After a rocky midseason stretch that saw the Green Bay Packers drop back-to-back games to the Panthers and Eagles, the tide has turned in Titletown. Three straight wins later - each one showcasing some of the Packers' best rushing performances of the year, especially when you factor in the quality of the defenses they faced - and the narrative around this team has shifted fast. The Packers are climbing back up the NFL power rankings, and with a signature win over the Detroit Lions now under their belt, the league is taking notice.
Packers Trending Up in Week 14 Power Rankings
Let’s break down where major outlets have Green Bay slotted heading into Week 14, and what that says about how the football world is viewing this surging squad.
USA Today: #4
Nate Davis at USA Today is the most bullish on the Packers right now, placing them just behind the Rams, Patriots, and Seahawks. That’s high praise, especially considering most analysts still have Green Bay trailing the Denver Broncos - a team they’ll get a shot at head-to-head in Week 15. Davis points to the Packers’ dominance within their own division as a major reason for the ranking:
“Beat the archrival Bears on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the NFC North in a three-week period, and the Pack might just find itself atop the conference standings.”
That’s not just a nice narrative - it’s a very real possibility. The Packers have been stacking divisional wins, and if they can cap off this stretch with a victory over Chicago, they’ll be in prime position for a postseason push.
NFL.com, ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated: All at #5
That’s a consensus you don’t often see in the power rankings world - seven major outlets all putting the Packers at fifth. That kind of uniformity suggests two things: first, that Green Bay is clearly trending in the right direction, and second, that while they’re not yet considered elite tier (Rams/Patriots level), they’re knocking on the door.
One of the more interesting takeaways comes from Connor Orr at Sports Illustrated, who’s been a bit of a skeptic on the Packers this season. But even he couldn’t ignore what Green Bay put on tape against Detroit. After ranking them 10th last week, Orr bumped the Packers up five spots, highlighting the clutch play of quarterback Jordan Love:
“From Peter Bukowski at LockedOn Packers, Jordan Love leads NFL quarterbacks in nearly every clutch metric you can think of: EPA per play, adjusted EPA per play, success rate and completion percentage over expectation on late downs. That will play deep into December and January.”
That’s not just a feather in Love’s cap - it’s a signal that the Packers have a quarterback who can deliver when the pressure’s on. And in the NFL, that’s the difference between a playoff team and a contender.
Pro Football Talk: #6
Mike Florio slots the Packers just outside the top five, but still gives a nod to the significance of their upcoming matchup with the Bears:
“It’s been a long time since the Bears-Packers rivalry had significant implications for both teams.”
He’s right. Packers-Bears games always carry emotion, but this one could carry real playoff weight. And with Green Bay’s current momentum, it’s a chance to make another statement.
Where Do the Packers Stand Now?
Right now, the Packers are one of the hottest teams in football. The run game is clicking, Jordan Love is delivering in high-leverage moments, and the defense is doing just enough to let the offense take over. There’s still work to do, especially with a Week 15 clash against the Broncos looming - a matchup that could be a playoff preview depending on how the AFC shakes out.
But the biggest takeaway? The Packers have gone from a team with question marks to one that’s earning respect across the board. They’re sitting firmly in the top five of nearly every major power ranking, and if they keep this up, they might not just be a team to watch - they could be a team to fear come January.
The road ahead isn’t easy, but this version of the Packers looks ready for the challenge.