When the Green Bay Packers have been healthy this season, they've looked like a team built for January football-balanced, explosive, and capable of hanging with anyone in the league. But staying healthy has been the challenge, and the latest blow-losing star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to a torn ACL-could be the toughest test yet for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Parsons, who leads the team with 12.5 sacks and has been the heartbeat of the Packers’ defense, went down in Sunday’s 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos. His absence leaves a massive hole in a unit that’s relied on his disruptive presence to tilt the field.
And it’s not just Parsons. Green Bay’s been juggling injuries across the offensive line and receiving corps, including wideout Christian Watson, who exited the Denver game with a chest injury and is questionable for Saturday night’s NFC North showdown with the Chicago Bears.
Despite the setbacks, there’s still plenty of belief in this Packers squad-and it starts under center. Jordan Love has been playing the best football of his young career, and if he’s going to lead Green Bay on a deep playoff run, Watson might be the key to unlocking it.
That was the sentiment from former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, who didn’t hesitate when asked if Love could carry the Packers to the Super Bowl without Parsons on the field.
“As long as he has Christian Watson, yes,” Orlovsky said on Thursday’s edition of Get Up. “Watson’s the key to that offense.”
Orlovsky acknowledged the concern over right tackle Zach Tom’s knee injury-Tom has been one of the most consistent performers on Green Bay’s offensive line this season, earning an impressive 83.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. But the analyst doubled down on his confidence in Love and the offense, especially if Watson is healthy and active.
“If Jordan Love doesn’t give the ball to the other team this weekend and honestly doesn’t take more than two sacks, the Packers will win this football game,” Orlovsky added.
Watson’s presence on the field has clearly elevated Love’s game. After missing time earlier in the season while recovering from an ACL injury of his own, Watson returned to form with three touchdown grabs in the two games leading up to the Denver matchup-including two scores in the first meeting with the Bears on December 7.
Love, meanwhile, has been on a tear. He leads the league in QBR (73.8) and has thrown seven touchdowns with just one interception in the last two games Watson has played.
That connection is no coincidence. Watson’s speed and vertical threat stretch defenses and open up the field for the rest of the offense, giving Love more options and cleaner reads.
Losing Parsons is a major blow-there’s no sugarcoating that. His ability to pressure the quarterback, blow up run plays, and command double teams was a cornerstone of the Packers’ defensive identity.
But even without him, Green Bay still holds the sixth-shortest odds to win the Super Bowl, according to FanDuel (+1100 as of Thursday). That says something about the belief in this team’s depth and the way Love has been trending.
The Bears aren’t coming in at full strength either. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will be without two of his top targets, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, which puts Green Bay in a strong position to capitalize-especially with the NFC North lead within reach.
After Saturday’s game, the Packers close the regular season with a home matchup against the 7-7 Baltimore Ravens and a road trip to face the 6-8 Minnesota Vikings. If they can take care of business against Chicago and complete the season sweep, the path to the playoffs-and potentially more-is right in front of them.
But if Green Bay’s going to make a serious run at its first Super Bowl appearance since the 2010-11 season, Watson’s health and impact could be the X-factor. With Parsons out, the offense may need to carry more of the load, and Watson gives them the firepower to do just that.
Bottom line: The Packers still have the pieces. But they’ll need their stars to shine-and stay on the field-if they want to turn promise into postseason reality.