What to do now? Do we change things up?

[Zartan]

With our current 2025 Defense I’ve come to realize a more recent change is that our Safeties haven’t had many opportunities to get an INT. Passes are coming out so quick that things are mostly kept in front of us. Xavier is being mitigated because it reduces rye longer throws. Even as Bo started chunking out throws, you could see how the opportunities also rise. Now we didn’t capitalize on those but we should have.

2. We seem to allow an excessive number of completions underneath for short to medium gainers. These are high probability throws and a biproduct is longer drives.

In 2024 the Packers were #1 in scoring allowed in Q1, Q4

In 2025 the Packers D is #1 in scoring allowed in Q1, but #22 in Q4
Qtr1 #1
Qtr2 #15
Qtr3 #17
Qtr4 #22

We might need to be a little more aggressive sending a LB blitz going forward. Hafley has been really good at scheming up Blitz Packages last year. We actually finished #8 in Sacks after all the complaining. What’s concerning is with Micah we actually went backwards. I think we expect the front 4 to get it done too regular. That has hurt our Sack # but the bonus was it left an extra player in the box at the second level.

I’d rather be assertive an increase the blitz% from Williams of Cooper, Quay or Isaiah or even Dobbs. We’re really missing that production in the blitz by our LB group from 2024.

Hopefully Hafley changes things up now that Parsons is gone for the season. I am worried now that if we can't generate pressure other teams will be picking apart our weak CBs on a regular basis now. I hope Gary and company can step up and generate some pressure.

 

[gopkrs]

It was a very good try by Valentine on an interception against denver. I don't fault him on that play at all.

 

[OldSchool101]

In 2024 across 55% of D snaps (491) Edgerrin posted
13 Tackles for Loss -
87 Tackles (0.177 tackles per snap)
3.5 Sacks
7 QB hits
4 PD
1 INT

In 2025 across 99% D snaps (906)
Edgerrin has posted
4 TFL -
105 Tackles (0.116 tackles per snap)
0.5 Sacks
3 QB hits
4 PD
0 INT

Something isn’t adding up.

 

[milani]

With our current 2025 Defense I’ve come to realize a more recent change is that our Safeties haven’t had many opportunities to get an INT. Passes are coming out so quick that things are mostly kept in front of us. Xavier is being mitigated because it reduces rye longer throws. Even as Bo started chunking out throws, you could see how the opportunities also rise. Now we didn’t capitalize on those but we should have.

2. We seem to allow an excessive number of completions underneath for short to medium gainers. These are high probability throws and a biproduct is longer drives.

In 2024 the Packers were #1 in scoring allowed in Q1, Q4

In 2025 the Packers D is #1 in scoring allowed in Q1, but #22 in Q4
Qtr1 #1
Qtr2 #15
Qtr3 #17
Qtr4 #22

We might need to be a little more aggressive sending a LB blitz going forward. Hafley has been really good at scheming up Blitz Packages last year. We actually finished #8 in Sacks after all the complaining. What’s concerning is with Micah we actually went backwards. I think we expect the front 4 to get it done too regular. That has hurt our Sack # but the bonus was it left an extra player in the box at the second level.

I’d rather be assertive and put more trust in Xavier to hold the fort down. As the game progresses, i would recommend we increase the blitz% from Williams of Cooper, Quay or Isaiah. We’re really missing that production in the blitz by our LB group from 2024.

As Dan Campbell said in Week One, GB plays a defense that forces you to keep everything in front. They do not give up the long one most of the time.
With the improved pass rush it becomes difficult to take deep shots except in desperation. Safeties can still get picks in this scenario but it requires a keen read and a jump of a route.
One of the best at this was old Viking safety, Paul Krause. With the strong pass rush he knew QBs would look for the short one in the flat. That is when he responded like a leopard hiding in the brush.

 

[milani]

In 2024 across 55% of D snaps (491) Edgerrin posted
13 Tackles for Loss -
87 Tackles (0.177 tackles per snap)
3.5 Sacks
7 QB hits
4 PD
1 INT

In 2025 across 99% D snaps (906)
Edgerrin has posted
4 TFL -
105 Tackles (0.116 tackles per snap)
0.5 Sacks
3 QB hits
4 PD
0 INT

Something isn’t adding up.

Change in scheme because of Parsons.

 

[milani]

With our current 2025 Defense I’ve come to realize a more recent change is that our Safeties haven’t had many opportunities to get an INT. Passes are coming out so quick that things are mostly kept in front of us. Xavier is being mitigated because it reduces rye longer throws. Even as Bo started chunking out throws, you could see how the opportunities also rise. Now we didn’t capitalize on those but we should have.

2. We seem to allow an excessive number of completions underneath for short to medium gainers. These are high probability throws and a biproduct is longer drives.

In 2024 the Packers were #1 in scoring allowed in Q1, Q4

In 2025 the Packers D is #1 in scoring allowed in Q1, but #22 in Q4
Qtr1 #1
Qtr2 #15
Qtr3 #17
Qtr4 #22

We might need to be a little more aggressive sending a LB blitz going forward. Hafley has been really good at scheming up Blitz Packages last year. We actually finished #8 in Sacks after all the complaining. What’s concerning is with Micah we actually went backwards. I think we expect the front 4 to get it done too regular. That has hurt our Sack # but the bonus was it left an extra player in the box at the second level.

I’d rather be assertive and put more trust in Xavier to hold the fort down. As the game progresses, i would recommend we increase the blitz% from Williams of Cooper, Quay or Isaiah. We’re really missing that production in the blitz by our LB group from 2024.

In the last 3 games we are facing 3 QBs that do a lot out of the pocket and like to take off. If we were facing Goff or Stafford they automatically will audible and look for the quick check down. Caleb, Lamar, and JJ will run your rusher to the sideline and try to make a play.

 

[gopkrs]

Change in scheme because of Parsons.

Not sure it would be worth it to take away that much production but yeah, I agree that's what happened

 

[milani]

Not sure it would be worth it to take away that much production but yeah, I agree that's what happened

Now even though we had Parsons, unlike Denver which gets pressure from all 4 of its front, we do not get enough of it from the others. Denver can do a lot more with the back 7 that Hadley cannot necessarily do. So he plays it slightly different. E.G. Zone vs. Man. Who he sends on the blitz.

 

[gopkrs]

Now even though we had Parsons, unlike Denver which gets pressure from all 4 of its front, we do not get enough of it from the others. Denver can do a lot more with the back 7 that Hadley cannot necessarily do. So he plays it slightly different. E.G. Zone vs. Man. Who he sends on the blitz.

But no matter what, given time, they will complete passes against us. Therefore we need pressure. An extra db/lb doesn't help in the backfield. It's just wishful thinking imho. It turns out to be bend and break. Not a good combo. But it feels safe I guess.

 

[milani]

But no matter what, given time, they will complete passes against us. Therefore we need pressure. An extra db/lb doesn't help in the backfield. It's just wishful thinking imho. It turns out to be bend and break. Not a good combo. But it feels safe I guess.

It is predicated on stopping the run and hoping the opposing offense will make a mistake on a long play drive. The Broncos made one caused by Parsons. But our pass D let several get away.

 

[OldSchool101]

But no matter what, given time, they will complete passes against us. Therefore we need pressure. An extra db/lb doesn't help in the backfield. It's just wishful thinking imho. It turns out to be bend and break. Not a good combo. But it feels safe I guess.

Exactly what I think we’ve all been seeing. Micah Parsons is what is referred to in the industry as a “closer”. He’s at another level when it comes to making that splash play to end a close game. Because the bulk of games are Won or Lost by action margin, an elite “Closer” can literally win several games per year by finishing strong.

I’d add that Edge isn’t the only position that qualifies, but it is more pronounced when they create a Loss of Down and -10 or a Strip Sack etc.

 

[Pugger]

I think we should change things up. On D we have to get pressure and not let the qb get outside. Our pass defense isn't good enough to hold them back from scoring. We have to blitz. Run and pass blitzes. And so ultimately our O has to win the games. No more keeping it close until the 4th quarter. Our D isn't good enough. Quit the pitiful 3 yard passes. We have guys that can get open. Use them. No running to use clock. Everything, the entire game, should be to score more. That's the headset, imho, that we need starting with chicago.

I don't know if we should stop trying to run the ball. Extended long drives keeps the ball away from the opposition.

 

[OldSchool101]

Some will spin this as “optimistic” and that’s fine. You don’t traverse a season as an NFL team being “pessimistic” and have high level success. So optimism is a compliment, not something that detracts from success. I’ve read up on many great athletes of various sports throughout history. One common denominator was they were almost universally regarded at people who took adversity and overcame. It wasn’t that they didn’t have setbacks, it’s that they used their setbacks as a sort of tool to press forward with an even more vigorous approach. See..they didn’t see setbacks the way you and I see them. Highly Successful people see setbacks as an opportunity to grow in new ways and to even better themselves. The bulk of us fans are talented in a variety of ways (including myself) but the vast majority aren’t highly successful with our talent because we give up or get discouraged when we sniff trouble. Top athletes (top performers in any industry) don’t buy into that thinking. Matter of fact they use setbacks to propel them to the next plateau, they don’t waste a second of precious time looking backwards or feeling sorry for themselves. That’s mostly a fan thing to use the “woe is me” reaction. Elite athletes don’t react… they respond.

I always loved the story of the reporter who asked Thomas Edison how he was able to continue after so many failures? Various numerical variations of his response, but he said something to the effect that “I didn’t look at those failed attempts as failures, I just found a 1,000+ ways that didn’t work”. One of the most successful minds on planet Earth didn’t get discouraged by a setback. He used setbacks as a catalyst to press on until his breakthrough. He was in fact “optimistic”. With “light rose colored glasses”. The Thomas Edison Testing Company still operates today. My Wife worked for Intertek. They are a 130+ years run Company that tests various appliances. They essentially blow stuff up and the she would call the fire department. If they pass the test they put the TEL stamp of approval you see on the back of many of your household appliances. True story.

Don’t buy into this false idea that you can’t be inventive in new ways to overcome a major setback when something blows up in your face. It’s just part of a process of success. Be a Thomas Edison thinker, it’s effects are proven to be long lasting and highly successful.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I think is getting LVN back, along with Cox, and those interior Dlinemen. We will be able to at least compete up front...

I think some of the difference will have to be made up by our WRs and Love getting some go to plays down field. Our receivers including Musgrave and Holy Crap did you see that TD catch by Jacob's?!? Someone at the bar said he caught the ball and the defender. Lol. I had to use that , because it was absolutely true.

Anyways. The offense needs to step it up and start putting up 30s instead of 20s.... Quit with the stupid penalties. Win the turnover battle.

Spot on. I still think great Ds win SBs, but the Packers have lost Wyatt and now Parsons. They can't make up those losses. Someone mentioned rushing Cooper more, maybe Walker. And Engabare continues to improve. There are still a lot of good players on that D, and Hafley is an outstanding DC. No need to panic, and what good would it do anyway?

Anything that keeps the opposing D on the field will help. The Packers, even without Watson, can do this - go on 5 to 8 minute scoring drives, maybe longer.

Will it be harder to win relying on the O to carry the day, with Parsons and Wyatt gone for the rest of the season? Hell yeah it will. But every team faces this. I think MLF gets everyone settled after the disaster in Denver, and the Packers win in Chicago.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I don't know if we should stop trying to run the ball. Extended long drives keeps the ball away from the opposition.

The run has to be a big part of the game plan, and that would be true if everyone was healthy. It's next to impossible to set up RPO without the R.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Discipline alone would be big....

There have been a lot of penalties by the O, D, and STs - even this late in the season. That is something MLF can help with, along with the players playing smart.

 

[tynimiller]

There have been a lot of penalties by the O, D, and STs - even this late in the season. That is something MLF can help with, along with the players playing smart.

I don't mind some penalties if occuring due to appropriate effort and aggression....but things like lining up offsides, not proper alignment after motions, false starts and the worst unsportsmanlike conduct....those are the ones that kill games.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Some will spin this as “optimistic” and that’s fine. You don’t traverse a season as an NFL team being “pessimistic” and have high level success. So optimism is a compliment, not something that detracts from success. I’ve read up on many great athletes of various sports throughout history. One common denominator was they were almost universally regarded at people who took adversity and overcame. It wasn’t that they didn’t have setbacks, it’s that they used their setbacks as a sort of tool to press forward with an even more vigorous approach. See..they didn’t see setbacks the way you and I see them. Highly Successful people see setbacks as an opportunity to grow in new ways and to even better themselves. The bulk of us fans are talented in a variety of ways (including myself) but the vast majority aren’t highly successful with our talent because we give up or get discouraged when we sniff trouble. Top athletes (top performers in any industry) don’t buy into that thinking. Matter of fact they use setbacks to propel them to the next plateau, they don’t waste a second of precious time looking backwards or feeling sorry for themselves. That’s mostly a fan thing to use the “woe is me” reaction. Elite athletes don’t react… they respond.

I always loved the story of the reporter who asked Thomas Edison how he was able to continue after so many failures? Various numerical variations of his response, but he said something to the effect that “I didn’t look at those failed attempts as failures, I just found a 1,000+ ways that didn’t work”. One of the most successful minds on planet Earth didn’t get discouraged by a setback. He used setbacks as a catalyst to press on until his breakthrough. He was in fact “optimistic”. With “light rose colored glasses”. The Thomas Edison Testing Company still operates today. My Wife worked for Intertek. They are a 130+ years run Company that tests various appliances. They essentially blow stuff up and the she would call the fire department. If they pass the test they put the TEL stamp of approval you see on the back of many of your household appliances. True story.

Don’t buy into this false idea that you can’t be inventive in new ways to overcome a major setback when something blows up in your face. It’s just part of a process of success. Be a Thomas Edison thinker, it’s effects are proven to be long lasting and highly successful.

Well said OS. I'm sure MLF and the other coaches will have a very different game plan for Chicago - and Baltimore and Minnesota. It is still up to the players to be disciplined and to execute. Those are not huge "asks".

 

[OldSchool101]

Spot on. I still think great Ds win SBs, but the Packers have lost Wyatt and now Parsons. They can't make up those losses. Someone mentioned rushing Cooper more, maybe Walker. And Engabare continues to improve. There are still a lot of good players on that D, and Hafley is an outstanding DC. No need to panic, and what good would it do anyway?

Anything that keeps the opposing D on the field will help. The Packers, even without Watson, can do this - go on 5 to 8 minute scoring drives, maybe longer.

Will it be harder to win relying on the O to carry the day, with Parsons and Wyatt gone for the rest of the season? Hell yeah it will. But every team faces this. I think MLF gets everyone settled after the disaster in Denver, and the Packers win in Chicago.

It’s obviously not good losing Wyatt and Parsons let me state that first. That said GB hasn’t played with a healthy Lukas since week4. Lukas looked ok in his 1st game back but he was limited and probably a little rusty, which you’d expect.
Another under the radar + is Brenton Cox Jr. Now just because I suggest him doesn’t equate to he’s better than Micah or anything like that. It might even take him a minute to get going like Lukas. In week 16 of last season Brenton Cox Jr Was the highest rated Edge Defender in the NFL. Literally. He was an instrumental piece in our Packer Defense stretch Run in 2024 after coming back Week11. It’s my opinion that we could get sizable contributions from Cox Jr. within a couple weeks at most. His return from IR is very “under the radar” ideal. Really could’ve used him last week but near PERFECT timing.

Cox finished his last 7 games of 2024 equal to Preston Smith peak season strength. He’s not a backup anymore, we just forgot about him for obvious reasons. He’s a starting level Pass Rusher who was highly disruptive (by far more than Lukas) late last season. It’s not will be contribute, it’s more how quickly can he shake the rust as he missed Camp, PS and 14 contests.

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So here we have a DT, Edge go down
Yet we have Lukas, who can anchor pretty well as a pseudo DT
+ a bonus 6’4” X250lb Edge who runs a 1.62 10-yard (88%) returning. While Lukas is different than Wyatt style, he’s a formidable addition ti that group and at ideal timing.
It’s very rare we see that and actually quite lucky in timing. So with all due respect, GB is nowhere near as bad off as the surface media and pundits portrays them. We’re being very disrespected and I wouldn’t doubt at all that we win another 1-2 games. Like 10-6-1 or maybe maybe 11-5-1.

Chicago MUST win this week imo or they’ll lose the Division race and be a 6th seed.

Any Detroit loss + any Packer Win is an automatic Postseason birth for GB.

 

[milani]

It’s obviously not good losing Wyatt and Parsons let me state that first. That said GB hasn’t played with a healthy Lukas since week4. Lukas looked ok in his 1st game back but he was limited and probably a little rusty, which you’d expect.
Another under the radar + is Brenton Cox Jr. Now just because I suggest him doesn’t equate to he’s better than Micah or anything like that. It might even take him a minute to get going like Lukas. In week 16 of last season Brenton Cox Jr Was the highest rated Edge Defender in the NFL. Literally. He was an instrumental piece in our Packer Defense stretch Run in 2024 after coming back Week11. It’s my opinion that we could get sizable contributions from Cox Jr. within a couple weeks at most. His return from IR is very “under the radar” ideal. Really could’ve used him last week but near PERFECT timing.

Cox finished his last 7 games of 2024 equal to Preston Smith peak season strength. He’s not a backup anymore, we just forgot about him for obvious reasons. He’s a starting level Pass Rusher who was highly disruptive (by far more than Lukas) late last season. It’s not will be contribute, it’s more how quickly can he shake the rust as he missed Camp, PS and 14 contests.

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So here we have a DT, Edge go down
Yet we have a DT, 6’4” X250lb Edge who runs a 1.62 10-yard (88%) returning. Better yet Lukas has a higher ceiling than Wyatt as a true Pass rusher.
It’s very rare we see that and actually quite lucky in timing. So with all due respect, GB is nowhere near as bad off as the surface media and pundits portrays them. We’re being very disrespected and I wouldn’t doubt at all that we win another 1-2 games. Like 10-6-1 or maybe maybe 11-5-1.

Chicago MUST win this week imo or they’ll lose the Division race and be a 6th seed.

Calling all cars!!

 

[Magooch]

Exactly what I think we’ve all been seeing. Micah Parsons is what is referred to in the industry as a “closer”. He’s at another level when it comes to making that splash play to end a close game. Because the bulk of games are Won or Lost by action margin, an elite “Closer” can literally win several games per year by finishing strong.

I’d add that Edge isn’t the only position that qualifies, but it is more pronounced when they create a Loss of Down and -10 or a Strip Sack etc.

That lack of a "closer" is the biggest X-factor to me, especially if you are looking to make a playoff run. As we all know the league really does have a lot of parity in it, especially when you get to the playoffs. The teams who make deep runs are the ones whose star players are able to step up and take over situations. We have a few candidates for that on the offense, but who is going to be our "difference maker" on defense now?

I'm not ready to throw in the towel of course. But the prospect of having to go on the road to face something like Chicago, Philly, and LA (and then perhaps a rematch with Denver lol) without our best defensive player is a steep, STEEP hill to climb

 

[OldSchool101]

That lack of a "closer" is the biggest X-factor to me, especially if you are looking to make a playoff run. As we all know the league really does have a lot of parity in it, especially when you get to the playoffs. The teams who make deep runs are the ones whose star players are able to step up and take over situations. We have a few candidates for that on the offense, but who is going to be our "difference maker" on defense now?

I agree with this. Just didn’t want anyone to think I didn’t notice we’re missing a top reigning DPOY candidate etc.

What’s weird is we lost Clark and Wyatt. So a common thought would be we’d get decimated in the Run. That seems to be the most prominent argument anyways when the iDL breaks down. Yet in the last 2 weeks without either player we just held that pair of opponents to 3.6 per carry. That would currently rank….
#1 in the NFL.
GB’s season average yards per run allowed is 3.8 yards per carry (#2) in 2025. So then naturally you’d think it must’ve been against poor rushing teams. Just a natural conclusion to a #1 league ranking. In 2025 Chicago and Denver combined have rushed 815 times for 3,799 yards and 4.7 per carry. That would currently rank #8 in the NFL. So any argument that GB’s interior has regressed against the Run without Wyatt and Clark is actually wrong. It’s not an accurate statement across 2025 AND it’s not an accurate assertion across the last 2 weeks. It’s a fact that the GB Defense has actually improved against the Run since Wyatt being out. The current GB team has allowed just 1 Rushing TD on the ground since Week 13 and would rank #1 in yards per rush. Yet we all act like we’re being ripped to shreds at iDL. Either we have the best group around the iDL since the league started 100+ years ago.. or our iDL is actually pretty darn good against the run against at the #5/#15 ranked opponents in YPC without Wyatt or Clark in the field.

It’s our D Pass coverage that’s been our demise recently. Although in the last 2 games we’ve only allowed a 61% completion %. Denver and Chicago made that 61% count. 6 TD’s to 1 INT.

 

[gopkrs]

The run has to be a big part of the game plan, and that would be true if everyone was healthy. It's next to impossible to set up RPO without the R.

I disagree. Probably because you said big part. Of course we'll run. I just don't want to run just to run. 2nd and 5? Throw it!

 

[El Guapo]

I disagree. Probably because you said big part. Of course we'll run. I just don't want to run just to run. 2nd and 5? Throw it!

Jacobs is averaging over 4yds per carry this season, which is similar to his career average. That makes him a dangerous weapon even on 2nd and 5. If he gets us to 3rd and less-than-1, I like our chances of getting that yard on 3rd or 4th downs.

 

[gopkrs]

Jacobs is averaging over 4yds per carry this season, which is similar to his career average. That makes him a dangerous weapon even on 2nd and 5. If he gets us to 3rd and less-than-1, I like our chances of getting that yard on 3rd or 4th downs.

Well, for the most part, I'd say that has been our norm. I want to change things up. Scare em.