Remember 2014, when our Seahawks absolutely throttled the Green Bay Packers 36-16 in their season opener right here in the Emerald City? It wasn’t even close, and for the Packers, it was an embarrassing road defeat that had their fanbase in a panic, thinking the season was already over. Fast forward to 2026, and after another Week 1 road loss that felt just as bad, the Packers are looking to spark an identical comeback. They want that same bounce-back energy from 2014, when they righted the ship the very next week against the New York Jets.
Geno’s Back, But Can They Dodge The Early Drama This Time?
That 2014 Week 2 game saw the Packers face a young Geno Smith leading the Jets. It took some serious guts, though, because the Jets jumped out to a shocking 21-3 lead in the second quarter. Talk about drama! Green Bay clawed their way back, with Randall Cobb grabbing two touchdowns and Jordy Nelson busting out an 80-yard game-winner to secure a 31-24 victory. It was the kind of gritty response to adversity that the 2026 Packers desperately need this week. The parallels are almost eerie: another embarrassing road loss in Week 1, and guess who they’re playing next? The New York Jets, still quarterbacked by a much older Geno Smith. It’s all set up for them, they just have to go out and make it happen, hopefully without digging themselves into a massive early hole like last time!
O-Line Has To Answer The Bell Against The Blitz, Or Else.
This Week 2 matchup isn’t just about history repeating itself, it’s about correcting some serious issues. The biggest one? The Packers’ offensive line rebound against the blitz. While the Jets won’t bring the heat as often as the Vikings did in Week 1 , nobody really can match that intensity , they’re still one of the most blitz-happy defenses in the NFL. Communication failures plagued the line last Sunday in that Minnesota debacle, and the coaching staff and players absolutely have to fix that. Jonathan Gannon, with his corners deployed effectively on blitzes against the Vikings, showed exactly how much pressure can disrupt an offense. You just have to look at how bad the Lions’ defense, particularly their secondary, looked in their 41-31 loss to the Bills to see what happens when things aren’t clicking. Plus, those fines for Evan Williams and Javon Bullard for flagged hits, with Bullard’s contributing to Kyler Murray’s concussion, highlight the overall struggle. A former NFL MVP even called out the Packers’ “lack thereof” a plan for dealing with pressure in Week 1. This line has to protect Sam Darnold and give him time.
So, here we are. This Week 2 game against Geno and the Jets isn’t just another game for the Packers; it’s a make-or-break moment to get their season back on track, just like they did after our Seahawks owned them in 2014. Can they channel that energy and pull it off, or will this season go sideways early? We’ll be watching!
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.
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