Green Bay Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs (21) has been picked on time and time again to start the year.
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The Green Bay Packers are 4-1-1 following their 27-23 win over Arizona Sunday.
The Packers have a one-half game lead over Detroit and Chicago (4-2) in the NFC North.
And if the Lions defeat Tampa Bay (5-1) Monday night, Green Bay would have the best winning percentage (.750) in the conference.
But the Packers haven’t looked like one of the NFC’s elite in recent games.
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur was asked where these Packers are right now, and said “A long way away from being the team we want to become.”
Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney felt the same way.
“We for damn sure can’t do this against good teams because it’s not going to work,” McKinney said. “I think the guys know that. We’re happy we got the win but we’ve got to be a lot better.”
While the Packers sit in a nice spot right today, here are three reasons they should be worried about tomorrow if they don’t start playing better.
1. SECONDARY
As cornerbacks came off the board in April’s draft, Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst insisted the Packers were just fine at the position. They’re not.
In the Packers’ last three games, they’ve allowed seven touchdown passes and don’t have an interception. In fact, Green Bay has just two interceptions all year.
Opposing quarterbacks have averaged 272.3 passing yards per game and have completed 70.3% of their passes in the last three contests. Their passer rating in those games is 108.04.
It’d be one thing if Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford were putting up those numbers. Instead, the group has included 40-year-old Joe Flacco and career backup Jacoby Brissett.
Only Dak Prescott of Dallas would be considered elite at the position today.
“We’ve got to be more detailed man,” McKinney said. “We’ve got to execute better. We’ve got to give the calls and everybody’s got to do their job. I think that’s what it’s going to start off with. Every single person from the guys in the front to the backers, to my unit, the DBs. Everybody has to do their job and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Cornerback Nate Hobbs, who signed a four-year, $48 million contract in free agency, doesn’t look like the answer. Hobbs has been picked on relentlessly, and the Packers should be thinking of replacing him with scrappy Carrington Valentine or making a trade before the Nov. 4 deadline.
Second-year safety Evan Williams has struggled and could be benched himself if the Packers decide to move Hobbs to the slot — where he played with the Raiders — and move Javon Bullard to safety.
Amazingly, teams are having this type of success through the air despite Packers’ edge rusher Micah Parsons wreaking havoc every single week. Just imagine how bleak things would be if Gutekunst hadn’t traded for Parsons in late-August?
“We’ll get back in the film room, too,” McKinney said. “A lot of the stuff we already know pretty much what we messed up on. Once we go back and look at it, it’ll be an easy fix. We just got to get it corrected quickly.”
2. “CHOPPY” OFFENSE
When LaFleur was asked about his offense Sunday night, he used the term “choppy.”
That seems to be a perfect description.
Green Bay ranks eighth in points per game (26.3), but is 15th in total yards per game (343.3), 15th in rushing yards (117.5), and 12th in passing yards (225.8).
The offensive line has struggled creating any space for running back Josh Jacobs. Free agent guard Aaron Banks — who signed for four years and $77 million in March — has flopped. The rest of the unit has been underwhelming, as well.
The receiving unit is as mediocre as you’ll find.
Romeo Doubs is far from a No. 1 wideout. Rookie Matthew Golden is still figuring things out. Dontayvion Wicks has been invisible, averaging 2.1 receptions per game.
The good news is Christian Watson (knee) is close to returning, while Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) should be back next month. When that happens, the unit should be improved.
“We’re still leaving some plays out there on offense, guys not necessarily being tied in to aiming points, route depth,” tight end Tucker Kraft said. “It’s not about playing perfect, but just eliminating the bad and when we can do that week in, week out, we can stack these games, stack these wins, winning on the road. It’s just important to lean on each other because these 53 guys, that’s all we got.”
3. SCHEDULE INTENSIFIES
Green Bay has played just one team to date with a winning record (Detroit). The Packers’ last four foes are a combined 10-17-1 — a .375 winning percentage.
Now, things are about to get a lot tougher.
Green Bay’s next three games — beginning with a Sunday Night contest against old pal Aaron Rodgers — come against teams with winning records. And seven of the Packers’ next nine games are against teams that currently have winning records.
“To be honest, in my opinion, I don’t think really it should even come down to the fourth quarter,” McKinney said. “I think we have a better team. I don’t think we really played up to our standard as much. Like I said, we’ll get back to the film room and try to find ways to be better.”
They’ll need to — or they won’t be near the top of the conference for much longer.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robreischel/2025/10/20/3-reasons-the-green-bay-packers-strong-start-could-be-a-mirage/
