The Packers come into Sunday night riding the good feelings of a rivalry win, but the real test is waiting a week later on national TV: a trip into a likely track meet with the Cowboys. Green Bay is 3-2, Dallas is staring at 2-4 if it can’t handle business, and the line of scrimmage feels like the hinge point for the whole thing.
For a team that looked buried by its offensive line issues just a couple of weeks ago, Green Bay has steadied itself in a hurry. That turnaround is why this matchup matters so much. The Packers still need to prove the fix is real, and doing it against the Cowboys would say a lot more than doing it against an easier opponent.
The biggest question in the middle of all this remains Aaron Banks. His injury has clearly changed the way the Packers have handled things up front, and he’s been limited to just one game after stacking up double-digit starts over the previous four seasons with the Packers and the 49ers.
There’s been chatter that he could be available against Dallas, but nothing is certain. And even if he suits up, Jason B.
Hirschhorn posted on X that he may not jump straight back into the starting five.
That uncertainty matters because Green Bay has finally found some stability without forcing changes just for the sake of it. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich made that clear when asked about the line.
“I like where we're at, for the most part,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. “I don't want to change just to change.
I think Travis [Glover] has done a nice job going in there and playing. Obviously, Laken [Tomlinson] has done a good job at left guard stabilizing it.
Our pocket's been good as far as the push, for the most part. Definitely don't want to change just to change.
But at the same time, we're going to put the best five out there. We'll take the week and evaluate it like we normally do.
“Whenever he's able to get back, that's one thing we have to keep in mind, too. Where do we fit those guys into the best five? So, we'll evaluate that, but that's going to be an interesting thing as we go through the next few weeks.”
The Packers’ problem area has been even bigger in the run game. They’re averaging only 60.4 rushing yards per game, which sits dead last in the NFL and is nearly 19 yards below the next-worst team. That’s the sort of number that can wreck an offense if it doesn’t start moving.
There are a few moving parts at guard that could affect how Green Bay handles that issue. Kevin Zeitler, who was signed to the active roster two weeks ago, could be in the mix against the Cowboys. But there’s no guarantee he’s ready for a game this important.
For now, Travis Glover has held down the spot over the last two games, and he’s given the Packers something they badly needed: continuity. Against the Buccaneers, he allowed just one pressure. He’s not being sold as the final answer, but he has helped settle things.
Laken Tomlinson has also done his part on the other side. According to atozsports.com via Pro Football Focus, he posted the team’s best run-blocking grade against the Bears and didn’t give up a pressure.
Jordan Morgan has been the weak link. The left tackle has already allowed 17 pressures this season, and the former first-round pick has not matched the expectations that came with his draft status.
Even with those issues, the Packers have shown enough confidence in the group to keep taking shots. Stenavich pointed to that when discussing a flea-flicker TE screen to Tucker Kraft, a play Hirschhorn relayed on X.
“Packers OC Adam Stenavich on flea-flicker TE screen to Tucker Kraft: ‘High-risk, high-reward play. That was fun.
They did a nice job executing. Obviously, Jordan [Love] had some pressure there.
He got rid of the ball quickly. The O-line did a nice job blocking downfield for Tuck.’
”
That aggressiveness fits what Green Bay probably needs Sunday night. The Packers do not have the defensive personnel to expect they can just bottle up the Cowboys. If they’re going to win, they’ll need to keep up on the scoreboard.
And the defensive side is dealing with its own issues. Micah Parsons is still not back, though Matt LaFleur said the team is getting closer. ESPN reported that he isn’t there yet.
“As soon as they give us the green light, he'll be out there,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “That hasn't happened yet, but I think we're getting closer.
“There's a lot of testing that goes on before he gets medically cleared to get out there. And then I'm sure we're gonna want to give him some time to get back to playing football. As you see with most guys that are coming off a major injury, it takes a little bit of time.”
The Packers’ defense has also taken major hits over the last two weeks. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is done for the season with an Achilles injury, and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper suffered the same fate the week before when he was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Even with those losses, Green Bay somehow still sits No. 8 in total defense. That number is bound to move once the Cowboys are done with them, though the Packers do have 14 sacks, which ranks No. 7 in the league.
Still, this feels like an offense-led game for Green Bay. The line is cleaner than it was, the playbook is opening up a bit, and Sunday night should tell everyone whether the Packers’ recent progress was a real fix or just a short-term patch.
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Jerry Jones Is Feeling Heat Over One Cowboys Trade Decision
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Parsons is injured right now, which has taken some of the immediate heat out of the discussion, but the topic has hardly gone away. A recent report suggested Jones has regrets about making the deal, and that conversation figures to get louder once Parsons is back on the field and the Cowboys are still being judged against what they gave up. [Read more 🡒]