PackersNow

Ben Kurkowski
  • 5.0 (16)
  • FOOTBALL
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Get the latest updates on the Green & Gold because it’s always Packers season at PackersNow.

  1. JAN 26

    Not the Flashy Choice, the Smart One: Breaking Down the Gannon Hire

    The Packers have their new defensive coordinator. Green Bay officially hires former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon to replace Jeff Hafley, and while the move wasn’t obvious at first glance, the logic behind it is sound. In this episode, we break down: Why Gannon wasn’t initially on the short list How the coaching market and interview timing shaped the decision Why top DC candidates were never truly available What made Gannon stand out in interviews How his adaptability and coverage disguise fit Matt LaFleur’s vision Separating Gannon’s Arizona results from roster and injury reality Why stability at DC mattered more than upside alone The risk of hiring a fast-rising coordinator who leaves after one year Why Gannon’s head coaching experience is actually a strength This wasn’t a panic hire.It was a calculated one. Now the focus shifts from who was hired to whether Green Bay can finally get defensive consistency over multiple seasons.

    21 min

  2. JAN 21

    The Right Call: Why Extending Matt LaFleur Was Essential — and the DC Decision That Matters Next

    The Packers made the right move. Green Bay officially extends Matt LaFleur, and despite how the season ended, this was the best possible outcome for the franchise. In today’s NFL, elite offensive head coaches are the most valuable asset in the league — and letting one walk would have guaranteed a downgrade. In this episode, we break down: Why firing LaFleur would have been a massive mistake How his win rate, offensive consistency, and QB adaptability separate him from the field Why CEO or defensive-minded head coaches create instability long-term How expectations vs. results matter more than playoff emotion What LaFleur still must fix moving forward Why roster construction, not coaching alone, held this team back Then we turn to the real looming change: the defensive coordinator position. With Jeff Hafley likely headed to a head coaching job, we evaluate seven realistic DC candidates, including: Brian Flores Jim Schwartz Sean McDermott Jim Leonhard Aden Durde And more This hire will define the Packers’ Super Bowl window. Getting it wrong again isn’t an option. Stability is secured at the top.Now the margin for error disappears.

    23 min

  3. JAN 11

    A Collapse We Can’t Ignore: Bears 31, Packers 27

    This one hurts.After blowing a 21–3 halftime lead and losing 31–27 to the Bears, we break down how a game that was fully under control slipped away, and why it never should have happened.The passing offense was excellent. Jordan Love played like one of the best quarterbacks in football. We intercepted Caleb Williams twice, shut down one of the league’s best rushing attacks, and dominated the first half in every measurable way.And then the second half happened.In this episode, we walk through:Why abandoning the passing game directly led to four straight puntsHow early-down play calling flipped against all available dataWhy asking a broken offensive line to “run out the clock” was never realisticThe difference between trusting your quarterback and coaching scaredHow personnel failures on the offensive line made success nearly impossibleWhy both Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst deserve real scrutinyHow missed kicks and special teams execution finished the collapseAnd why injuries, bad luck, and roster construction all intersected at the worst possible momentThis isn’t a reactionary episode calling for firings. It’s a hard evaluation of decision-making, roster philosophy, and why this team, despite being good enough, wasn’t built to withstand mistakes in the biggest moments.The season ends here. The questions don’t.

    31 min

  4. JAN 8

    Win or Go Home: The Blueprint to Beat Chicago in the Wild Card Round

    It’s official — we’re heading back to Chicago for the Wild Card Round, and this matchup is far more layered than it looks on the surface. Before diving into the Bears, we address the one mistake from Week 18: playing Javon Bullard in a game that didn’t matter. Health was the priority, and we mostly executed that plan — except when it mattered most. Now we wait to see if that decision costs us on Saturday. From there, we break down why we’re actually in a strong position entering this game:• We’re healthier and fresher• We essentially had a bye while Chicago played for seeding• We’ve had nearly two full weeks to prepare for this exact matchup On offense, the data is clear: early-down passing, play action, and short-yardage throws must define the game plan. We explain why throwing is far more efficient than running for this roster, how Christian Watson completely changes both the passing and rushing efficiency, and where Chicago’s secondary is most vulnerable. Defensively, we dig into how to slow down Caleb Williams without blitzing, why zone coverage is the key, which coverages he struggles against most, and how disguising pressure while rushing three can neutralize his biggest strengths. We also examine the cornerback rotation, Trevon Diggs’ potential role, and why this game should lean heavily into coverage — not aggression. This episode is about matchups, tendencies, and execution. No emotion. No narratives. Just the clearest path we have to winning at Soldier Field and advancing.

    33 min

  5. 12/31/2025

    Packers Add Trevon Diggs, Ravens Expose the Roster, and the Week 18 Reset

    Midweek brought real news — and it forced a reality check. With Nate Hobbs and Kamal Hadden officially out for the season, the Packers made a surprising but necessary move by claiming Trevon Diggs off waivers. We break down why Green Bay felt compelled to spend real money, why Diggs could realistically start in the playoffs, and how thin the cornerback room truly is right now. We also address the Ravens loss, but not from a box score perspective. Malik Willis played near flawless football. The offensive game plan worked. The real problems were structural: no center depth, a broken interior offensive line, failed draft investments, and a defensive front that simply cannot survive bully-ball football. From Sean Rhyan snapping issues, to the inability to stop Derrick Henry, to Rashan Gary’s alarming regression, this episode is about identifying personnel failures, not blaming play calling or effort. Finally, we shift to what actually matters now: Week 18. With the Packers locked into the 7 seed, we lay out exactly who must sit, who should play, how the roster should be managed, and why this game is about asset protection, health, and information — not winning. This is a reset episode. Less emotion. More clarity. And a hard look at how the Packers got here.

    25 min

  6. 12/26/2025

    Packers Are In the Dance: Ravens Preview and the Case for Rest Over Risk

    Despite two of the most crushing losses we’ve experienced as Packers fans, the Packers are officially in the playoffs — and that changes everything.No matter what happens against the Ravens on Saturday or the Vikings in Week 18, the Packers are guaranteed at least the 7 seed. That reality completely shifts how we should be thinking about injuries, rotations, and risk management heading into January.We break down what that means for Jordan Love, Zach Tom, Christian Watson, Josh Jacobs, Evan Williams, and several other key players dealing with injuries — and why resting certain guys may actually be the smartest path forward.Then we preview the Ravens matchup, starting with the massive news that Lamar Jackson is doubtful and Tyler Huntley is expected to start. We dive into how the Packers should defend Derrick Henry, why first and second down will decide this game, and what defensive looks give us the best chance to force Huntley to beat us.On offense, we look at how the Packers can attack a Ravens defense that lacks pass rush depth, how the run game should be deployed, and why Jayden Reed is positioned for a big bounce back game. We also address the Packers’ recent red zone struggles and what needs to change immediately.This is the last guaranteed home game. The division is still technically in play. The playoffs are locked in. Now it’s about health, execution, and making sure we peak at the right time.

    20 min

  7. 12/21/2025

    We Had It. We Dropped It. Season on the Brink After Bears OT Loss

    We just lived through one of the most impossible losses I can remember. With Jordan Love knocked out on a helmet to helmet hit, Josh Jacobs clearly not right, and the offense forced to lean on Malik Willis in brutal wind, we still had the Bears dead in the water. Our defense played its heart out, we built a 10 point lead late, and at one point we had a 99.5% chance to win. And then we found every possible way to lose. We break down the entire game drive by drive: the early conservative first downs, the Bears failed gadget play gift, the missed red zone chances, the Jacobs goal line fumble, the dropped interceptions, the penalties that kept drives alive, and the moment everything collapsed: the dropped onside kick, the miscommunication TD, and the overtime snap drop that set up the dagger. It felt exactly like 2014 in Seattle: lose the onside kick, give up the late TD, go to OT, and then surrender the bomb to end it. Now the situation is brutal. We’re battered everywhere: QB, OL, RB, safety, receiver — and the path to the playoffs likely goes through the Ravens and Vikings. We also walk through the scoreboard chaos and the one scenario that could give us hope if other teams start resting starters. We should’ve won this game five different times. We didn’t. Now we have to survive what’s next.

    36 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    Numerous Devastating Injuries + Offseason Failures Exposed… Must play Perfect to Beat the Bears

    Sunday in Denver was the definition of heartbreak, not just because we lost, but because we watched the season change in a single stretch. We were up 23–14 and controlling the game… then everything flipped. A key pressure leads to the interception, Christian Watson goes down, and soon after Micah Parsons suffers what looks like a torn ACL. From there, the preventable mistakes piled up: dumb penalties, dropped interceptions, mental errors, and missed opportunities that handed Denver life, even though we still had every chance to win. But this episode isn’t just about the Broncos loss. It’s about what the injuries exposed. We break down why the offseason and the last three drafts have left us with too little reliable depth when it matters most, and why the failure to consistently hit on Day 1 and Day 2 picks is now showing up in the worst possible way. Then we pivot to what’s next: Saturday night in Chicago. Even with all the chaos, we’re still in position to clinch the playoffs, and we’re still alive in the North race. But we’re going to need a new defensive approach without Parsons, a smarter plan to contain Caleb’s right-side escape lanes, and an offense that wins with field position, motion, jumbo sets, and disciplined decision-making. Can we play perfect to beat the Bears?

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Get the latest updates on the Green & Gold because it’s always Packers season at PackersNow.

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Kurkowski
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    393
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ben Kurkowski
  • Show Website
    PackersNow