The Green Bay Packers will welcome the Indianapolis Colts to Lambeau Field for the home opener on Sunday. Like the Packers, the Colts are coming off a season-opening loss to a contender and hoping to avoid an 0-2 start in Week 2.
Unlike the Colts, the Packers have a big question mark at quarterback. Jordan Love is questionable to play, and Malik Willis — the backup — has only three NFL starts in his career and less than three weeks of experience in Matt LaFleur’s scheme.
Will Love play? And if he doesn’t, can the Packers find a way to steal a game at home?
Here are five things to watch and a prediction for Week 2:
Who plays quarterback?
The mystery remains after the Packers listed Jordan Love, who didn’t practice all week, as questionable. Most still assume Love won’t play, leaving Malik Willis to start. How will the Packers adjust if Willis is under center? It’s hard to say, given his inexperience in the NFL and inexperience in Matt LaFleur’s scheme. The run game will be vital, but so will the play-action passing game and the screen game, and you can bet LaFleur will dial up a few gadget plays. Throw in any designed runs for Willis, who is a terrific athlete, and potentially a few deep shots, and the Packers will have a shot. The offense is talented around Willis; LaFleur must push the right buttons at the right time, helping making life easier on the quarterback. Dusty Evely has more on what we could expect from the Packers with Willis at quarterback.
Defensive rebound?
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley admitted the coaching and execution from the defense wasn’t good enough in Week 1, but he was also happy with much of the performance overall and confident the Packers would begin to improve starting Sunday. It will be interesting to compare the performances given how similar the Colts are to the Eagles. The Colts have a talented and dynamic quarterback (Anthony Richardson), a do-it-all running back with elite ability (Jonathan Taylor), a legitimate No. 1 receiver (Michael Pittman Jr.) and a big-play complementary weapon (Alec Pierce), plus a big, experienced and physical offensive line. The Packers defense needs to bounce back, especially if Jordan Love isn’t available.
Winning the line of scrimmage
Running the football and protecting the passer will be vital regardless of whether Willis or Love starts. The Colts gave up over 200 rushing yards but also sacked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud four times in the opener. In the run game, can the Packers get Josh Jacobs going against a front that got gashed by Joe Mixon and might be without DeForest Buckner, who is questionable with a back injury? The biggest question mark might be Willis in the passing game. Historically, he’s been a quarterback who will hold the ball and invite pressure. Willis was sacked five times in the preseason. The Packers offensive line is strong in the passing game, but Matt LaFleur has to get Willis to play on time to avoid a bunch of negative plays on Sunday.
Big plays
The Packers got touchdowns of 70 yards and 33 yards from Jayden Reed in the opener, while the Colts got touchdown passes of 60 yards and 54 yards from Anthony Richardson in the opener. Willis isn’t likely to lead long, methodical drives. Richardson completed only nine passes but finished with over 200 passing yards in Week 1. The team that delivers more explosive plays is the likely winner on Sunday. He might be inexperienced, but Richardson’s legs and impressive arm present a lot of potential problems. The same can be said about Willis, even if he doesn’t have the highlight reel of Richardson yet. Which quarterback can hit the 1-2 big plays that will change the game on Sunday?
Rookie defenders
The Packers said linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Evan Williams are in for bigger roles in Week 2. Cooper showed explosive playmaking ability in the opener but was on the field for only 11 snaps. He could double his playing time Sunday, and he’ll be vital in stopping Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson as runners. Williams didn’t see much of the field in Week 1, but Jeff Hafley wants to get him on the field. That might mean some packages with Javon Bullard, another rookie, in the slot and Williams deep next to Xavier McKinney. Bullard and Williams will both play big roles in preventing the big plays so often hunted by Richardson as a passer.
Prediction: Colts 24, Packers 16 (0-1)
While there is a chance Jordan Love plays, confidence is low in the Packers’ ability to win a game with Malik Willis under center. He might be talented, but Willis is an inconsistent thrower of the football who takes too many sacks and lacks experience in Matt LaFleur’s scheme. Jayden Reed is also dealing with a new injury, potentially limiting a key player for Willis on offense. While Anthony Richardson is sporadic, he’s the better bet to create a few big plays on Sunday. In what could be an erratic game overall, the guess here is the Packers struggle offensively and aren’t able to generate enough points to pull off the upset with a backup quarterback.