The Green Bay Packers defense has been a bit of a rollercoaster this season when it comes to takeaways. Through 13 weeks, they’re averaging just 0.9 per game - that ranks 24th in the league and is a full takeaway per game lower than their 2024 mark, when they were sixth in the NFL. That’s a steep drop, and it’s been one of the quieter storylines behind their defensive identity this year.
But lately, there’s been a shift. The Packers have forced five turnovers over their last three games, bumping that average up to 1.7 in that stretch.
That’s not just a statistical correction - it’s a sign that this defense might be rediscovering its opportunistic edge at just the right time. With the season entering its final stretch, those takeaways could be the difference between a playoff push and an early offseason.
Let’s take a closer look at how they’ve gotten there - specifically, two key interceptions from Week 12 against the Vikings that show both scheme execution and individual playmaking.
First Interception: Pressure, Coverage, and a Bit of Luck
On the first pick, it was a combination of smart coverage, pressure off the edge, and a quarterback still learning to read NFL defenses. The Vikings were running a play-action deep curl concept, trying to get Justin Jefferson open against a zone look. The Packers responded with a Cover-6 shell - Cover-2 to Jefferson’s side, quarters coverage on the backside.
Carrington Valentine was in outside trail technique on Jefferson, with safety help over the top. That’s a tough window for any quarterback, let alone a rookie.
Meanwhile, Rashan Gary was working against backup left tackle Justin Skule, who was filling in for Christian Darrisaw. Skule got a chip from the tight end, but Gary still won the edge and got to J.J.
McCarthy just as he released the ball.
Gary’s pressure altered the throw - he swatted at McCarthy’s arm, causing the ball to flutter into the waiting arms of linebacker Isaiah McDuffie. But even if Gary hadn’t disrupted the pass, Valentine had undercut Jefferson’s route and was in great position to make a play on the ball. That’s textbook team defense: coverage and pass rush working in sync.
McCarthy’s read? Not ideal.
Against Cover-6, he should’ve been looking to the quarters side of the field, where the safety and corner were bailing deep. Instead, he tried to force the ball into a tight window against a bracketed Jefferson.
That’s a rookie mistake, and the Packers made him pay.
Second Interception: Footwork Fails, Coverage Wins
The second interception was less about disguise and more about execution - or lack thereof. The Vikings ran a classic dagger concept, looking to hit a seam route and clear space underneath. The Packers were in a straight Tampa-2 look, and McDuffie once again played it perfectly.
In Tampa-2, the middle linebacker has to carry the seam route long enough to disrupt the timing, then drop back into the middle to take away the dagger route. McDuffie executed that to perfection, first running with the seam, then peeling off to cover the underneath dig.
McCarthy, meanwhile, saw the seam and took his shot. The concept was likely designed to exploit that linebacker technique - Kevin O’Connell probably wanted McCarthy to throw the seam before the linebacker could peel off.
But the throw sailed. Why?
Look at the footwork.
McCarthy’s dropback was supposed to be a five-step drop with a hitch - standard timing for this route combo. But he only gained about three yards of depth, and his hitch was choppy.
His heels clicked together instead of planting firmly, which robbed him of a strong base. That forced him to muscle the throw with his upper body, and the result was an overthrow that landed right in the hands of safety Evan Williams.
It was a teachable moment for McCarthy - and another win for a Packers defense that’s starting to look more like the unit that was flying around the field last season.
Big Picture: Trending in the Right Direction
The Packers defense isn’t back to its 2024 turnover pace just yet, but the signs are encouraging. They’re creating pressure, disguising coverages, and capitalizing on mistakes - all hallmarks of a defense that can swing games in December and beyond.
If this recent surge in takeaways holds, it could be a game-changer for a team that’s still very much in the playoff mix. Turnovers often come in bunches, and right now, Green Bay’s defense is starting to stack them up at the right time.