GREEN BAY, Wis. — As the Green Bay Packers approach their bye week, their quest for an NFC North title has become more complicated due to recent losses at home against the Minnesota Vikings and the division-leading Detroit Lions. However, they find themselves in a more favorable position compared to this time last year.
Currently holding a record of 6-3, if the playoffs commenced today, the Packers would earn the No. 7 seed in the NFC, mirroring their placement at this time during the previous season when they finished at 3-6. The team rallied last year, securing victories in six of their last eight outings, which included a wild-card win at Dallas. Unfortunately, their playoff journey ended with a close 24-21 loss to San Francisco in the divisional round. This past postseason experience has many believing that this year’s squad might possess the potential to lead the franchise back to the Super Bowl since their last championship in 2010.
To facilitate this ambition, the Packers must enhance their performance significantly over the remainder of the season. Coach Matt LaFleur emphasized the emphasis on refining their practice approach, noting how heightened competition during training sessions fostered a more vibrant atmosphere that translated onto the field. “We’re going to reflect on our strategies from the latter half of (2023) to develop and get better,” LaFleur stated. “Every individual needs to focus on improving one specific aspect, as there’s always room for growth.”
At present, the Packers sit third in the NFC North, trailing behind the Lions (7-1) and Vikings (6-2). Upcoming matchups include a visit to Detroit on December 5 and a later encounter with Minnesota on December 29. Thus far, the Packers have struggled in their divisional matches, holding an 0-2 record. In their narrow 31-29 defeat to Minnesota, they recorded five turnovers as they faced three turnovers against the Lions. Across the other seven games, they have achieved 16 takeaways while surrendering eight.
“Those are two games where we certainly didn’t showcase our best performance,” quarterback Jordan Love remarked following the Lions game. “We’ve made too many mistakes and failed to execute effectively. It’s disappointing, but they are two opponents we will meet again later in the season.”
For the positives, despite not managing to force a turnover against the Lions, the Packers maintain a league-high total of 19 takeaways. Furthermore, their rushing offense is performing admirably, with an average of 154.8 yards per game, placing them fifth in the NFL. Notably, the team has rushed for a total of 1,393 yards, marking their highest total through the first nine games since 2003.
However, the team needs to address several areas for improvement. In total, the Packers have committed 13 turnovers, ranking them among the teams with the highest number of turnovers in the league. Love has already thrown 10 interceptions this season, a stark contrast to last season’s 11 picks across 579 attempts. Moreover, dropped passes have emerged as a notable issue, particularly in their recent game against the Lions.
On a brighter note, several players are gaining recognition, including safety Xavier McKinney, who is tied for the league lead with six interceptions, and running back Josh Jacobs, who has rushed for 762 yards, ranking third in the league. Additionally, wide receiver Jayden Reed has tallied 36 receptions for 620 yards, coupled with 110 rushing yards, and tight end Tucker Kraft stands second among tight ends with five touchdown catches, just behind San Francisco’s George Kittle.
On the downside, cornerback Eric Stokes—returning from injuries that restricted him to nine games last year—has seen his playtime diminish significantly, except for this past Sunday when key secondary players were sidelined. Defensive lineman Kenny Clark is also facing challenges, remaining without a sack this season after posting a career-best 7.5 sacks last year.
In injury news, LaFleur announced that tight end Luke Musgrave has undergone ankle surgery and should hopefully return later in the season. Musgrave, selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, has been on injured reserve since October 11.
Key statistics reveal that the Packers have struggled at home against NFC North rivals, holding a 1-5 record in their last six matchups, a streak beginning with a loss to Detroit at the end of the 2022 season, which also marked the conclusion of Aaron Rodgers’ career with the team. Preceding this stretch, Green Bay had an impressive 10-1 record against division opponents at home under LaFleur.
Moving forward, the Packers will enter their week off before heading to Chicago on November 17. They have enjoyed a strong run against the Bears, winning their last ten meetings.