Milwaukee a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. Brandon Lockridge and Christian Yelich each had RBI singles.

It was Megill’s third blown save in the past four opportunities.

Closers have been known to be up-and-down during a season, but whatever it takes to get Megill right between now and the postseason needs to begin happening now.

An even greater eye-opener, at least for some fans, is how desperately bad the Brewers miss shortstop Joey Ortiz.

The “Little Big Man” up the middle is on the 10-day IL with a pulled right hamstring. The Brewers plan to perform an MRI on Ortiz soon, perhaps as early as Monday.

Ortiz was conspicuous by his absence during the weekend.

Nevertheless, his importance to the Brewers’ playoff run can’t be overstated. It’s crazy but among a team of “Average Joes” perhaps its most underrated is one of its most important: Ortiz.

The faces of the Brewers’ franchise include Jackson Chourio and Jacob Misiorowski at the forefront.

The Brewers set a franchise record with 14 straight wins while Chourio remains on the IL.

Milwaukee (81-50) is 29-10 since Misiorowski’s last win.

Without Ortiz it’s a different story.

The Gold Glove-caliber shortstop exited last Thursday’s Cubs game, a 4-1 Brewers’ win, with a hamstring issue. Milwaukee’s defense has suffered noticeably in his absence, so much so that it could easily be argued at least one of the losses to the Giants wouldn’t have occurred with Ortiz at shortstop.

Ortiz, at 5-10, 183-pound, is as agile as a cat. He ranks third in the National League in Overall Defensive Value, and fifth in all of baseball. He’ll probably finish second to the Braves’ Nick Allen in the chase to the win the Gold Glove, but from where I sit it’s a draw at best.

Andruw Monasterio is a willing replacement until Ortiz returns, but it’s pretty obvious he isn’t quite capable. He’s certainly no Ortiz in terms of range and turning double plays.

Brice Turang is the next-best shortstop on the roster, but he’s too busy being a Platinum Glove second baseman to be moved. Furthermore, even Turang – as gifted as he is defensively – couldn’t fill Ortiz’s void on such short notice. It’s no coincidence he committed his first error in forever at shortstop.

Ortiz currently ranks sixth in double-plays with 56 and seventh in fielding percentage with eight errors in 425 chances. He’s also hitting .233 with 17 doubles, seven home runs and 43 RBI. Those aren’t gaudy numbers at the plate, but Ortiz has delivered timely hits in big moments while hitting ninth in the order.

Interestingly, he is tied for sixth in double-plays with the Giants’ Willy Adames, the much-beloved former Brewers’ shortstop. Adames, a rare power-hitting shortstop, belted a pair of home runs in his Friday night return to American Family Field.

Adames also had a pair of hits for the Giants in Sunday’s win.

Throughout the entire celebration of Ueck’s life, a stoic Adames stood like a statue on the first step of the visitor’s dugout. He and Ueck – like so many other Brewers players – were very close. Adames expressed his affection for Ueck in numerous interviews throughout the week, and the feeling was mutual.

Consider all that Ortiz was faced with going into this season.

He was entrusted with being the fulltime shortstop on a serious playoff contender. He had to replace a beloved figure, Adames, at a most critical position while knowing he can’t hit like him.

Furthermore, Ortiz became notorious when Brewers manager Pat Murphy benched him for being too undisciplined at the plate. Murphy’s point was well-taken by everyone in the clubhouse, because Ortiz isn’t the only player he’s done this to.

Through it all Ortiz worked to improve his hitting ability and his considerable fielding prowess. He and Turang are as strong as a middle infield in all of baseball. It’s a tremendous factor in the Brewers’ success this season.

Just ask Quinn Priester, a groundball pitcher, who has helped the Brewers win each game in his last 15 appearances. Much of Priester’s rise is due to the great defense behind him.

And that begins with the “Little Big Man” up the middle.

Ortiz needs to get healthy and stay healthy if the Brewers are going to have a postseason as special as the regular season.