Yeah, I said it.
Why is that so crazy? Leading into week 3, the entire NFL punditry universe was chirping about Green Bay’s new championship defense. Fans were making travel plans for the Super Bowl parade. Some wondered if Green Bay would even lose a single game.
In fact, Green Bay has lost three games before Thanksgiving, and tied another. It's been a severe back-to-reality whiplash that has left fans to wonder: Were those first two weeks a mirage? Make believe? Did we dream it? In fact, no – those two performances were not fiction, they happened, and they stand as proof for what this team still could be.
Yet, one might logically say, “I’ve got new information, man. New shit has come to light.” And yes, it’s true, the Packers will be without their would-be All Pro tight end Tucker Kraft for the remainder of the year, and yes, former All Pro guard Elgton Jenkins may now be gone, too. And after a pretty rough stretch of mistake-heavy football, you might even wonder if this team’s mojo left with them.
You wouldn’t be alone in that negativity. The belief that the Packers are cooked is suddenly everywhere. After leading the Packers to five playoff appearances in his six seasons and holding the second-most wins in NFL history for a coach in his first six seasons, Matt LaFleur is suddenly facing job security issues. ESPN’s Chris Canty declared that, “Jordan Love is bad.” Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks have been labeled “busts” 10 games into their injury-plagued Packer careers. Matthew Golden still hasn’t scored, and don’t get me started on kickergate.
It’s been a tsunami of criticism, and frankly, much of it is pretty fair. LaFleur has been stubborn and timid. Hobbs and Banks haven’t delivered (yet), Love has been poor at points, the kicker stuff is a disaster, and yes, Matthew Golden still hasn’t scored.
But lost in the relentless pessimism and casting of blame is both analysis of why the Packers have struggled, and also, a lack of appreciation for what has gone right with this team.
Yes, Jordan Love has work to do. The interception in Cleveland was a killer. The fumble in Philadelphia can’t happen. Both reflected a lack of situational awareness, an issue that’s starting to be a regrettable trend for Love. That issue aside, we’ve also seen glimpses of Jordan Love, the Superhero. In Dallas, Love went back and forth with Dak Prescott like Hagler vs Hearns. Fans may have been frustrated with the result, but nobody can deny Love’s greatness in that game.
Just a few games later, Love passed a tough mental test in a primetime road game against his former mentor. There, Love painted a second half masterpiece, completing 20 consecutive passes at one point, which tied Brett Favre’s franchise record.
Another element that has gone very right is the defense. Fans and media may be apoplectic about the Packers three losses, but the defense was superb in all those games and the new crown jewel of that defense, Micah Parsons, has been absolutely dominant.
The Packers offense, by sharp contrast, has been dormant. The primary culprit for the malaise has been the offensive line. The musical chairs unit has yet to gel in any consistent way – and now they’ll have to navigate life without the All Pro Jenkins.
However, sometimes necessity is the mother of invention and losing Jenkins forces a change to the line that almost certainly would not have happened otherwise. Guard Sean Rhyan now transitions to center. That shift could create a ripple effect to the guards and tackles. By his own admission, Jenkins was not playing his best ball this year, so maybe the mauling and motivated Rhyan can offer an upgrade. He held up well against a stout Eagles defense and gets another stiff challenge this week from the NY Giants.
Away from the trenches, LaFleur and the Packers offense has been criticized for being too conservative, but that apprehensiveness could have something to do with the offensive line struggles and a cast of pass catchers that’s also been a mix-and-match affair. Christian Watson missed the first six games coming back from his ACL injury, Jayden Reed has been out since week two, Kraft was lost in week nine, and Golden and Wicks have both been banged up at points.
With Reed hopefully returning for the Thanksgiving game, Golden recovering, and Watson rounding into form, there’s reason for optimism. Maybe, finally, LaFleur will dial back his conservative approach, unleash Love, and throw the ball down the field. At the very least, he’s running out of excuses not to do so.
The Packers have another opportunity this week to quiet the critics. If the offensive line can stabilize, if the receivers can get (and stay) healthy, and if the defense keeps dominating, these Packers could still be a huge problem for the rest of the league.
The great philosopher John Blutarsky once said, “Nothing is over until we decide it is!” – and with a 5-3-1 record and Toyotathon looming, the big goals and dreams are all still very much in front of these Packers.
Packers WR Jayden Reed has had a successful surgery on his broken collarbone, per himself on IG live
Before thanking everyone for the prayers, he made one thing clear: “PACKERS GOING TO THE BOWL BRUH” 😂😂😂#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/PC1J8DN8be
— SleeperPackers (@SleeperPackers) September 16, 2025