James from Anna, TX

1 pass. 1 play. 1 TD. That is how you start.

Actually it was the second pass on the third play, but who's counting.

Dave from Comer, GA

Well, if your starting QB is going to go three-and-out in the first preseason game, that's how you'd want it to go.

Whatever works.

Damien from Perth, Australia

While only preseason, I learned three things out of the game vs Cleveland; 1. Don't count out Grant DuBose, 2. While promising, Michael Pratt is behind Sean Clifford for QB2, and 3. Jordan Love had no trouble picking up right where he left off. GPG

No lies told. 1. DuBose carried over what he's been doing on the practice field into the game. That's what he has to do. He also got his nose dirty as a run blocker, and those plays go a long way in the bid for a roster spot. 2. I was never buying into the narrative of Clifford falling on the depth chart, despite the early interceptions in camp. He's a tough cookie. His experience in this offense and his moxie as a player are both really valuable. 3. Yes, Dontayvion Wicks was wide open, but that throw was money.

Bill from Clive, IA

How do you evaluate AJ Dillon's attempts when the running lanes just weren't there?

It's tough. I thought the No. 2 offensive line started slowly and then settled in and got things moving up front. Emanuel Wilson ran hard, like he always does, but he also had holes Dillon didn't.

Glen from Leesburg, VA

On the long run by Wilson, did you happen to notice the block downfield thrown by Michael Pratt? I'm not sure that's the kind of thing we want our QBs doing on a regular basis, but I loved the hustle and I loved the way he threw a shoulder into the DB. Reminded me of something Favre would have done back in the day.

You love the gumption to not just play quarterback, but play football. That had to be the block of the game among many notable ones. DuBose on the goal line, Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk out in front on the toss sweep in the red zone. Lots of good stuff.

Jeff from Royse City, TX

I felt like Pratt looked really relaxed in the pocket and offense overall for his first time on the field as a pro. What did you see?

I saw a young QB who wasn't intimidated or rattled. Clifford needs all the reps he can get to prepare for being Love's backup, but hopefully before the preseason is done we get to see Pratt against a second-string defense rather than a third.

Chris from Marshfield, WI

I was most looking forward to seeing MarShawn Lloyd in action; guess I'll have to keep waiting. Why do you think he didn't get more carries?

He injured his hamstring on that run he bounced outside. It's too bad because the Packers really want to see his talent, but he missed the first handful of practices with a hip injury and now this when he just entered the game. Hope he can get back in there soon.

Dave from Crossville, TN

More of a statement than a question. The defense tackled extremely well today. Definitely nice to see.

I agree, and that's often not the case in the first preseason game. Other than one third down with a couple of missed tackles, I thought the tackling effort was solid.

John from Livermore, CA

Devonte Wyatt made the new scheme look good. What else stood out to you as noteworthy?

Lukas Van Ness. He was steadily disruptive and productive. I'd expect that from him against reserve players, and his impact was consistent. I realized when I woke up Sunday morning I neglected to mention him among my five takeaways in the game recap, but I should have. Preseason for me, too.

Adrian from Oregon City, OR

So this is what FULL CONSISTENCY looks like. Too bad it's just a preseason game. Seriously, the "run the ball, stop the run" numbers were impressive. What other positives did you see? Any obvious concerns?

No major concerns. It was just abundantly clear for the bulk of the game the Packers' reserves were getting the better of the Browns' reserves up front, and the rushing numbers both ways reflected that.

Dave from Lake Zurich, IL

Would you say the receiving corps is the deepest since you've been covering the team?

No. It's a heck of a battle for the No. 5 spot involving DuBose, Bo Melton and Malik Heath, but back in 2011 the No. 5 receiver was Randall Cobb.

Hal from Lanesboro, MN

First time following the blog. Kudos to Mike and all contributors. Through three quarters the kicking competition doesn't look to have made any headway toward a decision. Is that how you all saw it as well?

I saw nothing that told me this isn't going all the way to the wire.

Dave from Germantown, TN

The kicks Greg Joseph made in the Cleveland game were right down the middle. Carlson had kind of hook going and came a whole lot closer to the uprights. Do you think that will factor into the kicking competition?

I have to believe everything is being evaluated.

Tom from Baldwin, WI

Is it proper, when discussing the kicker competition, to say one of them "has a leg up" on the others?

Please see yourself out. And with that, the rest of the column covers non-game-related items.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike, have you seen anything from our HC to suggest he has a mental block facing his old boss? Who would you say is the brightest offensive mind in football, Andy Reid?

For "old boss" I assume you're referring to Shanahan. Mental block? No. In the regular season, LaFleur is 2-1 against him. In the playoffs, I believe the Niners were clearly the better team in '19, and last year's game was a toss-up. When the Packers should've had that edge, their special teams cost them 10 points in a game they lost by three. Is it upsetting to have been knocked out of the playoffs three times by them? Of course. As far as bright offensive minds, there are plenty out there these days. I have no interest in ranking them, because who their QB is influences their level of creativity.

Ned from Laguna Woods, CA

As I recall in the olden days, the kickoff return team formed a player wedge with returner in the middle and just plowed up thru the defense. Has this been banned or is it a return option with the new rules?

The wedge was banned 15 years ago.

Ben from Fort Worth, TX

There's been a few recent references to the '85 Bears defense. In the Packers documentary about the '90s (Return to Glory), someone – I think Ron Wolf – said the '96 Packers defense was statistically as good or better than that '85 Bears team (54:54 on the video). I have not looked those stats up or know if that is true. Mike, can you please chime in and tell use your thoughts on that statement? Thanks.

Statistically, it's close, but the '85 Bears have the edge, and then separated themselves with their postseason dominance. In the regular season, both defenses were best in the league in yards and points allowed. The Bears allowed 4,135 yards while the Packers allowed 4,156, and the Bears allowed 198 points to the Packers' 210. The Bears also had 61 turnovers to the Packers' 56 (those are insane numbers, by the way). In the playoffs, the Bears allowed just 10 points and recorded back-to-back playoff shutouts for the first time in league history. The Packers allowed 48 points in the postseason. That '96 Packers defense was outstanding. In my opinion, the '85 Bears defense was generational.

Tom from Two Rivers, WI

My younger friends and I are in the midst of argument about the most iconic throw in Packers history. Maybe you can help us solve it. They say it's the Rodgers Hail Mary in Detroit. I say it's the Favre to Sharpe bomb in Detroit for the first Favre playoff game and win. Which one hits you hardest?

Sorry, way too hard to choose. There's also the Favre to Brooks 99-yarder at Chicago, Favre to Rison to open SB XXXI, Rodgers to Jennings on the clutch fourth-quarter third down in SB XLV, Starr to McGee in SB I, and the list goes on.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

Given Love and most of your key contributors stay healthy, would you be more surprised if the Packers appeared in the Super Bowl for the first time in 14 years or finished below .500 missing the playoffs completely? As hard as it is to imagine this team not riding the momentum from last season and making a postseason appearance, they have had some really good teams in recent years fall short of making it back to that final game and a few others missing out on the opportunity completely.

I don't recall talking about any "really good" Packers teams that missed the playoffs. The '08 team's defense fell apart. The second collarbone and subpar backup QB play sunk the '17 season, and then in '18 things just unraveled. The '22 team had a horrible losing streak, then got hot at the end, but couldn't finish the deal. In the final analysis, not good enough.

Grant from Grand Forks, ND

I just finished reading "Take Your Eye Off The Ball." The author talks about the switch from 3-4 to 4-3 to take 2-3 years to complete. He says they need that time to get the right players signed or drafted. What have the Packers done to shorten this timeline?

The original version of that book was published in 2010, before the NFL became a predominantly nickel defense league, and before 4-3 D-ends and 3-4 outside 'backers became a bit more interchangeable, like they are now. The transition isn't nearly as complicated personnel-wise as it was when the Packers went from 4-3 to 3-4 back in '09 and immediately invested two first-round draft picks at the linchpin positions of nose tackle (Raji) and edge rusher (Matthews) to hasten the move along.

Brian from Twain Harte, CA

Last year, were the Packers worse against the run inside or outside of the tackles? Historically, is the 4-3 defense better against the run inside or outside the tackles, or both? Without taking into account "players not plays," does the Packers switch to a 4-3 make sense on paper for controlling the run?

I don't believe it was an issue of inside vs. outside. I thought at the end of the season Gutekunst made it pretty clear he felt a big issue with the run defense was the secondary's (lack of) support and tackling. The explosive runs that killed the run defense in the stats and rankings were often the result of DBs out of position or missing open-field tackles.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

In listening to Tucker Kraft talk about his rehab with his injury, and how hard he is working to get back out there where our eyes can see him, it makes you realize how much of football is behind the scenes! It becomes more real that we all have "thankless work" in our jobs. What are some of your "behind the scenes" work people can't generally appreciate?

Probably the difficulty of writing a game recap story from a road game as fast as possible on a bus ride, as opposed to the comfort of my desk at Lambeau after home games. I always figure if people can't tell from the writing whether it was a road game or home game, I've done pretty well.

Betsy from Belleville, WI

Hi guys, I remember that one of you answered this question before, but I'll ask again. Will we be able to listen to Wayne and Larry from Brazil? We do not subscribe to Peacock and do not plan to. We live south of Madison, so we're wondering if any radio station will be broadcasting the game. Thanks and GPG!

The Brazil game will be available on the Packers radio network, which also means that radio broadcast will be streamed on packers.com (desktop only for worldwide access).

Cheryl from Strawberry Point, IA

There's competition at the guest services desk? Am I too late to fill out an application?

And a new week has arrived. Happy Monday.