Packers Fans Need to Hear This Before Week 1 I Lemps Talkin' Pack #256

0:00It's time to have a long conversation about the 2026 Green Bay Packers. And with that, I'd like to welcome you to a special episode of Lambs Talk and Pack. I'm your host, Chris Lempisis, coming to you once again from my basement packer room. My home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, here with my annual season preview for the Green and Gold. Yes, so we're getting close. Gang, we are getting close. So close to the season kicking off Sunday 325 PM Lambo time packers, Vikings at that stupid Viking ship and downtown Minneapolis. What is it? US Bank Stadium? Whatever. They all have some sponsor name or another who cares? Uh-huh.

1:00Yes, CBS Sports Gymnants, JJ Watt on the call. Because remember Tony Romo? Well, Tony got himself in a little bit of hot water the summer, as I'm sure you know. You know what's my dad actually wasn't that far from my house? Or Tony got busted. It was right up on the freeway. That's probably less than 10 minutes from my house. Right when it happened, right when we when the dash cam stuff came out my wife and I were texting each other going like oh my god we don't write where that is. That's we've got by that all the time. That's where Robo got busted off. Tony Tony Tony. Um, I don't know about that. I don't know Jim. So anyways, yeah, I'll explain quick what tonight's show is. I mentioned it at the end of the last episode if he didn't catch that. Uh, it's really the only show I do like this all season. I really am basically working without a net. I have an extremely rough outline with like a handful of bullet points for me to get to. Um, I have a roster. I have one tab with the Packers roster pulled up another tab with the regular season schedule.

2:03In case I need it, you need to reference it. Otherwise, this is pretty much all I'll have to talk about my head tonight. Like I said, rambling, you could say this is what I'm going to do tonight. I'm basically just I just hit record and I'm just going to ramble for as long as I I think I need to to talk about the sake of the team this season. It should be fun though. Um, this is I think the fourth. It's becoming annual tradition. I think this is the I think this is the fourth. Uh, long conversation. Pot I've done season preview pot for the team. Like to do it wrong this time. Like we're usually right around Labor Day, right after Labor Day. So keeping that tradition going this year. Uh, what shirt is that you're wearing? Lamps. Why this week? It's kind of a Packer shirt. It's the Lamps talk and Pack shirt. I've done a couple of T shirts. Is of course I bought my own shirt or you have to. Um, so I've got this and I've got it this and I've got a yellow one like this. And I wanted to show this because I'm thinking about doing another shirt sale. I've gotten some interest when I've mentioned it on the show and on social media. I think I'm thinking about doing one this week.

3:05Kind of, you know, to tie in with the season starting the excitement of the season. Which would be interest. Would this be something you might be interested in? An Lamps talk and Packer everybody who's got one. Says they're pretty cool. Be a great way to help the show and you get a cool keepsake. So just let me know if that's something you might be interested in either on the socials or the email or in the comments here or whatever. Um, but yeah, we're going to have fun tonight. We're going to talk about everything areas. I feel good about with the team areas of concern. And of course I'm going to go through the schedule game by game and tell you how I think green may will do in the regular season and then we'll talk about how, you know, far I think they'll go in the playoffs and all that as well. But before we do all that, we have to do the shame of self promotion, which I know you love at the very least. Alright, so you were getting to it quick tonight. Right? The first thing you need to know right there. That's the website. Lampstalkingpack.com. That's my site. Go to that site. Bookmark the site. Love the site. There you'll find all the various social media. The info for all the various social media pages I'm on. Right. What's going on? There you go. The Twitter, the Facebook, Instagram, blue sky, email, all that crap.

4:08Links to where you can find the pod. If I do do the t-shirt sale, if I do launch that this week or next week, there'll be a link there for that as well. So yeah, just continue on the site. You'll also find the PayPal information. Boom and it's right there. Chris Lampus is 10 at gmail.com. Do I have Venmo? You know I have Venmo and it's right there at Christopher Hyphen Lampus's Hyphen One. So yeah, you know, if you help, you know, you want to donate to the show, help me get some good beer to train, Coil Eye Record. Wouldn't that be great? And we did receive a donation since the last time you heard from me. And it's from my guy, DeFish. Thank you so much, DeFish. You have been a long time supporter of this show. And it's incredible. All your support throughout the years has been incredibly appreciated. This donation was excellent as well. Guys, be like DeFish. And if you do donate, because DeFish kicks ass. And if you want to, and if you do donate, I'll say your name right there. And dedicate that banner to you. Thank you. You rock. This week, the banner is dedicated to DeFish.

5:09So yeah. And you know, it's just it really, I hate to kind of keep mentioned. But it's important. I'm not asking for much. You got like, you know, one time donation, a five box, ten bucks. Hey, I'll take it. That would be great. You know, it really helps this show. Things like the Tuesday Night Mailbag show. That show, the plan is to continue that this season. But in order for that to happen, the donations, they have to, they kind of got to keep coming in. You know, because it's not, I'm not like, I'm not saying like I'm a fucking coal miner. But there is a, you know, somewhat significant time commitment to this. So if you guys could just, again, even like, five bucks, ten bucks, that would really, really be awesome. And remember, if you're watching on, you know, first of all, if you're watching on YouTube, right there, like and subscribe. The more likes, the more subscriptions, the more that boosts our profile Packers talk, makes it easier for people to find us. They go, oh my gosh. They have five shows and they all kick ass. I gotta tell everybody I know. That's how that works. And by the way, if you watch the show and you don't like it,

6:10you can buy a t-shirt and give it to somebody, you know, you hate. That would work too. It would be a good gag gift for an enemy. That's fine too. But yeah, and of course, I have to mention, I have to mention, before I go any further, the wonderful folks at Wisconsin Zone, Ticket King. This show and all Packers Talk podcasts are sponsored by Wisconsin's own Ticket King, located right across the street from Lambo Field for close to 35 years. The Ticket King.com has been providing tickets to Packers fans across the globe. They set their prices to beat the big sites and they even offer parking and they're not. Parking in their lot. You know Ticket Master is not going to take it. They don't even have a building in here. They wouldn't offer you parking. Ticket King, they will. Currently, they're saying the best deals are still for the Houston Texans game and the Carolina Panthers game at Lambo Field. To find direct links to tickets for those games or any others, go to Packers Talk,

7:11the link right there in the screen. Packerstalk.com slash tickets. Once again, PackersTalk.com slash tickets. Please support this local Wisconsin business, not the National Ticket Chains. Why would you want to support them? What do you care about them? I don't care about them, do you? Ticket King, they rock. Okay, now that we've done God all that out the way, let's go. Let's die right and wait a minute. Hold on. Time for my time to kick this thing into overdrive. Overdrive? Overdrive. That's good. Bear me, baby. Tonight, I'm drinking a Lightning Cougars Barrelman Ale. Proud partner of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers are just watching the game there. I don't know what happened. It was one one with the Cubs and like the eighth inning. Yeah, this is really good stuff. Lightning Cougars, all the Lightning Spears are really good. My wife and I really have been enjoying this Barrelman Ale. I drank quite a bit of it on Sunday and in advance of the door game, Wisconsin game that we watched at Lambo.

8:13And boy, how good did Lambo look on TV? Didn't it look fantastic? Did you ever just look at Lambo like during the game and go like, how lucky are we? Like some fans have stadiums like, oh yeah, our stadiums nice. You know, to bearing degrees, some like their stadiums, something like our stadiums kind of a dump. We have one of the crown jewels of not just football, but North American sports, really sports, worldwide sports. One of the crown jewels is Lambo field. And it's the stadium our Packers plan. So I know I was just feeling very like appreciative Sunday night seeing Lambo. I was like, most fans don't have this, but we do. And that's just, I think that's great. Okay. And a reminder, this beer is paid for by viewers and listeners like you. So thanks everyone, cheers. I will have one more drink. Sure. Okay. Now let's go. Now let's die right in. Now let's talk about the 2026 green bay Packers. All right. Let me just chat before we do. Let's pop it on the chart. The chart. The chat is anybody there? Nobody's saying anything in the chat. Where is it? I even, when I promoted the show,

9:13I said there's a chat option. Come and share your thoughts. No one said anything yet. What the heck? Where is everybody? All right. Well, hopefully some people will show up as we get going along here. Chat's been good the last couple of weeks. Where the hell is everybody? Come on guys, let's get going. All right. So we're talking about the Packers, right? It's all about the offense. That's the first place you got to start when you're talking about the green bay Packers. I think this offense is going to be really good. That's the first thing I think that's important to say. Like I think, you know, I've said I think they have a chance to be a top five offense in the league. And I actually think that should be the expectation that they should be one of the best five offensees in the game. There are questions about the group, which I'll get to in a minute. But I think when you look at where Jordan love is at in his career, he's going into year four. It's a pivotal year. It's a crucial year for him. Hope first year for sure. Linus, if you think about like Packer's history, right? Well, that's the thing. I think far one, if I'm not mistaken, far one is first MVP. Right?

10:13Was it near your your four? Right? Yeah, I think 94 or yeah, 95 was far source MVP. So it was year four was a big year for far. Rogers was good. It didn't really elevate elevate until the very end of his third year. Right? Kind of that playoff run that took him to the Super Bowl. Obviously that they won against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That I mean, I think Rogers was one quarterback going into those plaps. And then he elevated himself to one of the true leads in the game. At the end. And that came at the end of year three. So, you know, it's it's go time for Jordan love. Right? It's time for Jordan love to elevate from being a good quarterback to being one of the best in the game. And that tippy top tier one of the five best in the game. That's to me is that's that elite tier. I think, you know, it's go time for that. And I think he can get there. Will he? You know, we'll see. I can't I it's I don't know if I would. I can't say with a hundred percent certainty,

11:14but I feel really, really good that he will get there. Um, feels like his command of the offense. Obviously, is as good as it's ever been. That makes sense, of course. But, you know, I like the way the skill position guys have been set up for him. I mean, I think he's got I was clearly the best group of skill position guys. He's had in green Bay. Yes, they you know, they thinned the herd a little bit. So to speak, letting dogs walk in free agency trading on Tavy on wink. So I think we'll have a good year in Philadelphia. I think dogs have a good year in New England too. I think those guys are both good players. But I think it was really important to thin, thin, you know, to consign talkers a lot, consolidating those targets. And they've got a group now. And I just I like the way the group fits. And first, I like the mentality of these skill position guys, right, talking mainly about Christian Watson, Matthew golden, Jaden Reed, and Tucker craft. Those four, the four main pass catchers. I just love. They're all dogs, you know what I mean? They're all like they just have that mentality.

12:16Not to take a shot at dobs or wicks necessarily. But I think those four guys just really all have that kind of balls out mentality that that you love. And I think the fact that those guys are going to get the lion share of the, you know, the targets from Jordan love. I think it's going to be great for them. It's going to be great for love. I've talked about this before. I think, you know, depth is depth was nice, but it's hard to have a lot of continuity when you have so much depth. Because there were so many guys shuffling in and out, you know, from play to play. It's hard for them to, to, you know, to really get that, get, you know, get the ball rolling for themselves. And I think it was tough for a lot of it was tough to build that chemistry. That's what I'm trying to say. See, this is what happens when you go off the cuff. Sometimes the words escape you. But it was tough, I think, to build that chemistry when some of the guys are shuffling in and out. But now that these are going to be the guys, barring injury and for the purposes of the show, no one's getting hurt this season. Let's just talk a perfect world where everybody will be healthy.

13:20I think, you know, there's going to really, I just think they're really going to click. I think they're really going to gel. And I think that's going to help love take his game to new heights. And I think these guys are all going to go to new heights as well individually. Even a guy like Tucker Kraft who I think, you know, was already considered one of the best tight ends of the ball. I think he will for sure be the best tight end and football by the end of the season. And I know there's been a lot of quick about Kraft's extension. I'm like 99.9% sure that's going to get done before Sunday. You see kind of what's happening in the lead right, Patriots. Agreed to a new deal of Christian Gonzalez. There's their superstar corner late, late, late last night, early this morning. Just this afternoon, Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield. I have agreed to an extension teams are sort of tying up all the loose ends on the business front right before the season starts. And I think Kraft will be in that group. I think Kraft gets done sometime before Sunday. He'll be the highest paid tight end and football for how long? Who knows? Because looks like Sam LaPorta from Detroit might pass him. But he will at least for a moment be the highest paid tight end and football.

14:24Probably 19 to 20 million year. Probably I'll say 20 million year for Kraft. And he's, you know, he's worked that. But yeah, I really think, you know, I think, I think these guys just all being together on the field play in, play out, down and down. I think I think everybody's going to take their game to new heights in this passing game. So I do think there's a really good chance Jordan Love becomes one of the best quarterbacks in football. Now I think, and I kind of think he has to. You know, I did for this team to get to where they want to go because, you know, I, I guess we can talk about this now. My questions about Matt, the floor is a coach still remain, right? If you listen to the show last season, you know, I talked a lot about how I just wasn't, I just still wasn't seeing it from him. And after the collapse to the bears and the plaps, I said it was, I thought it was time for Green Bay to move in a new direction and shake hands. Thanks for your service in part ways. They did. They brought him back.

15:25And I, you know, I still have concerns about, like if this packers team, if everything stays the same, if Jordan Love is just the same Jordan Love, he's always been, this team isn't going to get to where they want to go. And that's probably not fair for Jordan Love, but with Matt, the floors of coach, I do think that's the reality. For the packers to win, to get to the Super Bowl, win a Super Bowl, you know, claim another Lombardi trophy. Love is going to have to become one of the best in the game, right? And I'm the good news is I think he can't. I absolutely think he can. So yeah, I feel really good about this passing game. The run game, it's going to be a bit of a work in progress, right? We don't know when Josh Jacobs is going to be back. He was placed on the commissioner's exam list. About this Sunday, but the week before. Don't really know what's going to happen there. Obviously his court date, his court, his first court appearance got moved up from what? November 17th to Thursday, right? September 10th. I think there's a chance of plea agreement gets worked out before then.

16:26We'll see. It's still think one gets worked out the next month. My guess is with Josh Jacobs, as I've been saying all along, probably four to six games. And Jacobs will be back on the field. So those, you know, that time he's out, it's going to be a work in progress. You know, it's going to be, I think it is going to be running back by committee. You know, Marshawn Lloyd will be the lead guy. But I expect Caleb Johnson to start getting working immediately. I think even as soon as Sunday against Minnesota, you're going to see him out there. A fair amount. Because I just think he's got too much talent to keep, you know, on the bench, even if he is still learning the offense. And then Chris Brooks is the number three back who he knows is role well. Excellent pass blocker. That's going to be needed especially Sunday with those blitzes that we know Brian Flores likes to bring with Minnesota. So I think it's a good enough, it's not like an elite backfield. But I think it's a good enough backfield right now. So I don't really have any major concerns about that.

17:26I guess my biggest concern, I think it's the same for everybody. It's the offensive line, right? That is to me, I think that's everybody's biggest concern. Still no comments yet. Where the hell is everybody? Are people coming or what? Come on, post a comment. Let's get this chat going. I mean, my biggest concern is the same as everybody else's with the offense. It's the offensive line, specifically the guard spots. Well, I guess specifically, the first place to serve the offensive line is just the overall health. You know, was Adam Stenevich being coy today when he said they don't know if right tackles, Zach Bakko, Buele, and left guard, Aaron Banks will be available Sunday. Is he telling the truth? You know, we don't really know. Is that just some gamesmanship? Leading up to a divisional game on Sunday, I think there's a chance on that. But either way, I mean, I do think, I mean, I think if they don't play this week, I think both guys will be back on the field, certainly.

18:26I think by week two against the jets. So I think the concern is the offensive line, right, specifically the guard spots, because I feel good. I feel good about the packers at the tackle spots and center. I think Jordan Morgan had a quietly very strong preseason. Strong training camp. I feel good about Jordan Morgan as left tackle. I think he's only going to get better. I don't think his ceiling is like an elite left tackle. I think Jordan Morgan's ceiling is probably for those old, don't remember Chad Clifton. A good to very good left tackle, maybe not like in that top tier, but maybe not like a perennial pro bowl or all pro guy, not like a Bach TRI. But like a Chad Clifton, very good solid, reliable left tackle that you can count on urine and year out. I think that's Jordan Morgan's ceiling. I think he's good. I think he's only going to get better. I feel good about Sean Ryan as the center. I think he got better as the season went along.

19:29I see when he got called into duty at center after Jenkins broke his leg. It wasn't perfect, but there wasn't. You saw improvement weekend and week out from Sean Ryan. And they saw enough to give him an extension. I think he's only going to get better as he builds chemistry with Jordan Love. I feel good about Sean Ryan at the center. And then Bako Buele, the artist formerly known as that Tom. I mean, he come on. He is one of the best right tackles. He's one of the best tackles in the game. I think people forgot because, you know, how last season went for him. First of all, I've seen a lot of hackers fans online talking about how he played like shit last year. Guys, how short are your memories? He was beat to crap last season. He had injury after injury. He was like, he was like held together with duct tape and chicken wire. By the end, I mean, that Tom was beat to hell. And the fact that he was out there every week. Until, you know, until when he finally couldn't go anymore towards end of the season.

20:31But that shows you how tough he is. And I was really impressed by him gutting it out as long as he did. When he's healthy, he is one of the best tackles on the planet. And I think he's going to remind everybody of that this season. So the tackle spot center, I feel good. It's the guard spots, right? Aaron Banks. Can he stay healthy? Banks, I talked to this on the show before. Right. It was a tough start for him in Green Bay last season. Signs the big contract comes over from San Francisco. He's hurt immediately in training camp. Took him forever to get healthy and get up to speed. That first half of the season was rough as he was still working his way back from the injury, building chemistry. Second half of the year, I thought Banks was better. Got better. Again, wasn't like great. Wasn't like, oh wow, he's really, he's totally showing he's worthy of that contract. But he got better. So I think if Banks can stay healthy and get in there, I think he can be okay. But can he stay healthy? What to see? The right guard spot is who knows.

21:34Is it, I mean, I think it's going to be Jacob Bunk or is it going to be Jagger Burton? Is it going to be Anthony Belton? They say if you have two quarterbacks, you don't have one. What the hell is it if you have three right guards? I still think Belton has clearly the most talent of the three. And I'd like to see him get a look there. But it feels like they've, you know, resigned him to being a bat to being a swing tackle. I don't know. Because this offense, you know, I mean, it's master of the obvious right to say the offense is only going to go as far as the align takes them because that's the engine of the group. But for this offense to fully maximize their potential, yeah, Jordan loves going to have to be clean. He can't be under siege back there. And that's true for any quarterback. I mean, he's not quite like Jared Goff, more on Goff in a little bit about how like, you know, the difference between clean pocket and under pressure. Love is actually pretty good still under pressure. But for love to really to reach his full potential, he's, they're going to need the offensive line to play like they did two years ago.

22:36And not like they did last year. And I can't, you know, we'll see. That's the biggest concern. If the offensive line gets their shit together, I mean, this offense can be scary good. And I think we'll be scary good. You know, again, like I said Watson, I think Watson can have his bet is going to have his best year. Yet it's a pro. Same is true for read. I think golden is going to have a monster second season. I'm all in on Matthew golden. Crap. Again, I think we'll be the best tenant and go fall by the end of the year. Like if they give love time, this offense is going to, I mean, skies the limit. And I think a lot of it's going to be on Matt LaFleur, too, right? Is Matt LaFleur? I talked about this after the Denver preseason game. That one drive we saw the last time we saw the starters in the preseason. He let love drive the car. More of that. And I'd say that even if Josh Jacobs was playing, it's time to make this a pass heavy offense. Not like 60 40, but they've been pretty close to a 50 50 offense. The three years run pass offense.

23:37The three years loves been the starter. That needs to shift dramatically to being a pass heavy. It's time to put the ball in his hands and let him drive the car. So yeah, that's, I mean, I think that's important. I can get the wrong. There we go. I'm talking about the offense. So that's kind of where I'm at with the offense. I think there's a lot of potential for great things. There are some things. Well, I'm sorry, liney. Jeez, that could really hold them back. But overall, I do feel I'm very, I'm very bullish on the offense. I think it's going to be a really, really good group with a chance to be a great or maybe even special group. I do believe that. So let's move over to the other side of the ball, the defense. The, you know, the comments anything yet? Oh, wait. Right. Oh, wait. No. I just don't know. No one wants to say anything. So move over to the defense. Obviously, the big story there, new defensive coordinator, Jonathan Ganon. We don't really know what to expect.

24:37I mean, you know, we saw some glimpses of things when the starters were in those few moments in the preseason. But we don't really know. I think the big thing with Ganon. I mean, obviously, the big story with the defense right is, can they keep their kind of collective heads collective head above water until Michael Parsons comes back week six against Dallas, which again, I'm telling you take it to the bank, he will be back week six against Dallas. Did you see Goots interview with was a peed ority from Packers news.com where Goots said he can start practicing within a couple of weeks and they're not even ruling out that Parsons could start practicing within a couple weeks. But sure, yeah, it's going to, it's going to take two months for him to come back. Yeah, he wouldn't miss that game against Dallas for the world. He will be back. That will be his return October 18th, the drama. Right. But can they keep their heads above water until Parsons gets back? Because as we saw last season, they couldn't. Right. When Parsons got hurt against when he tore his knee against the Denver Broncos, I mean, they couldn't get, I think the day only I think they only had a couple of sacks.

25:38The whole rest of the season, if I'd obviously get it was not many pressures for a few and far between, I mean, the whole group just fell apart. The corners were exposed. It was a mess without him. Can they keep their heads above water until he gets back? I think there's a good chance they can. I'm not going to guarantee you, but I think there's a good chance. I'll tell you why. I think Ganon is really going to lean into what I'm calling the chaos element. There's going to be a lot of blitzing, a lot of pressures. It's going to come from weird angles, unexpected angles, anything and everything is on the table. Safety blitz is corner blitz is double A gaplets, a hole, the hole, the hole, the bang is going to be on the table. You know, because I think he knows like they're going to have to. There's talent. They have some guys who can get after the quarterback. Right. Vanessa has shown in spots he can. I think there's talent on that defensive end group. And they're certainly talented.

26:39The detackle spot guys like Wyatt and Hargrave have shown in the past. They can really get to the quarterback. But you know what I mean? It's there's talent. There's some guys who've done it, but we just. You're still just not sure. So I think just to I think they're really going to really bring a lot. I think there's going to be a lot of blitzing, a lot of pressures. It's going to get weird. And I think. I think it's going to be fun to watch these first six weeks. And I talked with us before earlier in the preseason like. Another thing I think benefiting the Packers defense right now. Offences don't know what to expect. Janin's not a guy who's ever been married to one specific defensive system. Again, he's not like a Vic Fangio type guy. So I think there's going to be, you know, he's going to mix things up and it's going to. It's going to look different. From one play to the next to one game to the next. I don't think defense offices are going to know to expect because they have no tape on this. defense that's going to benefit the Packers tremendously as they try to survive until Parsons comes

27:41back in October. So yeah, I feel good about that part of the defense and they're going to have to. They're going to have to bring the pressures because the corner group. I mean, again, it's the biggest concern. I think for most fans on the when you're talking about the team as a whole, the biggest concern is the corner group, right? Keeshan Nixon. Someone commented on the Packers talk Twitter post for the show last week saying that I've been saying Keeshan Nixon. And I was like, it's Keeshan Nixon. And I'm like, why, where have I heard people call him Keeshan Nixon too? And I was like, if I've been saying it wrong all these years, how come no one's ever corrected me? But I was like, well, and I looked at us like, maybe it's Keeshan. So apologies to him. If I did mispronounce his first name, I didn't do it on purpose. Certainly with the last name, like, Lempis, I would I understand how easy it is to box someone's first or last name. Keeshan Nixon. So there you go. So whoever was at Synthet on Twitter,

28:41this is for you. The corners. I mean, Keeshan Nixon, Carrington Valentine, you know, when they got exposed, I mean, they got exposed last year with no pass rush. I like Brandon C. Say, I mean, it feels like he's going to start Sunday, which I would not have expected at all. Coming into camp, I still, I'm not sure if I feel great about it. I know he's shown out throughout the training, you know, the practices and his limited preseason snaps. But I'm like, there's something about throwing him out there against that Minnesota offense. Those Minnesota receivers in week one makes me nervous. But I guess the packers like him, they like him enough. He's going to start. So it feels like he is going to be one of the starters. And then visit Valentine. Is it Nixon? Is it St. Jude's at the other spot? You know, we'll see. But I just, I mean, I like C. Say, I do like his upside a great deal, but he is still a rookie. So what can you expect from him? I mean, the corner group is the biggest concern on the entire team. You know, look at like Seattle's corners last year, right? The team

29:45at one at all. That was a kick ass group of corners. Does this packers group even, I mean, you know, I mean, it's like, they're not even, it's not even apples and oranges. It's like different things in there. It's like apples and something else. I don't even know. But, um, yeah, you know, it's like apples and soup or something. I don't know. But like, they're not the same. It's just, so I think that's a big concern. I just, I feel like to, to really go far in NFL, now you have to have a real kind of kick ass group of corners. I don't see that with the packers. It's my biggest concern on the entire team. It really, so, can I think, no, he's going to have to, to bring the heat. They're going to have to manufacture pressures to take the, to take the heat off of these corners. Because if those guys have to, if they get it, you know, they have to cover for too long. It might not be pretty. Um, so that is, you know, that is a big concern. Defensively, the biggest positive, I think, for the packers comes obviously when, when this guy right here,

30:45number one, Micah Parsons comes back in October, then they will have difference makers at all three levels of the defense. Then I think you're really going to see this group. I mean, I, again, matched with the obvious, well, they're going to be better when Parsons go back. But I mean, I think when Parsons comes back, you're really going to see this group. I think they got a chance then to be pretty good because they've got genuine difference makers, right? Genuine difference makers at all three levels Parsons, Edger and Cooper and Xavier McKinney on the back end. And when you have that, I mean, you got a chance. You got a chance to be a good group. One thing I really want to see again and do, this goes back. I mean, I talked about this when I did my draft wrap up, kind of talking about where Green Bay was as a whole as a team, you know, going into the, once the talent acquisition portion of the offseason, it basically ended. I said, the biggest thing I wanted to see again and do one of the biggest things was he has to unleash Edger and Cooper. That is to me. That could really, that alone could be the difference between this

31:47defense, you know, having a ceiling here and having a ceiling here because Edger and Cooper, I think people kind of forgot last year because of how happily to me misused him. Cooper's habit, you know, he wreaks havoc. He's an X factor. He's one of these special guys. He's got to be blitzing. Get him after the quarterback, move him around, try to create mismatches. I just, I was really, really disappointed now, happily used him last season. I'm hoping that changes this season. I think it will with Ganon. I think Ganon will use him in a better way. So yeah, and when Parsons comes back, now you got different makers at all three levels. Now you have a chance to have a pretty good pass rush, a pretty damn good pass rush that can take the heat off the corners. So yeah, I think if they can keep their heads above water, defensively until Parsons comes back, I think the group has a chance to be pretty good. I don't know about great because of the corners, but they have a chance to be pretty good. And when you combine that with where I think the offense could be, I mean, now we're cooking.

32:50So yeah, that's what I would say about, that's, I guess there's kind of my main thoughts on the defense. Another one, Verb, Jesus, Verb, Jesus, Lina Koo was killing me here. Are these, Jesus, where is everybody? All right. I guess no one has anything to say. That's why I'd keep talking. I thought maybe people don't want to join the conversation, but all right, I'll keep talking. I'll give a shit. That's not a problem for me. All right. So let's talk about, let's go on to the special teams. Is there hope? Do you feel like for the first time in a long time, there's hope regarding these packer special teams, I feel like there is. I do feel it, you know, I feel like Cam A-Court has really brought an intensity and an energy to the special teams that's been kind of infectious. And they've had some great moments. Again, I think they were the highest rated special teams in the free season, which whatever that means. But when you look at the first of all, you know, I think let's start with the returners. They have a genuine kick returner,

33:53part returner, Skymore. They went out, they got one. I think he is going to be a difference maker for the special for this team as well for the special teams. He is a genuine legitimate good returner. I think that right there is going to make a lot of difference because they haven't had that since Nixon all of a sudden decided he didn't want to be a returner anymore. He just wasn't going to do it. I still don't know how they let him get away with that, but they did. So they have a genuine returner. I think that's going to make a difference. Daniel Wheeler, I think, has continued to get better and better punting the ball. I think that's going to continue. And then smack. You know, Trace Mack, again, I think they've got, I think they've got a guy who it's not going to always be perfect. He is a rookie. We have to remember that. But a guy who I think is going to have a good rookie season and I think it's going to develop, I think smack's going to develop into one of these guys like the kicker and Dallas Aubrey, like a real weapon at that spot. I think the Packers got someone who could be like they have a potentially special kicker in Trace Mack. I will even go, we even go so far as to say that. I think there's a really good chance these

34:55these return, you know, I think the special teams are going to be good. Again, I keep saying it. They don't have to be a top five special teams. Can you just be like 12? Can you say it? Can you be the 12 best special teams in football? If they can do that, again, that is going to make a world of difference for this football team. Just be 12. That should be the goal. Have that up inside the locker room and the special teams be to room. Just be 12. Quote a quote, crystal emphasis. That's it. If you can do that, you're going to be pretty, I think this team is really going to benefit from that. But yeah, I like the moves. I am nervous about it. I said last week, I'm nervous about the way they kind of just tossed Cal out of minus side and are going to bring Orzick back as the long staffer, even though he was out all of training camp with what happened. So I am a little worried about the kicking operation from that standpoint, but if they get that down, you know, smack, I think will be very, very good. Again, the punting, I think, will be good. It feels like the coverage units were pretty good throughout the preseason. You know, you've got a guy like

35:57Nick Neiman, who I think is a really, really good cover guy. Sky more again, having a legitimate returner is going to make so much difference. It's going to make so, so, so, it's going to make a just a huge difference for the special team. So I feel like for the first time in a long time, I'm optimistic. Now frame that for freezing cold takes three months from now, but, but right now, I am pretty optimistic about the special teams. I think they got a chance to be good. Can I just talk quick? I haven't even mentioned the rivalries jerseys that they're going to wear. And can I just go on on a side three quick? They're going to wear those because I don't think I mentioned them last week after they announced them, but they look cool, right? I like them. You know, the thing with the rivalries jerseys, I said this online too. We have to just accept whether it's the winter warning or these are like, these are shameless cash grabs by the packers and the league and Nike in this case. I still miss the old Reebok jerseys. I think those were

36:59better, but Nike has the jerseys now. They're just shameless cash grabs and they're just going to continue every year. So the best you can hope for is that they give you something cool to look at and they did that this year. They look cool, right? I mean, I couldn't believe that they're selling the snapback hat for what is it? $47? That was outrageous. I think it was the T-shirt like 65. I'm so guys. This is a little ridiculous, but, but, um, and that's, you know, just just give me something that doesn't embarrass the team because you're going to, again, they're not going to stop with these every year. So just give me something cool to look at and they did that this year for the most part. So mission accomplished. And then I saw that they're going to wear the 1923 throwbacks against Buffalo in week 14. Hopefully it goes better this year than it did last year in those because I bought a ton of that throwback shit because I was so excited. I go, I'm going to the game. They're going to wear them against Carolina. Craft blows his knee out. They lose on the last second field goal just to just to disaster of a day. So hopefully it goes better this

37:59time. If not, they should take the 23 throwbacks and just burn them all. I just wanted to mention that quick before we forgot. All right. So now that that's those are kind of my main, I feel like I've touched on everything I wanted to on the team. Offense, defense, special teams. I do want to go through the schedule. Click, click, click, click, click. Let me just hold on a second here. There we go. Because this is one of my favorite things to do, right? As far as this episode, one of my favorite things to do this time here, go through the pack or schedule game by game and tell you how I think they're going to do in the regular season. So let's go. Let's pull this up here. I do have a schedule here. Hold on. All right. Can you still see me? I find you switch over here. All right. All there's a comments. Casual Chris and Gary Bears Truthyr. What up, lamps? Respect to you, my man. Well, thank you so much. Casual Chris, Gary Bears Truthyr. Thanks for jumping on board. See,

39:01finally a comment. I like to. Last week that the thing was we were jumping. Finally, we got one. Hopefully this, this is a little bit live there when we get to the Tuesday night show this year. But thank you so much for for a hot, but I'm sure respect to you as well. All right. So I hope you can still see me because I'm going to switch over from my streamer window to the schedule. All right. Let's go through the schedule game by game and I'm going to tell you how I think the Packers will do Sunday, September 13th. At Minnesota, talked about a 325 PM CBS. I'll tell you what. I know a lot of people are kind of like, you know, going on the road and we want I'm the Packers when that game won an up at New York, the New York Jets, Sunday, September 20th. Well, doing no. No, I said week three, the home opener on Thursday night. Why is the NFL? And can I say this quick? Why the fuck is the NFL having green base home opener on a Thursday night? Dad, I did not. That really bothers me. The home opener is on a Thursday night. No, no, no, no,

40:05all wrong NFL. Come on. Thursday, September 24. Thursday night football against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambo. That's a win. And the Packers are going to start the year three and oh. Sunday, October four at Tampa Bay. It's going to be hot. Packers, I feel like that's a loss. So they lose to 10 first loss of the season. Sunday, October four at Tampa. They're now three and one. Sunday, October 11, the day after my birthday, the day I turned 45. They get the bears at home. The aforementioned game I talked about where they were. Where the rivalries jerseys. And I think that's a win. I think the Packers have I really think for the Packers, you know, the bears. I mean, that was that was a real kick in the ass. Last year choking way, those two games at the end of the season to them. I think they got it. They got it. They got to get the upper hand back in that rivalry. And I think they will. And I think they win that game

41:06four and one. Dallas Sunday night football Sunday, October 18, the game I'm saying, Michael Parsons will make his triumph and return. I will be in attendance. They will not lose that game. I will be drunk for sure because I'm probably going to be in the land. I'll probably be tail getting at about two o'clock that day in and around Lambo field. That's a win. Packers, when that game tonight, I have them at three and one. They are going to be five and one after the Dallas game at Detroit Sunday, October 25. I'm going to say they lose that game. So five and two now. Carolina, another Thursday night game at Lambo. Can you believe that they're two of their first four home games are Thursday nighters? What is this schedule? Anyway, so I've got them at what were three and one, four and one, five and two. Carolina at home, that's a win. They're going to be six and two at New England Sunday, November 8. That's going to be a tough one. I don't think the

42:08packs are going to be as good this year as they were last year because I do feel like they kind of, you know, I feel like they kind of snuck up on some teams last year and had a very easy schedule. So I am going to say, so I'm going to six and two. Yeah, New England. That's a toss up game. On the road, I feel like that's a loss. I'm going to have it. So I got it. Six and three. Minnesota Sunday, November 15 at Lambo field game two against the Vikings. One of the rare noon starts this year for three. And that's a win. So now I have the Packers at set seven and two. Is that right? One, two, three, six, seven and eight, eight and two, right? Yeah, eight and two. I'm going to focus one, two, shit. I always get confused for this part. One, two and three and one, three and one, three and one, four, one, five and one, five and two, six and two. Yeah, eight and two after the Minnesota game. And then they get their buy-week before the big one of the biggest games

43:08this season. This to me has real game of the year potential, not just for the Packers, but for the League as a whole. Wednesday night, November 25 at Los Angeles against the Rams, the, I think, most people's super bowl favorite going into the season seven PM on Netflix. I'm going to Marquette. Now quick, you know, the hotel bathroom pod has become a staple around Thanksgiving. I wasn't able to do it last year because the snowstorms are so freaking bad up in the UP way to cancel the trip. We're going to try again this year. We're going to be in, we're going to be in Marquette that day, that Wednesday, we'll be getting to town, probably rushing to the hotel, rushing to go somewhere to watch the game. Hopefully it's on local TV if not, we'll have to find a B-dubs or something in Marquette. I think there's one actually right across the street from our hotel, but either way, I just want to let everybody know the hotel bathroom pod will be back. In fact, it might even be a video pod. So you'll have video evidence that I'll be in the bathroom at my hotel in Marquette after the

44:11Packers play the Los Angeles Rams. And I'll tell you what, that's a win. I think the Packers are going to go into LA and beat the Rams in that game to get themselves to nine and two on the season. All right, at New Orleans Sunday, December 6. I think the Saints are going to be kind of a sneaky team this year. I don't know about platinum. I think they're going to be sneaky decent. There's certainly let down potential, but I think the Packers win that and they will be 10 and two. Buffalo Sunday, December 13th at Lambo Field Sunday, Night Football, another one that has the game of the year potential for the league. I feel like there's going to be one that they lose. Because I have two losses so far. I haven't losing at Detroit and at New England. There'll be one last at Lambo. Unfortunately, I do feel like that will be that one. So now you have met, let's see. Is it eight and two, nine and two, ten and two, so ten and three coming out of the Buffalo game. Sunday, December 20th versus our old friend Jeff Hathley and the Miami Dolphins, AKA Green Bay South

45:16at Lambo. Again, another rare news start at Lambo Field. And that is a win for the Packers. So let's see eight and two, nine and two, ten and two. Okay. So I have 11 and three coming out of the Miami game at Chicago Christmas Day. I really don't want them to I don't really want them to ruin Christmas for me. I hate I feel like they're probably going to lose that game. I get that's a toss up for me. I hate to do it, but I feel like they lose that game on Christmas. I'm going to say they lose. So when they win, I'm pleasantly surprised. So there you go. I'll say they lose Chicago on Christmas Day. So let's see eight and two, nine and two, ten and two, ten and three, eleven and three, eleven and four. Monday, January 4th versus Houston. Again, another one. I think that could have game of the year potential. Houston, I think is going to be very, very good. Even with the questions around CJ Scrowd's life, they're going to be very, very good. That's on Monday Night Football

46:18and that right there is a win. So that moves the Packers to, I'm at 12 and four, nine and two, ten and two, ten and three, eleven, three, yeah, 12 and four coming out of the Houston game. And then it's a flex game week 18 against the Lions at Lambo. We don't know when that will be, but I do think the Packers will win that game regardless. So there you go. I think this is it. So there I guess, is that right? 13 and four? Is that right? Yes. Ten, 13 and four, I haven't losing to at Tampa in week four. At Detroit in week, yeah, yet losing to Tampa. Detroit, New England, that's three losses. Buffalo was four. Oh, Chicago's five. Right. So 12 and five. Did I do that right? Yeah. That's right. I think 12 and five for the Packers is my prediction for the record. Let me just double check that quick. How long is he going to do this?

47:24Let's see, yeah, eight and two, nine and two. Or no, I haven't been, let's see, three and oh, three and one, four and one, five and one, five and two, six and two, six and three. Yeah, seven and three, eight and three, nine and three, nine and four, ten and four, ten and five, eleven, five, 12 and five. There you go. That's what I haven't, sorry. I said I was 13 for it's 12 and five. So I think the five losses come to at Tampa. Yeah, at Detroit, at New England, Buffalo at home in at Chicago. But I think this team goes 12 and five and I think that's going to be, I mean, that would be pretty good. You know, well, that went into the division. I think it gives them a pretty good chance because that would give them what a four and two mark in the division. Yeah, sweeping Minnesota, splitting with Chicago and splitting with four and 12 and five overall four and two in the division. They'd have a pretty good chance to win the NFC North at that point. I think the North is going to be the toughest division in football again this season. I think all three teams have a chance to win the

48:28division. All three teams have real strengths, some some definite concerns, but all three teams, their strengths are enough that I could see any one of the four teams winning the NFC North. I really could, you know, you talk about Green Bay a lot obviously, but look at Detroit. What Detroit so much of it hinges on their offensive line as well, right? Because with what we know with golf and where I said we talk about golf, let's do that now. Golf, there no quarterback has a bigger disparity between how they play with the clean pocket versus how they play under pressure than Gerard golf golf is very, very, very good when he has time and he's basically terrible, what he doesn't. I don't know about terrible, but, but very, very mediocre when he doesn't. Now if the lines offensive line plays well consistently, they're going to score a ton of points. You know, Aiden Hutchinson will be healthy all season long. Year two, you know, he's, Mrs. his second year back after his gruesome leg injury. I think that the lines, you know, have a chance to win a lot of games and be very good. The Bears, same thing. I think the offense. I think Chicago's going to score a lot of

49:29points. I'd be shitting myself with, with, in fear, if I was a Bears fan thinking about that defense because I think they're going to give up a lot of points. But certainly, you know, offense is the name of the game in the NFL now. I could see the Bears just, just, you know, winning a bunch of offensive slugfests and having a very good season and Minnesota, you know, Minnesota is kind of the exact opposite of the Bears. Very, very good defense. They're going to be really good defensively. They've got a ton of weapons offensively for Minnesota. The big question is Kyler. Kyler Murray is a guy who kind of typically has very strong starts and then trails off as the season goes along. What kind of quarterback will he beat? We've certainly seen, I know in my lifetime, I came and tell you how many quarterbacks I've seen. Go to Minnesota later on in their careers, even very late in their careers, you know, Warren Moon, Jeff George, Randall Cunningham, Fobra, more recently Sam Darnold guys go to Minnesota a little later on their careers. They've become rejuvenated and they have very good seasons. I could, as much as I hate them, I could see Kyler having

50:33that happen. So, but I can also see Kyler being Kyler where it's a hot start and he trails off and takes the Vikings with him. So, all the three teams I think have a chance to be pretty damn good and win a lot of games. It's going to come down to the the divisional games for who wins the division. If the Packers go four and two in the division as I predict, then I think the Packers have a pretty good chance to win the North. Yeah, definitely. I can't say for certain that they will, but they have a pretty good chance. And I think they're going to have to, you know, if this team again wants gets is going to get to where they want to go, which is SoFi Stadium in LA on Valentine's Day night in the Super Bowl. They got to get a couple of games at home, right? That's this, I mean, that's again, master the obvious. It's tough to win a lot of games on the road in the playoffs. You have to have home games. So, they're going to have to. And I think the Packers, where would I rank them in the FC? I don't know right now if they're in that tippy top tier. I think

51:33LA is up there. I mean, I'll jump on board with everybody else's. I think LA is the team to be in the NFC. But I think Seattle is being kind of quietly forgotten. And they won the whole damn thing last year. I think they're in that top tier. To me, those are kind of the top two teams in the NFC right now. The teams everybody's chasing. I put the Packers in that second tier with, you know, teams like Philadelphia, San Francisco, maybe a team like Tampa. I think probably are better than Tampa. Maybe a little better than Tampa. But that second tier is probably Green Bay, San Francisco, Philly, Chicago, Detroit, maybe Minnesota, pretty much the entire NFC North. I think during that second tier, I mean, they've got a chance. You know, they've got a chance to get in that top tier. Check the chat really quick. Thanks for your support. Yeah, Jersey, yeah, I agree. I don't know where everybody is tonight. Toos, maybe it's Tuesday night. Everybody's like, yeah, taking a night off from football. I don't know. It feels like people are watching

52:36that, which is great. And we're going to keep the chat going on the mailbag shows all seasons. So, so just keep that in mind. Even if you don't have anything to say tonight, if you do in the future. Where do I think it's kind of the big question now? How far do you think the Packers will go? No, more dancing around lamps. How the hell far? How the fuck far do you think Green Bay is going to go this season? You know, I feel like I other than I think other than La Flores first year and Lobs for look for La Flores first year as a coach as the coach and Lobs first years of quarterback. I think I picked up and win the Super Bowl every other year. Every other time I've done any kind of season preview or long conversation show. As much as I want to say they're going to, I just, I can't do it. I just I can't quite get myself there to say this team is going to win the Super Bowl this season to predict it. And it breaks my heart to say that. Because I think there's a

53:36lot of positives on this team. You know, again, I think the offense has a chance to be really, really good. I think the defense has a chance to be better than a lot of people are expecting once Parsons comes back. And there's real hope with the special teams. So why why can't you, Lamps? Again, it's La Flore. I just don't I mean what is what I think what is the what is the stat only two two coaches in NFL history? Have won a Super Bowl past the point in their careers or Matt La Flore is at right now, right? Bill Cower with the Steelers and John Madden back in the 70s and Madden had to contend with those great Pittsburgh Steelers teams. The still current defense is all that. So I think those are the only two coaches in NFL history if I'm not mistaken to win a Super Bowl past at or past the point Matt La Flore is at in Green Bay right now. And what I talking about coaches in one spot, right? Because Andy Reed had a, you know, couldn't get it done in Philly when you can't city it would want a couple one of you, but I mean La Flore is going

54:39up against history here and I just I just as much as I want to say, you know, he'll change and he'll be you know, he's gonna it's gonna be different this I just I just can't just don't look at Matt La Flore and see a guy who's a Super Bowl champion. I just I said this on the show a bunch last season. It's made you know, the song remains the same. I just don't look at Matt La Flore and see a guy who's ever going to be holding up a Lumpardi trophy. God, I love to be proven wrong. I will do, if they win a Super Bowl this year, I will do four shots of ever clear on the show that night. You mark my words I will. I'll do two to start the show back to back. I really I want to I want to believe that he is I just I just can't see it. You know, now having said that like I said a little earlier, could they still even if the Flores still the Flore could they it's not impossible because if love elevates his game, it's almost going to be like the talent is going to have to be so good

55:40that the coach doesn't care. Like if love really elevates his game and becomes a top five quarterback, a surefire MVP candidate this season. And Parsons comes back and he picks up where he left off last season and he's a game record on the other side of the ball. I'm going to talk about him before they it could be the next right yet Brett Farve and Reggie White and Rodgers and Clay Matthews. Love and Parsons could be the next duo. Yes. So I can a 100% rule it out like I'm not going to say there's no way they win the Super Bowl this season. There's a chance. But like what I bet on it. No what I predict it unfortunately. No. I just can't I just the Flores just done this. He's just let us down too many times with weird roster stuff and big games, weird coaching decisions and big games collapses and big games all talking all playoff stuff now. It's all happened. I just I just can't

56:42if I had to guess I'd say this is a team second round of the playoffs. Maybe an FC championship game. It's probably the ceiling for this team has currently constructed. Again I'd love to be proven wrong and with love and Parsons you can't ever totally rule it out but that is where I see the Packers going. Yeah 12 and 5. I'll say they win the North and get to the second round of the playoffs maybe the championship game. Yeah. That's the way it feels right now. All right. Well that's all I really wasn't going to go this long. I hope I didn't ramble too much. But I hope you all had as much fun listening as I did recording it. It's always a blast. Again I don't know if I could work like this every time out without a net. I couldn't. But for this annual episode hell it's good time. Once or twice a year it's fun. You know. Ask for when you'll hear from me next. Well there'd be Sunday night baby. I am back in my usual Sunday night spot this season. Oh yeah you know it's not going to be there's not going to be any deviation from that. I'm back on Sunday nights. I'll be back to recap that Packers Vikings

57:43game. When loser drosh or hope it's a win I forget that it will be. Talk about the Vikings just a little bit ago so I don't really need to rehash any of that. I think Vegas has Minnesota as the favorite by a point and a half. So Vegas really doesn't play with Minnesota this game. Again I think the Packers are going to win. I think it's going to be close. I wouldn't be surprised if it's low scoring. It's in that like you know 17 14 17 16 range 2017 range because I do think the Vikings defense is pretty damn good. They'll be pretty keyed up to play Green Bay week one at home. But I do think the Packers will win. I think it's a great challenge to start this season. You know I've seen some people say how can we get the jets and week one kind of like get our feet wet a little bit. No, no, I like it. Let's go week one. Let's go right into the fucking. Let's go right into the belly of the beast out there in Minneapolis and let's you know it's again it is just week one. But I think we're going to this match up. You're going to learn a lot about where Green Bay is right now after that game Sunday. You I don't think I could say that if they were playing

58:43a lot of other games. I think it's Minnesota. Yeah, you're going to learn a lot week one absolutely. Am I going to overreact in the show? You know I'm going to. That's what I do. People go you cannot you can't overreact to week one. I'm like we've been starving for regular season football for seven months eight months. Of course, we're going to overreact. That's what we do. That's what I will do. I'm not sure yet. Hold on. I'm not sure yet if that show is going to be live or not. I'm still figuring that all out. The mailbag shows as long as those continue as long as people can you know keep donating and help that that that that train roll on. The mailbag shows will be live every week. Sunday nights might be a little trickier. Still kind of figuring that out right now. I'm going to let everybody know on the socials later in the week for sure. Either way, it'll be available Monday morning. So keep your eyes open for that one. And yes, I'll keep you posted. I'm just so pumped. Aren't you you know the ups, the downs, the stress, the joy, all of it. It's time to jump on the roller coaster

59:49again, everyone. And I just I can't wait. I can't you know, I know it's not I know there's going to be bumps in the road. I know there's going to be moments of frustration and fury and all that. But I can't I love it. I love the roller coaster. I really do. I can't wait. And I know I'm not alone there. So until next time whenever that may be I am Chris Lempisus, this right here has been Lemp's talking pack. Thank you so very much for listening back or nation. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Please stay safe out there in this crazy world and remember always and forever. Go pack. Go.