The Green Bay Packers will take their show on the road after an impressive 2-0 start with wins over NFC contenders at Lambeau Field.
This week, they’ll be guests of the Cleveland Browns, who are looking to get off the mat after losing their second consecutive game to start the season.
The goal this week is a little different. The team they’re facing is not as good, so they’ll need to learn not to play with their food.
Here’s a six-pack worth of thoughts as the Packers head to Cleveland.
1. Clash of the Titans
When these two teams face off, it could represent a bit of a passing of the torch in a way.
The Cleveland Browns have one of the best pass rushers in all of football with Myles Garrett.
The Packers recently traded for a guy like that with Micah Parsons bringing his talent to Green Bay.
Both players have been incredibly impactful during their careers — and to start this season.
Garrett has 3.5 sacks on the season, with at least 1.5 in each of the first two games.
Parsons has been playing with a limited workload due to a lack of practice time in the offseason.
Despite that, he has at least 0.5 sacks in each game, and he had a whopping eight pressures against Washington.
This week, they’ll never be on the field at the same time, but it will be something worth watching.
2. Kraft YAC and Cheese
Tucker Kraft had his best game as a professional in the Sept. 11 win over Washington. He is one of the best players in football with the ball in his possession. Of his 124 receiving yards, 74 of them came after the football was in his hands.
He also had a career-long 57-yard reception that led to the team’s first touchdown.
Getting him involved against a linebacker corps that struggles in coverage will be paramount for this week’s game.
3. Wildcat?
One of the wrinkles the Packers threw in last week was the expansion of Savion Williams’ role.
Williams had one catch on a pop pass in the season opener, but he was largely otherwise nondescript in his NFL debut. His second game, however, showed some of the juice the Packers likely saw when they drafted him in the third round.
Williams played snaps at receiver, running back and wildcat quarterback in college. He went to his roots as a wildcat quarterback on Sept. 11, taking a direct snap from Elgton Jenkins and rushing for 16 yards before falling down.
Had he not slipped, he might have scored. Williams can create some easy offense by simply getting the ball in his hands, and the Packers may look to do more of that this week.
4. Sitting duck
Last week, the Packers faced what Preston Smith used to call the fastest chicken in the yard with no fence to contain him. Jayden Daniels is an excellent runner, and the Packers were able to hold him down as a runner.
This week, they’ll face someone who is not a runner. Joe Flacco has never been overly mobile during his career. He’s less mobile than he’s ever been as he continues to age.
The Packers’ pass rush has been excellent through two weeks and will face an offensive line that has allowed two sacks in each of the first two games. If Green Bay’s pass rush turns up the heat, Flacco won’t be able to escape.
5. Old friend.
Punters are people, too, or something like that. One former Packer who will take the field against them this week is Cory Bojorquez.
Bojorquez lasted one season in Green Bay and started off well before tailing off down the stretch of the 2021 season.
When Maurice Drayton was fired after the disastrous showing during the season, Bojorquez was replaced with Pat O’Donnell.
The Packers now have stability with Daniel Whelan in the kicking game.
6. Jayden Reed
Who is going to replace Jayden Reed is a two-fold question.
The answer at wide receiver is built in. Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs have all been solid to start the season.
The Packers have also leaned on their two tight end package early in the year.
The bigger question might be: Who is returning punts?
Golden and Keisean Nixon were the answers Sept. 11, but with a full week of practice and preparation, the Packers may go in another direction.
Mecole Hardman could be a candidate for a practice squad call-up, or a signing to the Packers’ roster to take over Reed’s roster spot when he is placed on injured reserve.