Interview with a Packers Fan

My buddy Steve talks about the ups and downs of Packers fandom, the current state of Jordan Love, and Monday night's matchup with the Eagles

Every season, the football gods bless us with a few truly special matchups that are worth the hype. This Monday, the Eagles will take on the Green Bay Packers at historic Lambeau Field, the mecca of football lore, in front of a national audience that includes the Manning Brothers and everyone who doesn’t have YouTube TV. It’s a true clash of the titans. Two elite teams vying for supremacy in a stacked NFC. It’s a heavyweight bout. Like Ali versus Frazier. Jigga versus Nas. Batman versus Superman. Me versus trying to get anywhere on time.

This is a rivalry that’s given us tentpole moments in Eagles lore, from Fred Ex delivering on 4th and 26 to Saquon running for 119 yards against the Packers on the road to the Super Bowl last year. It’s the first time we face the Packers since they put forth a proposal to ban the tush push this offseason. Call it the Tush Push Tussle (working title).

The Birds are coming off a week of rest following their dismantling of the New York Giants. The Jekyl and Hyde Packers are coming off a loss to the lowly (but maybe kind of decent) Carolina Panthers. Coached by the best haircut in the game, Green Bay is a team that fluctuates between dormant and dominant. But when they’re on, they look like the best team in the league.

To prepare for what will be one of the greatest games of the season, I spoke with my good friend Steve, who is a lifelong Packers fan. Steve has ridden the highs and lows of being a fan of one of the NFL’s most historic franchises. We talk about years of Packers excellence, what it’s like to be a cheesehead, what’s holding back Jordan Love, the biggest issue with this year’s Packers team, and what he’s least looking forward to about facing the Eagles.

How long have you been a Packers fan and how did you become a Packers fan? Because (checks notes) you are not from Wisconsin.

STEVE: Yea I’m from Connecticut. My dad was a Packers fan. I guess you could say I’ve been a Packers fan for my whole life. I watched Brett Favre as a kid. That playoff game with 4th and 27 still haunts me to this day.

4th and 26 to be exact.

STEVE: I don’t know why my dad was a Packers fan. But I kind of latched onto that. Everyone asks me that question, “why are you a Packers fan” and I’m like, I dunno my dad was. But now he’s a Patriots fan.

He switched!?

STEVE: Yea I don’t get it.

You were in Giants country too. Did you ever get shit from Giants fans?

STEVE: Oh yea a ton. Like “you’re a bandwagon guy.” The Packers are rolling out Hall of Fame quarterbacks year after year. They haven’t had a bad run since I’ve been alive. So it’s been a great time. Super Bowls, not that many, but overall, it’s good to be a Packers fan.

Well there’s two (Super Bowls) in your lifetime…I guess it’s the same for me with the Eagles.

STEVE: But there should be more, it feels like. Same with the Eagles, like Donovan McNabb should’ve won a Super Bowl. The fact that Brett Favre only won one, and Aaron Rodgers only won one, and they’re both Hall of Fame quarterbacks, is crazy. Mahomes has won three already, and he’s only halfway through his career. Even Roethlisberger has two. So the fact that they only have one each has been disappointing.

How does that feel to be a Packers fan? Because you’re in this weird place where the Packers have always been good, but you haven’t made it there as many times as you’d like.

STEVE: It’s heartbreak. It’s frustration. I mean I can think of a million times when I feel like they should’ve gone to the Super Bowl. Like when they faced Tom Brady and the Bucs in the championship game and like Scotty Miller goes 50 yards before the half. You have Brandon Bostick fumbling the onside kick against the Seahawks in 2015. It’s just been utter heartbreak. And every year you’re like “this is the year” you know. Like this year, the first two games, you’re like this team is the best team in the NFL hands down. They are going to win a lot, and look where we’re at now. Everyone’s saying, “Is Matt LaFleur the coach?” ya know. That’s where we’re at. There’s no stability.

Stability in what way?

STEVE: It’s kind of like being a Phillies fan, where you’re expecting the floor to drop at any moment. It’s kind of like you’re good and you know you’re good, but do you ever really trust them? Do you ever have 100% trust?

Let’s talk about the team this season. What are your thoughts on Jordan Love and his performance at quarterback?

STEVE: I think Jordan Love has cemented himself as a top 10 quarterback.

Top 10!?

STEVE: Yea I’d say that.

Who would you put above Jordan Love?

STEVE: I gotta say Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen. I would put Jalen Hurts above him as much as I hate to admit it. Herbert. Drake Maye is good, but it’s only been one year. Matt Stafford, probably.

What about Dak Prescott?

STEVE: No. Well…maybe. Love is maybe like 8-10. I feel like it would be hard to put him outside of that. It feels like the scheme is holding him back. Like I don’t know if LaFleur doesn’t trust him enough or if Love doesn’t trust himself enough. As far as the passing offense goes, it’s like feed everybody. And it’s either deep shots or screens. There’s no intermediate dropback passing game. There’s something in the middle between throwing it -2 yards and throwing it 40 yards that could be positive, but it seems like they don’t want to do that. It’ll be 3rd and 5, and Jordan Love will huck it 30 yards down the field. I don’t know if it’s Jordan Love’s decision or Matt LaFleur’s decision. The passing game playcalling is a little suspect.

What about the team as a whole?

One more thing about Jordan Love. Did you watch the Steelers game? That was amazing.

But in the first half, he was struggling a little bit.

STEVE: Yeah, but I feel like that’s what the Packers are. They have to find their footing, and once they feel confident, they’ll rip you apart. Look at the Panthers game, like what the fuck was that?

Or the Browns game.

STEVE: First two games you’re like “they could win 14 games this year” now you’re like “what the fuck they lost to the Panthers and the Browns.” It’s hard to watch the Steelers game and think that if Jordan Love can do that one week, why can’t he do that every week? But it’s like, is that the game plan? I think that’s why people are starting to question Matt LaFleur. They’re trying to feed balls to everybody. We don’t have a #1 receiver, so you have to keep everyone happy.

Who was the last true #1 wide receiver the Packers had?

STEVE: Well, it was Davante (Adams). And Aaron Rodgers fed him constantly. So I wonder if that mindset, where Aaron Rodgers only focused on Davante and that was their downfall some years. If the front office was like “we can’t have a guy like that, so no one knows who we’re going after.” It could be Doubs one week, it could be Kraft another, it could be Jayden Reed the other, or Jacobs. But sometimes that causes us to beat ourselves a little bit. It’s strange.

How are you feeling about the injuries? Like Tucker Kraft being hurt?

STEVE: Terrible! Kraft is hurt. Jayden Reed’s hurt but coming back at some point. Wicks is back this week. I was just reading that Josh Jacobs calf is a problem again. Marshawn Lloyd? Where did he go? He was a second-round pick. Is he just wearing a mustache on the sideline? I think everyone on the offensive line is injured.

Do you think they’ll be able to adjust in this Eagles game?

STEVE: Well we have Luke Musgrave. He was drafted over Kraft. I think he’s serviceable. Do I think he’s Kraft? No. Do I think he’s a good receiving tight end? Yea. He’s like 60% of what Kraft was. Christian Watson being back is amazing but I think he’s still on a pitch count. We’re banged up man just like every other team. I think our offensive line is a problem. Maybe that’s why the intermediate passing game isn’t there. The trust in the o-line is the main issue with this team. We drafted Jordan Morgan in the first round two years ago, and he’s just like not good. I think he’s our right guard right now, and he’s a turnstile. Elgton Jenkins is at center, it’s his first year there, and there have been a couple of issues with that. We’re probably an average o-line, if not slightly below average. Am I worried about Jalen Carter eating everyone up on the inside of the o-line? Absolutely. I think that’s gonna be a problem. And you got the guy from the Dolphins. I don’t know his deal, but everyone seems to love him.

How has the o-line affected the rushing attack with Josh Jacobs

STEVE: It hasn’t been good. They can’t run up the middle. It’s been disappointing. It seems like they have to manufacture yards through counters, draws, and reverses. Up the middle, your jabs aren’t hitting. Maybe that’s affecting play action and teams aren’t biting as much? It’s not like it was last year. Last year, Jacobs was strong, and now we have good weeks and bad weeks. But it’s been inconsistent like every other part of this team.

What about the Packers’ defense? You guys acquired Micah Parsons and lost Kenny Clark. How has the Parsons acquisition been? Do you feel like you miss anything with Clark?

STEVE: I’m happier with the defensive play than with the offensive play. They’re a little more consistent. Even look at the Panthers game. We held them to 16 points. I would give up 16 points every week and be happy with that. The only game where you’re like “what the fuck” was the Cowboys game. But their offense is really good. We also only gave up 13 points to the Browns, and we couldn’t score more than that. I think the offense is letting the defense down. (Micah’s) been a disrupter. I’m very happy with the trade. Kenny Clark is 30 years old. Kind of sad to see him go, he was a staple of the defense. But just like every other Packers defense, the running game is a problem. We can’t stop the run.

Why is that?

STEVE: I don’t think we’re big enough. I don’t think we have guys who can’t be moved. And a decent offensive line can take care of that. I think our pass defense is solid. Carrington Valentine has been solid on the outside. Keisean Nixon has played well. Xavier McKinney is amazing. Quay Walker has been good. But we don’t have those big fucking dudes. Again, it’s the trenches, the trenches are the problem. We don’t generate enough sacks, and we can’t stop the run.

Specifically about this Eagles team, what is it about this matchup that scares you and what is it about this matchup that you’re excited about?

STEVE: Let me start with what I’m excited about because that list is short. I’m excited because it’s like two good teams. The Packers are a good team, hands down. All the things I said before, you boil it down, and they’re still a good team. The cream of the crop. They’re gonna make the playoffs. It’s a litmus test. Middle of the season, where are you at? It’s like a heavyweight fight. Maybe whoever wins the game is the team that ends up going to the Super Bowl? I feel like the top three teams in the NFC right now are the Eagles, Packers, and Rams. Maybe the Lions, if you want to put a fourth in there. I think it’s going to be a great game, everyone’s going to be watching.

What scares you about this matchup?

STEVE: Well, Saquon. I’m worried about Saquon and our run defense. I feel like he’s really good and last game, he got it going. I’m worried about Jalen Carter and our offensive line. I’m worried about Jaelan Phillips. Too many Jalens.

We’re at three Jalens so far and open to collecting more.

STEVE: I’m also interested to see what happens in the Jaire Alexander revenge game…

Can I get a quick aside? As a Packers fan, can you give us Eagles fans a 101 on Jaire Alexander?

STEVE: Uh, he’s not good. He was good four years ago. If you look at his stats, he’s played half the games over the past four years. He’s injured, he can’t stay on the field. Why do you think the Ravens traded him? The Ravens are still trying to compete for the playoffs, and they’re like “we don’t need this guy.” He also got suspended for a week after nominating himself to be a team captain when he wasn’t when we played in Carolina because he’s from Carolina. He just went out for the coin toss, and they were like “uh you can’t do that man.” He’s always been a weird guy, and like locker room fit, and he’s not good anymore.

So you were saying what scares you.

STEVE: Saquon, your defensive line. I’m not worried about our passing game. I mean, I am, but not because of the Eagles specifically, mostly because of our scheme. Also, like, the tush push, fuck that play.

You guys voted to ban the tush push.

STEVE: The league doesn’t want the tush push. It’s obvious. You guys also have really good wide receivers and a good tight end. So add that to the list, us getting fucking carved up.

If the Packers make it to the Super Bowl, what’s the reason they make it there and what’s the reason they don’t make it there?

STEVE: I mean I think it’s fairly simple. The reason they make it there, they figure out their problems on offense and defense. I don’t want to simplify this but we have offensive flow problems. Like we love screens. We run way too many. We need to find more variety in the passing game. Intermediate stuff, deep stuff. Jordan Love loves the deep ball. I think he’s a great deep ball thrower. Look at the Steelers game, just do that. The reason we don’t make the Super Bowl is because we don’t do that. We don’t adapt. It seems like we can be so hard-headed, as in like this is the way we have to do stuff. We beat ourselves a little bit, and we play down to our competition. We’ll probably play you guys so hard on Monday, but then we play the Panthers, and they look like you guys.

The Panthers defense is kind of good.

STEVE: It doesn’t matter, we’re so much better than them. Bryce Young is the size of like a teenager dude. So I think…can we adapt is when we’ll make the Super Bowl. But if we can’t adapt, we’ll have the same year we’ll have every year.

Who’s the team in the NFC North that scares you?

STEVE: It’s the Lions. And I’m worried about how the Bears are getting good. The Vikings…they should’ve kept Darnold. But I think it’s the Lions. They’re good. Do I think they’ve taken a hit since losing Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson? Absolutely, but Dan Campbell is a great coach and he’s been able to sustain success.

Who’s the greatest Packers quarterback of all time?

STEVE: I think it has to be Aaron Rodgers. Have you ever seen anyone throw a ball better than Aaron Rodgers? He was so accurate. He would throw 30 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He’s the best quarterback I’ve seen play in my lifetime. Went a little crazy but I don’t think you can deny his skill. The dude would rip a ball 30 yards and you would look at a photo of when he’d release it, and both of his feet were off the ground. It has to be Aaron Rodgers.

What is your prediction for the 2025 Green Bay Packers?

STEVE: How I’m feeling right now? I think they make the division round, and they probably lose to the Rams. But that could change, who knows?