Next week, I will reveal the results of the survey many of you have already taken that asked you to give your expectations for the 2025 Packers. It's one of my favorite columns each year, and provides a real good measure of the pulse of the fanbase heading into training camp.
[By the way, if you haven't yet done the survey, here's the link to do so.]
I'm going to begin compiling the results this weekend; we're around 400 responses so far, and I'd love to get to at least 500. But this year I thought I'd do something I haven't done previously; a quick column the week before about my OWN responses to the poll.
So here we go!
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "this team is going to be a disaster" and 10 being "we're the team to beat in the NFL," how good do you feel about this Packers team heading into training camp?
Tough question to answer, but right now I'd probably say 7. This is a little pessimistic for me, and I do genuinely think that the Packers have a lot of good pieces in place to make a deep run this season, but we just didn't ever really see it all gel together last year. And what's strange is the offense is actually a bigger concern for me at the moment than the defense. I'm looking forward to a year two Jeff Hafley defense with more focus on guys like Edgerrin Cooper and hopefully some improved pass rush.
But I really need to see the pass catching corps settle in before I can feel a little more confident about what this team can do, especially when you consider the brutal division in which they play (and their abysmal record within it last season). I also need to see Jordan Love come out and be THAT DUDE right out of the gate this year. He had a good 2024 campaign, but not as big of a step forward as I'd been hoping for coming into the season.
Q: How many games will the Packers win this year?
I'm somewhere in that 11-12 range, I think. Looking at the schedule, I'm going to go 12 wins and 5 losses.
Q: Which of the Packers' opponents pose the toughest matchup for the team in 2025?
I'm sure a lot of people here are going to go with the Lions or the Eagles, which makes sense, certainly. But I'm going to go with the Baltimore Ravens. It's an unfamiliar opponent with an incredibly dynamic threat at quarterback that is extremely well coached. The Packers are at least famliar enough with what the Lions and Eagles do that those games, although more meaningful for the Packers' playoff seeding, don't strike me as being quite the challenge that Baltimore does.
Q: How far will the Packers go this year?
I really want to believe this is a Super Bowl team, but I'm not there yet. Depending on how the seeding works out, I'd say they're out either in the divisional playoffs or the conference championship.
Q: Will the Packers win the NFC North in 2025?
This is a really tough one, but I'm going to say yes. I don't believe what Minnesota did was sustainable, and I think the Lions are going to have a hard time repeating after losing both coordinators. Plus, it's hard to hold on to that crown for multiple years.
Q: Where will the Packers' offense rank in 2025?
I foresee some tough going early on, but I think eventually this is a top 10 unit.
Q: Where will the Packers' defense rank in 2025?
I'm going to drink the kool-aid and say top 10 as well.
Q: Who will win in the first (and likely only) matchup between Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love?
Come on now; who do you think I'm picking? Love and the Packers.
Q: Will Jordan Love be a *consensus* top 10 QB in the NFL by the end of the season?
I think he's already borderline, but I do believe that he will be there by the end of the season.
Q: Will the Packers have a true #1 receiver this year, and if yes, who is it most likely to be?
I don't think there's going to be a wide receiver who truly cements themselves in that spot this year. Obviously the Packers want Matthew Golden to be that guy, but that's a lot to ask out of a rookie with a receiving corps this deep. If anything, I think Tucker Kraft is going to be that guy in clutch situations that Love gravitates towards.
Q: What player will be the biggest (positive) surprise in 2025?
Really hoping for a pass rusher here like LVN or Rashan Gary, but I think it's Dontayvion Wicks. Wicks had a tough sophomore season with drops, but he was still open all the time. Plenty of former Packer receivers have come back from drop issues early in their careers to be effective players over the long term. I think Wicks has that potential.
Q: Which player not named Jordan Love will be most vital to the team's success in 2025?
When Josh Jacobs is doing his thing, this is a different team. The Packers need him to repeat what he did in 2024 to keep this offense in prime shape.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about the Packers' 2025 season?
Growth. This is still such a young team, and so many guys are still writing the first chapters of their stories. Lots of players have the potential to take huge steps forward this year. That potential is a little frightening, but also so exciting.
Q: Bonus: What teams will be playing in this year's Super Bowl?
I think the Bills finally break through this year. In the NFC, it's really anyone's game. It's boring to say Philly and I'll be cold and dead in the ground before I say Detroit or Minnesota, so... whatever, Philly I guess. But hope