Vanessa: One sack. Twenty yards on the ground. And a quarterback who didn't throw a single touchdown. That's what we saw in Pittsburgh, and now the Packers are heading to Denver with a chance to wash that taste out of their mouths. But are they ready?
Nick: Vanessa, if they play like they did last Thursday, it's going to be a long night against the Broncos. But this is preseason — it's about who steps up, not who wins.
Vanessa: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, Packers fam! I'm Vanessa, and as always, the sharpest mind in football, Nick, is right here with me. On today's show: we break down that ugly loss to Pittsburgh, look at the mounting injury list, and give you three keys to a bounce-back in Denver.
Nick: Plus, we're making a bold prediction for Friday's game. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one.
Vanessa: Let's get into it.
Vanessa: Alright Nick, let's start with the elephant in the room. The Packers lost their preseason opener 28-9 to the Steelers. What went wrong?
Nick: Honestly, it was a combination of things. The offense was conservative, the run game got stuffed, and the pass rush was nearly invisible. One sack all night, and that came from Zaire Franklin. That's not going to cut it.
Vanessa: And that Steelers rookie, Drew Allar, he looked like a star. 10 of 13 for 153 yards, two touchdowns through the air, plus a rushing score. He made our defense look slow.
Nick: He did. And their receivers, Kaden Wetjen and Lew Nichols, they had their way with our secondary. Wetjen had 79 yards on just two catches, and one of those went for a touchdown. That's the kind of explosive play we need to prevent in Denver.
Vanessa: So what's the biggest takeaway from that loss as we head into this Broncos matchup?
Nick: For me, it's the lack of pressure. The Steelers had all day to throw, and their quarterback made us pay. We need Brenton Cox Jr. and the rest of the front seven to get after the quarterback early and often.
Vanessa: And we know Micah Parsons is still recovering from that ACL injury, so the pressure is on other guys to step up. Nick, what are you looking for from the defense specifically against Denver?
Nick: I want to see the defensive line establish some push. We can't let the Broncos' offensive line dictate the game. If we can make their quarterback uncomfortable, we have a chance to create turnovers and flip the field.
Vanessa: Alright, so let's talk about the injury report. It's a long list, Nick. Josh Jacobs, Tucker Kraft, DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and a bunch of others are all questionable. How do you sort that out?
Nick: You have to be smart. It's preseason, so there's no reason to rush anyone back. But you also need to evaluate the depth. If Jacobs can't go, that means Damien Martinez gets more carries, and he only averaged 2.5 yards per carry last week. That's a concern.
Vanessa: And we should mention Marlon Jones and Johnathan Baldwin II are on injured reserve. That hurts the secondary depth.
Nick: It does. And with the cornerback battle heating up — Keisean Nixon not guaranteed a starting spot — this is a critical week for those guys to prove themselves.
Vanessa: We'll get more into that in a minute, but first, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we're breaking down the quarterback competition and that cornerback battle.
Vanessa: Stick with us.
Vanessa: Welcome back! Let's dive into the quarterback situation. Jordan Love is the starter, Tyrod Taylor is the backup, but Kyle McCord is the one getting these preseason reps. He went 12-for-16 for 102 yards against Pittsburgh — efficient, but no touchdowns. What did you see, Nick?
Nick: He was safe, but that's not going to win him a roster spot. He didn't turn the ball over, which is good, but he didn't push the ball downfield either. Against Denver, I want to see him take some chances and show he can make those tight-window throws.
Vanessa: So you're saying he needs to air it out a bit?
Nick: Exactly. He's competing for a backup spot, and he needs to show he can move the offense and score points. Check-downs won't get it done.
Vanessa: And what about the run game? Damien Martinez had a tough night — 8 carries for 20 yards. With Jacobs questionable, who else needs to step up?
Nick: Well, we didn't see much else in the backfield. Martinez is the workhorse in this preseason, but he needs better blocking up front. The offensive line has to create some holes, otherwise it's going to be another long night on the ground.
Vanessa: Let's talk about the receiving corps. Isaiah Neyor led the team with 4 catches for 34 yards. But with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. both questionable, who else needs to shine?
Nick: Guys like Neyor and the other young receivers have to take advantage of these reps. If Metcalf and Pittman sit out, that's more targets for them. They need to show they can be reliable options in the passing game.
Vanessa: And on the defensive side, Mark Perry led the team with six tackles. Zaire Franklin got the only sack. What did you make of their performances?
Nick: Perry was flying around, that's good to see. Franklin's sack was a bright spot, but we need more from the entire front seven. One sack against a rookie quarterback is not acceptable.
Vanessa: And there's that cornerback battle we mentioned. Keisean Nixon isn't guaranteed a starting role. What's the competition look like?
Nick: It's open. The coaching staff wants to see who can hold up in coverage. Nixon has the experience, but there are younger guys pushing for playing time. This game against Denver's receivers will be a big test for all of them.
Vanessa: So what's the one thing you're watching most in this game, Nick?
Nick: I'm watching the pass rush. If we can generate consistent pressure on the Broncos' quarterback, that will tell me a lot about this defense's ability to compete when the regular season starts.
Vanessa: Alright, we're going to take another quick break. When we come back, we're giving you our keys to the game and making a bold prediction.
Vanessa: Don't go anywhere.
Vanessa: We're back! Time for our keys to the game. Nick, what are the three things the Packers need to do to bounce back in Denver?
Nick: First, establish the run. We need to get Damien Martinez or whoever is back there going early. If we can average even four yards a carry, it'll open up the play-action and take pressure off the quarterback.
Vanessa: Second, generate pressure on defense. We can't let the Broncos' quarterback sit in the pocket and pick us apart. Brenton Cox Jr. needs to be a factor.
Nick: And third, win the turnover battle. We forced zero turnovers last week. If we can get a takeaway or two, that could be the difference in a close preseason game.
Vanessa: Now, for our bold prediction. I'm going to say the Packers get their first win of the preseason. What do you think, Nick?
Nick: I'm going to go a step further. I think Kyle McCord throws his first touchdown pass of the preseason, and the defense records at least three sacks. That's the kind of bounce-back performance this team needs.
Vanessa: Three sacks? That's bold, considering we only had one last week.
Nick: I know, but the Broncos' offensive line isn't as stout as Pittsburgh's. And with the cornerback competition heating up, the coverage should be tighter, giving the pass rush more time to get home.
Vanessa: Alright, there it is. A win, a McCord touchdown, and three sacks. Let's see if the Packers can deliver.
Vanessa: That's all the time we have for today's show. To recap: we broke down the loss to Pittsburgh, looked at the injury report and key position battles, and gave you three keys to the game.
Vanessa: Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network, and share this episode with your fellow Packers fans. We'll be back tomorrow with all the reaction from Denver.
Nick: Go Pack Go!
Vanessa: Go Pack Go!