The Green Bay Packers’ defense is running on a weird dual reality five games into the season: they’re doing exactly what you’d expect against what they’ve faced, and what they’ve faced has been… well, not a lot.
Easy Mode Engaged?
Let’s be honest, the Packers haven’t faced a decent quarterback yet. They’ve played backups in three of their five games, which is just wild. And the two “starters” they did see were Geno Smith, who clearly wasn’t playing his best ball, and Michael Penix Jr. in his very first game back from a torn ACL. Seriously, in a QB-driven league, the Packers haven’t seen a single “interesting” guy under center for the opposition yet.
But to their credit, they’ve largely handled business against that competition. Yeah, the scoreboard didn’t always show it, but that was often the offense handing them awful field position against the Vikings or just leaving them out there to get pummeled by the Falcons’ all-Robinson backfield. Outside of those hiccups, they absolutely shut down the Jets, Buccaneers, and Bears. I mean, what are they supposed to do? It’s not like Jonathan Gannon was wishing the Bears’ starting QB was healthy on Sunday night. You play who’s in front of you, and they’ve delivered some good performances.
Wyatt’s Ascent Meets the Cowboys’ Receivers
Now things are about to get real, and we’re finally going to find out what parts of this defense are legit. DT Devonte Wyatt is absolutely “ascending right now,” picking up two sacks against the Bears. That’s his first pair since he dropped two on the Vikings last November, so he’s clearly finding his stride at the right time. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden even made some Packers history against the Bears too, which is awesome to see. The team also looks like they might have the depth to deal with injuries, which is always a good sign for the grind of a long season. But here’s the kicker: with who the Cowboys are rolling out at wide receiver, the secondary better be locked in and ready. This is where we truly find out if this defense is for real or just a product of a soft schedule.
This week against the Cowboys is huge for the defense. It’s time to prove they can hang when the stakes are legitimately high. Let’s see what they’ve got!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
Leave a Reply