Listen to the podcast here: Find all of my daily podcasts here. Filed Under: Aaron Nagler#PackersDailyPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersPackers Daily Like 0 points

Filed Under: FeaturedAaron NaglerPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersLet's Talk Football Like 0 points

When Brian Gutekunst decided to trade away Kenny Clark and two first-round picks for Micah Parsons, he wasn’t just betting on Parsons being a game-changer. He was also betting on Devonte Wyatt to take a huge step forward. Clark’s departure made Wyatt the eldest and longest-tenured defensive tackle on the roster. Kenny Clark left some huge shoes to fill. Fortunately for Gutekunst, Wyatt has been up for the challenge. Prior to the 2025 season, Devonte Wyatt was a rotational role player. His forte was rushing the passer. He had never played more than 50% of the defensive snaps until this season. But the Packers saw enough in those limited snaps. "He's a physical, explosive guy. When he was healthy last year, this is what we saw,” defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said earlier this season. “He's playing more snaps. We've just got to keep him going." Wyatt was off to a great start this season. He was improved against the run and disruptive when rushing the passer. Unfortunately, a knee injury has kept Wyatt off the field recently, and his absence is very noticeable. Green Bay’s run defense without Wyatt has been somewhat inconsistent and occasionally problematic. Their pass rush isn’t as disruptive or balanced. The fourth-year defensive tackle has become one of the most important players on Green Bay’s defense, and they need him back as soon as possible. Not great for the Packers. Micah Parsons singled out Devonte Wyatt’s injury on Sunday when asked why the defense dropped off. Called Wyatt a dominant player. “He’s underlooked in his value on this team.” https://t.co/2bDOhDeHfc — Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) September 30, 2025 The Run Defense Has Taken a Hit With a healthy Devonte Wyatt, the Packers’ run defense was really strong. To kick off the season, the Packers held the Lions to 22 rush attempts for 46 yards (2.1 yards per carry). Detroit’s longest rush of the day was a 14-yard rush by Jahmyr Gibbs. That one rush accounted for 14 of Gibbs’ 19 total rushing yards. If you exclude that one rush, the Lions only rushed 21 times for 32 yards (1.5 yards per carry). Week 2 against Washington was just as successful. The Commanders rushed 19 times for 51 yards (2.7 yards per carry). Their longest rush of the day was only eight yards. It would be hard to ask for a better start than that. Week 3 was when the rush defense began to falter a bit. The Browns rushed 19 times for 96 yards (5.1 yards per carry). Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins had a nice day on the ground, but he really only had two significant rushes: one for 38 yards and another for 14 yards. That’s a combined 52 yards on just two carries, both of which came in the fourth quarter, when the defense was physically run down. Aside from those two plays, the Packers held the Browns to 17 rushes for 44 yards (2.6 yards per carry). Another notable aspect about this performance - Devonte Wyatt hurt his knee during the second half. He only ended up playing 38 snaps - quite a few than what he had played in Weeks 1 and 2. The Cowboys also found success on the ground against the Packers. They rushed 26 times for 117 yards (4.5 yards per carry). It was not a good day for the Packers’ run defense. They gave up multiple rushes of ten yards or more to a mediocre running back who was running behind a banged-up offensive line. Notably, Devonte Wyatt departed the game with that same knee injury he suffered in Week 3 and only played 13 total snaps. His main replacement, Nazir Stackhouse, was forced into playing 27 snaps and performed poorly. PFF gave him a run defense grade of 28.9. It’s safe to say they missed Wyatt in Dallas. Devonte Wyatt’s knee injury forced him to miss Green Bay’s Week 6 matchup with Cincinnati. Heading into Sunday’s game, Cincinnati was the worst rushing offense in the entire league. They had only rushed 92 times for 285 yards (3.1 yards per carry). Against Green Bay, the Bengals rushed 16 times for 55 yards (3.4 yards per carry). At first glance, that seems like a good day for the Packers' front seven, but those numbers are a bit misleading. The Bengals started running more efficiently in the second half. Chase Brown, Cincinnati's top rushing option, gained 42 of the team's rushing yards on just nine carries (4.7 yards per carry), which is the most efficient day he's had all season. Devonte Wyatt might not be the greatest run-stopping defensive tackle in the world, but he’s by far the best one on the team, and he plays a key role in the Packers’ team run defense. This Packers’ team misses his presence up front in more ways than one, but especially against the run. His replacements have been okay, but they aren’t ready to carry the load on their own. Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks are better pass rushers than run defenders, and the rookies have a lot to learn before they will be able to consistently hold up against quality offensive linemen. FYI, I hope Packers Nation realizes just how important Devonte Wyatt is to the Packers defense!?! It’s a team sport, but you need great players on your team! — Tazim Wajid Wajed (@NFLHitman33) September 30, 2025 The Impact on the Pass Rush Is Noticeable Rushing the passer has always been Devonte Wyatt’s strong suit. Even when he wasn’t playing substantial snaps as a younger player, he still showed signs of being an impactful pass rusher. As a team, the Packers’ pass rush this season is the best it’s been in years. The addition of Micah Parsons, combined with the improvement of the younger players, has allowed the Packers to pressure the quarterback more consistently. Unfortunately, the pass rush is noticeably worse without Wyatt on the field. Similar to the run defense, a healthy Devonte Wyatt makes a huge difference. Against Detroit, the Packers’ pass rush was able to generate 19 total pressures and sack Jared Goff four times. Wyatt accounted for four pressures, a sack, and a quarterback hit. His four pressures were the second most on the team. Wyatt was even more productive against Washington, where he had seven pressures, a sack, and a quarterback hit. His seven pressures were the second most of anyone on the team again. As a team, Green Bay’s pass rush combined for 33 total pressures on Jayden Daniels and sacked him six times. There was a clear difference with the Packers’ pass rush in Week 3 against the Browns, just like there was with the run defense. As a unit, the Packers generated 24 pressures on Joe Flacco, but only recorded two sacks. Wyatt only accounted for two of the pressures, but also played fewer snaps than in the previous two weeks. The game script also allowed for fewer pass-rushing opportunities. Green Bay’s other defensive tackles only combined for three total pressures. Green Bay’s pass rush against Dallas was basically just Micah Parsons. As a team, the Packers generated 19 pressures - ten of them coming from Parsons. Wyatt only played seven pass-rush snaps before leaving the game with that knee injury, so he wasn't able to make much of a mark on the game. Without Wyatt, no one was able to generate consistent pressure, except for Parsons, and that was against a beat-up offensive line. The Packer could have really used Wyatt in pass-rushing situations to try and force Dak Prescott off of his spot and disrupt the timing on some of his throws. Cincinnati is not a good pass-blocking team. They had given up 15 sacks prior to Sunday’s contest. Before getting hurt, Burrow was getting sacked on almost 12% of his snaps. Their other quarterbacks have two of the longest time-to-throw rates in the league (Jake Browning at 2.77 and Joe Flacco at 2.85). It was a tale of two halves for the Packers without Wyatt. The first half was decent for the Packers' pass rush. They generated 11 pressures, albeit most of them coming from the edge rushers. The second half was an entirely different story. Green Bay's pass rush really struggled to get home. Warren Brinson was thrust into playing 19 snaps after not playing any in the previous four games. The interior defensive line was unable to generate any pressure throughout the entire second half. On the day, the Packers were only able to sack Joe Flacco once, and that was just an eye-popping play by Lukas Van Ness. The Bengals' offensive line is always amongst the worst in the league, yet the Packers’ defensive tackles were unable to take advantage. Through the first four games, Wyatt had recorded the second-most pressures on the team (13) and the third-most sacks (2.0). That’s despite missing time in two of the four games. He’s able to generate a strong and disruptive rush from the interior. Jeff Halfey shared, "He's been such a good pocket push guy in his pass rush. Certainly, he was missed in that game a lot.” His impact also helps the guys on the edge. Ignore Wyatt, and he will make a play himself. Focus on Wyatt, but then that takes attention away from Parsons and Rashan Gary. The Packers really need him back as they start to face better offensive lines, or the pass rush could really struggle. There was and has been a lot of talk about these picks but — the offense NEEDS Watson. The defense NEEDS Wyatt. — Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) October 12, 2025 Wyatt Has Become One of the Unsung Heroes On a defense that has Xavier McKinney, Edgerrin Cooper, Rashan Gary, and Micah Parsons, it’s really easy to take Devonte Wyatt’s contributions for granted. It’s taken four seasons for Wyatt to put it all together, but he has turned into a key piece on Green Bay’s defense. Matt LaFleur said it best, “He’s underlooked in his value on this team.” The Packers need Wyatt back as soon as possible. His knee injury was described as “week-to-week,” which makes it hard to pinpoint when he will return. He didn’t practice last week at all, so it’s probably fair to assume that he may miss more time. The Packers play the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Carolina Panthers in the coming weeks. Obviously, the Packers want him back as soon as possible, but they really will need him back in time to face the Philadelphia Eagles on November 10th. In the meantime, someone else will need to step up, or Jeff Halfey will need to get creative. On Sunday, the Packers lined Barryn Sorrell at the three-tech spot. They played Warren Brinson more than they would've liked. Neither of those trials was super successful. Whatever they do moving forward, they need to get back to dominating the trenches, like they did in Weeks 1 and 2. Devonte Wyatt was a key piece in that. Jeff Hafley even went so far as to say that, “He’s having a great year — not a good year, a great year. I hope he’s back very shortly.” So do we, coach. Devonte Wyatt tried to intercept the spike 😅 pic.twitter.com/z5FTSk41eq — NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2025 Filed Under: Packers NewsFeaturedGreen Bay PackersCarter Semb PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Carter Semb is a lifelong Packer fan, shareholder, and season ticket holder. He is a contributor for Cheesehead TV and Packers Talk. For commentary surrounding Wisconsin sports, he can be found on X at @cmsemb. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: devonte wyattdefensive tacklesgreen bay packersMicah ParsonsColby WoodenKarl BrooksNazir StackhouseJeff HafleyMatt LaFleur Like 0 points

While it was not the beat down, get right, "put em away early" game that many were hoping for, the Packers took care of business against the Bengals, and move to 3-1-1 on the season.  The Bengals were able to keep the game close due to an early interception from Love, and a ten minute drive to start the second half off. Take those two factors out of the equation, and this was a fairly dominant performance by the Packers against an inferior team. They were in control of this game basically from the start, and won by two scores.  But they were still a late fourth quarter third and long conversion away from handing the ball back to Cincinnati, only up six.  There's a odd schism in the identity of the 2025 Packers, and it's a major factor in the fans' frustrations with the team. This is a team that feels like it should be a veteran, world-wise unit, capable of disciplined play and able to put away any kind of opponent. We feel this way because, for the most part, the core of this team is at least in its second or third year. We know these faces, and we've seen them grow, from the scrappy 2023 version of themselves that rode house money all the way to the divisional round to now.  But the reality of the Packers is that they are not a veteran team. In fact, for the third year in a row, they are the youngest team in the entire league. By proxy, that makes them the most inexperienced team in the entire league. These ebbs and flows that we've seen from the team are a feature, not a bug. By design, there's going to be a lot of self improvement for the entire roster to make before January.  Game Balls  Matthew Golden / Tucker Kraft  Every single week, it feels like we are this close to a Matthew Golden breakout game. Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis close.  We saw a couple of signs to light the way this week. How about Golden's 86 yards on only three receptions? And boy, were those three receptions spectacular.  Catch 1:  Matthew Golden finally getting used in a game like he should be!#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/9dm03lpj9v — SleeperPackers (@SleeperPackers) October 12, 2025 Catch 2:  Offense saw the tweets pic.twitter.com/Ag9xL64OVV — CheeseheadTV 🧀 (@cheeseheadtv) October 12, 2025 Catch 3: When the game is on the line think player not play...Jordan Love to Matthew Golden for 31 yards 😤pic.twitter.com/C2dS5hco4x — Packerfan Total Access- Clayton (@packers_access) October 12, 2025   Meanwhile, Tucker Kraft did Tucker Kraft things, including bullying his way into the endzone for a key fourth quarter score. His other reception was another explosive play, a 24 yard reception in the second quarter.  One thing this game made abundantly clear was that these two players are deserving of an increased target share.  Lucas Havrisik What an incredibly impressive showing for Havrisik, who finished the day 2/2 on field goals, 3/3 on extra points, and also handled kickoff duties for Green Bay. He earns a game ball for incredibly quick turnaround, following his workout with the team on Thursday, to gameday on Sunday.  Because he's unlikely to stick around on the roster, some quick background on Havrisik: The former Arizona Wildcat is the one time winner of the Pac 12 special teams player of the week, with a 34/53 mark on field goals and 73/78 for extra points over his collegiate career. Havrisik signed with the Colts practice squad in 2022, before spending time with the Browns, the Rams (where he saw some gametime and kicked a game winner against the Seahawks), the Browns again, and the Buffalo Bills, before ending up in the UFL at the end of last season.  It's likely that McManus will be back in time for the game in Arizona next week, but Havrisik has earned a footnote in the story of the 2025 Packers.   Josh Jacobs  While it took a few weeks into the season for Jacobs to get up to speed, the team MVP of 2024 has returned to form. Jacobs took 16 carries for 93 rushing yards, two touchdowns and an impressive 5.2 YPC. He added another 57 yards through the air for 150 total yards. Jacobs is making the most of every single touch he gets on the football field, and even more impressively, he did with the while battling the flu.  In run blocking, I thought we saw a good bounce back game from Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan, but it was the outside blockers that really made the day. The Packers ask a lot from their receivers, especially as blockers on those outside run concepts. I saw a lot of great things from Matthew Golden in particular, but also from the tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.  Lame Calls The Offensive Line This might be half of a lame call, because the offensive line was generally good in the running game, and was better in passing protection in the second half of the game. Here's the thing though: that's still underperforming the expectations that everyone had of this group entering the 2025 season.  There's a play in the second half that really sums up the frustrations that I have with the offensive line right now. It's third down and long, and the Bengals end up rushing only three. So the Packers, of course, end up letting the pressure get to Love anyway, who has to escape the pocket and throw an incomplete pass. That just can't happen, and it wasn't just that play. If you were watching this game, you saw lots of collapsed pockets on Love, most of which he escaped, and we even saw him pick up a few first downs with his legs. But he doesn't need to do that if the line can hold up against the lowly Bengals only sending four rushers.  The Bengals pass rush is not a playoff caliber unit, and if the Packers struggle for the rest of the season like they did today, the truth of the matter is that the offensive line is a unit that the Packers must win in spite of, and not because of. Time is running out for the line to prove that are an asset.  Lack of Takeaways We are six weeks into the 2025 season, and your Green Bay Packers defense has only taken the ball away from the offense twice. Both are the result of interceptions by the safeties, and looking back, it probably would have been better if McKinney would have just let that Joe Flacco arm punt fall to the ground in Cleveland.  Takeaways are a hard thing to come by in the NFL, but with the major emphasis that the team put on punching the ball out in training camp, it's a bit strange that the team hasn't gotten any results out of it. Have we even seen any players attempting one? Please remind me in the comments if you can remember an instance, but I really can't.  Meanwhile, on the interception front, it's clear that opposing offenses are choosing to throw anywhere and everywhere on the field that doesn't contain Xavier McKinney. He and Evan Williams are keeping the top on offenses, and preventing any explosive plays from getting past them. I thought Quay and Edgerrin Cooper had a much better game today than in Dallas, but their role within the defense really doesn't lend itself to creating opportunities for interceptions. That leaves the corners as the other possibility to create those turnovers, and so far they just... haven't. Turnovers tend to come in bunches for defenses. Remember how easily they seemed to come to the Packers to start of the 2024 season, and how quickly they dried up. It's possible that the tide could turn once more, but until then we are going to have to keep relying on the pass rush to be the motor of the defense.  Three and Out --  Today's phrase of the week is "flip-flopping". As in, the offense and defense flip-flopping over halftime as they decided which unit would be good, and which one wouldn't. Over the first half of the game, the defense had pitched a shutout and dominated every aspect of the Bengals' offense, while the offense's motor was backfiring, held back by turnovers and penalties. Then came the second half, and the Bengals clawed their way down the field for 18 total points, headlined by a touchdown that only Jamar Chase could have come down with. Tip your cap to Joe Flacco (who we hopefully won't see again this season) for an excellent second half of football. He showed off exactly the veteran savvy that the Bengals were looking for when they made that trade. Unfortunately for the Bengals, the Packers offense also found their next gear in the second half.  --  Injury Notes:Javon Bullard (concussion), Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) and Lukas Van Ness (foot) all left the game with injuries on Sunday. Matt LaFleur gave indications in the post game press conference that LVN's injury did not seem to be bone related, a positive sign.after he was carted off the field in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile as we look ahead to the Cardinals game, some stories to keep an eye on are Kyler Murrary and Marvin Harrison Jr, who may not be available for next weeks contest in Arizona  -- No team in the NFL has a bigger explosive play ( 20+ passing or 10+ rushing ) margin than the Green Bay Packers, and this game was a perfect representation. The Packers had 194 yards on explosive passes, versus 94 for the Bengals. The Bengals had zero yards on "Deep" completions, while the Packers had 111. In the turnover section, I mentioned how teams have avoided throwing the ball deep against the safety duo of McKinney & Williams, and these are the kind of advantages that the Packers can create for themselves when that is the case.  Filed Under: FeaturedKalani JonesGame Balls and Lame Calls PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Co-Owner of the thirteen time world champion Green Bay Packers. Sometimes I write about them. Follow me on Twitter at https://x.com/kjones_in_co and on Substack for film breakdowns! __________________________   NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsGreen Bay PackersTags: Green Bay PackersCincinnati BengalsJordan LoveMatt LaFleurJosh Jacobs Like 0 points

On today's show, Andy takes a look at the Packers win over the Bengals and the key issues that's currently holding the Packers back from reaching their true potential. Don't miss it!!!     Filed Under: FeaturedPack A Day Podcast   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL! __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Pack-A-Day PodcastPackers podcastPacker PodcastGreen Bay Packers podcastgreen bay packer Like 0 points

    The Packers signed Kicker Lukas Havrisik to the 53-man roster.  They signed OT Brant Banks, who was a street free agent after the Titans waived him after renting him for a week, to the practice squad while releasing DE Deslin Alexandre from the PS to make room.  The Packers did not elevate anyone from the PS.  OT Anthony Belton, Kicker Brandon McManus, and DE Devonte Wyatt were inactive due to injury.  Kamal Hadden was a healthy scratch.    OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Player Snaps % STs Jenkins 61 100 5/20% Walker 61 100 5/20% Banks 61 100 5/20% Tom  61 100 5/20% Morgan 50 82 5/20% Rhyan 11 18 5/20% Kinnard     5/20% Jennings  DNP   DNP   After a slow start, the offensive line started to lean on their defensive opponents to get the run game going.  I thought Jordan Morgan really showed up in the run game.  The Packers gained 153 yards on 33 carries for a 4.6-yard average.  They allowed 4 QB hits and 1 sack.  The line did not look dominant but they were good enough.  The Bengals stud Edge player, Trey Hendrickson, left the game in the second quarter and did not return.   PFF indicates that the Packers allowed 17 pressures total.  Some of those pressures should be attributed to Love and some to other groups.  Rasheed Walker gave up 4 hurries and in my view was fortunate not to see a couple of flags.  Tom gave up 2 hurries and did not seem 100%.  The pocket did tend to collapse.  For context, Trey Hendrickson had 4 hurries in just 26 snaps (43%).   RUNNING BACKS:   Player Snaps % STs Jacobs 48 79   Wilson 11 18   Brooks 5 8 14/56% Josh Jacobs finished with 93 yards on 18 carries for a 5.17-yard average and a touchdown.  Jacobs added 57 yards on 5 receptions.  For a while, Jacobs, Love's legs and a mite from Matthew Golden were the whole offense.   QUARTERBACKS: Player Snaps % STs Love 61 100   Willis DNP     Love completed 19 of 26 (73.1%) for 259 yards (9.96 yards/attempt) and 1 touchdown with 1 interception due to a terrible decision.    He had a passer rating of 101.3.  He gained 26 yards on 7.  He does most things well and has a big arm.  He just makes a dumb decision or two most games. The interception was a terrible decision.  Love made the correct decision to slide short of the first down at the 2:10 mark in the fourth quarter.  After watching a replay, I think a 240-pound linebacker named Demetrius Knight would have put a big hit on Love had he dived for the first down.  It is a long season.  That made us watch Coach LaFleur use his timeouts down the stretch, which often leads to tension in a lot of fans.  I know I called in for a prescription refill of my blood pressure medication.  That said, Love plays hard and fearlessly.  He usually makes the big plays when they are required.  Love is outstanding when given a clean pocket.  I thought he was the player of the game.  PFF indicated that Love had 3.02 seconds per drop back.     TIGHT ENDS:   Player Snaps % STs Kraft 56 92 DNP Musgrave 21 34 DNP Fitzgerald 12 20 DNP Sims 1 2 4/16% Tucker Kraft caught both of his targets for 43 yards and a big 24-yard touchdown.   Musgrave caught 1 of 2 targets for 7 yards.  Kraft is such a weapon but the current state of the offensive line requires the tight ends to do quite a lot of blocking.   Kraft is playing a lot of snaps.  Only Sims played on special teams.     WIDE RECEIVERS: Player Snaps % STs Doubs 52 85 3/12% Golden 42 69 1/4% Heath 28 46 DNP Wicks 21 34 DNP Williams 7 11 4/16% Melton 1 2 15/60%   Golden caught 3 of 5 targets for 86 yards with a long of 35.  Golden shows good hands and is starting to look very good.  The next step is to add volume to his statistics, and I think that will come.  Doubs caught 5 of 9 passes for 55 yards.  He continues to be reliable.  Wicks caught both of his targets for 15 yards before leaving the game with an ankle injury.  He did not return but he was missed.  Nobody else did much.  Melton had 1 carry for 3 yards.  Savion Williams also had a carry that went for 3 yards.  The return of Watson and Reed cannot come too soon. The Packers scored 27 points, which often puts a team in the top 5 or so in the league.  On the other hand, it was against Cincinnati.  Moreover, it was against a Bengal team that lost Trey Hendrickson for the bulk of the game.  27 points is still 27 points, so I would give the offense a solid C grade.   DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Player Snaps % STs Brooks 53 82 9/36% Wooden 32 49 4/16% Brinson 21 32 4/16% Stackhouse  5 8   I noted last week that I am not a fan of the defensive tackle room.  Wooden had 2 tackles (1 solo) and got some a good initial grade from PFF, though they did not credit Wooden with a hurry.  Stackhouse had 1 tackle.  Stackhouse played early and then was replaced by Brinson almost entirely.  Brooks and Brinson had no statistics but they each had 2 hurries.  The Bengals gained 55 yards on 16 carries (3.44 yards/carry).  The Bengals gained just 56 total yards in the first half but they came alive in the second half with 212 yards.  Flacco avoided mistakes but I am glad Joe Burrow was out.  Maybe Burrow deserved more praise than he got last year.  To be fair, Flacco threw some very precise passes on back shoulder throws to Chase and a bullet on a slant to convert a 3rd and 5 for a first down.   DEFENSIVE ENDS: Player Snaps % STs Parsons 58 89   Gary 40 62 3/12% Van Ness 22 34 6/24% Enagbare 16 25 8/32% Sorrell 13 20 8/32%   Parsons had 3 solo tackles and 5 hurries.  LVN added 2 tackles (1 solo) with a sack before he left with a foot injury.  No bones apparently were broken but Van Ness will undergo an MRI Monday.  Enagbare had 2 solo tackles and Gary added a solo tackle.  Gary had 4 hurries, per PFF.   Sorrell had 1 hurry.  The Bengals got the ball out so quickly for most of the game that the Edge players just did not get home much.  PFF indicates that the Packers had 17 pressures from all sources.  The Packers were allowing short passes which made it seem too easy for the Bengals but the Packers only allowed 18 points, which is a good result, after all.     LINEBACKERS: Players Snaps % STs Walker 65 100 4/16% Cooper 65 100 5/20% McDuffie 6 9 20/80% Hopper     16/64% Niemann     16/64% Cooper had 11 tackles (4 solo) with a tackle for loss.  Quay Walker had 8 tackles (5 solo).  Walker gave up a touchdown pass though his coverage was not bad.  McDuffie had a solo tackle.  The Packers played nickel most of the game (4.91 DBs per paly on average), so they pulled Mcduffie off the field.  Hopper had a personal foul penalty on special teams.  The linebackers did a good job and showed their speed by limiting gains to the flat very well, particularly in the first half, but the Packers were allowing short completions over the middle, which will likely skew their stats and grades.          DEFENSIVE BACKS: Player Snaps % STs McKinney 65 100 10/40% Williams 65 100 8/32% Nixon 65 100 4/16% Hobbs 65 100 4/16% Bullard 40 62 8/32% Valentine 19 29 10/40% Melton 0 0 15/60% Olapado     11/44% Anderson      16/64%   Oh, the beauty of having an elite wide receiver.  JaMarr Chase ate against the packers, finishing with 94 yards on 12 targets and 10 receptions including a touchdown pass.  He caught passes even when he was not open, including on his TD catch.  Having a wily, veteran quarterback helps.  Nixon allowed 6 of 10 targets to be completed for 49 yards and a TD, which works out to a 105 passer rating allowed, per PFF.  At least 2 completions to Chase came even though Nixon had great coverage.  The results were frustrating but I thought Nixon did a nice job overall.  Otherwise, Flacco just avoided mistakes and did not hurt the Packers. Evan Williams had 7 tackles and Nixon, McKinney and Bullard each added 6 tackles.  Nixon had 2 passes defensed and Valentine had 1 pass break up.  Valentine allowed 2 of 3 passes to be completed for just 7 yards.  When Bullard went out with a concussion, Hobbs moved to the slot and Valentine entered the game.     SPECIAL TEAMS: Whelan punted twice for 91 yards and Havrisik made 2 field goals and all three extra points.  There were no major mistakes on special teams.   Photo courtesy of Marc Hoffman of USA Today Network. RB: 1.05 TE: 1.48 WR: 2.48 DT: 1.71 DE: 2.29 LB: 2.09 DB: 4.91                       Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersJames Reynolds   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsGreen Bay PackersTags: Packers Snap CountsGreen Bay PackersCincinnati Bengals Like 0 points

  Entering Sunday, the Green Bay Packers hadn’t won a football game in one month and one day. While their 27-18 home win over the Cincinnati Bengals was far from perfect, coach Matt LaFleur felt “a sense of relief” to have his club back in the win column.  “You always get punched in the face in this league and our guys kept responding,” he said, via packers.com. “That’s what we need to be (resilient), and you have to go through those moments in order to be that. Bottom line, we found a way.” The defense pitched a nearly perfect shutout in the first half, only to allow Cincinnati to score on three straight second-half drives. Meanwhile, after a disjointed, 10-point first half, the Packer offense delivered three consecutive second-half scoring drives of its own to keep the Bengals at arms’ length. The defense started the game with the same suffocating presence it displayed in the first three weeks of the season. Quarterback Joe Flacco – traded from Cleveland to Cincinnati five days ago – looked bewildered trying to execute a new playbook with new teammates against a fast Packers defense. The Bengals amassed one first down on their first four drives.  The offense needed the support. A promising opening drive ended with an ill-advised Jordan Love interception. An inconsistent second quarter resulted in a field goal, touchdown, and two quick punts.  Lucas Havrisik comfortably split the uprights from 43 yards for a 3-0 Green Bay lead early in the second quarter. Havrisik signed to replace Brandon McManus while he recovers from a quad injury. McManus thought he could kick today, but also acknowledged to the coaching and training staff he still felt something.  “Sometimes you have to protect the players from themselves. This was a long-term play by us,” LaFleur said. Havrisik was perfect on the day, going 2-for-2 on field goals, and 3-for-3 on point-after-attempts.                                          Josh Jacobs scored his first of two touchdowns on the day with 4:05 remaining in the half. A short, three-yard push up the middle gave the Packers a 10-0 lead. The run game ended the drive, but the pass game ignited it.  Facing a 3rd & 10 and a second straight three-and-out, Love placed a perfect deep pass down the left sideline to Matthew Golden. Love’s pass beat the tight coverage as Golden hauled in the 35-yard catch with no room to spare. Love followed it up with a jump-pass checkdown to Jacobs, who took that for 29 yards, to set up his touchdown run.   Golden led the team with 86 receiving yards on three catches in his best performance as a rookie. Love finished 19 of 26 for 259 with a touchdown and interception. Cincinnati missed on a 67-yard field-goal attempt and Green Bay led 10-0 entering the locker room. Evan McPherson actually made the kick on a snap that didn’t count thanks to a LaFleur timeout. The make would’ve set a new NFL field goal record.  The offense carried the defense in the second half.  Cincinnati opened with a 17-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that ate up 10:14 from the game clock. The Bengals started finding success on the ground which eased Flacco into a rhythm he didn’t seem to lose. The veteran quarterback calmly hit Tanner Hudson underneath the goal post on 4th-and-goal from the two, 10-7.  Once Love and the offense finally got their turn, they delivered a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive, 17-7. Jacobs scored straight up gut from the 14-yard line as his offensive line opened a massive hole.  “Early on, I thought we left some (rushing) yards out there,” LaFleur said. “That’s when I went over and challenged the offensive line. I said ‘If they’re going to play two-shell and we’re getting two yards, it’s going to be a long day for us.’ Those guys did a really nice job, I think, responding.” Jacobs finished with 93 yards on 18 carries leading to the two scores. He added five catches for 57 yards in the passing game.  The Bengals settled for a field goal on their next drive thanks to a dropped pass, and Tucker Kraft stepped up with a 19-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown, 24-10. Kraft’s run-after-the-catch ability is becoming his trademark, and he again displayed it on the score.  Love found Kraft in the right flat after a quick play action. The third-year tight end burst up the right sideline and turned into a runaway train speeding to the end zone. One Bengals defender could barely hang on to Kraft, much less stop him. Another tried to deliver a forceful hit, only to  ricochet and spin in place like a top as Kraft dove across the goal line.   The defense again had a chance to close the door, and again couldn’t. This time, the Bengals leaned on their All-Pro, triple-crown wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Flacco, settled and comfortably picking at the defense with short papercuts, connected with Chase four times on the touchdown drive. The fourth connection happened when Chase outmuscled Keisean Nixon at the goal line for a one-handed body catch. The Bengals added a two-point conversion to make it 24-18.  Flacco ended 29 of 45 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Chase had 10 catches for 94 yards and a score.  Green Bay again pushed the lead to two scores as Havrisik hit from 39 yards with 1:52 remaining for the 27-18 final. McPherson missed from 56 to seal the imperfect, needed win for the Packers. Other Notes: * Sean Rhyan started at right guard and alternated the first three series with Jordan Morgan. Afterwards, Morgan played the entire game.  * Edgerinn Cooper led the team in tackles with 11 * Lukas Van Ness registered Green Bay’s only sack. Two plays later, he injured his foot and did not return. LaFleur said he’ll have an MRI tomorrow.  * Javon Bullard suffered another concussion, his second of the season.  Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersJocelyn Hopkinson PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Jocelyn Hopkinson is a contributor for CheeseheadTV and can be found on Twitter at Jh0p_4 __________________________   NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: bengalsLucas Havrisik Like 0 points

Filed Under: Aaron NaglerPacker Fan PodcastsPack's What She Said   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersPack's What She Said Like 0 points

Filed Under: Aaron NaglerPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersCheesehead TV Good Bad and Ugly Like 0 points

Filed Under: FeaturedAaron NaglerPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Tags: Green Bay PackersGut Reactions Like 0 points

Filed Under: FeaturedAaron NaglerPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersCHTV Watch Party Like 0 points

We hope you had a restful bye week, because your Green Bay Packers are right back at it this afternoon, taking on the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field at 3:25 PM CST. No one would blame the Packers for playing angry in this one, as two weeks ago, they had to head into the bye after a 40-40 tie against the Dallas Cowboys that took their season record to 2-1-1. That's a long time to stew over a game that essentially resulted in nothing, neither a win nor a loss, just a stale mindset where they can only think that they need to be better. The Bengals sit at 2-3 after their defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions, 37-24, last week, and made a trade for Joe Flacco in an attempt to improve their QB situation in the absence of Joe Burrow. The Packers will once again be trying to prove they're legit, while the Bengals will just be trying to keep their heads above water. The last time these two teams met was almost exactly four years ago, on October 10, 2021, when the Packers defeated the Bengals in overtime, 25-22, off a 49-yard Mason Crosby field goal. In fact, four years before that, the Packers defeated the Bengals in OT off a Mason Crosby field goal as well. So, the last two times these teams met, they headed to overtime. If we're being honest, I don't think Packers fans could handle overtime today, given the result of the game two weeks ago. If they do, hopefully it actually ends in the Packers coming away victorious. In the 2021 meeting, Davante Adams absolutely torched the Bengals defense for 206 yards off 11 catches and a touchdown, while the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase torched the Packers defense for six catches, 159 yards, and a touchdown. Chase is coming off a 110-yard performance with two touchdowns last week; hopefully, history doesn't repeat itself.  The Packers are coming off a much-needed early bye week. I honestly didn't think I would ever say a week 5 bye was needed, but here we are. With injuries on both sides of the ball, especially the offensive line, the Packers needed an off week to get healthier. In the first three games of the season, it seemed like the defense would be a huge strength for the Packers, and perhaps the offense would need to catch up, but after a 40-40 tie where it seemed like it was now the defense's turn to catch up, there's nothing better than a week off to do some evaluating. Tackling and over-pursuit were issues against the Cowboys for the defense, while the offense in the first four games has struggled to get Josh Jacobs off and running. Hopefully, that self-evaluation can patch up those issues. In a bit of a must-win for the Packers today, they need to put together a complete game on offense, defense, and special teams to regain that early-season momentum.  What to see on Offense Throughout the offseason, one couldn't escape the wishes or rumors of the Packers pursuing a trade for Bengals' pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. The team spending high draft capital on a 30-year-old player seemed extremely unlikely, and it wouldn't even become a possibility as Hendrickson re-signed with the Bengals. So far this season, he's paid the Bengals back for keeping him to the tune of four sacks in five games. Lining up mainly on the right side of the defensive line, Hendrickson will likely match up against Rasheed Walker, who has had his ups and downs this season. Outside of Hendrickson, DE, Joseph Ossai has two sacks with Kris Jenkins Dr. and Myles Murphy holding 1.5 each. The offensive line for the Packers is a bit healthier now, with Zach Tom and Aaron Banks returning to practice this week, and they will be looking to protect Jordan Love much better than they did two weeks ago. Bengals' first-round pick Shemar Stewart is doubtful for today's game. Despite the less-than-impressive protection last game for Jordan Love, the passing game for the Packers hit its stride with Jordan Love going 31/43 for 337 yards and three touchdowns. That could be a big difference maker today with the Bengals' ranking 29th in the league with 259 passing yards allowed per game.  The Bengals do rank 6th in the league, holding five interceptions so far in 2025, with safety Jordan Battle leading the way with two, but outside of INT's the Cincinnati secondary has not been a strong suit. If the Packers' offensive line can keep Jordan Love comfortable, there could be a lot of success through the air.  The Packers' rushing attack continues to be a question after four games. However, Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson really found their stride in the second half against Dallas and became a factor late. The Bengals currently sit towards the bottom of the league, allowing an average of 132.2 rushing yards per game. With a healthier offensive line to help open up running lanes, today could be a big opportunity for the Packers' offense to get right in the running game.  What to See on Defense Earlier this week, the Bengals traded to Cleveland for QB Joe Flacco. They quickly announced that Flacco would start on Sunday against the Packers. Now, superstitious Packers fans are shaking in their boots over the fact that Joe Flacco was the QB of the Browns when the Browns defeated the Packers 10-13, three weeks ago. Let's get one thing straight. The Browns' defense gave the Packers' offense fits, and they struggled to get anything going. Joe Flacco went 21/36 for 142 yards and an interception. The Packers' defense had Joe Flacco in hell; he was not the difference maker in that game. And now guess what, he's behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league that barely could keep Joe Burrow and Jake Browning upright.  Pass rush will be a key in today's game to make Joe Flacco uncomfortable with his new team. Micah Parsons and friends struggled a bit against Dallas in roping in Dak Prescott; they need to make today a momentum shifter and cannot afford to let Joe Flacco perform the impossible in pulling off a victory, starting just five days after acquisition.  Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins possibly make one of the best receiver duos in football, so Flacco will have some good targets if Chase plays today after being questionable due to illness. The Packers' secondary did not have a good game against Dallas, and despite Flacco only having a few days with his targets, he's sure to try them out today against cornerbacks like Carrington Valentine and Nate Hobbs, who have struggled as of late. On top of Chase and Higgins, the Bengals also have Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki, who haven't been largely impressive so far this season, but for a QB like Flacco that may need to get the ball out quickly, they could become a factor in today's game.  The Bengals haven't had a lot of success running the ball this season. If you think the Packers have struggled a bit in that area, the first four games of the season, the Packers have 458 yards rushing total; the Bengals only have 285 through five games. They're led by Chase Brown, who has 160 yards off 65 carries and one touchdown, followed by Samaje Perine with 52 yards off nine carries.  The Packers struggled against the run in Dallas following the departure of Devonte Wyatt from the game, and unfortunately, Wyatt has not practiced this week, so he will not play today. We could see a heavy dose of Nazir Stackhouse or Warren Brinson at DT in running situations. Today could either be an opportunity for the Bengals to show they can run the ball after all, or it could be a day for the Packers' defense to prove they're not a one-man show against the run in the absence of Wyatt. Edgerrin Cooper possibly had his worst game in Green and Gold in Dallas that night; perhaps look for him to step up today to show he won't fall victim to that again.  Extra Notes After two blocked field goals this season and a rash of other mistakes, the last thing we need is special teams to play a negative part in today's results. Now, kicker Brandon McManus is questionable with a quad injury, leaving the kicker position a bit of a question mark today. The Packers have signed kicker Lucas Havrisik to the 53-man roster, just in case McManus is unable to go today. Havrisik has had stints with the Colts, Browns, Rams, and Bills in the three seasons, appearing in nine games where he went 15 for 20 with field goals and 19 of 22 for extra points. Havrisik also played 10 games for the Dallas Renegades in the UFL this past season. If McManus is unable to go, the Packers won't be just winging it at kicker, but I would imagine Matt LaFleur will be a little cautious with trusting the newly acquired kicker.  Whether the field goal debacles against Dallas were due to missed assignments from Brant Banks or Luke Musgrave, we'll likely never know for sure. However, Brant Banks' quick release from the team following the game doesn't bode well for his case. We finally have a reliable kicker in Brandon McManus; we need to have a clean field goal operation soon to restore confidence in lining up for a field goal attempt or extra point. Cincinnati will be looking to exploit it without a doubt, and we can't let this continue to be a problem.  The Bengals' kicker, on the other hand, Evan McPherson, has become one of the best kickers in the league, and so far this season, he has yet to miss a kick.  The Packers' return game is also lacking. Savion Williams hasn't looked the best on kickoffs, and Matthew Golden maybe should be focused more on offense than fielding punts. But with the Packers lacking a return specialist at the moment, those two rookies are just going to have to improve. Today could be a big stepping stone in the right direction.  On the other side of the field, Charlie Jones and Samaje Perine have done a good job fielding kicks and punts for the Bengals. They both have long returns of 35+ yards, and Jones, on punts, averages 13 yards per return. They shouldn't pose a big problem, but with the issues the Packers have had on special teams, you never know.  Daniel Whelan is averaging 51.8 yards with 14 punts, while Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow is averaging 53.1 yards on 27 punts with six touchbacks. Rehkow leads the league with that average, but his net-average is only in the middle of the league with 42.6.   In the End Today, the Packers are being presented with the most "get right" game of all get right games. They're at home coming off a bye against a struggling team, starting a QB that they desperately acquired five days ago. I don't mean to be the Grim Reaper, but if the Packers can't come away with a victory today, we have bigger problems than struggling special teams.  Next week, the Packers head to Arizona to take on the Cardinals to kick off back-to-back road games. Hopefully, Green Bay can take advantage of a struggling Bengals team today to give us Packers fans a nice, relaxing Sunday afternoon, enjoying a victory. Go Pack Go.    Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersGreg MeinholzPreview and PredictionGameDay PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to CheeseheadTV as well as PackersTalk. Follow him on Twitter @gmeinholz and Bluesky @gmeinholz.bsky.social for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsGreen Bay PackersNFC NorthTags: Green Bay PackersJordan LoveTrey HendricksonMicah ParsonsJoe Flacco Like 0 points

Join Andy Herman for his full thoughts on Packers/Bengals and his final prediction for the game!!!     Filed Under: FeaturedPack A Day Podcast   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL! __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Pack-A-Day PodcastPackers podcastPacker PodcastGreen Bay Packers podcastgreen bay packer Like 0 points

The Packers signed kicker Lucas Havrisik to the 53 man roster as a precautionary measure after Brandon McManus injured himself in practice earlier this week.  Havrisik (6-2, 185), a second-year player out of the University of Arizona, has spent time on the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and was with the Colts during the 2023 offseason and training camp. He spent time on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad in 2023 before being signed to the Los Angeles Rams’ active roster, where he appeared in nine games and made 15 of 20 field goals and 19 of 22 extra points. Havrisik also recorded seven touchbacks on eight kickoffs. He returned to the Browns for the 2024 offseason and training camp and went on to spend time on the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills last season. Havrisik also played in 10 games for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League in 2025, making 22 of 25 field goals. He will wear No. 35 for the Packers. The team also brought back offensive tackle Brant Banks to the practice squad. Banks originally signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Rice on May 2, 2025, and has spent part of the regular season on Green Bay’s practice squad and active roster, appearing in two games. He was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans on October 1 but released on October 9. Banks will wear No. 72 for the Packers. The team made room for Banks by releasing DL Deslin Alexandre. Filed Under: Packers News   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Tags: Lucas Havrisik Like 0 points

  The Green Bay Packers started the 2025 season with two convincing wins. They beat the defending NFC North champion Lions and the Washington Commanders, who reached the NFC Championship Game last season, in dominant fashion. Since then, however, the Packers suffered an upset loss to the Cleveland Browns and an unsatisfying tie with the Dallas Cowboys. Now, after the bye week, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons has issued a challenge to the team to play at a different level and to change their mind set. But will the Packers be able to answer his challenge? Parsons challenged his team not only to bounce back this Sunday by beating the Cincinnati Bengals, but to make this a “statement win.” The only way to have a statement win against an inferior opponent is to win the game going away and to leave no doubt who the better team is. “You should be pissed off. Like, you're sitting down pissed off,” Parsons explained. “We just gave up 40 points and we're talking about we can't give up 20 and how we shouldn't lose games. Well, that's how you lose games. So, we should be pissed off. We should be ready to come out here, play Sunday regardless of who's playing and whoop some butt if you're really dogs. That's how I come, that's how I look at it. Like, we really say who we want to be. We should take that last, how we finished last, and we should punish these guys, and we should want to leave a statement. Like, it should be a statement win, should be a statement on defense. I just think it's a statement. These guys should be pissed off because I was pissed off.” The statement was primarily aimed at the defense, which gave up 40 points to the Cowboys after allowing a combined total of 44 points in the first three games of the season. But it really should be directed at the entire team and the coaching staff. The Packers defense needs to start creating more turnovers. Through four games, they have two interceptions and no fumble recoveries. Because the Pack has only turned the ball over twice, they are even in turnover differential, but great defenses create turnovers and that just hasn’t happened frequently enough in the first four games of the season. On offense, the Packers need to get better play from their offensive line, especially when blocking for the run. The Packers may get starting right tackle, Zach Tom and left guard Aaron Banks back in the lineup this Sunday. Injuries to those two players have hurt the team’s ability to open holes for the running game thus far. Josh Jacobs continues to gain yardage after initial contact, but because of the struggles of the offensive line, too often, that first contact has occurred at or even behind the line of scrimmage. An injury to Rasheed Walker may cause yet another shuffle to the offensive line personnel this week, but the team needs to overcome it and play well. The team and the coaching staff also need to clean up the mental mistakes that have led to so many penalties on both sides of the ball. The occasional pass interference call or holding penalty are frustrating but they will happen. But lining up offsides? An ineligible man downfield? Illegal motion? These mistakes are avoidable and have cost them team in some key situations. And don’t get me started about special teams. The blocking for extra points and field goals has been terrible and led to a blocked field goal and a blocked extra point that was returned for two points by the Cowboys. Punt and kick returners have difficulty knowing when and where to catch the ball and when to let it bounce. The coverage teams continue to give up long returns at inopportune times. Then there’s the play calling. Matt LaFleur and the offense seemed to have no urgency in overtime. The Packers had plenty of time to score a touchdown in their only possession of overtime and win the game. They didn’t manage the clock well at all and almost lost the chance to tie the game with a field goal on the final play of overtime. Parsons has laid down a challenge to his new team. Like the Browns and Cowboys, the Packers are the better team on paper and should beat the Bengals. Real Super Bowl contenders not only win those games but win them convincingly when they are playing well and find ways to win when they’re not. The Packers have to prove they belong among the true contenders. The challenge has been issued. Now, how will the team respond? Filed Under: FeaturedGil Martin   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay PackersMicah ParsonsMatt LaFleurJosh Jacobs Like 0 points

The Packers defense had the ball a lot last year.  That unit racked up 31 takeaways — which was the most for the Packers since 2011. That included 17 interceptions — eight by Xavier McKinney, who was a first team All-Pro last year.  Fast forward to this season and the Packers defense, which was supposed to have gotten better with the addition of Micah Parsons, only has two takeaways. Parsons is doing his job by getting 25 pressures on 118 pass-rush snaps by going through double teams, triple teams and chips regularly. According to TruMedia, the Packers are ranked No. 5 in the NFL with a team pressure rate of 43 percent.  All of those things are feathers in the cap for the defense, so what is missing? Keisean Nixon is ranked 14th among all corners in terms of coverage according to Pro Football Focus and Carrington Valentine is ranked 19th. Nixon has really impressed me as he is tied for the league lead with five pass breakups. “The urgency of which we played with, I feel like it’s the best I’ve seen from our group since I’ve been here,” said Packers second-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. That tells me that turnovers are sure to come back like the swallows at Mission San Juan Capistrano. The Packers defense is turning up the pressure, it’s playing good coverage defense, yet the ball is still not ending up in their hands. But it has been frustrating. The Packers want to give the ball back to their offense, so they can let one of five guys do something potentially magical with it. The best way to change the turnover luck is to get off to an early lead. The Packers maintained a 17-3 halftime lead over the Lions and Jared Goff was forced to make risky passes that he probably wouldn’t usually make. They have to keep putting the opposition in third-and-long situations by not allowing much running yardage on early downs.  Packers coach Matt LaFleur has described the defense as “relentless” after beating the Commanders in Green Bay earlier this season. That fire ant attitude is what will eventually reap turnover rewards as long as everyone is doing their job.  It doesn’t do much good if Parsons continues to breathe down the opposing quarterback’s neck if he’s able to continually find his tight end wide open over the middle.  Remember, Parsons didn’t get a chance to have training camp with his Packers teammates. So I think a lot of them are still figuring him out, just as much as he’s trying to understand them.  But it is a little disconcerting when the 0-5 Jets have fewer takeaways than the Packers.  The Jets have zero turnovers, so I think it’s fair to say that the Packers have a lot of ground to make up.  Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersCory JennerjohnCory's Corner   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsGreen Bay PackersTags: Micah ParsonsGreen Bay PackersCincinnati BengalsKeisean NixonCarrington Valentine Like 0 points

On today's show, Andy takes a renewed look at the Packers' roster as we get set for Week 6 and reviews which positions are better and which are worse than we expected. Check it out!!!     Filed Under: FeaturedPack A Day Podcast   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL! __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Pack-A-Day PodcastPackers podcastPacker PodcastGreen Bay Packers podcastgreen bay packer Like 0 points

Listen to the podcast here: Find all of my daily podcasts here. Filed Under: FeaturedAaron Nagler#PackersDailyPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersPackers Daily Like 0 points

Filed Under: Aaron NaglerPacker Fan PodcastsPack's What She Said   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersPack's What She Said Like 0 points

As the old saying goes, Super Bowls aren’t won in September. For the 2025 Packers, that’s really good news because they didn’t even win the North in September. Despite through-the-roof expectations following the unexpected Micah Parsons trade, and despite a blistering 2-0 start to the season, the Packers find themselves trailing the 4-1 Lions after a late game collapse in Cleveland and a disappointing tie in Dallas.  Sitting at 2-1-1, many fans are disgruntled and their ire has been swift and unsparing. Some of that frustration is reasonable. Blocked kicks in back-to-back games certainly raises some accountability questions. And to hear LaFleur describe his own clock management at the end of the Dallas game – “It was like watching a slow-motion car crash in front of your face” – you’d think he was watching the game on a couch with the rest of us, and not, you know, on the sidelines with a headset.  Will the Packers’ special teams tighten up? Will the 2-minute drill become more organized and efficient? Those situations will be a weekly test for these coaches, and we’ll soon see if they’re able to make the necessary corrections. However, it’s not just the coaches. Players have made costly mistakes, too. In Cleveland, another valiant game from the Packers defense began to slip away when Jordan Love threw a brutal interception with just 3:18 remaining in the game. In Dallas, a Love fumble in Packers’ territory right before the half set Dallas up for a quick touchdown – and a 16-13 lead (despite Green Bay scoring the game’s first 13 points). After the fumble, broadcaster Chris Collinsworth noted that the Cowboys had made it clear that they felt Love was “a little loose with the ball” due to his long extension.  Will Love learn from these situations? Let’s hope. Obviously, we haven’t seen the last Jordan Love interception, but his situational awareness – knowing the score of the game, and calculating risk on throws and activity in the pocket – that can be improved through repetition. I’m entirely confident Love will work on all of it.  Another early mistake for this Packers team was hubris. After the Thursday night win against the Commanders, with the entire sports media world gassing them up, some of the Packers began to chug that Kool-Aid. Asked about the team’s hot start, tackle Rasheed Walker said, “I think we can go undefeated, honestly. Pound for pound, I look at these teams, and I don't really see who's better than us, honestly. That's why I can say that so confidently." We all know how that story ended, and you can bet Walker and many of his teammates learned a valuable lesson in humility, focus, and what it takes to be consistently great in the NFL. The Packers’ up-and-down start has also contained some adversity in the injury department. The team’s key off-season additions, guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs, haven’t really gotten going yet, largely due to injury. Banks’ absence was exacerbated by an early injury to Zach Tom and now rookie Anthony Belton is out. The Packers also lost Jayden Reed to a fractured clavicle, which will keep him out for a significant stretch of time. Perhaps most significantly, Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt is week-to-week with a knee injury, and may not be able to go vs Cincinnati. Prior to his injury, Wyatt had been playing tremendous football, which was critical following the departure of Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade.  Certainly, injuries are part of the game and every team deals with them. Next man up and no excuses, but clearly injuries have been a significant part of the early story for this Packers team.  In yesterday’s press conference, Coach Hafley was asked, “How much can you learn about your team in the first quarter of a season, that you don’t learn or don’t know during camp?” Hafley’s response [begins at 4:25] was both real and terrific. Discussing the Dallas game, and how the defense had made errors throughout the second half, Hafley zeroed in on a critical three-down stretch of overtime where Dallas had moved the ball inside the Packers' 10 yard line and were poised to score. Instead, the Packers unit stiffened, and held Dallas to a field goal. Even though the team ended up with a frustrating tie, and wasn’t close to satisfied, you could tell, at least through Hafley’s eyes, that this was a “moment” for this unit. Something they would be able to draw upon in the future. That’s really how NFL seasons unfold. Almost never do teams cruise through a season to Super Bowl victory. More often than not, it’s a slog. It’s small victories within a game. In fact, the last time the Packers won a Super Bowl, they did so as a 6-seed. That 2010 team had an 8-6 record after week 15, and it took two wins in weeks 16 and 17 to even make the playoffs. It’s not always pretty.  Still, it’s fair to wonder: Who are these 2025 Packers? Are they the team that absolutely dismantled two of the best teams in the NFC? Or are they the team that sputtered in Cleveland, and leaked in Dallas? The correct answer is that, like most teams, the Packers are still finding themselves. But there remains a lot to like in Green Bay, and through some of this early adversity, a young team may be learning what it takes to win.   Filed Under: FeaturedMark Ballard PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Mark Ballard is an obsessive Green Bay Packers fan, born in Buffalo Bills country, but raised right by a Mom from Rice Lake, WI. You can find him on X at @ballark __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: packersMatt LaFleurJeff HafleyJordan Love Like 0 points

      The Packers host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, and anybody who tells you they know what to expect from this Green Bay team is fooling himself.  Even the Packers themselves don’t yet have a clue as to what they are.  They want to be a running team, but they can’t run the ball with any consistency.  On defense they want to rush with four, but they can’t get to the quarterback enough, and the back end struggles to cover.       They’ve convincingly beaten down two of the best teams in the league, but were defeated and tied by two of the worst.  They’ve scored as few as just ten points in a game, and as many as 40.  Their special teams have converted field goals from beyond fifty yards, but have had an extra point blocked.         The health of their offensive line starters is in constant flux.  Micah Parsons virtually took over games against the Lions and Commanders, but was rendered largely neutral by the Cowboys.  The team has been on a bye week and hasn’t won a game in about a month, yet most observers still consider them among a handful of genuine Super Bowl contenders.       All of this adds up to one big, fat question mark concerning Sunday’s game.  Nobody, probably not even the coaching staff, knows what kind of team will come out of the tunnel at Lambeau.  The oddsmakers think they know.  They have Green Bay winning big.  As of this writing they have made the Packers a monstrous 14.5 point favorite.  That seems optimistic, considering Green Bay failed to win either of their past two games as heavy favorites.         Adding to the unpredictability is the Bengals trading this past week for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who was immediately named the starter against the Packers.  This means he will be taking the controls having had only three or four meaningful practices with his new team.  Flacco is old and immobile.  He is also savvy and accurate, and still has the arm strength to make the throws.  He has also quarterbacked a team that has already beaten the Packers once this year, although his play didn’t have much to do with it.  His offensive line is mush, but he may have to do little more than loop fifty-fifty balls toward elite receivers Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins, and let them compete for the catch against a secondary that has looked pretty shaky at times.       While there are plenty of unknowns about this game, it may or may not be comforting to know there are some things you can absolutely count on come kickoff:  -- Jordan Love will hold the ball too long and take an unnecessary sack.  He will also make a spectacular throw that will make your jaw drop to the floor.  At least once, he will take off and run effectively for a first down.  -- Josh Jacobs will run into brick walls all afternoon, yet somehow, at the end of the game, he will have at least 70 to 80 yards rushing and a touchdown.  -- Tucker Kraft will catch a short pass, turn and be confronted by a linebacker.  He will then run over him, only to be confronted by a safety, whom he will also run over, on his way to a big play.  -- Romeo Doubs will be targeted in the red zone.  -- A holding penalty (probably on Sean Rhyan) will kill a promising drive.  -- Rookie Matthew Golden will make an impressive catch and continue to make you wonder why he is not targeted more often.  -- Rookie Savion Williams will take a direct snap and go nowhere.  -- Matt LaFleur will be forced to waste at least one time out because of difficulty getting a play in.  -- Micah Parsons will be double teamed and held on nearly every play.  -- Quay Walker will miss a tackle badly in the open field.  He will also explode laterally across the line of scrimmage and make an extraordinary tackle for loss.  -- The Bengals will convert some third downs with short, quick passes over the middle.  -- We will all hold our breath every time the Packers line up to try a field goal, extra point, or punt.  -- After the game Matt LaFleur will take the blame for all bad plays, and say we have to be better.  -- Regardless of the outcome, we will all overreact.  Either the Packers will be Super Bowl favorites again, or it will be time to fire everybody.  I can’t wait.    Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersKen LassThe Lass Word   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay Packers Like 0 points

On today's show, Andy looks at the potential kicker issues with the injury to Brandon McManus, and reviews if the Packers should re-sign wide receiver Romeo Doubs. Don't miss it!!!     Filed Under: FeaturedPack A Day Podcast   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL! __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Pack-A-Day PodcastPackers podcastPacker PodcastGreen Bay Packers podcastgreen bay packer Like 0 points

Staring a loss directly in the eye on Sunday Night Football vs the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers rookie Wide Receiver Matthew Golden didn’t bat an eye. 4th & 6 on Green Bay’s own 23-Yard line, Jerry World in a frenzy being one stop away from pulling off an improbable comeback upset, Jordan love did a 3-step drop back, stepped into his throw, and completed a 15-yard conversion to his 1st round pick, Golden. The rookie wanted every bit of the moment. The catch was not made with his body, it was not bobbled, it was all hands and without any uncertainty. No, this conversion didn’t lead to an eventual game-winning drive for Green Bay, but in do or die situations, you can learn a lot from the decisions that are made in those moments. Jordan Love showed no hesitance when targeting the rookie, and it may be a sign of things to come. Golden’s scouting report coming out of Texas was that he can work all three levels of the field, while being able to play all three receiver spots. Body control, agility, the ability to make the spectacular play, and oh yeah, a sub 4.3 40-yard dash made it only a matter of time before his name was taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. More importantly some in Titletown may believe, is that Golden does not shy away from catches in traffic. Putting together a track record of contested receptions using physicality and strong hands through college was a key reason for Golden's landing in Green Bay. Coming off a year where Green Bay saw 3 of its top targets within the top 20 in the NFL in drops, to take a step to the next level as an offense, you simply must catch the football. Through 5 weeks (Week 4 Bye) Matthew Golden has 11 Receptions, for 126 Yards, and 0 TDs. Golden ranks 10th in Rookies for Receiving. The leader on that list? Fellow 1st Round WR Emeka Egbuka of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who was taken 4 picks before Golden. Egbuka’s targets sit at 38, to Golden’s 14. Such a disparity in stats you might think stem from talent, but in this scenario, it may just be opportunity. Take from it what you will, but the rookie has done what has been asked of him up to this point. In an offense that has constructed itself off focusing on plays rather than players as of recent years, Golden represents a potential change to the archetype. Matthew Golden’s intangibles give no reason to believe he cannot see continued success in the NFL. From breakaway speed for yards after the catch, explosive cutting to gain separation from a defender, to reliable and confident hands against those contesting, it is time to let the kid loose. Now, with Christian Watson returning from ACL surgery in record-time, some may think this could lessen the snap count and reps from Golden. In reality, it should only help. Watson’s ability to spread the field is indisputable, a corner and a safety must be aware of 9 streaking down the field. All the better for Matthew Golden, opportunity should only arise from another playmaker on this offense, and Golden is well up for the challenge. If and when the Packers can display all of their receiving corps this season, it's hard to see a room as deep as the one in Green Bay. Each receiver in Green Bay’s current room possesses a trait that makes them special from the other, with Golden, there is reason to believe he is all that in one. Number 0 was not brought to Green Bay to return punts, nor to be a gadget player, he was brought in to be the first WR1 in Green Bay, since Davante Adams. If you remember, there was an infamous quote said by Kevin Greene in Super Bowl 45 to Green Bay Packers Outside Linebacker Legend Clay Matthews, “It is time.” Missing their leader Charles Woodson to a collarbone injury at this point in the game, Greene looked to the perennial edge rusher, telling him it was now or never to make a game-altering play. That he did, Matthews would guide Ryan Pickett to spill the Steelers blocking assignment and allow him to blow up the rush to the right.  Rashard Mendenhall would fumble the ball and allow Green Bay to recover the ball and the rest is history on the way to Green Bay’s 4th Super Bowl trophy. Now fast-forward 15 years, the Green Bay Packers, after holding out on taking a wide receiver in the first round since 2002, elect Matthew Golden from Texas. Taken just hundreds of feet away from what would soon to be his new home, Golden would toss on the Green Bay Packers lid, walk onto a stage facing hundreds of thousands of roaring Packers faithful, and what were his first words on the mic? “It’s Time.”     Matthew Golden catches everything. He wins downfield, tracks the ball well, and has the body control/fluidity to make adjustments.pic.twitter.com/jaAIjBj02R — Snoog's Fantasy HQ (@FFSnoog) January 18, 2025   The leading first-year receivers after roughly one-third of the 2025 season 💨 pic.twitter.com/fkrzu7Qfrv — The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) October 7, 2025   Matthew Golden and Savion Williams had their most productive games as Packers entering the bye week as their roles in the offense continue to grow. https://t.co/gkjKLJiemt pic.twitter.com/QfXFmkhlTl — The Packers Wire (@ThePackersWire) October 8, 2025 Filed Under: FeaturedLuke Leavitt Luke Leavitt is a Contributor for Cheesehead TV, covering the Green Bay Packers. A Manchester by the Sea, Massachussetts native, Luke is a lifelong Packer fan, and 15-year shareholder. Keep up with Luke on X @LukeLeavitt7 Go Pack Go! NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Matthew Golden Like 0 points

Listen to the podcast here: Find all of my daily podcasts here. Filed Under: Aaron Nagler#PackersDailyPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Cincinnati BengalsTags: Green Bay PackersPackers Daily Like 0 points

This may not be a popular take amongst the Packers fan base, but this Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town for a late window kickoff, the Packers’ sole focus must be on simply winning the game. Don’t worry about style points. I know many fans are going to want and expect the Packers to come out pissed off after 2 disappointing results in their last 2 games played—a loss and a tie to the Browns and Cowboys respectively—with their “piss hot” energy and dominate a struggling Bengals squad. To be clear, I want and expect nothing else, as do the oddsmakers with the Packers currently sitting as 14.5-point favorites. While a dominant win would be a good palate refresh for this team, just getting out of the game with a win should be good enough. The Packers are sitting at a weird 2-1-1 record, which is still good for 8th in the league as we head into week 6’s action. How much better would we be feeling about them if they won those 2 games against the Browns in week 3 and the Cowboys in week 4? 4-0 would look and feel a lot better. I would be willing to bet that there isn’t a single fan out in the ether that wouldn’t take a 14-13 win against the Browns or a 41-40 win against the Cowboys. Don’t change a single thing about the game minus a play here and there to squeak out the win. Those games showed us up close that it really is “any given Sunday” in the NFL and any team can beat (or tie) any team. Prior to the game in Dallas against the Cowboys, I wrote how that was the perfect get-right game for the team coming off that surprising loss in Cleveland. No CeeDee Lamb and a 30th-ranked defense seemed ripe for the picking, but alas, a red-hot Dak Prescott had other ideas and the league’s first tie since 2022 was completed. Maybe the Packers went into Dallas thinking the same thing. After a  fast start in the first quarter quickly turned into the Packers trailing heading into halftime, they needed an elite Jordan Love performance was needed simply to settle for the tie. This game has a very similar feel to that one a few days out from kickoff. The Bengals, like the Cowboys were are a team missing one of their best players in quarterback Joe Burrow and a defense reeling after 3 terrible performances in a row. The Bengals are not in a good place. Since Burrow went down with his turf toe injury in week 2, the Bengals have lost to the Vikings 48-10, the Broncos 28-3, and the Lions 37-24. That last game against the Lions was not nearly as close as the score indicates either—the Bengals getting into the end zone in garbage time skews the perspective on that one. Perhaps the biggest sign of just how much the Bengals are struggling since their 2-0 start and Burrow injury is that in the last 3 games, the combined score entering the 4th quarter is 97-9. The Bengals just flat out haven’t even been competitive, but they are still an NFL team. Yes, Jake Browning is a turnover machine, and the team cannot get the rushing game going at all to help their struggling backup—having amassed a total of just 285 rushing yards for the entire season. But they made a move this week to attempt to course correct instead of just running back the same result that isn’t working. Enter Joe Flacco. Head coach Zac Taylor is hitching his wagon to the 40-year-old former Super Bowl winner turned journeyman to try and correct the ship and save the season until his superstar quarterback can come back. It just might work, it might not, just its better then what they had going on previously. Not only did Flacco beat the Packers just 2 weeks ago, but his presence might light a fire under this Bengals team. They still have the best wide receiver duo in the league—2 receivers that don’t need perfect balls, just someone to get it into the area and allow them to make a play. That’s something Flacco can do. It’s going to be a challenge for Flacco to get up to speed in order to start on Sunday against the Packers, but Flacco has plenty of experience and him just seeing this Packers team 3 weeks ago will certainly help. Then again, it should help Jeff Hafley plan as well. If the Packers try too hard to be perfect and somehow let this game get away from them, then it will be time to worry. The top of the NFC is proving to be tougher than it might have seemed at the start of the season. The Philadelphia Eagles lost their first game this past Sunday but are not likely to move off the top of the conference anytime soon. The Lions have been a juggernaut since their opening loss to the Packers. The San Francisco 49ers continue to win as they deal with their own injury issues and have to run out their backup quarterback Mac Jones. The Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers also seem like they are going to be there right at the end. The Packers cannot afford another loss to an inferior opponent. Unlike the college game, style points don’t matter. They can’t overlook the Bengals like they did the Browns and Cowboys and find themselves with 2 losses and a tie.  So I implore my fellow fan to remember, if this game is tied late in the game and the Packers just barely sneak out of Lambeau with a win. It’s ok, a win is a win all the same in the record column. Just go out and win, baby because anything besides a victory Monday sucks.  Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersDan Saia -Dan Saia Tags: packers vs bengals previewNFL Week 6 Like 0 points