Brandon Cisse didn’t just flash in Green Bay’s win over the Dallas Cowboys - he may have changed the Packers’ cornerback conversation altogether.
The rookie out of South Carolina has been trending up fast after a rough start, and his latest outing gave the Packers their clearest sign yet that they may have found a true difference-maker. Cisse picked off Dak Prescott for the first interception of his career in the big win over Dallas, and the production around him keeps backing up the eye test.
His NFL debut came with a 135.4 passer rating allowed, but that number has steadily fallen to 119.4, 113.7, 81.3, 70.8, and then 9.4. That last number belongs to Prescott, who was left with almost nothing when he tried to challenge the rookie.
Cisse’s impact has gone beyond coverage, too. He brings physicality against the run and has shown he can shadow top receivers, even making life miserable for established names like CeeDee Lamb. The Packers didn’t have a first-round pick this year, but their second-rounder is already playing like one.
That puts Carrington Valentine in a tougher spot. He’s on an expiring deal, and he hasn’t really seized the chances he’s had since last season. He did come away with an interception against the Cowboys, but it was wiped out by a roughing-the-passer penalty, and outside of that moment he has been more of a problem than a solution.
Valentine only got more run because Nate Hobbs was struggling, and while he can still fit as a rotational option, the Packers may not want him taking heavy snaps. With free agency approaching, the idea of moving him now and getting something back before he walks is starting to make sense.
There is at least a reason to think twice. Benjamin St-Juste has barely played and is dealing with a hamstring injury, so the depth chart isn’t exactly overflowing with answers. Still, if Green Bay can turn Valentine into value, that may be the cleaner path.
What’s become impossible to ignore is how much better the defense looks every week. The Packers have held opponents to 14 points or fewer in three straight games, and they’ve done it without Micah Parsons. Cisse and fellow rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton have both looked like steals, the kind of young talent that makes a defense look ahead of schedule after just six weeks.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Have A Backfield Question Fans Didn't Expect
Green Bays 23-13 win over Dallas brought plenty of encouraging signs, from Matthew Goldens impact in the passing game to a secondary that helped keep the Cowboys in check. Jordan Loves offense moved efficiently enough despite a few drops, and Matt LaFleurs plan drew positive notice as the Packers continued to show a more balanced feel on that side of the ball.
The one unexpected wrinkle came in the backfield, where MarShawn Lloyd never found much rhythm and Pierre Strong Jr. ended up handling the bulk of the work early. For a team that left Week 6 feeling good about several key pieces, the running game suddenly looks like the place where Green Bay has to sort out who it wants carrying the load going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Offense Still Looks Broken After Another Brutal Loss
Dallas looked stuck in neutral again at Lambeau Field, where the Packers turned a promising afternoon into another rough result for a Cowboys offense still searching for answers. Green Bays defense bothered Dak Prescott throughout the day, and the game tilted quickly as the Packers built a lead that put Dallas in chase mode before halftime. Jordan Love did enough to keep Green Bay in control, throwing for 276 yards and accounting for two touchdowns as the Packers moved to 4-2.
The bigger concern for Dallas was how familiar the script felt, with the offense failing to find rhythm and the defense unable to keep the game within reach. Green Bays interceptions of Prescott were part of the damage, and the Packers never really let the Cowboys settle into anything comfortable on either side of the ball. For a team that came into the day at 2-3, the loss leaves another lingering question about how much better this offense can get before the standings start to harden around it. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Gannon Is Already Changing The Feel Of This Packers Defense
Six weeks into the season, Jonathan Gannon has already given Green Bays defense a noticeably different edge. The former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator has helped steady a unit that looks much more disruptive and organized than it did a year ago, with several players stepping up around him and making the group more competitive on a weekly basis.
The results have shown up even with key names missing from the lineup, which makes the early turnaround stand out even more. Green Bay has found a way to stay productive and force mistakes while waiting for pieces to get healthy, and the question now is how much higher this defense can climb once the full group is available again. [Read more 🡒]