Surprising 2023 playoff run has Packers believing they're capable of bigger things

GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-9)

EXPECTATIONS: After their surprising run to the NFC divisional playoffs with the NFL’s youngest roster, the Packers enter this season believing they have a legitimate shot at earning the Super Bowl berth that has eluded Green Bay since its 2010 championship season. The Packers are counting on QB Jordan Love to build off the momentum he established late last season in his first year as a starter. Love threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns last season. He had a 21-1 touchdown-interception ratio during a nine-game stretch that culminated with a 48-32 wild-card upset over Dallas. Green Bay is hoping new coordinator Jeff Hafley — the former Boston College head coach — can upgrade a defense that was inconsistent last season.

NEW FACES: Hafley, S Javon Bullard, LB Edgerrin Cooper, LB Ty’Ron Hopper, RB Josh Jacobs, RB MarShawn Lloyd, G Jordan Morgan, S Xavier McKinney, S Evan Williams.

KEY LOSSES: OT David Bakhtiari, defensive coordinator Joe Barry, LB De’Vondre Campbell, K Anders Carlson, TE Josiah Deguara, S Rudy Ford, RB Aaron Jones, OL Yosh Nijman, S Jonathan Owens, G Jon Runyan Jr., S Darnell Savage.

STRENGTHS: Love’s emergence late last season suggests the Packers are set at quarterback for the foreseeable future. The Packers certainly believe so, since they signed him to a four-year, $220 million extension this summer. Love will be throwing to a talented young receiving group featuring Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks, who combined for 25 touchdown catches last season. Kenny Clark, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, leads a deep defensive line. The departure of Jones stings, but the Packers still should be able to run the ball effectively with Jacobs, a 2022 All-Pro running back. The addition of McKinney to team up with two-time Pro Bowl CB Jaire Alexander should improve the secondary significantly.

WEAKNESSES: Kicking remains a question mark. The Packers cut Carlson after he struggled as a rookie last year, going 27 of 33 on field goals (7 of 13 from at least 40 yards) and 34 of 39 on extra points. The Packers will be relying on Brayden Narveson after claiming the rookie from N.C. State off waivers from the Tennessee Titans. Narveson was 6 of 7 on field-goal attempts with a long of 59 for the Titans in the preseason. The Packers better hope Love stays healthy because their backup quarterback situation is a concern. They acquired Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans this week to try to address that issue. The 2022 third-round pick from Liberty made three starts in his rookie season, but he has completed just 53% of his career attempts with three interceptions and no touchdown passes.

CAMP DEVELOPMENT: Although the Packers said when they drafted Morgan that they’d start him out at left tackle, the versatile first-round pick from Arizona found a home at right guard during the preseason. Morgan was leading the competition to fill that starting spot before suffering a shoulder injury that prevented him from playing in any preseason games. Sean Rhyan took over at right guard while Morgan was out, giving the Packers a couple of options at that position. The Packers need to find a new right guard after Runyan signed with the Giants in free agency. The Packers’ willingness to move Morgan inside shows the confidence they have in Rasheed Walker, a 2022 seventh-round pick who made 16 starts at left tackle last season.

FANTASY PLAYER TO WATCH: After leading the NFL in rushing two years ago with the Las Vegas Raiders, Jacobs never seemed to recover from a training camp holdout last season. He rushed for 805 yards — down from 1,653 a year earlier — and gained just 3.5 yards per carry. Now with a new team, Jacobs should bounce back. While it might not be realistic to expect him to match that 2022 production, Jacobs should reassert himself as a top-10 running back for fantasy purposes.

BetMGM Sportsbook: Win Super Bowl: 16-1. Over/under wins: 9 1/2.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LeFleur heads off the field after his team's loss to the Denver Broncos in an NFL preseason football game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love heads off the field after the Packers' loss to the Denver Broncos in an NFL preseason football game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DETROIT (AP) — Gunnar Henderson tripled just past the glove of diving first baseman Spencer Torkelson with two outs in the ninth inning for Baltimore’s first hit, and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 1-0 win over the Orioles on Friday night.

Beau Brieske and Brant Hurter (5-1) combined to retire Baltimore’s first 21 batters before Adley Rutschman’s eight-pitch walk leading off the eighth.

“That was an incredibly well-pitched game by all four of our guys tonight,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “There's the letdown of the near-miss, but that's still a shutout of a really good offense.”

Brenan Hanifee followed Hurter and retired the next three batters.

Tyler Holton relieved to start the ninth. Emmanuel Rivera flied out and pinch-hitter Coby Mayo took a called third strike.

Henderson hit Holton's first pitch - a sweeper - on the ground at 103,2 mph and into the right-field corner.

“It's a one-run ballgame, so we knew that if someone got on base, we had a chance to run into one for a two-run homer,” Henderson said. “That's all I was trying to do.”

Henderson became just the second batter to end a no-hit bid with a two-out triple in the ninth, joining the St. Louis Cardinals’ Bernard Gilkey against the Chicago Cubs’ Frank Castillo on Sept. 25, 1995.

Holton struck out Anthony Santander to remain perfect in eight save chances.

“It was a one-run game, so it was really important for him to reset and get set for the next hitter,” Hinch said. “It's still an agonizing feeling it see Santander coming up with a runner on third and a chance to put them ahead with a big swing.”

Holton, though, didn't worry about losing the no-hit bid.

“I didn't even realize it was happening, honestly,” he said. “I just wanted to get us the win.”

Kerry Carpenter, Detroit’s second batter, homered on the third pitch of the game from Zach Eflin (10-9), who allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

"We just didn't score,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.

Detroit (76-72) closed within 2 1/2 games of Minnesota for the final AL wild card.

Baltimore (83-65) dropped three games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.

Brieske, a 26-year-old right-hander, was planned to start as an opener. He retired four batters while throwing 11 of 16 pitches for strikes.

Hunter, a 26-year-old rookie left-hander, struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings while throwing 53 of 71 pitches for strikes. He started 17 of 18 batters with strikes, including his first 14.

“Give that left-hander a lot of credit — he's got a funky arm angle and he was pumping strikes,” Hyde said. “We had a tough time staying on him and didn't center him up all night.”

Hanifee, a 26-year-old rookie right-hander, relieved after Rutschman’s walk and got a pair of strikeouts around a forceout.

The game came three days after rookie Keider Montero faced the minimum 27 batters in a three-hit shutout of Colorado, Detroit's first complete game since Spencer Turnbull no-hit Seattle on May 18, 2021. Montero and Hurter pitched together last season for Eastern League-champion .

“These young guys have been very important, because they are having experiences they've obviously never had at the major-league level,” Hinch said. “But they won together in Erie last year, and believe me, they enjoyed it and we're all enjoying this.”

UP NEXT

The teams play the second of three games on Saturday evening, with Baltimore RHP Corbin Burnes (13-8, 3.18 ERA) facing a Tigers opener.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin watches from the dugout after being taken out in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, left, takes the ball from starting pitcher Zach Eflin (24) in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde watches from the dugout in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, left, and bench coach George Lombard, right, watch from the dugout before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Brant Hurter throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)