Steven Helmer Publications

Here are some of my thoughts from last night's 34-31 Green Bay Packers ' loss at the Detroit Lions :  The loss was disappointing but also encouraging. The Packers have the youngest team in the league and theoretically still haven't reached their full potential. This game, against arguably the best team in the NFC, came down to who had the ball last. Had Lions' coach Dan Campbell chosen to kick the field goal with nearly a minute remaining rather than be aggressive and let his team pick up another first down to run the clock down, there's no reason to believe Jordan Love couldn't have orchestrated a game-tying or even game-winning drive. If they meet in the playoffs (which is likely), it'll likely be a similar game with potentially a different outcome. The injuries in the secondary are becoming a concern . The Packers were already down Jaire Alexander and Corey Ballentine and lost safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard during the game with Keisan Nixon ap...

My thoughts from the Green Bay Packers ' 30-27 win at the Jacksonville Jaguars today. I don't buy into the whole "trap game" concept. I think players and coaches at this level are just too good to think too far ahead and overlook a team. I do think the Packers faced the Jaguars on the road at an inopportune time, when Jacksonville was finally getting healthy and coming off a big win.  I had some doubts when Green Bay traded for Malik Willis at the start of the season, but he's proving to be well worth the low draft pick they gave up for him. I still would rather see a healthy Jordan Love under center, but Willis has stepped up when he's been asked to play and is a perfect complement to the Packers' run game, able to make plays with his arm and his legs. It means Green Bay doesn't need to rush Love back from his groin injury. Speaking of Lov e, I'm not so certain they shouldn't have pulled him out of the game earlier. Maybe not after the firs...