Go Pack Go! Packers fans get pumped ahead of 1st preseason matchup of season
GREEN BAY -- It's finally time, once again, for Green Bay Packers football! The Packers opened the preseason Thursday night, August 10th at Lambeau Field -- facing the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was a soggy start to tailgating Thursday, but it didn't get in the way of fan fun. As the skies cleared, people geared up for football.
"It's a great way to kick off the season," said Sandy Lipina, fan.
Time for tailgates and grilling, brats and bean bag toss. But most of all: football at Lambeau Field.
"I usually come up for one game a season. So this is really fun to be out for the first one with my friends," said Nick Kreul, fan.
Fans packed the parking lots for the first tailgate of the season -- even though it got off to a wet start.
"It was raining pretty good just before we got to the parking lot and then it stopped and now it's starting to rain again," said Dan Schafer, fan.
The weather did not get in the way of a good time.
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"It's exciting to actually get back into football again," said Schafer.
Just like the forecasters, fans are making their own predictions.
"I think they're going to do very well," said Schafer.
"I would love to see us go to the Super Bowl and win it and I think that Rodgers can do that," said Kreul.
"The Packers all the way. It has to be," Lipina said.
The crowds are looking forward to a great season ahead and more tailgating to cheer on the green and gold.
"It's the only show in town and we live all year for Packers season and each year we come in with the same expectation that we're going all the way to the Super Bowl," Lipina said.
Thursday's game won't count in the standings, but there's a lot riding on the Packers preaseason games for many of the team's young players -- looking to prove themselves before the roster is whittled down to 53. The Packers rookies want to have an ideal first game in an environment like Lambeau Field -- to impress the coaching staff.
"People expect you to do this or that. I don't really feed into none of that. I just go out there and do me, make plays. That's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to force anything. Whatever comes to me, it will come. When you go out there as a defensive player, especially a defensive back and go out there searching for plays, that's when bad things happen. You just gotta let things come to you and when a play comes to you, you gotta make it," Josh Jones, Packers safety said.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had a little fun with fans ahead of the preseason opener -- offering four free tickets to whomever could name his favorite Game of Thrones character.
The Packers preseason schedule is as follows:
CLICK HERE to access the regular season schedule.