The Green Bay Packers were heavily favored against the visiting Carolina Panthers in Week 9.
Not only did the home team fail to cover the large spread, but they couldn’t even win the game.
More than that, they matched some unwanted franchise history with the setback.
“The Packers’ loss as a 13.5-point favorite is the largest upset in the NFL since the 2023 season ([Tennessee] Titans +14.5 at Miami) and tied the Packers’ largest upset loss since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, according to ESPN Research,” Rob Demovsky wrote on X.
The Packers' loss as a 13.5-point favorite is the largest upset in the NFL since the 2023 season (Titans +14.5 at Miami) and tied the Packers' largest upset loss since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, according to ESPN Research.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) November 2, 2025
There was no reason to believe the Packers would lose the game.
Of course, losing tight end Tucker Kraft to injury was a big blow to the offense, and the windy weather didn’t help either side.
Nevertheless, the Packers were the superior team, at least on paper.
It’s worth noting that the Panthers deserve all the credit in the world.
Quarterback Bryce Young gutted out plays despite being banged up and going against an elite defense.
The Panthers’ defense also did a great job of holding down the Packers’ offense.
Yet it feels like Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur also did Carolina plenty of favors.
Once again, he called an over-conservative game against a team his should have dominated, even when he was trailing.
LaFleur doesn’t seem to trust quarterback Jordan Love, even though he’s played mistake-free football for most of the season.
The Packers have shown that they can beat the best teams in football, but their tendency to play down to their opposition can come back to haunt them when it matters most.
Now, things don’t get any easier with the Philadelphia Eagles up next in Week 10.
NEXT: Micah Parsons Gets Honest About Loss To Panthers