Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are forcing their way into the conversation as one of the league’s most dangerous receiving pairs, and the numbers through five weeks back that up.
Watson has been the big-play engine for Green Bay, piling up 26 catches for 474 yards and six touchdowns. That production puts him on pace for roughly 1,600 receiving yards. Golden has matched the surge in his own way, catching 24 passes for 397 yards and two scores, a clip that would land him near 1,350 yards over a full season.
For a franchise that has seen its share of productive wideout combinations this century - Davante Adams, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings among them - this kind of output brings back familiar territory. The last time two Packers receivers both got past 1,000 yards in the same season was 2014, when Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb did it.
Green Bay’s offense looked the part in its 31-7 win over Chicago, a one-sided showing that put the team’s firepower on display against a bitter rival. Still, Matt LaFleur isn’t ready to hand out any labels just yet.
“Well, we’ll see,” remarked the Packers head coach.
“You’re only as good as your last game. They were pretty good this week.”
Watson’s blend of size and athleticism has always hinted at major upside, but injuries have repeatedly slowed the momentum he flashed early in his career. Golden arrived with first-round expectations last year, and while his rookie season didn’t live up to the billing, the talent has always been there for him to grow into a central role.
The Packers have also simplified the passing game by leaning harder on their best options instead of spreading the ball around a crowded receiver room. That has given Jordan Love clearer targets, while Tucker Kraft continues to matter as a reliable piece in the passing attack.
Green Bay is 3-2, but the road in the NFC North remains crowded. Chicago and Detroit are in the mix, and Minnesota has opened at 5-0.
For now, the Packers have momentum. LaFleur just wants a little more before he calls anything proven.
In Other News...
Packers Just Poured Fuel On The Ben Johnson Hype Debate
The Packers latest trip into Chicago did more than add another divisional win to the ledger. Green Bay controlled the rivalry game from the start and came away with a 31-7 victory, a result that only sharpened the conversation around how Ben Johnsons Bears are handling life in the NFC North. For a team trying to establish itself early in the season, the matchup offered another reminder of how unforgiving division games can be.
Johnsons arrival had brought plenty of optimism, especially after Chicagos strong opening stretch on offense, but the production has dipped as the schedule has tightened. Against Green Bay, the Bears never found much rhythm, and the Packers defense made sure the game stayed tilted their way. The bigger concern now is what it says about Chicago against familiar opponents, because the early returns in the division have not matched the buzz around Johnsons coaching debut. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Question They Can't Ignore
Injuries have pushed the Packers into an uncomfortable corner on defense, with key players dropping out at different points and the pass rush still operating without Micah Parsons because of his torn ACL. For a team trying to stay afloat in a rugged NFC race, the timing could hardly be worse, and it has turned the trade deadline into a real roster-building test rather than just a date on the calendar.
One name now hanging over that conversation is Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne, a veteran Pro Bowl lineman who would give Green Bay another proven body inside. He also brings a layer of intrigue beyond the field, since he is headed toward free agency and has already been part of trade chatter, which makes the Packers' defensive needs and Washington's long-term plans intersect at exactly the wrong time for Green Bay. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Passing Surge Comes With One Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Through the first five games, the Packers passing game has looked like a real strength, with Jordan Love settling in and wideouts Christian Watson and Matthew Golden giving Green Bay a more dangerous downfield element. The offense has found ways to keep moving the ball even while dealing with injuries and a few moving parts around the lineup, a reminder that the ceiling looks higher when the receiver group is whole and the timing stays sharp.
Kevin Zeitler is part of the reason there is cautious optimism about the line holding up long enough for that momentum to last. With Jayden Reed still out and the offensive front needing to stay healthy, the Packers aerial surge feels promising, but it also comes with the familiar caveat that everything changes fast if protection starts to slip or more pieces have to be shuffled again. [Read more 🡒]