The Green Bay Packers have reached an interesting point in their evolution. They are no longer the young, up-and-coming team that surprised the NFL by reaching the playoffs behind Jordan Love in 2023. They are no longer rebuilding. They are expected to contend.
That raises an important question entering the 2026 season: What would actually constitute success?
Is another playoff appearance enough?
Not anymore.
Since Matt LaFleur became head coach in 2019, the Packers have qualified for the postseason six times in seven seasons. They reached the NFC Championship Game in 2019 and 2020, losing to the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively. They also advanced to the divisional round in 2021 and 2023 before suffering postseason exits. Overall, Green Bay has posted a 3-6 playoff record under LaFleur.
Those numbers tell the story. Making the playoffs has become the expectation, not the achievement.
The standard in Green Bay has always been championships.
The franchise has not appeared in a Super Bowl since the 2010 season, when Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. That remains the organization's most recent Lombardi Trophy.
For a franchise that has enjoyed Hall of Fame quarterback play for more than three decades, that drought is becoming difficult to ignore.
That is why simply qualifying for the postseason should not be viewed as success. If Green Bay wins 10 or 11 games, earns a wild-card berth and loses in the first or second round, it will be hard to argue the season moved the franchise closer to its ultimate goal.
What about Jordan Love? Does he need an MVP-caliber season?
Not necessarily.
Love doesn't need to win the MVP award. He doesn't need to throw for 5,000 yards or 40 touchdowns. What he does need to prove is that he can consistently elevate the team when games matter most. The Packers already know he is talented. The next step is demonstrating he can carry championship-level expectations.
Ultimately, the measuring stick should be team success, not individual accolades.
Which brings us to the NFC Championship Game.
For this season to feel like a true success, Green Bay should at minimum reach the conference title game. The Packers have spent years building this roster. Brian Gutekunst has invested heavily in the offensive line, pass rush, secondary and skill positions. Love has experience. The roster is deep. The excuses are gone.
Reaching the NFC Championship Game would signal that the Packers have taken a meaningful step forward. Winning it and advancing to the Super Bowl would confirm that the organization is finally ready to capitalize on the foundation it has spent years constructing.
The NFL is built on results, and in Green Bay, the ultimate result is clear.
The Packers don't need another playoff appearance.
They need to prove they can become the last team standing in the NFC.