Cory, I’ll agree with you on Jacob’s pitch count. The other points that you’re suggesting, negative. Total focus on this game. We go 3 and 1 to close out the season we’ll be fine . Go Pack Go!!!

Playing scared is not an option. Luck will be what it is. Playing to win and playing "loose" vs. "to lose" is a better plan! It might not be a "must" win, but it is an important game and losing it if the Bears win against the Browns puts the Bears game right back where we started last Sunday. If players need to be on a pitch count that's up to the medical staff and the coaches.

There's a difference between saying "not a must win"--which I agree with: it's not a must-win--and basically advocating to treat this like a preseason game.

Play to win or don't play.

Limit Jacobs pitch count yes, But I want to see more of Brooks than Wilson
You cannot flip Tom and Walker at this stage of the year ( come on Cory )
The Packers should have been rotating J Morgan and Walker if anything
Love has been playing under control recently and has been throwing the ball out bounce
I get what your saying Cory but if the players suspect the coaches have decided to play it safe
rather than continue with there momentum they will get blown out. Maybe not the best
for confidence of a young team...

Other than Jacobs, I disagree with your thoughts. You play to win and try to get a 1st round bye in the playoffs. If you get the bye you have the best odds to get to the SB. Don’t move players around where they might not be as effective. I don’t care about our WR Rookies getting playing time if they are not playing as well as the others. The rookies will get their time as seasons progress. You play your best players and try to go 4-0!

What a laughable take.

Par for the course in this little corner of the internet.

Can't remember something this ridiculous ever. Hey team go out there and lose. Real confidence builder. And Willis is more than trustworthy, yup Jacobs IF NEEDED do count. PLAY to win only!

Just no. This game is not an optional win. It is true that a win at the Bears will be more important, but a loss at both would be catastrophic potentially while a loss at one survivable. All we can achieve on Sunday is ensuring we don’t lose both or be worse off going into the Bears game, which your suggestions could actually lead to in fact.

You don’t mess with OLs unless you need to unless you are Adam Stenavich. Please don’t encourage him. Leave Tom where he is for both himself and Belton. In the off season the switch of sides for Tom should be given serious thought, but not now. Walker has not played RT, so that concept is nuts. The presumably next man up at RT is Kinnard. Sorry, Kinnard is a lot less good at RT than Walker is at LT.

Denver is not a one man rush threat team and you want to downgrade our tackles overall by moving one and sitting Walker for Kinnard? A good way to increase the risk Love is hurt. Kinnard is also our 6th OL/TE in a game where that role may be particularly important, compounding the rush threat and potentially increasing the difficulty of run success against a team where that is already likely to be a challenge.

If Jacobs is not himself, don’t play him at all. He’s not Aaron Jones who could come in for a few plays and take off immediately. His style of running requires repetition and for him to get into a groove. If Jacobs needs time then even 10 snaps could be enough to downgrade him against the Bears while not being at his best this week.

If he’s not full go, sit him. Run Wilson. That worked out pretty well last time. I don’t expect us to win on the ground against this D other than by attrition. Wilson is as physical as Jacobs. Let him grind them down (and them him), not a hampered Jacobs. Have Jacobs be in as good shape as possible for the Bears if he’s not right now.

As to giving fringe or returning players snaps. No to the fringe unless it’s a blow out (unlikely). As to returning players, are they healthy? If not, worry about incorporating them when they are not potentially delaying that. This team is starting to slowly get healthier and also to get settled time playing together and you want to mess with that and in a game that could yet be crucial? Sorry, no on all counts and it pains me to be that polite.

Can't argue with Jacobs sitting if he can't play, but don't see how you pick a number of plays and say that is too many for him. If he is healthy he plays and the other stuff doesn't come into play either.... unless Chicago lays an egg in the early game (guess playing late has its advantage this weekend) and Denver gets ahead early.

A win this week and against the Bears wins the division (unless Detroit wins out) and allows for two weeks of experimentation before the playoffs - that should be the focus!

The Packers have a very real shot at winning out and getting the #1 seed and the 1st round bye that goes with that. This would give them an opportunity to give their players a chance to recover from their bumps and bruises. While winning the division is important getting that #1 seed should be their focus and I think they can get that if they win out. As far as some of Corey's recommendations Switching Tom to the left side to replace Walker is ridiculous. Limiting Jacobs carries is a reasonable assertion based upon how well Wilson has played in his opportunities, but only if Jacobs is limited, otherwise you ride him, as he has gotten into a good rhythm the past few games.

Jordan is a nice guy and knows Doubs is up for free agency-he'll target him more often in the next 4 games if it makes sense.
Jacobs has to be protected from himself-he is all heart. Put him on a pitch count.
The OL is the biggest problem and will be for the foreseeable future. It's always something w/these guys--
R. Walker, Morgan, Belton and so on.

Great strategy. Yikes.

Some of it reminds me of the strategy last year after mostly clinching the playoffs. Let up off the gas...be cautious and change the way you played all year. Then back into the playoffs.

Some of Cory's "Tip Toe to Chicago" strategy is also strangely radical...mess with an OL that has finally found some continuity, unity, and side by side improvements in play performances. Do a complete rebuild on the flanks at Tackle...in the 4th quarter of the season, no less!

That move alone might even cause Jordan Love, after being stressed all week not to do crazy stuff...to do some really crazy stuff just to survive the Broncos pass rush.

Oh, Cory, you provocateur, you. You are the Stephan A. Smith of CHTV.

I'm surprised the CHTV staff has (so far) whiffed on the Jimmy Leonard angle for this game. You know, it's MLF against the ingrate/savior who spurned his DC offer and is now passing game coordinator for the mighty Broncos. Sean Payton being snubbed for HC in favor of McMumbles was right there, too.

To play along, the Packers don't gotsta win, but they should try their hardest, then. GPG

Nobody has mentioned - or at least I havent seen the mention of the game is in Denver. Denver is at altitude andI seem to remember players running out of gas and needing to go to oxygen tanks on the sidelines? One thing that I have been critical of and want to see us correct - it is the 3 and outs. Especially after our D has been on the field for a long drive against us. We cant just go out - run incomplete pass incomplete pass and put. That has happened several times and against the Bears. We could have just as easily lost that game and I would have put a lot of that on Love/Lafleur and the offense. Love is NOT in the MVP conversation and should not be. There are just too many bad games this year and too many bad portion of games where he is not leading us - for him to be in consideration for that honor. We do not need a W - but we do need to go out and show that we can compete on both sides of the ball against one of the better teams and better coached teams. Our play off hopes lie in winning 2 of the last 3 games after Denver. Ten wins might get us in - but probably will need 11 - as it will be between GB, San Fran and Detroit for WC 2 and 3. At least we hold tiebreaker with Detroit.

Rasheed Walker is top 10 among all tackles in pass block win rate this season. Packers fans will appreciate him a lot more after he's gone.

How did this article ever see the light of publication? Not advocating to play for the win is unacceptable and shouldn't be a part of any Packer writers agenda. TO WIN....That's Why You Play The Game. TO LOSE....That's For The Other 31 Teams In The League, Not The Packers.

I came across this question in a recent SAT test:
Dean Smith is to Michael Jordan, as Matt LaFleur is to _______.
Answer: Matthew Golden

I know he's been injured some but for all the hoopla over his selection, Golden just hasn't been used.

I don't agree with putting Jacobs on a pitch count. If his knee isn't 100%, we could potentially lose him for the rest of the season with one hit. We have the luxury of having more than competent backups. Use them.

As far as going back to musical chairs on the Oline after FINALLY having some well needed continuity there? Not only no, but HELL NO. Strange article.

Based on the surprising results this season it is hard to call this game a "must win", that stretches conventional logic. The Loyd situation bodes well for the Packers picking up Wilson's restricted tender this off season, how can the GM let a young proven back go and believe a 3rd round pick from two years ago can be counted on to even get through the OTA's and pres-season games much less be the prime backup like many "expert" writers believe.

I've never Liked R. Walker at LT???
In two seasons as a starter (2023-24), has helped Green Bay rank No. 2 in the NFL in sacks allowed (52) and sack percentage (4.7).
Started all 17 games at LT last season, helping the Packers rank No. 2 in the NFL in sacks allowed (22) and No. 5 in total offense (370.8 ypg), rushing offense (146.8 ypg) and yards per play (6.14), Green Bay's first time finishing in the top five in all of those categories since 2003.
Appeared in all 17 games with 15 starts at LT in 2023 and was part of a line that helped the Packers rank No. 3 in the NFL in sacks allowed (30) and No. 4 in sack percentage (4.9).
His 15 starts in 2023 were the most by a Green Bay offensive lineman selected in the seventh round within his first two NFL seasons since T Mark Tauscher started all 16 games in his second season (2001).

I'd sign him to an extension.
A Bargain at LT.

"Sunday Is Not A Must Win"

Nor is it a must lose. The Packer's business is all about taking care of business, in Denver.

Get that young kicker on the 53! We will need him to try a 71 yarder. With the thin air, it's got a chanze!

Sleep tight and dont let the bed bugz bite.

Your doppelganger,

PB

A Must win—It is for me.
I hate the donkeys, their team, organization, fans, cheerleaders…
I live in donkey country—tired of them.
Beat’em—like a circus monkey.
Go Packers!!!

The premise of this article is bad, period!

first, if Jacobs is not 100% then rest him for the Bears game. Beyond that everything else about the article is off base. Never give up on a game until it is played and always play to win every game. This is professional football and every game counts even the games against non-conference opponents.

The Packers have enough to overcome before this game even starts. First they are coming off of an emotional last second victory against the Bears for the divisional lead so the possibility of a let down or a flat start in this game is high probability. Simultaneously they will probably be looking ahead to the next Bears game and past the Broncos. Either of these could cause a team to play flat but both together is a real problem for any coaching staff.

All the more reason for the Packers on this game and this game only and they should be ready to play for the win for the full 60 minutes. Avoid a let down. Play full speed or the Packers will end up will more injuries. You can't play at less than 100% in the NFL. No time to move around players on the OL and no time to give more snaps to players who are still learning how to play in the NFL. If you have a big lead or fall way behind then yes send in the second and third stringers but as long as the game is winnable keep playing to win. GPG! Thanks, Since '61

Cory's Corner: Sunday Is Not A Must Win
A win in Denver would look nice, but the Packers should have their sights set for the Windy City.
***********
WTF did i just read here?
Who ok'd this article?

They are all must wins, especially this time of year.
If you don't want the Packers competing for the #1 seed and a bye, yea, it isn't a must win.
If you don't want the Packers competing for the #2 seed, yea, it isn't a must win.
If you only have a mild interest in the Packers winning, no, it isn't a must win.

The Packers 'should' have their sights on the Bear game?
Then why play this game, because your basically conceding defeat.
Championship teams/fans DON'T think like that

It's a week to week league. the next game is Denver.
The Packers and Packer Nation DO NOT concede defeat before the game is played.

You might want to hand in your Packer Fan Card Cory.

Because the team is the smallest market in football the importance of the game is to the Green Bay economy. Win out, clinch a home playoff game or two. Instant injection of cash into Green Bay. Think bigger Cory. Football is both entertainment and industry.

I have a disagreement and a comment:
1) BAD time to shuffling O-Line. I realize Walker ain't Forrest Gregg, but shifting Tom over there is a bad idea.
Then who plays RT? Morgan? Kinnard?? Line has shown some real progress this season: ok in run blocking,
better in pass pro. Leave well enough alone.
2) Good point about RBs. Give all 3 some snaps. Focus on screens to Jacobs, give the tough carries to Wilson, and rely on Brooks in pass pro.
We may not need to beat Denver, but.......................................... we really need to beat Denver. Make sense?
The Szotman