In this week's episode of The Wisconsin Sportscast, Mike Lucas and Tom Oates ring in the new year with an analysis of the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers. Oates says Jordan Love's steady improvement this season has won over fans who are used to Hall of Fame level quarterbacks at Lambeau.  

“He might just be our franchise quarterback of the future, “says Oates, the former Wisconsin State Journal sports columnist. “He and (head coach) LaFleur have an unbelievable relationship that is really paying off for both of them. LaFleur is running the offensive he’s always wanted to run. And Love is doing it the correct way…I’m not sure that was the case in the past with the former quarterback.” 

Lucas notes that the Packers' receiving core is the youngest in the NFL.

“You also have to be impressed by Love’s targets. His receivers. A group of relatively unknowns who just go out and make plays,” says Lucas, a Cap Times sports freelance writer and former radio color analyst for the Badgers. “All these guys have stepped up. Jayden Reed has been tremendous.” 

Oates agrees Green Bay's entire offensive has been playing well. But he’s disturbed by one statistic. 

“They don’t score quite as many points as their yardage totals might indicate. They go on a lot of long drives that, for one reason or another, don’t end with points,” says Oates. 

“They got to finish better,” says Lucas. “And their field goal kicking scares the hell out of me.” 

Finally on the show, is the Wisconsin men’s basketball team the second-best in the Big Ten behind Purdue? Lucas and Oates both think so. 

“The Badgers have been so good this season at attacking the rim,” says Oates. “If they can get the outside shot game going with what they have already established they can do inside, I think it’s going to be a reality elite-level offensive team.”

The Wisconsin Sportscast is a Cap Times podcast featuring two of the state's most experienced sports journalists. It’s produced by Dylan Brogan. Find The Wisconsin Sportscast with Lucas & Oates on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.