The Packers were completely written off early this season, but after two straight wins, including a massive smackdown of their rival Bears, they are absolutely back in the NFC conversation. We’re not talking Super Bowl yet, but seriously, this team is on a roll. They fought hard for a 17-14 victory over the Buccaneers in Week 4, then went full throttle and overwhelmed the Bears with a three-score win in Week 5. They’ve found something, and it’s looking pretty dangerous.
Green Bay’s Air Raid Is For Real
Seriously, you might be looking at the NFL’s most lethal passing attack right now. Jordan Love went off against the Bears, completing six deep passes , we’re talking 20-plus air yards , for a career-high 258 yards. That’s the second-most deep passing yards by a quarterback in a single game over the past decade! And get this: wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are flat-out dominating, leading all teammate duos with 871 combined receiving yards. They’re the only tandem in the league where each guy has over 375 receiving yards. Love’s pass protection, which used to be a headache, has gotten much better, too. He’s been sacked only three times combined in the last three weeks, and his pressure rate has been under 36% in three of the last four weeks.
And let’s not forget that defense! They snatched five takeaways against Chicago. Sure, Bears QB Caleb Williams was out injured, but five turnovers is no small feat. That’s the most forced turnovers Green Bay has had in a game since 2016. It’s not all perfect, though. The run game is still a big issue, and they’ve been hammered by injuries. Star edge rusher Micah Parsons’ return is still up in the air, plus they’ve lost linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Hargrave to season-ending Achilles injuries in back-to-back weeks. Still, the bottom line is clear: the Packers are absolutely back in the playoff hunt.
Philly’s Offensive Nightmare Goes Way Beyond Hurts
Over in Philly, Jalen Hurts has been a problem for the struggling Eagles, but he isn’t *the* problem. This is a team-wide, collective offensive dysfunction that runs deep. They’re dealing with the growing pains of getting acclimated to first-year coordinator Sean Mannion’s scheme, which is tough enough. But layer on top of that the absolute chaos on their offensive line: six-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson suddenly retired in early October, Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson is on IR, and center/guard Cam Jurgens was traded. That’s a massive blow to what was once a rock-solid line.
Then you look at the skill positions, and it’s just as bad. No. 1 wide receiver DeVonta Smith has missed consecutive games with a hamstring injury. And in an offense that’s designed to lean heavily on the run, they are somehow down their top three running backs. It’s a total mess. All of this makes it tough to fully pin it all on Hurts, even if his play hasn’t been without its own issues. It’s a full-blown offensive meltdown right now.
The NFL season always throws curveballs, and these two stories are exactly why we watch. Can the Packers keep this momentum going, especially with those key injuries? And how long will it take for the Eagles to dig out of their offensive hole? It’s going to be wild to see how these situations evolve in the coming weeks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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