The Green Bay Packers are heating up at just the right time. At 8-3-1, undefeated in the division at 3-0, and riding a three-game win streak, there’s a real sense of momentum building in Green Bay. But while the vibes are good, no one in that locker room should be getting too comfortable - not with what’s coming next.
This stretch run is where we find out what this team is really made of. The Packers are about to hit a gauntlet: two matchups in three weeks against the NFC-leading Chicago Bears, with a showdown against the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos sandwiched in between. That’s three games against playoff-caliber teams, two of them against a division rival that’s been setting the pace in the conference.
If Green Bay wants to be mentioned in the same breath as the Bears or the Rams - teams currently perched atop the NFC standings - this is the proving ground. Go 3-0, and the Packers are suddenly in the thick of the race for the No. 1 seed.
Even 2-1 would keep them firmly in the contender conversation. But anything less - especially a 1-2 or 0-3 stumble - and the Super Bowl dreams that started to take shape over the past few weeks could start to feel like a mirage.
The formula for staying on track? It’s not complicated, but it’s critical.
As team insider Mike Spofford put it: “Keep the penalties to a minimum and the turnovers nonexistent. In other words, don’t beat yourself.
Make the other team beat you.”
Simple advice, but spot-on. Because when the Packers play clean football, they’re a tough out for anyone. The talent is there - on both sides of the ball - but discipline has been the difference between wins and losses this season.
Take the Week 3 loss to Cleveland, for example. Ten penalties and a costly interception from Jordan Love were the story in that one.
Even in some of their wins, the yellow flags have piled up - 10 penalties apiece in victories over Washington and Arizona. That’s the kind of stuff that can sink a playoff run if it doesn’t get cleaned up.
But here’s the good news: it is getting cleaned up. Over the past three games, Green Bay has committed just 10 penalties total - a major improvement.
And Love has been protecting the football, going four straight games without throwing a pick. That kind of discipline is what wins games in December and January.
Head coach Matt LaFleur deserves credit for tightening the screws. This team is playing smarter, more focused football, and the results speak for themselves. The Packers are trending in the right direction - not just in the standings, but in the way they’re executing.
Now comes the real test. Can they sustain it against top-tier competition? Can they keep their composure when the stakes are highest and the pressure ratchets up?
This team has the pieces to be special. But the margin for error in the NFL is razor-thin, and Green Bay knows it can’t afford to beat itself. If the Packers stay disciplined, protect the football, and continue to play within themselves, they’ll be in every game down the stretch - and possibly a few more come February.
In the end, it’s simple: the Packers are their own biggest obstacle. And that’s both the challenge and the opportunity.