Blake Martinez said there's a new atmosphere in the building.
Aaron Rodgers said the players who have been around for a while, "realize how different this feels, it's just a different energy, it's palpable, it's contagious, it's charismatic and it's fun."
It's a 3-0 Green Bay Packers team under rookie Head Coach Matt LaFleur after the Pack made another batch of big plays on defense to turn aside the Denver Broncos 27-16 in their throwback uniforms on a damp day at Lambeau Field.
What probably feels most different to Rodgers is the fact that the offense is now trying mightily to match what the defense is putting out there every week. For years it was the other way around.
Sure, Rodgers engineered another crisp opening drive, getting Denver to jump offsides on second and six from the Denver 40 and cashing in on the freebie to hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a deep post for a touchdown just 2:44 into the game.
But the offense would need great, turnover driven field position for the next two scores and settle for a pair of Mason Crosby field goals for their 27 points. In between, there are still too many hiccups, third and long plays that aren't being converted (2 of 9 for the day total), but man, that defense is coming through.
While the unit surrendered 149 yards on the ground and a pair of one yard rushing touchdowns from Phillip Lindsay, the second coming on 4th and goal with missed tackles, the defense played with abandon in sacking Joe Flacco six times and taking the ball away three times.
And it's the newcomers of 2019 that are coming through. Preston Smith had three sacks and a forced fumble, Za'Darius Smith had a pair of sacks and the first round draft picks, Rashan Gary recorded his first sack and fumble recovery and Darnell Savage his first interception. The other takeaway came from feisty Jaire Alexander who literally ripped the ball out of the hands of Denver rookie tight end Noah Fant early in the third quarter.
That set up the second of Aaron Jones' touchdown runs giving the Packers a 24-10 lead. It book ended the Gary fumble recovery at the five late in the first half which Jones cashed in with a seven yard TD run.
The Packer defense has now produced a dozen sacks and eight takeaways in the first three weeks, very impressive work.
While Green Bay outgained the Broncos 312-310, Denver held the edge in first downs (20-16) rushing yards (149-77) and time of possession (35:34-24:26).
The difference was the big plays generated by the defense. Denver is still without a sack or a takeaway in three games under new coach Vic Fangio, all losses.
Rodgers said he can't remember a game where his uniform was so clean, getting hit only once on 29 dropbacks.
Now the challenge will be to recover quickly to host the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday night.
The inactive players for the Packers were Jake Kumerow, Dexter Williams, Ka'Dar Hollman, Oren Burks, Cole Madison, Montravius Adams and Adam Pankey who was just claimed off the Tennessee practice squad on Saturday. The Packers placed veteran guard Lane Taylor on injured reserve with a biceps injury. Second round draft choice Elgton Jenkins made his first career start at left guard.
The Packers are now 10-5 in throwback uniforms and they still haven't lost to Denver on Wisconsin soil, improving to 6-0-1 all-time.
To the fans, it looks different, and to the players, it certainly feels different, but it's been a winning feeling for three straight weeks for Matt LaFleur's new kids on the block.
