As the Green Bay Packers prepare to welcome fans back to the friendly confines of Lambeau Field for the 2024 season home opener, they find themselves in an uncomfortable position. With an 0-1 record and their $220 million franchise quarterback almost certainly sidelined with an injury, they must rely on the unproven and inexperienced Malik Willis to help them avoid a 0-2 start against the formidable Indianapolis Colts.
However, Packers fans can take solace in the fact that Green Bay holds the NFL’s longest home-opener winning streak at 11 games. The Packers have not lost a home opener at Lambeau Field since Week 1 of the 2012 season when they fell to the San Francisco 49ers, 30-22. Unfortunately, that season also ended against the Niners in the divisional round (stop me if you’ve heard that before).
Can Matt LaFleur extend his home opener streak to 6-0 without Love?
The NFL has not scheduled the Packers to start a season at home under LaFleur since Green Bay hired him in 2019. They have played their first home game at Lambeau during Week 2 every season of his tenure, except for 2023, when they didn’t play at Lambeau until Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints.
Considering Green Bay’s somewhat inconsistent Week 1 performance under LaFleur, it might be good that the Packers haven’t opened the season at Lambeau since 2018. That gives the team a week or two to shake off the rust before welcoming fans to 1265 Lombardi Ave. While LaFleur has a winning record of 3-2 in Week 1, it includes a 38-3 blowout loss to the Saints in Jacksonville due to a hurricane and an underwhelming 10-3 win against the Chicago Bears in his debut as head coach.
They have performed well in their home openers under LaFleur, with a 4-0 record against NFC North opponents, including decisive victories over the Detroit Lions and Bears in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Of course, the 2023 home opener was a thrilling comeback against the Saints, in which Green Bay erased a 17-point deficit to win 18-17 in the final minutes. The Packers struggled for three quarters but turned things around when it mattered most.
Green Bay’s winning streak may carry some meaning for the players on the field. However, this week is undoubtedly their biggest challenge in a home opener since LaFleur took over and the toughest for the Packers in general during their 11-game winning streak. Aside from the (likely) absence of Jordan Love, Green Bay’s defense was unimpressive as a unit in Week 1 in Brazil.
They face an uncommon opponent in a home opener for the first time since 2014, when they opened against the New York Jets in Week 2. Facing an unfamiliar opponent doesn’t necessarily bode poorly for them. Still, it could mean the Indianapolis Colts will show plenty of unscouted looks, especially under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, a former head coach.
The Colts are a talented team on both sides of the ball. They are coming off a close two-point loss to the exciting Houston Texans last week. Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen previously coached the Eagles, meaning he comes from a similar system to the one that gave Green Bay’s defense fits in Week 1. We all know how good Jonathan Taylor is; rumors swirled early last season that the Packers were interested in trading for him.
Steichen was Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator during Jalen Hurts‘ breakout 2022 season and the Eagles Super Bowl appearance. While Hurts regressed slightly last season after Steichen’s departure, the Colts run a similar offense, which gave the Packers issues during Week 1.
Anthony Richardson is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback who mirrors Hurts’ mobility. However, he isn’t as polished as a passer. Richardson has an absolute rocket for an arm and threw an impressive 60-yard touchdown last Sunday. However, he remains inexperienced; he only made five NFL starts last year.
Green Bay contained Hurts’ running ability well last week, and I’d expect a similar game plan for Richardson this week. But they didn’t generate much pressure or make Hurts particularly uncomfortable. The Packers must apply pressure and force Indianapolis’ quarterback to make mistakes.
The Packers need to contain Taylor in the running game and force Richardson to make the right reads and throws to beat them. Last week, Richardson completed only 9 of 19 passes. The more times Green Bay requires him to diagnose the defense and make a throw, the better they will play against him.
Still, Green Bay’s greatest obstacle on Sunday is playing without its franchise quarterback.
The Packers have been the envy of the NFL because of their consistent quarterback play for nearly three decades. They haven’t played their first game in Lambeau Field opener without a quarterback named Favre, Rodgers, or Love under center since 1991. While there’s a slight chance Love could play – LaFleur has “kept the door open” – Malik Willis will likely make his fourth-career start. In his previous starts, Willis hasn’t lit up the field, but he’s a talented player.
Green Bay has long relied on top-tier quarterback play. However, with Willis under center, I’d expect a heavy dose of Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson in the running and screen games. The Texans gashed the Colts for 213 rushing yards last week, so they are vulnerable on the ground. They also miss DeForest Buckner from practice this week, so if he doesn’t play, that’s a big benefit for the Packers’ offense. LaFleur will likely craft a game plan that minimizes long-developing or complex routes, allowing Willis to get the ball out quickly and efficiently, with his receivers shouldering the load.
Suppose the Packers can replicate last week’s turnover performance and capitalize on those opportunities. If they can keep it simple for Willis while churning out some yards on the ground, they have a good chance to extend the streak to 12-straight wins. However, it won’t be easy.
