Remember that old Heinz ketchup commercial where the ketchup is so thick it slowly makes its way out of the bottle, to the tune of Carly Simon’s “Anticipation?” No? I’m old; feel free to look it up on YouTube. I’ve been thinking about that spot as we get set for the opener at Lambeau—the first home opener of the Matt LaFleur era.
It’s the dawning of a new Packers season, and I can’t recall going into one with more excitement and anticipation. The addition of Micah Parsons has cut the Pack’s Super Bowl odds in half and has made them the suddenly very trendy pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
If they are to return to the big game for the first time in 15 years, the three big questions revolving around the team will be answered with exclamation points: 1) Can Jordan Love take a big step in his third year as a starter and launch himself into the MVP conversation (ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky picked him to win it)? 2) Will game-wrecker Micah Parsons be the missing piece in Jeff Hafley’s defense, making them a top five unit in the league? 3) Will rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden burst onto the scene and take a stranglehold of the No. 1 WR spot, vacant since the departure of Davante Adams?
There are lots of other questions about this team, of course. How will the run defense hold up without Kenny Clark? Can the cornerback group hold their own? Will the receivers stay healthy and give Love and this offense a chance to shine? Will Edgerrin Cooper emerge as a Fred Warner-like weapon for the defense?
Those questions will be answered over the course of the next four months, but we’ll learn a lot about this team in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, who are looking to win for the seventh time in their last eight meetings against the Packers, including the last three at Lambeau.
This is an opportunity for Green Bay to make a strong opening statement. After nearly going winless against the NFC North last season, the Packers can flip the narrative right out of the gate. They won’t get another chance until late November, when the Minnesota Vikings come to town for the next divisional game.
The biggest edge the Pack has in the division is continuity, being the only team that didn’t make significant coaching or quarterback changes. That can pay off early in the season, especially with the Lions’ new play callers on both sides of the ball debuting on Sunday.
The Lions are still a deep, talented roster with star power everywhere. Their defense gets superstar Aidan Hutchinson back (as well as half of their starters who missed time last season), has one of the best safety duos in the league and brought in free agent stud nose tackle D.J. Reader, who will be counted on, with Alim McNeill still working his way back from an injury. On offense, Jared Goff still has the best running back duo around and a strong group of pass catchers led by Amon-Ra St. Brown.
But there’s a reason they’re pegged for some regression by many this season. Their two coordinators from last season were considered among the best in the NFL and landed head coaching jobs. It stands to reason they may not be quite as dominant on both sides of the ball, especially in the early going.
Then there is the new look interior of their offensive line. Gone are All Pro center Frank Ragnow (retired) and veteran guard Kevin Zeitler (free agency). A rookie and a sixth-round pick from a year ago are the new guards. Will they be able to run the ball as effectively? Will they be susceptible to pressure up the middle? Jared Goff is an entirely different guy when he’s uncomfortable in the pocket.
Parsons is expected to play, despite his back injury, but you have to imagine he’ll be on a pitch count since his training camp has consisted of just this past week in Green Bay. If they can get 20-25 plays out of him, that should be enough to make his presence felt. The question is, who will step against the run? Colby Wooden will get the first chance next to Devonte Wyatt, with rookies Will Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse waiting in the wings. If I’m the Lions, I test the Pack up the middle early and often.
With Love and most of his receivers missing much of training camp, we’ll find out if they’re ready to hit the ground running. Josh Jacobs figures to be the focal point of the offense early, with a beefy, revamped offensive line that’s built to maul people. The Packers have prioritized getting bigger, more physical, and faster on both sides of the ball, in large part to keep up with teams like the Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s their first chance to show they’ve closed the gap.
This could easily be a back-and-forth affair, with a key defensive play making the difference. The Packers were turnover hawks in 2024 and Jeff Hafley continues to preach taking the ball away. Parsons’ presence should only make that easier. A Xavier McKinney pick late seals the deal.
Packers 23
Lions 20