Packers vs. Vikings: Love, Hate & No Excuses | Cheesehead Radio #389

0:00Here, let's meet you Packers Talk now. Packers Talk. This week on Cheesehead Radio. The backers open up the season in Minnesota. Hopefully, their offensive line is able to show up. You give your hot pockets and game predictions. All this and more. Right here on... Hello again, Cheesehead Nation. It's time for more Packers news, fun and frivolity here on Cheesehead Radio. Now in our 18th year talking about our unhealthy obsession with the Green Bay Packers football team. As usual, our distinguished host tonight are CD Angeli of Packers Talk, known as Tundra Vision on social media. Kelly Hodson of Cheesehead Radio, known as that Packer Girl on social media. And little O'Me, Jersey Al of Packers Talk and Cheesehead TV. You can find me at Jersey Al GBP.

1:01This show, in all Packers Talk podcasts, are sponsored by Wisconsin's own ticket canals. And you can find me at the website. This show, in 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, ZTicketKing.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 in their lot. Where else are you going to get that? Currently, the best deals are for the Texans and the Panthers games. To find direct links to tickets for those games or any other Packers game, go to PackersTalk.com slash tickets. Please support this local Wisconsin business, not the National Ticket Giants. That's it for the preliminaries. Let's get the show on the road. Let's do this, guys.

2:03It's finally football. Weirdly on Wednesday night, too. True. I didn't care about tonight's football. I'm worried about Sunday's football. I'm worried about Packer football. This has been, oddly, one of the longest off seasons it seems in a long time. Is it just me? Like it's been forever. I think it seems that way because the NFL keeps doing things to like keep you in the loop. You know, they keep extending the off season with all these different things. And they keep making a big deal out of everything. So you're just eventually you just get so tired of it and you feel like, it's been forever. Where in the past, and I'm talking about years past, you probably just checked out for a month or two and then even think about football. And then suddenly, it was back. So I don't think they give you that opportunity anymore. That's my theory anyway. The only other year that I thought felt like it dragged on forever was the one year I had that, you know, tear it once a day Packer calendars like,

3:05there's so many pages between now and when the season starts. But yeah, it seemed like it really did drag on this year. I don't know why, but hey, it doesn't matter. It's Vikings week. It was a bit of a bummer not having a first round draft pick this year. I think that made the draft kind of this. I didn't even watch it. And it's easy says great. It's wonderful, but not being a part of that first night. I was like, oh, well, who cares about this? You know, which is going to fill in some spots. But yeah, we're in part really the fun festivities. So, but the festivities are here guys. We are ready to go. The Green Bay Packers are going to start playing on Sunday against the hated, the dreaded, the terrible Minnesota Vikings. And we're all excited about that. But let's jump into our first quarter. Talk a little bit about the news, things that are happening and important. First of all, of course, we're going to talk about our injuries a little more in depth later on in the third quarter. But probably one of the first major concerns is our one of the positions of concern going

4:11into the 2026 season was our offensive line. We've finally got feeling like we were said at least with our best five after a considerable amount of discussion. Now suddenly three of our starting offensive lineman going into week one are being held and limited in practice and a little bit of question mark swaying to the game. Oh, Jersey. What are you thinking? Panic. Okay, good. I thought it was just me. No, no, no. When I panic, I talk really loudly. I thought panic was my job. I'm oddly not worried because they're limited. They're not like. Did not practice the only thing that is surprising is Jordan Morgan. I was unaware of any type of issue that he had with his knee. So I wonder if that's something that just developed in practice the last week or so. Yeah, that wasn't surprised. But you have Z-bag, Macabal Leile saying he's going to play.

5:15So whether he wants to and what the medical staff wants, hopefully they're on the same page. And let me think it was actually a good result for him. Yeah, instead of DNP. I'd be more concerned to people with DNP heading into to Sunday, but it was only Wednesday in there are a couple more days to ramp it up. And I would rather if they're kind of injured, kind of baby at this week and not aggravate things right now. It's weird because the limited time we've seen the first string, both offense and defense play in the preseason. They've actually looked really good. Both the offense is looked really good. The defense is looked really good. So it's mean it's you'll perhaps a little overconfident about our the play ever offensive line Anthony Belton. The likely replacement for Z-bag probably would be a level of concern. Just because Minnesota actually is fairly good or at least unpredictable on defense.

6:17I think I wouldn't say good. I'm going to I'm going to really definitely side on unpredictable. And everybody knows Belton is kind of iffy. So I would not want to put him in if we can avoid it because I think suddenly you have a big glaring liability. I'm not so thrilled if he has to make make make he's on the starting five. Yeah, he really has certainly hasn't distinguished himself with his past blocking ability either as a guard or in the limited opportunity we've seen him at that tackle. So that would be a definite concern against a team like the Minnesota Vikings. And Jordan love called the Vikings. Probably the toughest blitz package. They're going to see all season long. This is actually first year I did fantasy football for the first time like in 20 years and was kind of surprised to see the Vikings so high on the defense and special team rankings. But the defense is pretty good. They got a couple good guys still on that team, but they're not afraid to unleash it.

7:22And that can cause some trouble if your offensive line isn't playing well. So something to watch. The depth charts have been established. And I think there's a lot of things that were probably not surprised about, but I think are interesting developments. Jersey Al's prediction from I believe a month and a half ago that brand brand and CSA is officially a starter. Any any thoughts or just want to take a victory lap. Al's on Al's right. We're wrong. I was just taking a bow. Well done. Were you guys wrong? Did you disagree with me? I don't disagree with you, but nobody here is really that home. No, I didn't at all. Everybody was happily. It's just that nobody here is very humble. So if Al's like to point out, he's right. So he's right. I certainly saw coming because I really just don't have faith in who they had a corner. So I think when you bring in someone who has the pedigree that CSA has.

8:24And especially the fact that I feel like he dropped to us into the second round. I don't know what made both. I don't know why people skipped on him, but I really do feel like we got a first round talent in the second round. Now a first round talent starting a corner back in the NFL and week one is still. I don't care how good you are. That's going to be a big deal for CSA to go against NFL talent that's going to be running full steam to win. But I still think it's an upgrading quality. It's an upgraded talent. And it should only get better from here. Agreed. John Smith recently acquired the cut down date has been listed at Titan 2, which says quite a bit about the talent we had at Titan all through training camp. Titan 2 by default. Yes, must grave still on the pop list. He fell backwards and do it. Yes. Yes. So now he's the vet is he's the veteran, right? He's the guy that's been around a while. Yeah.

9:27He had good season two years ago. Yeah, pro both years ago. That was it. Yeah. So yeah, you know, excellent. We'll take that. Caleb Johnson also recently acquired and cut down day via trade is sitting at running back three behind both Marsha and Lloyd and Brooks. Any any surprise there? How did you think he might pop himself up to RB two? No, he's too new to the game. Okay. You know how much they love Brooks, you know, and everything he can do. Yes. So you know, can Caleb Johnson pass protect? Who knows? You know, we don't know that we hope we're hoping you don't have to find out a lot, but right. Starting defensive line, because you know, we're playing a three for this year. Very good. You got to write this. There'll be a quiz later. I had to Google that one. Anyway, that Carl Brooks, Devon, they Wyatt are listed as starting defensive ends with hargrave at the nose tackle in the three for there was quite some battles on that defensive line to training camp.

10:38Any surprises there? Feeling good about that? No, was Jonathan Ford the backup at no tackle? Do you believe so? Yeah. Yeah. I suspect both will be in the rotation. It's going to be a heavy rotation. It's going to be six or one half dozen of another. So either one. Yeah, hargrave needs management, you know, of his of his needs. So he's not going to get a ton of snaps in any game pretty much, but he certainly deserves to be the starter. And last thing on your list here is one of the things that I'm most excited about. Absolutely. Yes, we have a returner that's going to return kicks and kick us and once one guy. And he goes forward. He doesn't just go backwards. He knows what to do. Yes. He knows what to do. And he doesn't have butter fingers. It doesn't like bounce off his face. This is a very under the radar development with this packers team that not enough people are talking.

11:38But you heard it here first. Well, and we did and I'll write that down so we can talk about it in a month. But we're at Al was right again. Yeah, but you know, seriously though, the the special teams has been such a problem the last several years. I mean, literally something that has understatement. Let me just point that out. Yeah. But I mean, it's been such a disaster. Which one do you mean? It's lost this games. And you know, for for someone who's only on in the field, maybe for 14 plays a game, that's a pretty big impact. To sit there with trace mac is kicker. Gosh, what's the punters name again? Solagai. Whalen. Whalen. Whalen. You got Skymore as a returner. Hopefully you got some good talent, you know, up their block and on the return teams and the attack teams. This special teams could be a difference maker in 2026 because it sure wasn't a help in 2025.

12:44Well, I think if he doesn't feel the ball with his face, no names Keisha Nixon, it's a victory. And I have a whole lot of not just him, but since you're talking special teams as a whole. I am very encouraged by trace max preseason and anything is better than last year. How many games did we lose because of a missed kick for a lot for. Yeah. And the most important one. Yes. So depth chart, you know, of course, this will probably move quite a bit these, you know, that first month and see where people go up and down, but it's a good start. So as we go in here, we'll talk a little bit more about this, but as we get into our planning, you know, obviously our preview of the Minnesota game, but Josh Jacobs is out. And while March on Lloyd has been declared running back one, there's still this feeling that nothing's really been established. We all know that March on Lloyd has had some pretty serious injury problems in the past.

13:49The offensive line issues going into the game and feeling like John Smith, Tucker craft, Matthew golden, being predicted by NFL executives as being the guy in the league, who's going to have the best breakout season. Is this a situation where we are handing the ball to Jordan love and saying just pass this out of the span? It's your time to shine. I think it's tempting to do that, but then you become a very predictable, predictable team. I think regardless of who's our running back, it's going to be imperative that they still establish the run. Because especially if we've got a hurting offensive line, you can shut down Jordan love pretty quickly. And you need to have that variability with the running game. So I'm optimistic that they find a way to get that to work. But yeah, I think they're going to rely a lot on on pass. And I think it's good that craft is back to really diversify the receiving court. And his heart of hearts, Matt LaFour wants to run the ball. He wants that to be a significant and important part of the Packers offense.

14:57But I sense a little change in him this time around. And I think that he's just become extremely comfortable and confident in Jordan love. And I think he's going to loosen the reins a little bit. I mean, you saw him give the reins over to Jordan love in the preseason game and say you call the game for a half. And I think that was very predictive of what's he's going to be responsible. They did pretty well. Didn't they would Jordan love calling the place. So I think that also helped to boost the floors. Not that he didn't have confidence in love, but just to bring it to a different level. You know, we're like, Hey, maybe he's now where Aaron Rogers was at one time where he can basically run the game himself with need be, you know, so I think you're going to see LaFour loosen the reins. And you're going to see a little more passing than we have in previous years. I also think if you read my article for the cheese at TV draft guy this year, I think Matt LaFour got an extension that perhaps a lot of us did not think he was going to get.

16:10But the game came back. They've got a little more time. But as I said in the article, I don't think Matt LaFour can continue to do what he's done that this had to be some sort of conversation with this extension that says, you know what, here's your extension, you're a good coach, good guy. But this has got to change. And I think this might be one of the places as you said, how things got to be different. And maybe it's going to be. I need to trust these guys and go balls to the wall and do what it takes to win instead of playing that to lose. So hopefully that's what we see. And that is that. All right, so we're going to move on to the second quarter. It is kick off Eve here at cheese at radio. So we're going to go through some of our predictions. Speaking of Jersey, I'll always being right. Let's see how he does. We're going to talk about six different things we predict for the green Bay Packers this year and how we are the steamer different.

17:18But let's run through our six. First one is how many wins is this team going to go this year now Vegas actually has them at nine and a half. That this that's the over under for this team. So whatever that's going to be nine and eight possibly ten and seven. Well, Homer's but I'm going to I'm going to put it up a little bit. We're going to say it's 10.5. So you see this being over or under 10 and a half wins for the season. Jersey, I will start with you. Yeah, I mean, I would I initially put 10 and seven because I wanted to be over 9.5, but I didn't see the part about word using 10.5. Because we're home because your Homer and you said the lines have us in that case. I want to be over. So I'm going to go with 11 and six just over. All right. I will also say 11 and six. I think that seems as you kind of run through the games this year.

18:22Look at the fact that that first month, first, whatever six, seven games. There's no micaparsans. I think 11 and six seems pretty reasonable and probably in the playoff hunt. So Kelly. So we don't sound like the Chicago super fans from SNL. I'm actually going to pick the under and say 10 and seven. Oh, it's still a good season. I think it will still be enough to make the playoffs. But we've got work to do. So wow. So Kelly, the negative Nelly among us. Wow. Well, I'm still in the actual not see these magic math. Over. So if he don't pull in his ridiculous Homer. Interesting part though, Al, you did changes from 10 to 11. So we're all right around that point. That's right. We're all predicting this 10 11 when so a little bit of agreement there. Although Kelly still the negative person. Number two, Al, we need out of his choice.

19:22Only because only because CD manipulated the relying here. So I had to adjust. But boom, boom, anyway, who is the leader for the packers in rushing yards this season? We've had several candidates. We've got Lloyd. We've got Johnson, who's just acquired from the Steelers. Is Josh Jacobs going to come back? We're going to count on Jordan. Love to do it. Hold a whole bunch of folks. Who do you say is going to lead the team this year? Al. Actually, I'll start this here. This one. I'm going to say Johnson. I don't want to say that Lloyd is is is what do you call it? Snakebit. A little snake bit. I think they picked him up for a reason. I think this guy has a lot of potential, a lot of talent. If Lloyd goes down, I think he's going to be the guy that has two inch talents. Let go.

20:22You won't have a thousand yards, but I think he's going to lead the team in rushing. So you're picking Johnson because you're predicting Lloyd is going to go down. Yes. Speaking of negative Nellies. Speaking of negative Nellies. That's reality. Not predicting the team to lose. Like Kelly. It's just protecting the team to like get hurt. That's predicting Lloyd to lose. That's what it is. And how is that difference? See the do tell. Just play a versus team. That's all. There you go. There's no I and team. There's no I and shut up. I am speaking of I I am going to go with Marshawn Lloyd because I believe that he will be. I don't know. I don't really believe. I hope that he will be healthy for the entire season. So then he will definitely be the leading Russia. I also will go with Marshawn Lloyd with a giant asterisk and a big prayer of please do not be made of glass this year.

21:24You guys are suddenly really negative. What happened? Man. Okay. Number three. Who is going to be the packers leader in receiving yards this season? I'm going to go with the packers leader in receiving yards. Plenty of people. We got Watson golden. Read craft. And I got John Smith. Maybe Marshawn Lynch coming out of the backfield. Who is going to be the packers leader in receiving yards. Kelly. We're going to start with you. I'm going to go with Tucker craft because why not? I think he will stay healthy because sometimes Watson goes down for a couple of weeks at a time with injuries. And I hope golden stays healthy. So I'm not going to predict his health regardless. But I think it's going to be craft because he's he when it's when it's too craft it tends to be a big bomb and he tends to get a bunch of yards after after receiving it.

22:25So I'm going to go with craft. Well Watson would be the the obvious choice just because he's the one that's going to catch the the most longer passes. But I think it's going to be Matthew golden. I think it's breakout your time for Matthew golden. If they throw him the damn ball, he catches it no matter where no matter where it is. So he's going to he's going to get a lot of catches and hence a lot of receiving yards as long as they target him as they should. So I'm going with golden. So apparently Alan and I are summoning somewhere out of the ether Watson's dad to show up and say how dare you. Well, I will make him happy because I think my man my man Christian Watson. I think given how they're planning to play him in the offense and really take advantage of that using golden and read in different ways to allow him to really stretch the field. He's going to stay healthy this year. That's my prediction.

23:26And if he stays healthy, I see it being a 1400 yard season for the man if he can do it. So that's my that's my pick. All right. Number four. Is the Packers defense. You got Mike Parsons for half a year. You got Janet coming in here bringing in the new three four and you know, there's little new attitude. And we saw him in the preseason looking like they were world beaters. Will this Packers defense be a top 10 defense in points allowed the season? Are they going to keep teams out of the end zone top 10 level? Al we will start with you. Top 10 is a big ask. It's a big ask for a new coordinator, a new system. You know, a rookie at cornerback, a questionable other cornerback and backups. I think that's a big ask.

24:27And I think that the Packers offense is going to score a lot of points. So opponents are going to be airing it out and trying to have to score a lot of points. So for my money, I'm going to guess no on this one. All right. I'm going to say that I wish we were so I'm probably a little more doubtful, but that's just because I, you know, there's been so many hashtags over the years, fire capers, fire, everyone else. This has been going on since like 2011. I'd love to say they're going to do well. But I think that's their they're not going to be top 10. They could make top 20. I would say, but I don't think they're going to make top 10. I think they'll make the top 15. I think they'll be in the top half of defenses. But I would be more confident if we had parts since from the beginning, but we don't have them for a month. But they'll be serviceable and ask me again next year. Okay. That's a cop out.

25:28Anyway, number five. Oh, this one had a lot of angst. Playoff wins this year. The packers since the departure of Aaron Rogers have been one and done every season with your love. We're going to say the over under is 1.5. That means if you say under, they're going to win at least one game. Not necessarily. Or lose a game or knock the playoffs. That's a lot of possibilities. Over 1.5 means two playoffs wins minimum. So what do you think? I'll just start out on this one. To me, this is really the big question of the day because they have to stay healthy. Last year they did not stay healthy. This was a team that I think a lot of people felt was super bowl bound. And when you lose that many good players, you just can't win in the playoffs. If they're healthy, I think they do it.

26:30If they're not, they don't even make the playoffs. But I'm going to be the eternal packer optimist. And I'm going to say they're going to win at least two games. So I take the over. You just changed your choice. Oh my God. Bandwagon. It's just it's still written in here a long time ago. Okay. There you go. I will pick two. I do my convinced that they're going to get beyond that. But if they are, I'm going to be happily surprised. Al. We're all in unison. We're all going with the over. We're all being optimistic here that they will win at least. At least two games could be more in the playoffs. All right. And finally, our last one, our last superlative. It's a two-parter. We need to know who's going to be the packer's MVP this year. And also maybe they're surprised. I don't know if you want to call it surprise breakout. Surprise come back. Surprise. Blossoming. Who's the surprise player this year?

27:32So Kelly will start with you MVP and your surprise player. They'll never give it to them because I don't think they give that to tight ends. But I'm going to say Tucker craft is going to be indispensable. And my surprise and it really isn't much of a surprise because I think this is his coming out here. It's going to be Matthew Golden. I think he's just going to light it up. It's going to be good. He's going to kind of evolve into the receiver we anticipated. He would become once we drafted him. Do you just write Tucker craft for all your answers? No, but I'm feeling very positive about him. I see that. Okay. Ow. Yes. There can be no other MVP than Jordan love. It just will will not be possible. And for surprise, I'm going with the rookie. Brandon C say I think he's going to approach. I'm going to say approach not be named to but approach.

28:33Pro Bowl level in his. Wow. Wow. That's really cool for a rookie if that happens. Right. Now they did change the whole pro Bowl thing this year. Yes. Right. I think that's what I think. I think that's what I think is going to be. No more. Well, as far as the voting is going to be no more alternates anymore. None of this alternate stuff. That's because they don't need it because it's no pro Bowl. You know, what I'm just saying. A lot of people have. Pro Bowl in their name because they ended up being a third alternate, you know, for people who bailed out. That is gone. Sorry, Keisha. Next. That is on. You know, you're going to have to actually earn. You know, you're going to have to be a pro Bowl team to be a pro Bowl player. So that's why I think. See say won't make it. But I think he'll be. You know, where the consideration he'll be that good. All right. Well, that is a surprise actually. I think that's very very. I was going to say it wasn't very bold of you. But now when you say like that. Bold pick. Okay.

29:33I'm going to take two guys that I really hope blossom this year. MVP like Al Jordan love. I think this is this year to shine. I think this is the coming out party. I think this is his 2011 Aaron Rogers season. We've watched him kind of long for three years and be very good. But often overlooked, I think, by the national media. I think this is his 2011 Aaron Rogers here. Potentially MVP of the league. Honestly, I think he should be in the running for it if he's continuing to do better than he has, which is already excellent. For my surprise player, I'm going to say Lucas Van Ness. I think that would be a surprise. Go ahead. It was. It was. But I think you have this huge. You have this huge gap now without Mike Parsons here for the first. Whatever one third of the season. We're looking at Lucas Van Ness to grow. And finally, live up to his status.

30:34And can you imagine if he does? And then Mike Parsons comes back and you really have someone who's playing at the level we expected him to. I think then that's actually had a really good camp this year. He's had a lot of good camps. But I think this is the area he's going to come out. So I'm going to say Lucas Van Ness. That's my that's my that's my cocky pick. How's that? Okay. All right. Hope you're right. Me too. And that's the end. I'm going to see on the other side. We're going to go on half time right now. Go in the locker room. Get ourselves pressed for this rest of this great podcast opening up for the big Vikings game week one. So then please listen to this message or sponsor ticket. Do you want to experience the thrill of a Packers game at Lambo Field? If so, please. I'm going to go ahead and play the game. I'm going to go ahead and play the game. I'm going to go ahead and play the game. I'm

31:51Our back second half here for this week one prep. Very exciting. I'm CD Angelie Tundervision on social media and I am flanked to the left by Kelly Hodgson, that Packer Hill on social media and split end out wide to the right Jersey Al Braco, Jersey Al GBP on social media. We're gonna kick off the third quarter as we always do with our injury report with Kelly Hodgson, kick it. All right, I think one of the more ominous ones right now is Tyrone Hopper, one of the linebackers. He did not play with the Achilles injury. Did not practice. Did not practice. Did not participate. It has been reported as a major injury or event and he's been no diagnosis, but it's never good when somebody says it's your Achilles. So this is something I tried to do. New and out of the blue. And I haven't gotten much information

32:52off the interwebs about it, but if they're saying Achilles, it could be, it's your two possibilities. You have got a sprained Achilles or you have torn Achilles. And just so you guys remember, if you tear your Achilles, you're up for the season. So not good for him. Then we have Warren Brinson, a defensive tackle. Did not participate with a cap injury that's dating back to that Denver preseason game. He must be into camp with it. Gully said last week he has a good chance for week one, but if he's not participating, I'm not the confident he's gonna suit up. And then you have Zback, Zack Bakobawale, he's limited and we kind of talked about him earlier. And this is recovering from an offseason surgery and is partially torn Patel attendant. And that's what ended his season. If you remember back to last year, it ended his 2025 season. So this is not a fresh week one injury, but he is in limited participation.

33:52He's been ramping it up all the way through camp and he's been telling people today he intends to play. I am cautiously optimistic that he'll be suiting up. Then there's Aaron Banks, left guard limited. He's had this knee, lingering knee issue that's kind of been through camp and they've been managing it. He's had the reduced work rest schedule. The downside is he didn't really start full teamwork until the 18th of last month, which means he hasn't had a whole lot of a training camp himself. La Flore thinks that he will start if he's healthy, but you've got Burton on the back as a backup in Casey's, not again, I'm cautiously optimistic. But having Zback and him together makes me kind of a little anxious for this week. And then hey, the whole line is hurt. Yeah, Jordan Morgan, limited with knee injury. There isn't much of a longstanding history unlike Zback with this knee injury or rehab story.

34:53So no injury's been reported, but he's been playing on a limited basis and it might just be their kind of managing his pitch count until the season starts. Well, time will tell. And then there's Javan Hargrave, limited with another known knee issue, but something that suddenly appeared was another known, I'm excited to say this again. We knew he had knee issues, but I'll be sending it appeared on Wednesday. Don't know much about it. He had a flare up during the off season, being on the physically unable to perform list and has been gradually working back in again. All these, I'm like cautiously optimistic they'll play. Devonte Y, it's been limited with his ankle injury. As you remember, he broke his ankle and that was his season ender last year. He's been returning to teamwork during camp. I think he was limited today and that's worth keeping an eye on,

35:53but this is somebody that has advanced, he has been participating through camp and it might just be resting him. Of all of these guys, I think he's the one that's really gonna play. And then Baron Serrell on the edge, limited with a foot injury, God, we're so hurt already. No significant new injury, but it's important because he's currently the starting edge rusher with my micapartus and it's on the available. So suddenly our depth chart is not that deep. So I am hopeful they'll play, but Holy cow, this is a big injury list heading into week one. It's good that they're managing a lot of this though too. Realizing it's a long season. I'd love to win week one, but guess what? I need to be winning the week 14, 15 and 16. So hopefully, it's all pays off later. We're gonna hit our three big points here as we prepped for the Vikings. First one is we referred to a bit earlier. Jordan Love, hopefully this is his time to shine.

36:56He's not playing a defense that's going to make it easy. This is probably one of the most exotic defenses. We're going to face this year. Obviously, Flores is guy who just loves disguising packages and the best thing is they come on any down. It is not something they just queue up on third down. They're gonna bring it on first. They're gonna bring it on second. It's a big challenge for your thoughts. It's especially a big challenge with the shape of our offensive line. And the fact that we really haven't had the same starting five, same old problem. And now we've got to go up against a team who thrives on confusing offensive line, line in and getting free runners at the quarterback. So it's a huge issue, note out.

37:58I think one of the biggest concerns is going to be communication, especially if you don't have your starting five on the offensive line. If surprise and this kind of mystery defense that's there to confuse is confounding a offensive line that doesn't normally all play together and you've got backups, that could be a recipe for disaster. Yeah, communication beyond. Run Jordan. Don't get tackled. So what do you do in this situation? If you're the offense and you're making up this offensive strategy, let's put in you got at least one of your offensive lineman out. You don't have Josh Jacobs. You don't have any balance with Luke Musgrave. You're hoping that John Smith is gonna come back to, come back. Do you set up a very traditional offense, run, run, pass, punt? Or do you try to do something a little more challenging,

38:59which is sometimes hard to do in your first week because you really haven't had a whole lot of time to play together as a team anyway? One thing I think you're going to see is a lot of curse brooks. I think you'll see him back there, as the final line of pass protection defense, so to speak, to try to pick up who, whether that free runner is at the Vikings have tried to scheme through the packer's offensive line. So Chris Brooks is going to be busier than he normally would in most games this week, I believe. And I think he's definitely going to earn his keep because I was about to answer something very similar that they're going to really have to heavily rely on a blocking back, especially if there are weak points in the line because it isn't our starters. All right. Second big point is on the other side, your good friend, CSA, Al, gets to go against Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jennings, TJ Hockinson,

40:00and then of course our old friend Aaron Jones coming out of the backfield. And then you got this guy named Kyler Murray, who's starting. Younger, not necessarily an all pro by any stretch of the imagination, but does run the ball and create some time? This actually puts a lot of pressure on Nixon and CSA. Do you think that, I guess, what do you do defensively against this? I think the best thing you can do is with your front 4 or 5, 7, however you're playing it on that particular down, is really focus on keeping Murray in the pocket. Make him throw passes from the pocket. That's your best shot right there and there. Like you said, if you let him get loose, and now suddenly everything breaks down, and the cornerbacks and the safety have to cover for five seconds,

41:05as opposed to three seconds, bad things are going to happen with those receivers that the Vikings have. And I think as long as you start getting Murray's head, like you said, he's solid, but he's not a pro baller by any stretch of the imagination. I think kind of winning the psychology game with him might help. You keep him trapped in the pocket, he's going to panic, he's going to make mistakes. Am I worried about Jefferson not really, because I wasn't that impressed with him last year. And Aaron Jones is like a million years old, so I'm not that worried about him. It's everybody else. So I think everyone has to bring their egg in. God, I wish we had an end-rusher that was healthy, because I think that would put a lot of panic in it, with their quarterback, but they're just going to play a clean defense and really contain them. And like I said, you really stop the run, the mobile quarterback, and I think that's the first step in containing this offense. And one thing to keep in mind,

42:06nobody knows Carla Murray any better than Jonathan Ganon, who saw him every day at practice, any games for three whole years. So he knows every weakness that Murray has, every way and should know, every way to exploit those weaknesses. So... And I think that's where the head game is going to come in, because he knows what he's capable of and what he's scared of. So point number three, the ground game. If you were looking at one of those matchup things, where they say, let's look at the quarterback, who is the advantage, this one, there, this one. Running back is probably one of those odd ones, where you'd look at and go like, come, Marcia, Lloyd, Chris Brooks, Caleb Johnson, against Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. It's almost like, as you were saying, Kelly, Aaron Jones isn't quite who he used to be, but I'm not sure the Packers have the advantage in terms of talent, because Marcia, Lloyd,

43:07is just simply unproven. Chris Brooks has been workman-like. There's no real superstar running behind the line on either side. What team is actually going to be able to try to stand schedule between the Vikings and the Packers on the ground? Define what you mean by staying schedule. Like, who's actually scoring or getting more yards? What, how are you defining that city? Yeah, I suppose sticking with the running game throughout because it's being productive. I think it's going to be a Minnesota that sticks with it, because right now... Because we don't be more productive. Because ours is such an unknown entity. No one here has really played in a regular season game as a Packer. Yeah, I mean, but it's kind of hard to say when you have the Justin Jefferson's and we went through the list before all those guys to say that, well, we're going to run the ball 40 times.

44:09I don't know that that's how you want to structure your offense when you have those playmakers, you know? I do think that when they do run, they'll probably be more successful doing it than the Packers will, but I don't necessarily think that they will outrun the Packers. But I think we're also not factoring in. It's not just our running backs at run. If you can get read running on some of those plays like he did last year, that's where I think we may pick up some secret, you know, rushing yards. All right. Well, let's figure out what we're doing here. I mean, a lot of talk and let's get to these predictions, but first before we do that, we're going to get to our hot pockets. And then that's the end of the third quarter. Oh, come on. It's hot. It's her sauce cheesy drink. If you're looking for one more hot take from your cheesehead

45:11radio co-s, sit back as we got you covered. One last soul bearing reflection on your green Bay Packers or Winston a football. Jersey, Alas always will start with you. Well, as the old saying goes, hope springs eternal. And it's never so true as in the lead up to week one of the NFL season when fans of every team, okay, maybe not the jets feel like this could be the year their team makes it to the Super Bowl. Now for fans of many teams, they really are just kidding themselves, but for fans of the Packers, it's different. Because of the Packers organizational philosophy, how they manage the roster and the incredible back to back to back quarterback luck that they've had, they really do have a chance pretty much every year. The Packers are always in the mix with almost yearly playoff appearances. Of course, the playoff performances have infrequently

46:11been the type needed to advance to the Super Bowl. I mean, the list of self-inflicted Packers playoff disappointments over the last couple of decades is unfortunately a long one. But never mind all that. We can hope that this is the year Madler floor figures it all out. We can hope that Mike Parsons returns to the team and Rex the Lee. We can hope that Tucker Kraft reaches the superstar heights. He seems destined for and we can even hope that the Packers have a kicker that won't choke on the playoffs. Sure, it's only hope. But heading into week one, it's all we have. And that is my sometimes all you have is hope. Okay, I said this for years, I would love for the Packers and the Vikings to feel like a great rivalry. But there's a problem. The Vikings are just a terrible organization from their players to their fans. The bears, the bears are history, Halus, Lamberti, Lambo, soldier,

47:16field, Lambo field, generations of two franchises beating the hell out of each other and then somewhere under it all having respect for each other. Now, we've never admitted aloud and neither would they, but these two teams define each other. There's no other team that has the pedigree each other has. Minnesota trash organization always has been. I remember Chris Hoveann obsessing over a farve jersey in his locker and passing it off his motivation. Randy Moss wiping his ass on the goal post at Lambo field. John Randall putting a number for a jersey on a chicken, chasing it, catching it and then frying it. Brett Farve, then going to Minnesota and becoming obsessed with Ted Thompson. Greg Jennings goes to Minnesota and becomes obsessed with Aaron Rogers. It's just weird. And then there's the fan base who all defend these psychopathic players because they're just as obsessed. They don't care about their own wins. All they do is want to

48:18celebrate when we lose. They've built their entire identity around hating the Packers and simultaneously hating their own team every time they disappoint them, which is every time. Look, Chicago's the rival I run around forever. Minnesota, I want 60 minutes Sunday, a quiet stadium in the fourth quarter, those horns packed away, an entire state spending Monday blaming their players, their coach, and each other for the loss. I love to hate the bears. I just hate the Vikings. Let's beat them and get out of town. And that is my. I've been waiting all day for Wednesday night. The NFL's rival on Wednesday nights feels sudden because the legas traditionally reserve Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays for regular season football. Wednesday games remain rare. The 2026 schedule contains only two tonight, September 9th, the season opener, and the first Thanksgiving Eve game on

49:19November 25th, even though families are traveling that night. Before that, Christmas produced a Wednesday double header and 2024. Well, unusual scheduling circumstances creating games in 2012 and 2020. The motivation shocker is largely commercial. A standalone Wednesday broadcast gives the NFL another national window, supply streaming partners with live programming, reaches holiday audiences and avoids competition. It also allows a lead to accommodate international expansion and unusual calendar demands. Yet expansion carries a risk. Football feels special partly because fans anticipate a concentrated weekly schedule. Games scattered across most nights require additional subscriptions, complicate fantasy participation, strain players, and demand more attention. If every evening becomes football night, casual viewers may eventually tune out altogether. There's a game tonight, and I'm not sure if I like it. So get off my lawn. And that is my.

50:28Productions. Dream Bay Packers opened the 2026 season on Sunday in Minneapolis against the hated Vikings and their stupid horn at 325 Central with Minnesota now in Vegas holding about a one and a half point lead as a favorite. Essentially, just points given for home field advantage. The crowd will be lively and the Packers will go in and without all of their chambers in their gun of fully loaded. No, Jake gets no Parsons. Potentially some losses along both fronts. How do we see this turning out? Kelly, as always, we'll start with you. I'm going to will a victory with my heart this week, even if my head isn't completely agreeing. Packers 24, Viking 21, God, I hope that horn is silent. I too hated very much. I think it's going to be ugly, but I think Jordan Love is going to assert himself.

51:29Ganon is going to establish himself and Matt LaFlaur is going to defend his extension Packers 27 Vikings 24 on a closing minute Smackdown. Smack it. All right. Well, I'm joining the home repurate here. I think it'll be tight for most of the game. But Jordan Love leads the Packers on what will be the first of many game leaning drives this season. Packers 27 Vikings 23. Thank you so much for joining us tonight on cheesehead radio now in our 18th season. Cheesehead radio and all other Packer talk podcasts can be found on Spotify, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your pods. You can all now watch three of our podcasts live video streams on YouTube. Search for Packers Talk Network on YouTube and be sure to hit the subscribe button. You can also find us on Siri, Alexa, or Google just by saying play

52:29Packers Talk podcast. Finally, please support or please follow Packers Talk Net across all social media platforms. And remember to support our sponsor ticket came for all your ticket needs. Just go to Packers Talk.com slash tickets for details. Hey guys, there's Packer football this weekend. That's a wrap. Go Pack Go. All right, guys. Sunday. Go Pack Go. It's going to be awesome. I'm that weird. You're weird. You're totally weird.