Entering Week 13 of the NFL season, the Green Bay Packers are still searching for an offensive identity.
Several of quarterback Jordan Love’s top weapons have spent time on injured reserve, or are out for the season, Green Bay’s offensive line has been wildly inconsistent, and the Packers are still looking for someone to emerge and make up for the production lost when star tight end Tucker Kraft was lost for the season to a torn ACL.
Fortunately for Green Bay, Micah Parsons is elevating the defense, and especially the pass rush, in ways general manager Brian Gutekunst and the organization had hoped and planned when acquiring him in a blockbuster trade this past summer.
CBS Sports lists the Packers as second-ranked wild card contender, behind only the Seattle Seahawks, thanks in large part to Parsons wreaking havoc up front and elevating the players around him.
“All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons is making a difference for Green Bay,” [Garrett Podell writes for CBS](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-playoff-picture-nfc-wild-card-contenders-seahawks-cowboys/). “With his 56 quarterback pressures, the second most in the league this season, to go along with 8.0 sacks, tied for the seventh most in the NFL. Pro Bowl edge rusher Rashan Gary is on pace for a career-high in sacks with 7.5 already, tied for the 10th most in the NFL, and both linebacker Quay Walker and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper are benefiting from the added attention Parsons attracts.”
Parsons enters Thursday’s game already posting double-digit sacks on the season, and could both significantly raise his total and the Packers’ chances of toppling the Lions, with another strong performance up front.
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) is sacked by Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (58) and defensive tackle Warren Brinson (91) during the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images