The Green Bay Packers’ longest losing streak in my lifetime has come to an end, but it certainly did not go quietly.
In their first overtime contest since the high-scoring Cowboys matchup last season, the team came away with a win that they had to have, and when push comes to shove, that’s all that matters.
There’s more than a few concerns moving forward, but after all the doom and gloom of week one, we should try to focus on the fact that this group finally overcame some adversity.
Let’s talk about how they did it.
Skyy’s the Limit
Back in April, I wrote about free agent signee Skyy Moore‘s opportunity to make an impact.
It’s only week two, but the Green Bay Packers are already seeing a significant return on investment.
Special teams have been a sore spot at 1265 Lombardi Avenue for some time now, but under new coordinator Cam Achord, things seem to be turning around.
Aside from the incredible fourth quarter performance from the defense, Green Bay would not have won this game without Skyy Moore.
Moore’s sixty-three yard punt return with just under five minutes to go almost single-handedly sprung the Packers’ offense for the drive that led to Trey Smack’s game-tying field goal.
Given how ineffective that sequence of plays was otherwise, including a four yard rush, a negative rush, and an incomplete pass, it’s safe to say that the special teams came up big time.
In 2025, now Patriot Romeo Doubs was the Packers’ primary returner, and he provided next to nothing in regard to field position, as well as making the entire fan base hold their breath every time he caught a kick.
Skyy Moore is the exact opposite of that.
While the offense generated merely one hundred and ninety-nine yards, Moore generated two hundred and eight on returns alone.
That’s not a stat that we’ll want to continue seeing, but in a must-win game, it’s what made the difference.
Through two weeks, the Packers lead the NFL in punt return average at just over eighteen yards, a complete reversal from the five and a half yards per return that was worst in the league in 2025.
Even with the signing of Moore, I don’t think many were expecting a shift this big, and the upgrade in starting position alone could be a big booster for Green Bay’s offense as it struggles to find its footing behind a sub-par offensive line.
That’s not the only place the former 49er might have value, however.
With Jayden Reed going down with what appeared to be another severe injury to the head and neck area, there will be an opportunity for other receivers to step up.
Skyy Moore might not get the most of those opportunities, but he should see some of the snap share, and with his speed, he could provide some sneaky production.
A Long-Awaited Breakout
After an up and down start to his NFL career, it seems like Lukas Van Ness might finally be putting it all together.
Before week one, I spotlighted the former Iowa Hawkeye as a player to watch out for in Micah Parsons’ absence, and so far, Van Ness has been about as good as the Green Bay Packers could’ve asked for.
On Sunday in the Meadowlands, Van Ness produced one and a half sacks, four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss, including one of the team’s two shutdown sacks in overtime.
It’s been a long time coming for 2023’s thirteenth overall pick, but with the team’s current situation on the edge, it couldn’t be a better one.
Van Ness continuing on the upward trajectory he was beginning to build last season before injury will be a huge part of the team’s potential success, and the dividends are already paying.
It’s not just on a personal level either.
The Green Bay Packers have collected seven sacks in just two games, their second most through that stretch in any of the last ten seasons.
Considering the pass-rushing stables we’ve had during that time, it’s impressive to see a group that was considered “thin” at cutdowns showing out.
It’s also been evident in the Packers’ pressure rate, which is higher now than it was with Micah Parsons in 2025.
How much of that is new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, and how much of that is the personnel?
Right now, it’s not clear, but if we’re being honest, it doesn’t matter.
This defense is performing better than expected so far, positioning themselves as a top ten unit, and when Micah returns, they could easily become top five.
If the offense can figure itself out, that will mean that there’s plenty of hope to be had.
The Bottom Line
For now, I don’t think Packers fans should react very strongly for or against this win.
As I mentioned last week, the Green Bay Packers likely need to come out of their first four games at at least 3-1 to remain competitive in the NFC.
Our upcoming matchups with the Falcons and Buccaneers should allow for that, and if we get there ugly, then that’s how we get there.
Until then, there’s not much that can be done to move me.
The Bears performance against the Vikings in week two does do some to ease the wound of week one, but there’s no doubt that the Packers need to be better.
They have to be.
Get to the Bears, get to Micah, and then see how things go from there.
That’s all we can do.
