The Packers came out of Week 1 looking sturdier than the box score might suggest. Two of Minnesota’s scoring drives began with the Vikings already deep in Green Bay territory after turnovers, so the raw numbers don’t tell the whole story. But this week brings a different kind of problem, and it’s one that asks Jonathan Gannon to fight his own instincts.
The issue is Breece Hall.
Gannon’s defenses have long leaned into a “bend, don’t break” style, and that approach can work when the goal is to limit explosives. It gets much shakier when the other side can keep chipping away on the ground. That’s the danger here: short gains, light boxes, and a runner who can punish one missed tackle by turning it into a 20-yard burst.
Hall just showed exactly what that looks like. Against the Tennessee Titans, he ran for 102 yards and a touchdown, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He did it against Robert Saleh’s aggressive, physical front, which makes the matchup with a lighter, more passive read-and-react defense look even more concerning.
That’s why the Packers need to do the opposite of what Gannon’s defenses usually prefer. They have to stack the box and make life miserable for the Jets on first and second down. If Hall is kept in check, the pressure shifts to Geno Smith, and that’s where Green Bay should feel much better about its chances.
Smith brings the kind of volatility the Packers can live with. He’s been a turnover-prone quarterback throughout his career, with double digits in turnovers three times, and his career turnover-worthy play rate sits at 3.9 percent, according to Pro Football Focus. His throws can go from daring to disastrous in a hurry, and the Packers’ safety group is built to make that uncomfortable.
Even with some questions at cornerback, Keisean Nixon held up pretty well in Week 1. That gives Green Bay a path here: force Smith into third-and-long, let the pass rush and coverage work together, and trust that the quarterback will eventually give the ball back.
The Jets may not look like a team that should overwhelm anyone, but the Packers can’t afford to treat this like an easy week. If they want to end the losing streak, they need to make Hall the focus and turn the game over to Smith. That’s where the mistake is most likely to come.
In Other News...
Packers Draw More NFL Discipline After Van Ness Controversy Takes A Turn
The Packers are facing another round of NFL discipline after the league handed down fines tied to a physical game that left Green Bay with more than one name on the report. Edge Lukas Van Ness was fined $17,911 for a hit to the head or neck of quarterback Carson Wentz in the third quarter, a penalty that adds another layer to a game already marked by aggressive play.
Safety Evan Williams also drew a fine, taking a $7,087 hit for unnecessary roughness on a defenseless player in a play involving Justin Jefferson. Javon Bullard was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a hit that injured Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray, though he was not fined, leaving Green Bay with discipline that reaches beyond the box score and back into the league office. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have An Early Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Week 1 gave the Packers an early snapshot that was hard to shrug off. In a broader look at several opening-week performances around the NFL, Green Bays offense drew attention for the wrong reasons, with the offensive line and running game both showing issues that could quickly become more than a one-week annoyance if they linger.
For a team that expected to come out of September with some clarity on who it is offensively, the concern is less about overreacting to one Sunday and more about how the pieces fit together from here. Opening-week concerns can fade, but when the front five and the ground game both look out of sync, it leaves the Packers with an early problem fans cannot ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Get Reassuring News On Rookie Corner Before Jets Game
Brandon Cisses week got a lot calmer after a shaky opening night. The Packers rookie cornerback is off the injury report now after dealing with cramps that forced him out of the season opener, a notable development for a secondary that could use all the stability it can get heading into Week 2 against the Jets.
Cisse was back for a full practice and is expected to have a significant role on Sunday after starting last game and playing 49 defensive snaps before leaving. For Green Bay, the encouraging part is not just that he seems ready to go, but that the rookie who was already trusted in the starting lineup appears set to resume that responsibility without any lingering concern. [Read more 🡒]