Packers Need to Unleash Matthew Golden in Crucial Matchup vs. Bears
There’s a moment in every NFL season when a team has to stop waiting and start trusting. For the Packers, that moment is now-and the player is Matthew Golden.
With Christian Watson trending toward playing in Week 16 but still not at full strength, and both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks dealing with either declining production or nagging injuries, the stage is set. Golden, finally healthy after battling shoulder and wrist issues, flashed serious upside in last week’s loss to the Broncos. Now it’s on head coach Matt LaFleur to lean into the momentum and let the rookie wideout loose in a high-stakes showdown against the Bears.
Golden’s Ready. The Packers Need to Let Him Cook.
Let’s be clear: if Watson suits up, he’s going to get his targets. And that’s how it should be.
He’s a dynamic playmaker and a key piece of the Packers’ offensive identity. But just six days removed from a hospital visit due to chest and shoulder injuries, there’s only so much he can be expected to carry.
That’s where Golden comes in.
Last week, the rookie made the most of his limited chances-hauling in three of his four targets for 55 yards. It wasn’t just the stat line, though.
It was how he did it. He showcased the full toolkit: separation, sure hands, and the kind of downfield explosiveness that stretches defenses thin.
Jordan Love connected with him on gains of 27 and 18 yards-one a tough, contested grab, the other a wide-open route that left defenders chasing shadows. Golden even drew a clutch pass interference call on third down, keeping a drive alive when the Packers needed it most.
This isn’t a one-week flash, either. Love has trusted Golden in big spots all season.
Think back to Week 4 against the Cowboys. Overtime.
Fourth-and-six. Game on the line.
Love went to Golden for 14 yards and a first down. That trust has been earned-15 of Golden’s 27 receptions this year have moved the chains.
That’s 55.6 percent. For a rookie, that’s not just reliable.
That’s impact.
Doubs Fading, Golden Rising
Early in the year, Romeo Doubs looked like Love’s go-to guy. But that connection has cooled off.
In the last four games, Doubs has just eight catches. In the Week 14 win over Chicago, he didn’t record a single reception on two targets.
Meanwhile, Golden is trending in the opposite direction. He’s been efficient, explosive, and-maybe most importantly-dependable.
According to Pro Football Focus, neither Golden nor Watson has dropped a pass all season. Jayden Reed has one.
Wicks and Doubs? Three each.
Golden’s consistency isn’t new. He caught everything in college, then kept doing it through the offseason program and training camp. Now, with his health finally back, his timing couldn’t be better.
The Future Is Now
The trio of Watson, Golden, and Reed isn’t just the future of the Packers’ receiving corps-it should be the present. These are the guys who can stretch the field, win 1-on-1 matchups, and create after the catch. And they’re all on the same page with Love.
Against a Bears defense that’s been vulnerable to big plays all season, there’s no better time to feature Golden. Chicago ranks second-worst in the league in explosive-play rate allowed (7.4%, per Sharp Football Analysis). That’s the kind of defense that can be punished by a receiver who knows how to get behind the secondary-and Golden fits that bill.
Imagine Watson and Golden on the field together, both healthy, both stretching the defense vertically. That’s a nightmare for opposing secondaries. And it’s a look LaFleur needs to lean into.
This isn’t about potential anymore. It’s about production.
Golden has shown he can deliver. Now it’s time to give him the stage.
The Packers’ playoff hopes are still alive. Their offense has weapons. And one of them-wearing No. 12-is ready for a bigger role.