Last week, I posted an article addressing Ben Solak’s article that predicted that the Green Bay Packers would be missing the playoffs in 2025. I talked about why his two reasons didn’t make that much sense with regards to the Packers, but could possibly be concerns. I also discussed how it would take more than just two potential concerns to keep this roster from making the playoffs.
Furthermore, I listed what other concerns one should be aware of with regards to the Packers and their potential to make a playoff run.
This week, I want to do the opposite. I am going to list off five positives about this 2025 Green Bay team and why they will very much make the playoffs.
Here are those five reasons:
Packers Number Five – Jeff Hafley
According to Fox Sports, the Packers were ranked 5th in total defense in 2024, while in 2023 they were ranked 17th. This is a great improvement on the defensive side of the ball. This jump really was impressive on the run defense side of things. In 2023, the Packers were 28th in the NFL in stopping the run while in 2024 they were just 13th.
All of this improvement took place under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in his first year as the Packers DC. A big reason why I believe the Packers will make the playoffs is because of Jeff Hafley. In the NFL, teams are more than likely to experience even greater growth in the second year of a new coordinator.
You can’t tell me the Packers will regress on defense if Hafley is still coaching. Yes, I understand Green Bay had a pass rush in consistency but organization believes it to have been coaching issue on the defensive line and that problem was rectified. The second year under Jeff Hafley should be even better!
Xavier McKinney said this of Jeff Hafley, “I’m happy that Haf is still here. Everybody’s happy that he’s still here, that the defense is still the same. We just finding little small things to kind of correct and make sure that it’s clean.”
Speaking of McKinney…
Packers Number Four – Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs
The two big-time free agent signings of the 2024 off season for the Packers really came through in a big way last season. Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs not only performed exceptionally well but also took on locker room leadership roles. Their attitudes and play have been great for the Packers.
However, both of them (similar to my reasoning behind Jeff Hafley) should be even better in year two. Josh Jacobs said, “I feel like I had a good year, but I feel like I still left a lot on the table…For me, it’s just trying to come in and chase that No. 1 spot and raise a Super Bowl (trophy) at the end of the day. That’s the only thing that’s really on my mind”. Jacobs honestly believes he will be even better in year two, which is saying something!
McKinney is also looking to improve in 2025, “I think just fine-tuning the small details is going to be super important for us…I think that’s something we’re focusing on right now. Obviously we’re going into a second year with the same DC, the same defense, so for us just fine tuning the little things. Just fixing little areas that maybe we weren’t as clean on last year and it’s really going to be fun, to be honest.”
Number Three – Jordan Love
Jordan Love is back in year three as the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. But what is missing are the other three years of experience he has under his belt. Time is a weird thing. It’s hard to believe that Love is heading into his sixth year in the NFL. That is six years of being in Matt LaFleur’s offense. It’s now or never for Love.
I truly believe Jordan Love would have been better last season if it wasn’t for the injuries. There is a ton of rhetoric going on saying that he had a second year slump. Maybe that’s sort of true but not entirely. Most of the people saying those things are just looking at the numbers, which can lie. Let’s look at those numbers and try to understand them a little better.
In 2023, Love threw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 96.1. In 2024, he threw for 3,389 yards, 25 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 96.7. If you just looked at the passing yards and touchdowns then sure, there was a down year. However, Love was also injured and missed a total of three games. There were two whole games and two halves of a game. If you extrapolate those numbers for those missed games he would have had 4115 yards passing, 30 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. These are very similar numbers.
Oh, and he did all of this playing the season injured. I’m not an excuses guy but I want to see Love through a full season before passing too much judgement.
Number Two – Multiple Offensive Weapons
The Packers may not have one guy who is an elite weapon on the outside, although we don’t know that for sure, but they have a ton of great weapons. And Green Bay just keeps adding to those weapons. Who will defenses try and defend?
Josh Jacobs sure. Jayden Reed? His versatility is fantastic. Romeo Doubs? Absolutely consistent when on the field. Rookie Matthew Golden? He has fantastic speed and can catch well. Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave? Good luck when the Packers run 12 personnel? One might think they are running the ball with two tight ends on the field, but next thing you know they are still spreading out five wide because those tight ends are great pass catchers.
The amount of weapons the Packers have is a huge benefit especially when paired with elite play calling. This leads me to my number one positive for why the Packers will make the playoffs.
Honorable Mention
But before I get to it, I do want to mention the Packers offensive line. The Green Bay offensive line is consistently good and this year will be no different. With the additions of some new guys on the line who have added some mass, the Packers will be even better in the run game.
“I feel like it’s a partnership at the end of the day,” says Josh Jacobs, “I can’t do my job without them and when they do their job, I make them look good. So that’s all part of it.”
Packers Number One – Matt LaFleur
The number one reason for why the Packers will make the playoffs is their head coach, Matt LaFleur. LaFleur doesn’t lose very often. If the Packers win five games, LaFleur will pass Don Shula in the most wins through the first seven seasons of an NFL coaching career.
He is also one of the best play callers in the NFL, which has shown itself time and time again. This ties back in with the multiple offensive weapons: LaFleur knows how to use his guys.
These are the reasons why I’m confident the Packers can make the playoffs and why you should be more positive about this Green Bay team.
As always,
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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