SPORTS LINE
Packers.
The Green Bay Packers enter their bye week with a record of 2-1-1. They could have easily been 4-0, but sloppy play and key mistakes, especially on special teams, cost them a loss and a tie in the last two weeks. The Green Bay Packers being on their bye came at a good time. Their offensive line is banged up, and defensive end Devonte Wyatt was described as week-to-week by coach Matt LaFleur last week. Through the first quarter of the season, they’ve shown flashes of greatness but lack the consistency of a true Super Bowl contender.
The Green Bay Packers were one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2024 at holding onto passes. This shortcoming cost the offense throughout the season. Drives were disrupted, and the offense was unable to produce consistently as a result. This year, however, the numbers have improved drastically. Wicks this year has one drop in 16 targets. Doubs has zero drops in 19 targets. While Reed has only played limited snaps due to injuries, he has no drops yet this season in the two games he has played in.
There were serious questions about the defensive tackle position after the Packers traded Kenny Clark to the Cowboys in the Micah Parsons deal. Colby Wooden has stepped up and played surprisingly well against the run. But the interior pass rush has been primarily provided by Devonte Wyatt. And now Wyatt is week-by-week with a knee injury. That could hurt the team. They’ll have a chance to lick their wounds this week before returning to Lambeau Field on Oct. 12 to face the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bucks.
The Milwaukee Bucks are under a lot of pressure to win big this season. Milwaukee showed how committed they are by signing Myles Turner to a four-year deal worth $108.9 million to be their second-best player. The Bucks need to show Antetokounmpo that they can contend for a title. Heading into this year, Antetokounmpo has fully committed to the Bucks. In fact, he mentioned that he has a lot of faith in the roster around him this year. During media day, Antetokounmpo shared, “I really believe in this team,” Antetokounmpo said. “I love that we’re younger. … We have energy. I think this is a team full of dogs, guys that know their role and are gonna try to do their best to figure into their role and try to help this team be great, so I’m excited.” Maybe now the trade rumors will stop after Antetokounmpo has again said the words that he’s fully committed to Milwaukee. Even though Antetokounmpo will be shouldering a large burden this year, he believes that his teammates will be there to come through when it matters the most.
Monday’s media day featured an appearance from new center Myles Turner, who came to Milwaukee in the blockbuster move that involved waiving Damian Lillard after his Achilles injury. Turner comes to the Bucks after falling just short of an NBA Championship with the Indiana Pacers last season. “Not winning a championship gave me a renewed sense of purpose,” said Turner, who seemed relaxed in his turn at the microphone. “Now that I’ve been there and been so close, it’s something that drives me more now.”
Brewers
The Brewers, short of starters by season’s end, spent weeks putting together a pitching plan for Game 2 of the National League Division Series. Four batters into that plan, they found themselves down three runs, but won anyway, 7-3 over the Cubs on a power-packed Monday night at American Family Field. They won because a team that doesn’t hit many home runs hit huge home runs in bunches, and because a rookie flamethrower who couldn’t find the strike zone late in the regular season delivered the most pivotal stretch of outs in his postseason debut.
Milwaukee indeed ranked 22nd in homers this season. But the lineup is capable of generating some pop. The Brewers ranked a more respectable 12th in slugging percentage, and some of their most dynamic hitters were either not performing or not yet on the team early in the season. On Monday night, the Brewers launched a trio of dingers, all with two outs, to sink the Cubs and thrill the fans at American Family Field. Andrew Vaughn supplied a game-tying, three-run blast in the first inning off Cubs starter Shota Imanaga.
William Contreras put the Brewers ahead with a solo shot in the third. And Jackson Chourio, the 21-year-old outfielder nursing a sore hamstring, launched a three-run homer in the fourth to provide a cushion for the Milwaukee bullpen. Rather than give the start to right-hander Quinn Priester, who finished the season with a 13-3 record and a 3.32 ERA, the Brewers ran a bullpen game. Pumping fastballs at 104 mph, Jacob Misiorowski handled three scoreless innings in the middle of the evening. He battled his own command as much as he battled the Cubs. Misiorowski gave up a single and walked two batters, but struck out four.
