The Green Bay Packers are looking to follow up on a decent 2024-25 season with a stronger postseason push in the upcoming campaign. With some refreshing incoming talent and other players poised for make-or-break seasons, Green Bay is looking to take another step towards challenging for the NFC crown. However, one ESPN expert is predicting that Green Bay will instead be taking a massive step backwards by missing the postseason altogether.
Nov 28, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Nov 28, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
ESPN Expert Says Green Bay Packers Will Miss Playoffs
The Green Bay Packers achieved a solid 11-6 record last season in the hardest division in football, making the playoffs as the #7 seed. Their participation in the postseason ended in the Wild Card round, where the team fell 22-10 against the eventual-Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Green Bay Packers Josh Jacobs
Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) reacts after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Many expect the Packers to be right back in the mix in the NFC heading into the 2025-26 season. ESPN oddsmakers expect Green Bay to be the #6 seed in the conference. However, one expert thinks that the Packers might be closer to taking a step back instead of a step forward.
ESPN’s Benjamin Solak made several bold predictions for the upcoming season and stated that Green Bay’s current roster does not have the juice necessary to make the postseason. He cited two main reasons: a lack of pass-rush, and a lack of a WR1.
“The Packers will miss the playoffs. I think two of the biggest nonnegotiables for playoff teams are having a pass rush and a dominant receiver. The Packers definitely don’t have the first and still might not have the second, even after drafting Matthew Golden in Round 1.”
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Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) reacts after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Packers fans are surely tired of the WR1 discourse, but it is true that many of last year’s playoff teams had a clear top dog lining up out wide. Even within the division, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson make life tremendously easier for Detroit’s Jared Goff and for Minnesota, now JJ McCarthy. That all being said, Solak’s second point is perhaps the most significant.
Last year, Green Bay was 8th in the NFL in total sacks. Solak clearly thinks the team will be taking a step back in this department. Similar to the wide receiver position, while Green Bay doesn’t have a premiere pass-rusher on the roster, they have a handful of players capable of putting together 5 or 6 six sacks in a season.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) celebrates recovering a fumble against the Los Angeles Chargers during their football game Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) celebrates recovering a fumble against the Los Angeles Chargers during their football game Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
Could the Green Bay Packers Actually Miss Out on the Postseason?
Saying the Pack will miss the playoffs altogether is certainly a pessimistic outlook on the season, but could Solak be on to something? After all, Green Bay does play in the toughest division in the NFL. This fact contributes to making the Packers’ schedule one of the most difficult in the league for next season.
Green Bay Packers vs Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) makes a catch before Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) sandwiches him in between Detroit Lions guard Kevin Zeitler (71) and Green Bay Packers safety Zayne Anderson (39), during the Thursday Night Football at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
Last year, the team struggled in regular season matchups with fellow playoff teams. They only won a single regular season game against a playoff team, which was against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5. Not emerging victorious over postseason-quality teams is usually a good indicator for a lack of playoff success. While Green Bay feasted on lower-quality opponents, even marginal slippage in this area could put them out of the postseason.
Solak made one other point on an area where the Packers will likely regress in.
“They were plus-12 in turnover differential last season, which ranked third in the NFL, but that tends not to be a sticky number.”
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Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) forces Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) to fumble the ball after this catch, during the Thursday Night Football at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.Solak is referring to turnover differential usually not being a consistent mark for a team. There’s a good chance that Green Bay will not be near the top in this category next season simply due to variation.
As per usual, quarterback play will likely be the biggest determining factor in a team’s success. If Jordan Love can take the step forward that Packers fans have been hoping for, then Solak will likely look back on his prediction with some embarrassment. However, if Love has a down year, Solak’s prediction may age quite well.
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