I’ve been looking forward to Packers vs Patriots all season. These teams have such a rich history despite being uncommon opponents. There’s, of course, Super Bowl XXXI. There’s also the titanic clashes between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Jordan Love and Drake Maye could start a similar “rivalry” on Sunday. I’ll feel the same way later in the season when Josh Allen and the Bills come to town for Sunday Night Football. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Onto your questions!
“What are your impressions of the back up linebackers so far. I feel they are doing a good job, and I like that they seem to have decent depth (but let’s not get injured in that roster spot any more)” - Austin
I think the inside linebackers are exceeding expectations without Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin in the lineup. The Packers know what they have in Isaiah McDuffie already. He’s a reliable rotational linebacker who’s playing admirably in his expanded role. The surprise of the season, though, is Ty’Ron Hopper. He’s tied with Evan Williams for second on the team in interceptions with two, behind only Xavier McKinney’s three. He also has five passes defensed, which is the most of any non-defensive back and more than McKinney (four). What’s more, he has two quarterback hits and one sack. He’s been everywhere on the field.
There’s no replacing Cooper and the All-Pro season he was having, but Hopper’s emergence gives Jonathan Gannon a lot more versatility in what he’s able to call on defense. Absolutely yes to your point though about no more injuries at inside linebacker. We’ve talked about it in other mailbags, but there are only two other ILBs left on this roster, Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch, both of whom are core special teamers. Niemann has a whopping two defensive snaps this season, and Welch has zero. When Franklin is able to return from his shin injury, I’d hope the Packers make Hopper his running mate over McDuffie.
That’s the impression that I get. (You’re welcome for the Friday earworm.) “The Impression That I Get” was also the name of my very first article for Cheesehead TV all the way back in May of 2019. Time flies when you’re having fun!
“Are we at a place where Dani Dennis-Sutton will have an impact on LVN’s future in Green Bay? Unrelated question: what was the loudest thing you yelled when the Brewers won the World Series?” - The Opinionated Lab
I lean no, because I think there’s a realistic possibility that Dani Dennis-Sutton and Lukas Van Ness are the edge tandem of the future in Green Bay. Micah Parsons is on the roster through 2030, but the Packers have an out after the 2029 season. At that point, Parsons will be 30 years old, and we know how Green Bay tends to operate with players looking for third contracts.
Lukas Van Ness is playing the best football of his career and he’s locked into his fifth year option. We also know how important it is to have roster depth. I don’t think the Packers plan for any of their pass rushers to go anywhere. The only, highly unlikely scenario would be if Green Bay thinks Van Ness could land them a starting offensive lineman in a trade. If the Packers think this is a Super Bowl-winning roster with a beefed up o-line, then to me, LVN would be the piece that moves. Doing that, though, immediately puts pressure on Barryn Sorrell, and then you’re gambling on your edge room staying healthy the rest of the season.
Watching the Brewers series, I yelled a lot of NSFM (not suitable for mailbag) things. I keep things filtered when my kids are awake watching with me, but when they’re asleep, the filter disappears pretty quickly. The same happens during Packers games. When the Brewers actually won the World Series, though, I think I was in so much shock and awe that I just sat there smiling like an idiot and didn’t end up saying much of anything. It has been so much fun watching the players make their media rounds. What a phenomenal group of men.
“Hey Maggie! With the “next man up” mantra in full swing, it appears to me that the guys stepping in on defense (Hopper, McDuffie, McClellan, etc) seem to be holding their own, while getting valuable reps and actually developing their craft. In the meantime, the guys on offense are sort of lost in this shell game of “who’s on first” and not really establishing anything noteworthy, or any real sort of rhythm. Am I misreading this? Perhaps it’s easier to step into a defensive role? Curious your thoughts. Thanks!” - Jim
I don’t necessarily think offense versus defense makes a difference, but I think the supporting cast absolutely does. Evan Williams just won NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October. Brandon Cisse just won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October. Xavier McKinney is an All-Pro. Keisean Nixon is having arguably his best season as a pro. Javon Bullard is looking like the best nickel in football. It’s hard to look at the defense and find holes. That level of play, and the way Gannon is calling this defense, puts guys like Hopper and Chris McClellan in prime positions to be successful.
Unfortunately on offense, one hole brings down the entire unit, and the entire offensive line is struggling already. As the line goes, the team goes. Jordan Love and his receiving core are doing everything they possibly can to win football games. But the Packers still have a patchwork o-line and no running game. The injuries don’t help, but it’s a lot harder for a guy like Jager Burton to slot in and develop his craft. Yes, the reps are still valuable, but he doesn’t have reliable running mates alongside him the same way a guy like Cisse does, or McClellan next to Devonte Wyatt. If the entire offensive line was playing well and there was, say, one rookie at right guard, the center and right tackle could help take some of the mental load off. Instead, the entire o-line plays musical chairs every week.
I would imagine Laken Tomlinson has helped a little bit in terms of an established veteran presence, and I can only imagine Kevin Zeitler would do the same if/when the Packers finally play him. Aaron Banks returning has the potential to help, too. The line just needs to build some consistency, and that will make a world of difference. It’s absolutely bananas how many offensive line combinations the Packers have already trotted out through eight weeks.
“Where do the Packers have the advantage over the Patriots? Where are the Patriots better than the Packers?” - Tony
This is going to be a really fun matchup. I joked about it on Bluesky this week, but Packers vs Patriots is absolutely the Spider-Man pointing meme. Their strengths are similar. Their weaknesses are similar. The Patriots are the AFC version of the Packers, but in a weaker division. Both teams sit at 5-3. Hell, both teams even got blown out in Week 3. In fact, both teams have had the same result in every game this season, winning and losing in the same weeks.
Both quarterbacks are playing elite football and live for the deep shot. Defensively, the Patriots rank ninth in points against and the Packers rank 10th. Love has taken 14 sacks on the season, Drake Maye has taken 16. But you didn’t ask about the similarities, so let’s pivot.
The Patriots defense is going to be able to generate pressure against this Packers o-line. That’s a gimme. Unfortunately for Green Bay, the Pats had a season-high five sacks last week against the Dolphins, so they’ll be ready to tee off again on Sunday.
On the flip side of that, the Packers absolutely have the edge in the turnover battle. The Packers are plus-four in turnover differential while the Patriots are minus-seven, which is 31st in the NFL. The Patriots defense doesn’t do a good job generating turnovers while the Patriots offense has at least one giveaway in every game this season. Meanwhile, the Packers defense has gone five straight games with two or more turnovers.
Offensively, the Packers have the better receiving core. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden make up one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL. A.J. Brown has been hindered by injuries for the entirety of the season, but he hasn’t looked true to form even when he’s been on the field. The Pats also lost Romeo Doubs to injured reserve earlier in the year. DeMario Douglas leads the team with 332 yards and four touchdowns.
Unsurprisingly, of course, the Patriots have the advantage in the ground game. The Packers have yet to eclipse 100 yards on the ground all season, and that isn’t likely to change on Sunday. Meanwhile, New England has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in six games this year. Maye can be dangerous with his legs, but he’s prone to fumbles and has six on the year (hence the turnover differential). If the Packers can snag at least one turnover and keep Love upright, I give them the edge in this one.
That’ll do it for this week’s mailbag! The NFC North will dominate primetime this week with the Bears on Sunday Night Football and the Vikings taking on the Bills on Monday night. We’ll have plenty to talk about next week, previewing the Packers vs Vikings rematch at Lambeau Field. As always, send your questions to chtvmailbag@gmail.com. See you then!
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Maggie Loney is a writer for Cheesehead TV and podcaster for Pack's What She Said. Find her on Bluesky at @MaggieJLoney.