Packers vs. Colts Preview
Even though Packers star quarterback Jordan Love went down with an MCL injury in Week One, this game should still be a good one for fans of both teams. Returning from multiple injuries that sidelined him last year, Anthony Richardson played very well in his season debut against the tough Houston Texans. The Colts lost, but Richardson finished with nine of 19 passes completed for 212 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Richardson is a fun quarterback to watch, and his toughness, agility, and ability to complete deep passes give Colts fans hope he can help them reclaim glory. On the other hand, Malik Willis has not had a good start to his career since being drafted 86th overall by the Titans in 2022. His tenure with the Titans did not last long, and he was recently traded to the Packers for a seventh-round pick. The Pack hopes he can be a reliable backup to Love after being extremely unimpressed with the backups they had.
The Packers and Colts had extensive playoff-experienced opponents for their season openers. The Pack had to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the conditions were far from perfect. The field was in awful conditions; players were slipping and sliding everywhere, and it seemed no one could get solid footing. Willis replaced Love at the end of the game for two plays. The Pack lost but showed signs of how explosive the offense can be, and if the defense can stop the vast splash plays, they could become even better than last year. The Colts held their own at home against the C.J. Stroud-led Texans and only lost by two points. Richardson played well, the offensive line looked great, and the defense was able to slow down the Texans’ loaded offense at times. Richardson and the Colts are looking to bounce back against the Pack at Lambeau Field this week.
Lambeau Field is a tough place for young quarterbacks to perform. It will be Richardson's first time at the stadium, and there will be even more pressure on him to perform, especially after how well he played last week. The Packers’ defense needs to attack Richardson, force him to make mistakes, and help Malik Willis stay in the game. Josh Jacobs and whoever takes the snap at running back will have to make plays to support the offense. The Pack will not be able to call the same plays they usually would if Love was under center and will have to modify the offense to fit Willis' play style better. The wide receivers and tight ends will need to step up, too, and hopefully, Jayden Reed can keep developing into a superstar after his stellar performance against the Eagles. I have the Colts winning this game, but I have learned not to doubt the Packers, and they could pull off this win.
