$77 Million Packer Was Green Bay’s Biggest Flaw in Win vs. Lions
Former NBA All-Star Zach Randolph once said, “Where I’m from, bullies get bullied.” And that's exactly what the Green Bay Packers did to the Detroit Lions in Week 1. In front of a raucous crowd, Green Bay dominated in almost every way. The 27–13 final score even looked closer for Detroit than the game actually was.
The Packers averaged 5.7 yards per play compared to a measly 3.8 for the Lions. Most of that damage came through the air, where Jordan Love was sharp, completing 16 of 22 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He dropped dimes to Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed in the end zone and even flashed some mobility when the play broke down.
The biggest issue for Green Bay was time of possession. The Packers held the ball for just 24:35, compared to Detroit’s 35:25. Much of that had to do with the Lions’ methodical, dink-and-dunk offense. Jared Goff completed 31 of 39 passes but only racked up 200 yards—an average of just 4.7 yards per attempt. Both teams were content to let the Lions move the chains in small chunks, but Green Bay’s defense stiffened when it mattered. The Lions didn’t reach the end zone until a garbage-time touchdown on a spectacular catch late in the fourth quarter.
But despite all of the impressive play from the Packers, there was one clear disappointment
$77 Million Packer Aaron Banks Failed to Impress vs. Lions
The Packers’ biggest flaw came up front—specifically on the interior offensive line, where newly signed left guard Aaron Banks struggled. His debut was forgettable, especially for someone who signed a four-year, $77 million contract this offseason.
The Packers couldn’t establish much in the run game behind him. Josh Jacobs finished with 19 carries for 66 yards (3.5 yards per attempt) and a touchdown, but those numbers were padded by a few late runs. For most of the game, Detroit’s defensive tackles bullied Banks at the point of attack and shut down lanes before Jacobs had a chance to find daylight.
To make matters worse, Banks exited late in the game with an ankle injury. He was seen hobbling on the sideline before being replaced by 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan.
Afterward, head coach Matt LaFleur had no update on Banks’ injury status. With a quick turnaround before Thursday night’s matchup against the Washington Commanders, his availability is very much in question.
The silver lining for Green Bay is Morgan, their 2024 first-round pick, is waiting in the wings. If Banks misses time—or continues to underperform—it could accelerate a changing of the guard. Pun intended.
Either way, it was a rough first impression for the Packers’ highly paid veteran.
Dodgers Predicted to Sign Top MLB Free Agent After 2025 Season
Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman
The Los Angeles Dodgers have notoriously been one of the top spenders in MLB for several years now. They showed that at the beginning of 2025, they signed many top free agents to improve their roster.
However, that has not led them to become the juggernaut team many analysts and executives thought they would be. Los Angeles is 79-64 and will likely not reach the 90-win mark with just 20 games left this regular season.
Whatever the Dodgers do in the postseason, one MLB Insider believes they will sign the top free agent after 2025.
Dodgers Predicted to Sign Kyle Tucker
The Chicago Cubs’ slugger is having a rough last two months of the season, but is still considered the top free agent.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale believes it will be to the Los Angeles Dodgers:
“Rival executives still believe he’ll be the highest-paid player in free agency,” Bob Nightengale reported Monday. “Their prediction where he’ll land? The Dodgers, who badly could use outfield help.”
The Dodgers could use outfield help, but signing Tucker to say, $400 million would put them far over the luxury tax. But it would address a much-needed positional issue. Los Angeles signed Michael Conforto to a one-year, $17 million deal before the season, and he has looked like a massive bust the entire season.
Conforto still isn’t above the .200 average mark, despite playing in 124 games. His OPS is 77, well below league average. The Dodgers also traded for left fielder Alex Call back in July, and he hasn’t had much production either. Signing Kyle Tucker in free agency is right up the Dodgers’ wheelhouse.
Although Tucker has struggled for the past few months, he’s still had a solid season. Kyle Tucker still has 22 home runs and an OPS+ of 140.
Kyle Tucker Has So Many Accolades As a Player
Bleacher Report recently came out with a prediction piece about Kyle Tucker’s free agency, and it showed how tenured he is as a player:
“After all, Tucker’s resume includes a World Series title, four All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. He led the league in RBI in 2023 when he was with the Houston Astros and has hit more than 20 home runs in each of the last five seasons. While he hasn’t been himself since the All-Star break with a .242 batting average, five home runs and 17 RBI, some of that can be explained by injury concerns. And he still has solid overall numbers this season with a .270/.381/.472 slash line, 22 home runs and 73 RBI. Tucker is also just 28 years old, which is another reason he will surely command a significant deal this offseason.”
The next question is how much the Dodgers would pay him, and that will be up to Tucker’s agent.
Fans of other MLB teams would not be happy with the Dodgers making a big-money signing like this, but it would put a lot of pressure on the Cubs to attempt to dish out a higher AAV contract. Tucker’s free agency will be one of the highest-anticipated events this offseason.
