For two weeks, the Green Bay Packers looked unstoppable, defeating Detroit and Washington like a team with destiny in its eyes. Then came a road trip to Cleveland and Dallas, and with it, a reality check heading into the Packers Bye Week.
One of the biggest knocks on the Packers team from a year ago was their mindset of thinking they could show up in big games and their talent would take care of everything. A team with big-time talent on both ends, but constantly outplayed and outworked by the top teams in the NFC.
This year started off looking different, after convincing wins over two playoff teams a year ago, it was time for the Packers to hit the road and put their foot on the gas pedal, rolling to easy wins in Cleveland and Dallas. It has been those two road games that have made fans and players take a much-needed breath during this early Bye Week.
Lack of Aggressiveness
The main issues are the lack of aggressiveness by this coaching staff, along with the mental errors on both sides of the ball. This issue has been ongoing for over a year, and it has driven fans across the country to lose their minds in frustration. Let’s take a look at this team, though, and do our own form of “self-scouting” as we head into the early bye week.
When you cut through the noise, the picture gets a lot clearer. The Packers are 2-1-1 and sitting second in the NFC North. The offense has moved the ball well, ranking near the top of the league in yards per play, but it’s still searching for some rhythm on those deep shots. The defense has been tough against the run, though it’s been hit-or-miss in the red zone and sometimes a little too aggressive for its own good.
Packers Penalties
The real killer? Penalties, 35 in four games, the most in the division and tied for third most in the entire league, and they’re the kind of mistakes that stall drives and shift momentum. This isn’t a broken team; it’s a good one still learning how to stay sharp when the adrenaline fades. The frustrating part is that this team should be past the learning stage after the success they have had in the past two seasons.
The Week-5 bye is a strange gift. It lets players like Devonte Wyatt and Christian Watson heal up. It gives LaFleur time to self-scout and allows Jordan Love to study film without the chaos of a game week.
However, it also means a long, grueling stretch ahead, with 13 straight games without rest. That’s where mental resilience becomes a weapon. The best teams don’t just rest during the bye; they rewire. The Packers once again have a young team, and historically, young teams love to be the ones who chase or prove the critics wrong. The ones with the chip on their shoulder and the fire drive to show they aren’t just a bunch of kids, they are men worthy of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Gut Check Time
Once Micah Parsons arrived, everyone (including me) boasted how great this team is and that they can win the Super Bowl. The discussion intensified after they dominated the first two weeks of the season, and to be clear, they are still a team capable of winning it all. A young squad hearing this can get a big head and think they can win solely on talent, but no one in this league has enough talent to win that way. In the two games where they have been heavy favorites, they have come out flat, much like some of the Aaron Rodgers-led teams that were top seeds in the playoffs.
This isn’t just another Packers Bye Week, it’s a gut check. The Packers are still one of the most talented teams in the league, but the margin between good and great has always been about mentality, not skill. This early bye week gives them a chance to look in the mirror, reset, and get back to playing with that fire we saw in Weeks 1 and 2. If they use it the right way, this stretch could end up being the turning point that refocuses them for the grind ahead. If not, it’ll just be another season of “what could’ve been.” It’s time to see what kind of team the 2025 Green Bay Packers really are.
