Once again, I see them rebounding at home against the Cards and outgunning the Houston Texans the following week. As I mentioned earlier, they catch the Jaguars at a good time, jet-lagged after two weeks overseas. That’s a W.

They close the quarter with a huge late afternoon game against the Lions. Last season, the road team won each game in this series. Not this year…Packers roll into the bye on a four-game winning streak.

Second-Quarter Record: 4-1 (7-2 overall)

Third Quarter: The Pack come out of the bye and get their first look at the new-look Bears, who circled this game the moment the schedule came out. Green Bay has the rest advantage, but Chicago will be coming off a home game against the New England Patriots, the closest thing to a bye week you’ll find this side of Carolina.

We all know Matt LaFleur is a perfect 10-0 against da Bears. We also all know that the ride will end eventually. I’m saying it ends here. Chicago finally breaks through against the Pack (…be right back – need to take a shower).

Here comes the Murderer’s Row portion of the schedule, with a huge late-afternoon home game against the San Francisco 49ers and then back-to-back Thursday nights against the Miami Dolphins and Lions.

Until they show they can break through, I’ll pick San Francisco to continue their mastery – with lower stakes this time around. They provide a perfect ending to Thanksgiving Day with a win on a hopefully cold night against Tua and the Dolphins.

A week later, though, the Lions get revenge and earn a split in the season series.

2024 NFL QB Power Rankings

1. Patrick Mahomes
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS QB

No reason to get cute here. Like that other figurehead of a recent dynasty, Mahomes has adapted according to circumstance, going from big-play striker to methodical sharpshooter in a Tom Brady-esque domination of the game. He is the current and indefinite standard at the position.

2. Brock Purdy
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS QB

Let’s give the kid the respect he deserves. Two seasons, two NFC title games, one valiant Super Bowl effort. Does he have a sterling setup in San Francisco? Yep. Does he operate like a 10-year vet, managing the pocket as both an efficient and mobile gunslinger? Also yep.

3. Josh Allen
BUFFALO BILLS QB

Allen was already a one-man roller-coaster ride, and things could get rockier in Buffalo with basically the whole receiving corps replaced. But he’s a perennial MVP type due to the Superman skill set. If anyone can will a team to contend with a rocket arm and bruising legs, it’s him.

4. Joe Burrow
CINCINNATI BENGALS QB

Injuries all but wiped out his 2023 season, so there’s some projection of recovery here. But he’s always thrived as a pocket surgeon, and he’s still got top-tier weaponry to go with a bolstered front. Don’t be shocked if his timely touch has Cincinnati right back in the title conversation.

5. C.J. Stroud
HOUSTON TEXANS QB

The feel-good story of the 2023 quarterback class, Stroud was lights out as both a level-headed leader and downfield attacker in his pro debut. Now he’s got Stefon Diggs added to a growing skill group, and a feistier defense on his side. Preseason MVP hype incoming.

6. Lamar Jackson
BALTIMORE RAVENS QB

His return to elite form in 2023 ended with a relative whimper, but that doesn’t change the fact he remains one of the league’s toughest players to defend on a down-to-down basis. Dual-threat home runs are effortless to him. Derrick Henry should aid on the ground, too.

7. Jalen Hurts
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES QB

In a tumultuous 2023 Eagles season, not even the notoriously even-keeled Hurts was immune to mercurial spurts. But his setup remains elite, as does his penchant for clutch toughness, and a fresh play-caller in Kellen Moore could rekindle aspirations of another title bid.

8. Dak Prescott
DALLAS COWBOYS QB

The Cowboys are “all in” on pressuring him to perform, allowing the veteran to enter a contract year after another one-and-done playoff bid. But he’s solid enough in every facet, with a still-solid supporting cast featuring CeeDee Lamb and a new left tackle, to find a spendy taker come 2025.

9. Justin Herbert
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS QB

He’s gotten flak recently for an inability to translate early career numbers into big-time wins. And now his supporting cast has been swapped out. But the arm is there, and new coach Jim Harbaugh should settle things down by prioritizing a tougher ground game.

10. Jordan Love
GREEN BAY PACKERS QB

One of the most dazzling watches of late 2023, Love must prove he can rein in his inner Brett Favre as a gifted thrower, but one year into his gig as Green Bay’s full-timer, he sure looks to have the moxie of a long-term playmaker. His young weapons are still growing, too.

11. Aaron Rodgers
NEW YORK JETS QB

If he’s upright, he may well remain a top-five player at the position, capable of maximizing the Jets‘ playoff-caliber lineup. But there is a lot of mystery here; Rodgers isn’t just 40 and coming off a season lost to a serious injury, but he arguably also hasn’t posted elite marks in three years.

12. Tua Tagovailoa
MIAMI DOLPHINS QB

On script and well protected, he’s a video-game-like distributor for a high-octane offense. But what’s the ceiling here, considering the Mike McDaniel regime is still searching for its first playoff victory? That remains a burning question entering Year 5 of his career.

13. Jared Goff
DETROIT LIONS QB

Perhaps no signal-caller has done more to restore respect in recent years, rewriting his reputation as a gutsy figurehead for the Lions ‘ return to relevance. Now comes another chance to prove himself, fresh off a bid for a Super Bowl appearance that painfully fell short.

14. Kirk Cousins
ATLANTA FALCONS QB

Under pressure to make good on his big free-agent deal after the Falcons ‘ surprise first-round pick of Michael Penix Jr. , Cousins adds much-needed reliability to an ascending Atlanta squad. Going on 36 and coming off an Achilles tear, he still projects as a steady play-action rifle.

“Cooper,” added Gutekunst, “the speed that he brings to the table at the linebacker position is rare. So I think we got a lot faster, which I wanted to do this weekend.”

From an alignment standpoint, Hopper was often at middle linebacker for the Packers’ defense with Cooper outside–although that could very well change as they get deeper into offseason programs.

Along with speed, another point of emphasis at the linebacker position for Gutekunst was on adding versatile players who are “interchangeable” and able to wear a variety of hats.

Gutekunst mentioned that he didn’t want to pigeonhole a player into a specific role. Instead, the linebackers are going to be expected to know the responsibilities for each of the Sam, Mike, and Will roles that comes with a 4-3 defense.

“That’s one thing I take pride in myself, being versatile,” Cooper said. “I feel like I can be at any spot. Outside, that’s my go to. But if I move inside I’m sure I can handle that, too.”

Gutekunst has become predictably unpredictable in the war room. While he’s markedly more aggressive in free agency than his predecessor, Ted Thompson, Gutekunst has carried on the Packers’ longstanding draft philosophy. Impressive athletic profiles and versatility continued to show up in Green Bay’s picks. However, needs were a noticeable point of emphasis, demonstrating the front office’s intention to go all-in following a breakout season.

McKinney and Bullard will take over for the revolving door of Darnell Savage Jr, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford at the safety position; Cooper will bring youth, energy, and physicality to the spot that the aging De’Vondre Campbell held last season; and Morgan is another high-upside piece to add to Love’s offensive line. His arrival also opens the door for Zach Tom to move to center, a possibility the Packers are reportedly intrigued by. It’s a long road between now and opening day, including crucial transitions for the young guys, but they have flipped multiple key weaknesses into potential strengths overnight — at least on paper.

As they addressed need after need, the elephant in the room became cornerback,  the major position Gutekunst opted not to dip into early on. Star defensive back Jaire Alexander has one side of the field under firm control, but there are a plethora of questions on the other side. Former first-round pick Eric Stokes flashed aggressively in his rookie year, but major injuries have sidelined him ever since. Seventh-round rookie Carrington Valentine held his own in a handful of starts in 2023, but it’s still difficult to view him as a long-term solution.

In a post-draft presser, Matt LaFleur addressed this by saying Stokes “looks great,” suggesting he will be ready to go as CB2 opposite Alexander. That brings the number of Georgia defenders in the starting lineup up to four, with Bullard joining Stokes, Walker, and Devonte Wyatt, another high draft pick primed for a big leap.

One of the primary factors in Gutekunst’s draft domination these past couple of years has been the diamonds in the rough he finds in the middle rounds. This year, seventh-round corner Kalen King feels like a guy who fits that mold. Around this time a year ago, King was forecasted to go on Thursday or Friday. However, he had a rough 2023 season and slid the entire length of the draft. Jayden Reed and Sauce Gardner were among those who shouted him out as a steal.

Interestingly, two of their late-rounders have gotten the better of potential future villain Caleb Williams. Fifth-round safety Kitan Oladapo sacked him in an Oregon State victory over USC, and seventh-round quarterback selection Michael Pratt outdueled him in an absolute boat race of a Cotton Bowl in 2022. Pratt has maintained a decent national profile as the leader of an overperforming Tulane team, and it will be interesting to see if he winds up with the backup quarterback job that currently belongs to Sean Clifford.

Overall, it was an incredibly successful weekend for Gutekunst and the Packers. They put the cherry on top of the Aaron Rodgers trade with the addition of Cooper and have this roster locked, loaded, and ready to make noise in the NFC. Over the next few months, the onus will fall on the coaches to turn personnel into production. LaFleur’s system looked polished and potent in Love’s first year at the helm, and it feels like the sky’s the limit with the entire young core returning. Hafley’s defense will be far more interesting to see. Time will tell if he can avoid the fates of his predecessors, but one thing is certain: Brian Gutekunst has put them all in a position to succeed heading into 2024.

The third round was particularly fruitful, delivering three future starters in fullback William Henderson, linebacker Brian Williams, and wide receiver Antonio Freeman, alongside defensive tackle Darius Holland, who provided valuable depth. Special teams standout Travis Jervey, selected in the fifth round, and seventh-round pick guard Adam Timmerman, would both go on to distinguish themselves as indispensable components of the team’s success.

These draft decisions laid down the foundation for the Packers’ ascension, culminating in a Super Bowl win the following season, a victory partly attributed to key additions from the 1996 draft, including the likes of guard Marco Rivera and cornerback Tyrone Williams.

Fast forward to 2009, and the Packers replicated this successful drafting formula. They secured nose tackle B.J.

Raji and linebacker Clay Matthews in the first round, both of whom significantly bolstered their defensive unit. Raji fortified the defensive line’s center, while Matthews introduced a dynamic edge to the Packers’ pass rush.

Added to this, fourth-rounder T.J. Lang and seventh-rounder Brad Jones would prove to be valuable assets, further demonstrating Green Bay’s drafting acumen.

Their strategic drafting continued in 2010, introducing key players like Bryan Bulaga, who made an immediate impact, and others who contributed significantly to the team’s depth and success.

Now, as the Packers look forward to the 2023 draft with a hefty 11 picks at their disposal, there’s palpable excitement around what General Manager Brian Gutekunst might achieve. With a promising roster and a young quarterback at the helm, parallels are being drawn to the draft-driven foundations of past championship teams.

Emerging talents from the Packers’ recent draft classes, including Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft, have already started to make their presence felt, while rookies like Karl Brooks, Dontayvion Wicks, Carrington Valentine, and Lukas Van Ness are showing promising potential.

As the Packers prepare to navigate this year’s draft, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Gutekunst can engineer a class that not only elevates the team but possibly sets the stage for another championship run, echoing the success of those hallowed 1996 and 2010 seasons.

Arena Corinthians, also known as NeoQuimica Arena, is home to Brazilian soccer team SC Corinthians and hosted both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. The stadium has a capacity of about 47,000.

“The expectation is a crowded arena for the game,” said João Storer of Florianópolis. “São Paulo is the best city for this event, and for sure NeoQuimica Arena is the best Brazilian stadium. I’ve visited the stadium three times; it has a huge outside space for other events and tailgating.”

Because of the stadium’s size — Lambeau Field’s capacity is 81,000 — tickets are expected to be at a premium.

“The only concern that we have are the ticket prices,” said Storer, who hopes to find a Packers watch party near home if he can’t secure a ticket.

Visiting teams — which the Packers are for this contest — typically do not receive a ticket allotment for season ticket holders, so tickets are not available through the Packers. Ticket packages will be available through On Location, an official partner of the NFL, at onlocationexp.com/packersbrazil. 

Event USA in Ashwaubenon also is taking deposits for travel packages to the game, which company President Dennis Garrity said are in limited supply. The company provided packages to about 800 Packers fans for the game in London in 2022.

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“Regrettably, we’re not going to be able to offer that much space this year, so we believe we will have a sellout quite quickly,” Garrity said.

The flight to São Paulo is longer than to London, but the time zones are more forgiving. All of South America is east of Michigan, but São Paulo is only two hours ahead of Green Bay when daylight savings time is active in the United States.

With a population of 12.3 million, São Paulo is 1.5 times larger than New York or London, as populous as all of Illinois, and more than twice the size of Wisconsin. It has 50 times more residents than Brown County, and Metro São Paulo is 3,000 square miles, compared to Brown County’s 530.

“São Paulo is a New York-stylish city,” Rovere said. Like New York, São Paulo is a financial hub. It is the most important city in South America because of that, he said.

“It has some incredible museums, huge parks, one of the best restaurants in world and many nice people,” he said.

As with any large tourist city, visitors need to be aware of their surroundings. “Don’t trust everyone, keep things in a pocket, don’t walk alone and do some research about where you will be and the best transport options,” he said.

Rovere expects attendance at the game will heavily favor the Packers.

“We know that is gonna feel like a home game for the Packers,” Rovere said.

Contact Richard Ryman at rr****@*****tt.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG