The Packers’ early-season problems have been impossible to miss. Green Bay has stumbled to a 1-2 start, and the offensive line has taken the brunt of the damage. Jordan Love has already been sacked eight times in three games, and that number could easily be higher given how much pressure has been coming his way.
But the next two weeks might offer a chance to steady things.
Tampa Bay and Chicago both appear likely to be dealing with quarterback uncertainty when they face Green Bay. Baker Mayfield and Caleb Williams both look like they could miss those matchups, which would leave the Packers’ defense preparing for less experienced options. If that’s the case, Green Bay could lean on creative pressure looks and try to force mistakes.
There’s another reason the upcoming stretch may be more manageable: both teams have struggled to generate pass rush. That matters for a Packers offense that has been under siege.
Through three games, Green Bay has given up eight sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and 37 pressures, according to Pro Football Reference. After that kind of beating, a couple of softer fronts would be welcome relief.
The Bears already appear set to go with Case Keenum tonight against the Eagles, even though Tyson Bagent has been cleared from the concussion protocol. The expectation is that Keenum will get the start because he handled the practice reps this week.
It all leaves Green Bay staring at a stretch that feels important. The Packers need wins in these next two games if they’re going to have any real shot at turning the season around. And if their own line can settle down even a little, the schedule may be lining up in their favor.
That also brings the bigger question into focus: is the problem more on the front office for not adding enough experienced help up front, or on the coaching staff for not getting the current group ready? Either way, the Packers are staring at a chance to get right.
And when the alternatives are backup quarterbacks instead of Mayfield and Williams, that chance looks a lot more real.
In Other News...
Packers Fans Face A Frustrating Week 4 TV Problem
The Packers early Week 4 matchup with the Buccaneers comes with an extra wrinkle for fans hoping to watch it the old-fashioned way. FOX is carrying the game, but the broadcast is limited to local TV in Wisconsin, Michigan and parts of Florida, leaving plenty of Packers backers outside those areas scrambling for another way in.
For many viewers, that means turning to NFL Sunday Ticket or finding a bar or restaurant package to catch the game live. FOX will send Jonathan Vilma and Chris Myers to call it, while other booth assignments shift to different games around the league, but the bigger story for Packers fans is simply whether they can find the screen in time. [Read more 🡒]
Packers-Bears Just Lost The Spotlight At Lambeau
The league has pushed the Packers-Bears Week 5 meeting at Lambeau Field into a noon kickoff, moving the rivalry out of its original late-afternoon slot. What was set for 3:25 p.m. Central will now start at 12 p.m., a shift tied to Green Bays slow start and Chicagos quarterback injury, with FOX opting to carry 49ers-Seahawks in the later window instead.
For Green Bay, the timing change still leaves a notable bit of pageantry intact. The Packers are set to debut their new Rivalries uniforms in the game, giving one of the NFLs oldest matchups a fresh look even if it no longer has the spotlight that originally came with the later kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Packers O-Line Issues Forced Gutekunst To Finally Act
After the loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Brian Gutekunst finally said out loud what has been obvious for weeks: the Packers offensive line was in trouble. Injuries and uneven play up front have helped drag down the run game and left Jordan Love taking too many hits, turning a preseason concern into a real in-season problem for Green Bay.
Gutekunsts first move was to bring in veteran guard Laken Tomlinson from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, a clear sign the Packers are trying to patch things before the damage gets worse. Whether one addition is enough to stabilize a line that has already been through so much is still the bigger question hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]