For the first time all season, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley had to dial up pressure without his defensive centerpiece - All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons, who tore his ACL in the loss to Denver, had been more than just a pass-rusher.
He was the engine of a Green Bay defense that had been driving the team’s Super Bowl hopes. Without him, Hafley had to get creative, and Saturday night against the Bears gave us the first real look at what that creativity might look like.
And it came against one of the worst possible matchups for a blitz-heavy strategy: Caleb Williams.
Williams has been a blitz-beater all year, consistently making defenses pay when they send extra bodies. And he did it again on Saturday night - both of his touchdown passes came against the blitz.
That’s the risk you take when you decide to bring the heat against a quarterback who thrives under pressure. But even with those scores, there were signs that Hafley’s new-look approach might just hold up.
Let’s talk pressure - because that’s where this game gets interesting.
According to PackersWire’s Mark Oldacres, the Packers racked up 23 pressures on Williams, the most they’ve generated in a game since Week 7 against the Cardinals. That’s not just a good number - it’s a season-high, and it came without Parsons on the field.
Even more telling? That pressure rate hit 47.4% of Williams’ dropbacks.
Nearly half the time he dropped back, someone was in his face.
That’s not easy to do, especially against a quarterback with Williams’ poise and escapability. And it’s worth noting: the last time the Packers hit that 23-pressure mark, Parsons was wreaking havoc and closing games. This time, Hafley had to manufacture that chaos through scheme, timing, and a willingness to take risks.
So while the scoreboard might not have swung in Green Bay’s favor, there’s a silver lining for this defense. Hafley showed he can adapt.
He showed he can still get pressure without his best player. And if the Packers are going to make noise in the postseason, they’ll need more of that - because the road ahead won’t get any easier.
No Parsons, no problem? Not quite. But Saturday night was a step in the right direction.