GAME BALLS
I agree with the choices here.
Willis - What more can you say. Just insane how good he has been in each of his 2 starts. After the game, I got thinking about the future. Could Willis earn himself a lot of people calling to trade for him? Could the Packers turn Willis into a 2nd round pick or something similar? He has been so damn impressive, I have to think there would be teams that would be willing to make a move like that. And if they traded a 7th round pick and got a 2nd round in return, what a hell of a home run. (either way its a homerun right now).

Xavier McKinney - This maybe Gutey's best FA signing. He has had some great signings. The Smith Bros. Amos, some veteran OL that really contributed. I would include Douglas into that list as well since the signed him from another teams PS. The signings that Gutey has made, have been really good. And I think McKinney is the best. At least the early payoffs have been great.

The D-line - Crazy to think what the scheme change has done for this defensive front. While it still a work in progress this front has been really good. And this game they unloaded on the Titans. Wyatt maybe the best of the bunch at this point. After this game I wonder how the Titans feel about trading Willis and keeping Levis.

Emanuel Wilson - He was very good. He just has the ability to make something out of nothing and has the ability to subtly make people miss. He was very good. When Lloyd does come back they are going to have a really good trio. Lloyd will still find ways onto the field with his explosiveness. But they have to feel very good about what they have in Wilson.

(My one added)
The coaches - The game plan again was incredibly good. The offense just feels 2 steps ahead of the defense. They were damn good again. They deserve so much credit!

UNSUNG HERO

Daniel Whelan -
He has become one of the better punters in the league. Also he has to correct for a lot of bad snaps on FG attempts. (The snaps are still not great).

Enagbare -
I have to add this one. His sack fumble I think changed the momentum in the game. The Packers were up by 13 points but the Titans were moving at the time and had all the momentum. That sack fumble to me changed the game.

Watson -
His 2 catches to me changed the game early. He created 2 huge plays, one of them was on a 3rd and 18. And he blocks his ass off.

LAME CALLS

Penalties - While some of the calls have been ticky tacky, they need to stop the easy ones. The false starts, the offsides, the illegal formations. Those can be fixed. Preston Smith lining up offsides took away a sack from Gary.

FINAL WHISTLES

The defense is still working out a lot of kinks, which is to be expected. -
What is crazy about this is that they are still learning the defense. Hafley has said that he is still running a vanilla defense right now to basically make sure everyone knows what they are doing. And they will expand on stuff. But they already have as many interceptions as they did all of last year. They have 7 interceptions on the year, which is how many they had last year in 17 games. That is an insane stat.

Love -
If Love was ok to play but not fully healthy it was probably the smartest decision to play Willis. He didn't have to worry about getting hurt. But also if they would have lost, it really wouldn't hurt them in any playoff seeding outside of of the total win/losses. Also playing on the turf field probably wouldn't have been good for him. But it keeps Love healthier.

Victory Monday!

I cannot add much to this article. I will say that the penalities need to decrease. You cannot beat quality teams commiting this many penalties. Holding calls (Walker) are drive killers.

The best way to describe this game is "Sack Lunch" that is a Seinfeld reference.

“but a few of the team’s seven INTs have come on errant passes, not forced by the D. Jaire Alexander’s pick-six on Sunday was a brilliant exception, as he baited the Titans’ young quarterback to perfection.”

Seems like a back handed compliment. If you look at INT’s across the league many are errant passes, that’s the nature of the beast.

Nice to see you give kudo’s to J. Alexander. He’s a difference maker and deserves the credit, even if his personality gets bothersome at times.

WOW, Willis looks like a poised veteran with fantastic mobility. He’s built like Hurts. I’m still hoping LOVE is ready for this weekend against the Vikings.

I'd add Jaire's Pick 6 to the Game Ball entries. Enagbare gets added to this list as well, He was disruptive, all game long. The penalties this team incurs have to stop. Now! Especially the penalties incurred by the OL guys.

Let's keep in mind that this is two weeks in a row against teams the Packers should beat and NEEDED to beat. Losses to either of what looks like two non-playoff teams when you see yourself as a contender would be pretty damaging, especially when the other teams in the division will get a chance to beat them and put some distance between them in the standings. Even with Love on the shelf, they're the better team and they showed it. It's hard for anyone to say at this point that Gute made a mistake in moving on from Clifford and Pratt.

Willis--you have to feel good for the kid making good where they'd essentially given up on him. Sure the front office and coaching staff had turned over since he was drafted, so they had little connection or loyalty to Willis, but that 7th round pick looks really inconsequetial compared to two wins. People want to give Clements and LaF credit for "fixing" Willis, but his preseason performance in TN was good (even playing with 3s and 4s) and his time in GB has been too short to say they would've done very much to his mechanics or presence. The game plans have been good. Willis has been ready to do what they ask--that's mostly him.

That said, there's no QB controversy. The Packers are paid up high on Love and Willis is the backup. With any luck, Willis won't play another meaningful snap this season, but--if he does and he shows well--he might have some trade value this off-season. He's under contract through 2025, and having a good cheap backup is a good thing, but he's likely to walk for a chance to play after his contract ends. Until then, he's a valuable backup.

D-Line--they got to eat, and this Tennessee team looked mostly cooked in the second half. Again, this is a team that has had real OL issues the last few years (Dillard as starting LT?) and their QBs have taken a beating. This DL SHOULD have been able to tee off. It's reassuring that they did. Next week will be the challenge at Lambeau against a Vikings OL that's playing well, but Darnold is dinged and not a runner. They'll need to beat him up some next week to slow down a very efficient Vikings offense.

Wilson--he's a keeper, but Jacobs is the bell-cow. That TD screen pass was so well blocked downfield that when Wilson juked 29 out of his jock, he was running free.

Sean Rhyan--give him a game ball. He didn't seem to be anyone's preferred starter, but he's played well and had to hold up to Simmons and Sweat yesterday in the heat. I think Josh Myers has been quietly good, too.

"The takeaway statistics are also a big upgrade from last year, but a few of the team’s seven INTs have come on errant passes,"

I'm giving you a "lame call" on this. You never fault guys for making the plays--especially TOs--that are there to be made. We bitch about a guy who drops an easy pick that hits him in the hands or chest, let's not shit on them when they actually catch the ball. Pressure and TOs are the coin of the realm on defense. This Packers team is something like +6 after 3 games, two with a backup QB who people had very little good to say about when he arrived.

My only comment here is that if Love is 90 to 100% ready to play he should play against the Vikings. It a division game and if your best player is available then you play him especially given the amount of money he is being paid. If you end up losing the game at least you know that you've lost with your best player on the field rather than on the bench.

Again if Love is not ready or cleared to play then obviously the Packers will stick with Willis. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61

It was a win so lets celebrate. With caution. We beat a lousy indy and titans team both looking for stability and direction right now. Willis did his job. But in reality what he did would not have worked against better teams so lets not raise the hero flag.
Right now we still have no idea because of Loves injury just what kind of team this is. The receivers are rusty due to lack of work. We just happen to have to running back stiffs on IR because they couldn't heal their injuries.
You got Watson jumping around like he beat the world when he has what two catches so far this year and still hasnt dont in his calf muscle yet?
Next week we will all see just where the Packers stand quality wise. IF you told me the vikes by 24 points I would not take that bet. They look polished on both offense and defense, maybe the best d in football right now and look well coached. Only 4 penalties in last weeks game. They dont kill themselves.

"— Brayden Narveson. "

His misses have all been pushing the ball right...they've been straight, but just off target. My recollection is that has mostly to do with timing in the approach to the ball, and is correctable. He's gotta get it done, but followed the miss with a kick that was right down the middle from 49.

I think many believed the Packers D vs the Titans O would be the contest to tip scales for the game, and it did.

But it was Willis's cool leadership & his running and passing that weighted the scales for the dominant result. What a pick up by Team Gutey! His intelligence and skills show why he was a 3rd rounder (86th player chosen) a few years ago. Team Matt has done more to mold his skills for the NFL in two weeks than the Titans did in 2 years.

It must painfully stinging Titans fans watching their traded 3 string QB out perform their anointed starter. (tidbit: Levis was the back up to Clifford at Penn State for two years before he transferred to Kentucky)

I believe Narveson was 3 for 3 in FGs, not 3 for 4. Or do we count the rush yards Jacobs had taken away due to O line penalties too?

I expect Love will be starting in Lambeau next Sunday to take on the Ugly Purple. Expect the sports press will again push the revenge narrative this week...for Jones.

We need to stop repeating that Narveson needs to be better. Everyone knows it and everyone knows his bio up to this date. He is not Brandon Aubrey, Kaimi Fairbrain or Nick Folk and do not act like it was some kind of unknown. We decided to gamble and his first year here it is hard to expect much. Kicker is if not a weak point of this team - the most risky. Cheer for the guy and that's it.

I also don't get the errant passing iterceptions narrative. Discussions wheter the throw was a mistake or defensive error is philosophy. Technically bad throw probably means that there was a pressure - so is it the bad sign for the D? If the pass was perfect but DB ran into the lane - there was no pressure only individual talent of DB - so does it mean D is good or not? Pointless discussion.

But I think I get what you meant with this D. It is all about proving themselves against a legit offense and this opportunity comes week 4. We can be not thrilled after week 3, but surely Titans game was not an argument to be upset. Titans were bad and we domiated them with multiple turnovers and 8 sacks. Our D did exactly what should be done against poor opponent's O. They performed well and in recent history I remember some different situations. I suggest giving them a small + and wait for more.

Does anyone else miss Farts After Wins? Is it just me? Perhaps less roughage during the games has fixed his intestinal tract?

While I understand that we got to pick something to fuss about, I can’t see too much to fuss about a unofficial missed kick from a kicker who was on the injury report last week.

It’s why I say I’m still somewhat nervous about the defense—the LB play is sloppy—let’s play Cooper more.
If Love is ready, play him. Shelving him is wasted talent.
I loved seeing the 9’rs melt—they and their fawned over coach, GM, and team. Let’s do the same to the Vikings.
Go Packers!!!

Great job, Johnathan! I really like the vibe heading into this game against the Minnesota NFL franchise. It's either the mighty undefeated Purple against our scrappy back-up QB, or the division-leading Minnesota Football Club against our underdog returning semi-lame star QB. Win-win (and it will be a win, regardless).

Sit Jordan if he's not 100% and help Sam Darnold remember he's Sam Darnold. The sweetest victory of the season is nearly here.

Too bad Gary missed the party , when is he gonna show up?

It's safe to say that Willis has played much better than almost anyone expected. A lot better than the minor cost of a 7th round pick in the 2025 draft. We have a limited sample, but it seems he's proven that he belongs in the NFL. Gute did well, as he so often does.

All the same, there won't be a quarterback controversy when Love returns. Fifty million big ones are not going to be sitting on the bench. But depending on how things develop down the road, a quarterback-desperate team may be willing to part with considerably better than a 7th rounder at some point in the future if they're in dire need. Maybe they'd make Gute an offer that he simply can't refuse. And if not, we have a very competent back-up for Love. It's a great position to be in.

I think the 1265 Brass deserve a game ball. Look at all the changes: A new defensive philosophy of creating more takeaways, a new DC to implement that, big FAs like Mckinney and Jacobs ( I remember a time when we rarely pursued top tier FAs), and the development of players on the team over a year or two, like Wyatt and Nixon and Walker (not to mention people like Reed and Tom, who were players right out of the box)

Then, we get rid of both of our backup QBs a couple of days before the season starts, and we pick up a guy who hasn't done jack squat (try to imagine Matt Foley saying that) in two years . and make him our backup, and then our starter gets injured, and this guy hasn't turned it over at all and completes over 70% of his throws. You have to give the coaches credit for improving these guys, and the scouting department for identifying these guys, and a front office that pulls the trigger on these deals.

The Packers are the #1 rushing team in the league after three weeks. How many people saw that coming? And the Purple is leading the division, undefeated. How many people saw that coming? And SF is 1-2? And Dallas is 1-2?

This was a very, very good early season victory. We're playing well, protecting the ball, getting takeaways and not giving up many points. We have a chance to be in first place after 4 weeks...all we have to do is win a game at home against the Purple, and despite their 3-0 record, they aren't that formidable.

Defense is much more aggressive and doing really well with interceptions, forced fumbles and sacks but there are remaining concerns about fundamentals and persistent penalties.
MacDuffie, Q. Walker, Gary, Smith have not been consistent, though I have noticed Rashan tends to show up for big games.
MLF will need to go toe-to-toe with Flores who has baffled some of the best and the brightest this year. And, A Jones may have something to prove as well.

I just don't want Love to be re-injured by the tough Minnie D. The team needs to support him while he gets his sea legs back and I don't want him to feel he has to save the day.

Game ball to the fan base. Nashville looked and sounded like a home game. The upper bowls were green and gold. The lower bowls of titan faithful emptied out by the middle of the fourth quarter. The Titans brought out a former player to rev up the crowd but got drowned out by a GPG chant.

I do want to raise a point about the FGs. We had a miss wiped out by a penalty, and converted 3 other attempts. 9 points.

One of the kicks was at the end of the half, but our first FG was a 21 yarder after we had a first and goal at the 2. Rather than kicking the FG, we could have gone for it on 4th and either got a TD or turned it over to the Titans on their own goal line. I'm inclined to believe that we should go for it on 4th more often, and kick FGs less, and this looks like a perfect opportunity .

Overall its was a pretty exciting game!

punting average means less than nothing when evaluating punters