The 2025 Green Bay Packers are hoping to bounce into the NFL Draft and subsequently the new season with renewed vigor. The 2024 campaign had its highs and lows, but ended in reverse with three straight defeats. The Packers hardly bounced into the wild card round when they lost to the Chicago Bears for only the second time in 18 matches. It was a grim end to home life.
It affected the mood of the camp too. Packers right guard Sean Rhyan summed up what it felt like to lose to a side that lost ten in a row during the campaign. “For us, it’s like, just sick. Sick, Losing to these guys right before the playoffs, it’s a kick in the gut. We’ve got to flush it. That’s all we can do.” They didn’t.
Their postseason ended at the first opportunity with a disappointing 22-10 loss to eventual Super Bowl winners Philadelphia Eagles. Even the official website recorded that “the first half was just abysmal.”
The game at Lincoln Financial Field pretty much summed up the difficulties of the season overall. There was the large deficit that kept coming back to haunt them throughout the year. Belated comebacks are good, but there is no value in making the score look more respectable.
As Sports Illustrated declared: “Whether it was kicking short field goals in the red zone against the Eagles in the season opener or falling behind 28-0 against the Vikings in late September, the Packers were stuck in the mud as the NFC’s elite raced by them.”
A loss to the eventual champions was nothing to be ashamed of, but the Cheeseheads lost all six games to the Eagles, Lions and Vikings. The psychological barrier of winning against the very best remains.
What Happened in 2024?
Defensive Woes
There were the defensive struggles as the team struggled to put enough pressure on the opposition quarterback. Of the 45 sacks achieved across the totality of the campaign, 20 came in three games. That is an alarming oddity that needs fixing for 2025.
Dropped Passes
There were the dropped passes. It was just too transparent by the end when Keisian Nixon fumbled the opening kick-off in the wild card match. The Eagles gobbled the ball up and converted the advantage into a touchdown. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks had 18 drops between them while Jordan Love had the third highest drop percentage across all quarterbacks.
Mounting Injuries
As bodies and minds began to fail, injury issues just kept popping up to disturb onfield equilibrium. Love suffered three that debilitated his movement and rhythm after missing key matches and practice. Cornerback Jaire Alexander managed only seven matches and to top it all off wide receiver Christian Watson suffered a major knee injury in the defeat by the Eagles which has ruled him out for perhaps until November or December.
The road to recovery for Watson and the Packers is tough but doable. As free agency comes and goes, there are some heavy duty needs on the to-do list to increase betting odds in their favour. In their last game of 2024 tour duty, the Packers had a first-hand view of the Eagles hitting heavy with their game-wrecking pass rush. That elite front four of the current Super Bowl champions made Patrick Mahomes look like an Ordinary Joe.
Where the 2025 Green Bay Packers Think They Can Improve
Green Bay General Manager Brian Gutekunst was clear about what needs improving. “We need to affect the quarterback more in our front four, with just four players, I’m excited about the guys we have in the room, we’ll see if we add to it, but that’s gotta get better if we’re going to accomplish our goals we want to accomplish in this season.”
Matt LaFleur dismissed defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich following the poor end to the 2024 season with former New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington coming in. Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness is a line up that looks great on paper but all of them suffered on the grass. It may be that the Draft is the best pool to add to the depth chart.
While Watson is recuperating, there has been talk of moving in for a veteran like Davante Adams. The former Packer may have his eyes set elsewhere, but with the young twentysomething set of current options, someone of his ilk would be valuable. He knows the team inside out too after spending seven years at Lambeau Field.
LaFleur knows that his team need to find a way to beat the top teams during the regular season to gear up for what comes after. Winning on the road is also a factor that has to be addressed.
The four-time Super Bowl winners hold the record for the most postseason appearances. Extending the season is not an issue. It’s delivering when the chips are down that really counts. The business of winning starts pre-season. The youngest roster from last season is going to have to grow up very fast.
Main image credit © Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
