The Green Bay Packers finally righted some wrongs on Sunday, dominating the Chicago Bears at home and reminding everyone what this team is capable of when things are actually working together.
The offensive line gave Jordan Love enough time to make the proper reads and, more importantly, push the ball downfield. Love connected with Christian Watson for two big scores, while Matthew Golden continued to show why the Packers were so excited about adding him to this offense.
For one afternoon, it looked like the offense we were promised.
And maybe that’s what makes watching this team so frustrating.
I don’t think anybody has ever questioned Matt LaFleur’s ability as an offensive play caller. He’s one of the better offensive minds in the NFL. But he often leaves a lot to be desired in other areas, and the most frustrating part is knowing that what we watched Sunday isn’t something this team is incapable of doing.
The Packers are capable of playing like that every week.
We just don’t see that same team every week.
Maybe all the antics surrounding this rivalry provided a little extra motivation. Between Ben Johnson, Luther Burden and seemingly every other Chicago Bear fan their shots at Green Bay, there certainly wasn’t a shortage of bulletin-board material.
And yes, I’ve already heard the excuses surrounding Tyson Bagent playing quarterback instead of Caleb Williams.
That’s fine.
Bears fans seemed to have considerably less sympathy last season when Malik Willis was forced into action late in the game and Chicago still needed overtime to beat Green Bay.
The funniest part of this rivalry might be hearing Bears fans yell “Green Bay sucks” at seemingly every sporting event in America or immediately reference the Packers’ 21–3 playoff collapse.
That loss happened. It was embarrassing.
But there’s another number worth remembering:
Chicago has beaten Green Bay just three times in their last 21 meetings.
Sometimes it’s worth reminding everyone who has actually controlled this rivalry.
Watson and Golden Are Becoming a Problem
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden were outstanding Sunday.
And when both are healthy and involved, I’d put their combination of size, speed and big-play ability up against any wide receiver duo in football.
Watson has always possessed a rare ability to completely change how a defense has to play Green Bay. His speed forces safeties to respect the deep ball, and when the offensive line gives Love enough time for those routes to develop, we saw Sunday what that can look like.
Then you add Golden to the equation.
Suddenly defenses aren’t dealing with one vertical threat. They’re dealing with two receivers capable of stretching the field and creating explosive plays.
That’s why the performance of the offensive line was so encouraging.
For the first time in what feels like forever, Love consistently had enough time to let things develop downfield. It gave us a glimpse of what this passing game can become if the offensive line can simply be average.
That’s really all I’m asking for.
Give Love time and let him cook.
The running game still needs to become more productive, but I thought MarShawn Lloyd looked the part Sunday. The play that stood out most was his power run near the goal line, when he ran directly through Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson.
That’s the type of physicality this offense could use more of.
Another Win, Another Injury
Of course, apparently the Packers aren’t allowed to win a football game without sacrificing another player in the process.
This time it was veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who suffered an Achilles injury.
At this point, the Packers’ injury situation has gone beyond frustrating. It feels unprecedented.
Green Bay has seemingly lost or seriously injured an important player every week dating back to last season. At some point, I’d genuinely like to know what the NFL record is for consecutive games in which a team loses a player to a significant injury, because the Packers have to be approaching it.
There was at least one encouraging development that came from all these injuries.
With Edgerrin Cooper unavailable, former 2024 third-round pick Ty’Ron Hopper was forced into a larger role.
And I thought he looked the part.
I posted a cut-up of Hopper’s performance on X after the game, and while I’m certainly not suggesting he’s going to become Edgerrin Cooper, that’s not what Green Bay needed from him.
They needed him to step in and do his job.
He did.
Considering I’ve been critical of the lack of contributions from some of Gutekunst’s recent Day 2 draft picks, Hopper deserves credit when he gets his opportunity and performs well.
I also have to give credit to Zaire Franklin.
Franklin has seemingly embraced Wisconsin from the moment he arrived. From showing up to talk trash to the Bears to heading down to Milwaukee and supporting the Brewers, he’s quickly ingratiated himself with Wisconsin sports fans.
There’s not much more you can ask from a veteran linebacker coming into Green Bay.
But like everything in the NFL, you don’t get much time to enjoy one win.
It’s already onto Dallas.
Sunday Night in Dallas
It’s pretty remarkable that the Packers have made it this far without Kevin Zeitler playing a game.
We’re also still waiting for Micah Parsons to begin practicing, with November being the loose timetable discussed for his potential return.
In the meantime, Green Bay has to find a way to keep winning without them.
Next up is the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
It’s no secret that Dallas’ defense has struggled this season despite all of its additions — if you want to call them that.
There will also be a little extra motivation on the other sideline.
Former Packers Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary will certainly be looking to get some revenge against their former team after being traded by Green Bay.
It still amazes me that Brian Gutekunst was able to get a fourth-round pick for Gary considering where he appears to be at this stage of his career.
Regardless, if Dallas watched what Green Bay did to Chicago, I have to imagine we’ll see considerably more two-high safety looks Sunday night.
You can’t repeatedly allow Watson and Golden to get behind your defense.
That means the question for Green Bay becomes pretty simple:
What are you going to do when Dallas takes away the deep ball?
This feels like a game where Tucker Kraft could finally have his breakout performance since returning from his ACL injury.
If Dallas dedicates both safeties to preventing Watson and Golden from beating them vertically, the middle of the field should provide opportunities for Kraft and Green Bay’s underneath passing game.
Take what they’re giving you until they have no choice but to adjust.
Then take your shots.
How Does Green Bay Generate Pressure?
The bigger question might be on the other side of the football.
Until Parsons returns, Green Bay has to manufacture pressure elsewhere.
I thought Dennis-Sutton played a pretty good game Sunday, but after going back and watching the film, I didn’t think Lukas Van Ness affected the game nearly enough.
That has to change.
Dallas presents a completely different challenge because of the strength of its offensive line and the weapons surrounding Dak Prescott.
CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens can punish a secondary very quickly if Prescott is allowed to stand comfortably in the pocket.
And despite Green Bay leading the league in interceptions, I still have plenty of questions about this secondary.
That’s where Gannon may have to get creative.
Bring Javon Bullard.
Bring Evan Williams.
Show pressure from different places.
I liked what we saw from the secondary coming off the edge against Chicago, and Green Bay may need more of it Sunday night. Without Parsons, the Packers can’t simply line up and expect four pass rushers to consistently get home against this Dallas offensive line.
The difficult part is manufacturing that pressure without leaving Lamb or Pickens isolated against favorable matchups.
That’s the chess match I’ll be watching Sunday.
Let Jordan Love Cook
Offensively, I’m also hoping this is finally the week Kevin Zeitler makes his Packers debut and further solidifies the offensive line.
That said, Travis Glover deserves credit.
He’s played well enough that I want to continue seeing him get opportunities. Of course, it’s difficult to imagine a veteran of Zeitler’s caliber coming out of retirement to sit on the bench, so Green Bay will eventually have a decision to make.
That’s a good problem to have.
If Green Bay can protect Love, successfully attack Dallas’ expected two-high looks and play respectable coverage on the other side, we could be headed toward another high-scoring matchup between these teams.
Hopefully this one doesn’t end like last year’s 40–40 tie.
Ultimately, this game might come down to Gannon’s defense.
Can Green Bay create pressure without Micah Parsons?
Can the secondary hold up against Lamb and Pickens?
Can they force Prescott into mistakes without exposing themselves to explosive plays?
Sunday against Chicago showed us what this Packers team can look like.
Now comes the more important part.
Do it again.
Because one dominant performance against your biggest rival feels great, but it doesn’t erase everything that came before it.
If the Packers want to convince me they’ve actually turned a corner, consistency has to start somewhere.
Why not Sunday night in Dallas?
And as always:
Give Jordan Love time and let him cook.
