5 Takeaways From Packers 24 - 41 Ravens: It’s Just Not Green Bay's Year

The football gods have not been kind to the Packers in 2025.

It’s just not Green Bay's year

A lot of people will be looking for a smoking gun or to assign blame for how this season appears to be unravelling. There is already plenty of criticism out there for Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst.

But the truth is, the Packers have essentially had a rotten string of bad luck, mostly via injuries since the end of October that has stripped them of their most important players.

That is ultimately going to be too much to overcome, and is the easiest explanation for how what was supposed to be a year of true contention for Green Bay looks to be going off the rails.

It simply is not the Packers’ year. The good news is they will still have the vast majority of their roster intact in 2026, their injured players will return, and they can hope to have better injury luck next season.

Defensive line must be offseason priority

Addressing the defensive interior was a need for the Packers last offseason, but with very little available in free agency and a stacked draft class picked over unexpectedly quickly, before Green Bay were even on the clock in the second round, it did not come to fruition.

Then the team traded away Kenny Clark, lost Devonte Wyatt for the year on Thanksgiving, and now don’t even have Micah Parsons to show for it after his season-ending injury.

This has led to them rolling out a substandard group of Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Warren Brinson and Jordon Riley in recent weeks.

Parsons and Wyatt will be back next year, but the Packers have to make a concerted effort to address the interior of the defensive line in particular this spring, as their situation is currently untenable.

Malik Willis makes himself some money

LaFleur has not asked Malik Willis to throw the ball much when he has been pressed into duty in the past.

Part of that was the fact the Packers have often established an early lead and have been able to lean on the run game, part of it is that in his early appearances, Willis will not have had a firm enough grasp of the offense yet.

But part of it also appeared to be that the team did not fully trust him to be a drop back passer. That theory was somewhat put to bed on Saturday night. Willis was excellent both with his arm and his legs in what was by far the best performance of his career.

He will not be back with the Packers next year, should get a healthy payday and likely an opportunity to compete for a starting job for another NFL team. He has earned it.

Self inflicted wounds hurt Packers offense

While Willis was fighting to keep the Packers in the game, his teammates were busy letting him down with concentration errors which never allowed them to make a real attempt at a comeback.

Even on the opening touchdown drive, Green Bay committed back to back penalties after Willis’ 40-yard throw to Romeo Doubs, setting up a 1st and 20 which Willis overcame by finding Christian Watson on another deep pass for a touchdown.

After picking up eight yards on their first play of the next drive, the Packers failed to gain two yards on three attempts. That disastrous sequence included two bad snaps by Sean Rhyan, derailing a QB sneak on 3rd and 1 and disrupting the timing of a shotgun run (sigh) on 4th and inches.

Rhyan then snapped the ball into the facemask of Willis on the next drive, while the quarterback was walking towards the line of scrimmage and trying to change the play. It led to a turnover and more points for the Ravens.

This felt like arguably the first game all year where the Packers could not argue they were the better team in a loss, and the unforced errors on offense were not the reason for the defeat, but they continue to be a problem.

Rashan Gary continues to struggle

Gary does not have a sack in his last nine games after racking up seven (using PFFs numbers which count half sacks as full ones) in the first seven games.

Despite the early production, it has not been a good year for Gary, who was benefitting from some clean up sacks before his cold streak.

He looks to be firmly in decline, does not seem to have the same athleticism from earlier in his career, and at this point Gutekunst has a decision to make o Gary this offseason based on his contract.

 

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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres

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Comments (135)

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BabeParilli's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:04 am

If the General Manager for the Eagles Howie Roseman and the Eagles' accountants can figure out how to get rid of Carson Wentz and his then RECORD CONTRACT AND RECORD DEAD CAP HIT, how come Gutekunst and the Packers accountants can't figure out how to get rid of Jordan Love and his Record Contract and Record Dead Cap hit?

Is our General Manager Gutekunst BIG ENOUGH TO ADMIT HE MADE A MISTAKE?

Mailk Willis is night and day better than Jordan Love - in all facets, mental and physical - and should be immediately signed by the Packers.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:31 am

You don't want to hear this, and nobody is going to believe me until they find out for themselves.

Malik Willis is nowhere near the QB Jordan Love is.
He's got elite athleticism and he's got a rocket arm. He's a smart young man.
He also rarely gets past the first read before he goes into panic mode. He does a good job pre-snap. Once the ball is snapped, he reads the safeties, and after that- he's pretty much locked on the primary target. If it doesn't materialize, it's panic and run time.

It's exciting to watch. He's got all the physical tools but he doesn't have the skills to process and read the entire play as it unfolds in real time. QBs who tend to run first when the first option isn't there don't last long in the NFL. It's not great quarterbacking, and it's not sustainable.

Let the down votes pour in.. I'll still be here to talk about it the results after 2026 and 2027. There's a reason why last night Malik Willis posted his 6th TD pass last night. Not of the night, not of the season, but of his career.

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MooPack's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:51 am

You don't want to hear this, but this paragraph could be applied to Love as well.

"He also rarely gets past the first read before he goes into panic mode. He does a good job pre-snap. Once the ball is snapped, he reads the safeties, and after that- he's pretty much locked on the primary target. If it doesn't materialize, it's panic and run time."

Instead of run though, it's attempted run and sack or missed throw to a covered receiver, usually a locked in Doubs. And a good many of his highlight throws are luck or a WR making a good play. Many times he passes off an unsteady platform. Love is a good QB, but he is not heads above Willis. Willis looks more accurate with his throws. He hits them in stride better. Also, and IMO more importantly, both QB's have to get out of the pocket to throw because there is no pocket. It's collapsing. Almost the entire OL needs retooling.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:03 pm

You're objectively wrong about Love's ability to get beyond the first read, and there's almost never ANY panic in his game. He's got extremely control at the LOS pre snap, and knows how to manipulate the defense with checks and route tweaks. He's clearly running through all his options on a number of plays in any given game.

Despite your claims Love's inaccurate throws, who only makes big plays due to WR excellence (lol).. PFR lists Love as having the 8th highest On-target throw percentage in the NFL at 77.4% (Ahead of Aaron Rodgers, 14th at 75.1%).

I don't know what to tell you, except you're wrong.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2025/passing_advanced.htm

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MooPack's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:39 pm

And I think you are objectively wrong about Willis. I don't see panic in his game. He is calm in his demeanor as well. LeFleur has said as much. And he is passing at an 85% comp rate with a 145 rtg. Smaller sample and not sustainable by any QB long term, but he can move this team downfield as well and has shown it.

And I didn't say Love ONLY make big plays, etc... I said many times...
And I didn't say due to WR "excellence"... I said the WR made a play, but not always/only. Sometimes they don't or drop. But if you go back and look at a lot of what are his big "highlight" throws, the receiver has to slow or adjust. He at times throws off platform and he is not as adept at in stride throws. Probably why they don't throw as many crossing routes as they should. However, Love certainly locks in on the primary when a secondary is running wide open. That is undeniable. I didn't use the word always or only.

Panic is the wrong word for both QB's. It's survivability. The OL cannot sustain the pocket regardless of whatever stats anyone wants to trot out.

Love is not a bad QB. In fact he is one of the better ones. Top part of the league. My point is that Willis is not panicking or not getting through his reads. He is hitting receivers at all levels and looks quite comfortable doing so.

[edit] I should have used the words "at times" when I applied that paragraph to Love as well. But again, I think panic is the wrong word.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:26 pm

I'll say this until I'm blue in the face, you people need to watch actual every-snap film breakdown of Love that are available from a number of ex-NFL QB's on youtube. Yes, Love, like all NFL QBs, misses open targets from time to time. What he does regularly, like most starting QBs, is makes he way through the reads and back again. It's obvious watching the games live, and it's clearly demonstrated on the tape study videos I have mentioned. The Packers have a stripe down the center of the helmet, it makes it fairly easy to see it happen in real time, assuming your not, well.. oblivious.

You can watch Willis' helmet and clearly see exactly what he's doing at the snap of the ball on the great majority of his passing snaps. If he doesn't like the pre-snap look, he's going to keep the ball. There's very little attempt to manipulate the play to gain a favorable match up- he's checking to run or keeping the ball on the option. He really is not in 'full command' of the offense, despite what the talking heads were blathering on about last night.

Assuming he is taking the snap and dropping back, he checks the safeties immediately on snap to see the rotation, he then looks at his primary read and doesn't normally take his eyes off him. If he gets open, he tosses the ball. If he doesn't, he almost always tucks the ball and goes into scramble drill or takes off running. Very rarely do you ever see willis scan his 2nd, 3rd, options and return to the 1st, etc.. He's staring down a single target, perhaps through 2 windows, and then it's panic mode. It's just not sustainable.

The running is a great tool and yes, it's yards and keeps drives alive, but running QBs who can't operate out of the pocket first and foremost have short shelf lives for a number of reasons. If you can't get through your progressions you're severely limiting the offense and you end up an exciting novelty player with a short shelf life. Again.. I'll be here for the next number of years barring death and we can discuss how things turn out then. Willis isn't the first NFL player to show this exciting skill set but have a weakness with basic ability to work though his progressions. This story has been written before and we should all know the ending.

He really is in the best possible situation as a back up QB. I don't see real success for him as a starter.

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bassrock's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:37 pm

Your head being stuck up Loves azz is embarrassing. Love seldom looks off his primary receiver and constantly throws off his back foot. He's had 6 years in this offense and still needs to develop. Willis throws a better ball and brings a ton more to the line than Love. If they hadn't over paid him after a half of a good year than we wouldn't have to see him play over a better QB in Willis. So go pout by you Love dish.

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Snap the ball's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:31 pm

Willis is better than Lovett this time of the year.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:11 pm

Love does throw off his back foot too much, and he's still one of the top passers in the league.

You have literally zero idea what you're talking about. Tape is loaded with Love working through his progressions, making the read, delivering the ball.

Let me say it again- go watch some film study, readily available, from any of the half-dozen or so ex-NFL QB's who do serious deep dives on every passing snap of the games.

Love is your QB, and all but about 5-6 teams in the NFL would jump for a chance to have him as their QB1.

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GreenandBold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:06 pm

You’re forgetting his habit of throwing a head scratching interception and throwing into double coverage at important times of playoff games . See the playoff game against the Rams at Lambeau a few years ago . 4th quarter rolling out throwing back to the center of the field ending the Packers season.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:36 pm

Yeah, he'd love to have that one back.

One play does not make the player. I imagine you must have been calling for Favre to be replaced after every game.

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LambeauPlain's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:32 am

That's a tiny nit you are picking. You have hunt for an INT from years ago to make a weak point?

Of QBs throwing for at least 20 TDs or more this season, Love has thrown only 6 INTs, second behind only Stafford with 5.

But only Love's 6 INTs were "head scratching", and all Stafford's were all just unlucky, I assume?

What fairness.

The problem on the offense is the OL...or are you going to claim Jacobs is making "head scratching" runs into the backs of his linemen?

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:07 pm

You are correct about the pocket, however.

The OL has not exactly been an oasis of comfort and safety the last two years.

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bleedgreen's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:05 pm

Love doesn't seem to go thru his progressions either. If primary is covered he goes directly to safety valve.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:38 pm

That's not remotely accurate, and even if it were.. you do realize that the "safety valve" is part of the progression, don't you?

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Celise...'s picture

December 28, 2025 at 09:22 pm

i have said it before and will say it again...our team is weak, both mentally and especially physically. they get pushed around by other teams all the time. the constant penalties and special teams gaffs along with end of game mistakes speaks to the mental weakness. no amount of coaching schemes will help if they're not strong enough to hold up a line, offensive or defensive.

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CHEESEHEADDALLAS's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:57 am

HOW many more years are we going to keep doing the same thing over and over again when it comes to the lack of a defense offense line special teams before the people that are responsible for the insanity are held accountable for their inept drafting and inept play calling. Time to rip off the blinders get a new qb new coaching staff and star building a new team that will bring home chumships otherwise we are no better than the teams of 70, through early 90's.

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LambeauPlain's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:12 pm

I don't believe Willis is a Bobby Douglas or Justin Fields panican. But he is a running QB...and those get hurt, don't they?

Willis had a "Matt Flynn" night gifted to him by Harbaugh selling out to stop the run and daring him to win with his arm and legs. It worked. In the 3rd quarter the Packers found some defense (I guess LaFleur did some butt chewing at the half?), but they quickly again wore down by the more aggressive Ravens ground pounders.

The Ravens saw Willis's tendency make most decisions to pass or run quickly, after the first read. They successfully began to bait him by shifting pass coverages at the snap. It was very effective a few times. The Packers' O fizzled a few times in the second half, gave the ball back to the Ravens, and you could almost hear the air going out of the Defense's balloon.

I like Willis. Great back up. But he's not replacing Love as starter.

Packers' problem is not at QB or the skill positions on O...it is the OL. The Packers' problems on D is the DL sans Parsons and Wyatt, and since their departures, increasingly exposed CBs due to lack of sacks, pressures, hurries.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:32 pm

Good gravy, it's finally someone who gets it speaking up on it.

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13TimeChamps's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:13 pm

I pretty much categorically disagree with your assessment of Willis. For someone who goes into "panic mode" as often as you suggest, it's interesting that he's completing 85.7% of his passes the last game and a half. As far as his CAREER TD totals, being a back-up, with limited opportunities might have something to do with that.

But considering he much more than likely won't be here next year, I won't waste yours or my time debating this in depth. I think he is more skilled than you give him credit for, and that's certainly your prerogative. I wish the young man well wherever he lands...unless he decides to wear purple that is.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:42 pm

When you run instead of throw the ball, it doesn't count as an incomplete pass or a pass attempt, and when you're only passing when you have a clear open first read, that tends to skew your completion percentage.

As far as career TDs, do you want to go by Touchdown percentage? We can do that if you want.

I wish him well, as well. As I've said to others, we'll see how it turns out for Willis. I don't think he has a career as a starter due to clear deficiencies in what are considered core QB skills at the NFL level. He's a bright young man with undeniable talents, but NFL offenses demand you be able to work through progressions, and he has demonstrated he has not developed that skill to an acceptable level. It is what it is.

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bassrock's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:41 pm

You are delusional.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:05 pm

Were you a Tim Boyle guy, or was Clifford more your thing?

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Coldworld's picture

December 29, 2025 at 12:58 pm

We aren’t talking about Tune here.

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GreenandBold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:36 pm

Yeah his completion rate and off the charts QBR screams panic . Not to mention his on the numbers accuracy .

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:53 pm

See my comment directly above that speaks to how pulling it down and running it when the first option isn't open skews the stats.

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TarynsEyes's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:26 pm

It appears we see things the same.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:54 pm

Close but no cigar.

Love is objectively, without question, a top ten QB in the league. Subjectively, right around top 5.

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Coldworld's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:13 pm

Love is a good, young QB in a system that constrains him. Willis though is far better than you seem to think. Ironically, LaFleur’s system might just be ideal for him.

Willis is more accurate, will throw to anywhere on the field, shows better touch and more comfortable in the pocket than Caleb Williams. There is no way Williams does what Willis did through the air, whatever the Ravens were doing (and selling out to stop a D that ran 4 times in the first half for a net yard is a tad hard to credit). Willis is the same size and weight and considerably faster than Williams too. He’s 2 years older, no more, he’s 26. It’s nonsensical to demean him at this point given what he’s displayed. The panic claim is particularly ridiculous. He’s actually amazingly collected and doesn’t bolt as you assert.

Willis is perhaps never going to be the conventional QB Love has the potential to be, but he’s good enough as one to
Lead a team and he will always be more elusive, even in 10 years. He’s going to be good for someone. I’m now fairly convinced that, if he remains healthy, he would have a better career under LaFleur’s current O than Love will, despite Love being the better (and still ascending) QB.

So Policy has some hard choices. That doesn’t change the fact that we’ve been briefly blessed with 2 young starting caliber QBs on one team, it’s a shame we couldn’t find a way to use them together a few times. One can like both and they are very different.

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Alberta_Packer's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:16 pm

I'm now wondering if there is a trade market market for Love?

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 06:47 pm

Just like you can be Big, strong, and fast and still lack what it takes to be a starting caliber LB if you lack instinct, so it goes with QB's.

Willis has a ton of talent, I've never said otherwise. What he lacks however is a key component to being a starting QB. Someone is going to give him a shot, no doubt. It won't end well.

Talk to me in two years.
All of you can talk to me in two years.

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Since'61's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:04 pm

Oppy I agree with you that Love is a better QB than Willis and he has proven that since he has become the Packers starting QB.

As for Willis he has been a very effective backup QB for the Packers. He will probably be signed to be the starting QB for another team next season. It is only at that point that we will learn if he is in fact a quality starting QB. His sample size with the Packers is not enough to determine if he is a starting QB and certainly not enough to state that he is a better QB than Love.

We also need to remember that Willis's success as a starter will be impacted by the supporting cast he has around him with his new team.

Time will tell. Thanks, Since '61

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Oppy's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:40 am

Time will tell, 61.
However, the sample size isn't just his time filling in for Love as a Packer.

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Coldworld's picture

December 29, 2025 at 12:53 pm

Oppy, I saw this posted over at APC by chance. Given that it addresses some of the assertions made in this thread, it is well worth watching with an open mind:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xE0edEmP0_M

N.B. Linked direct to you tube as APC link wouldn’t take.

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Oppy's picture

December 29, 2025 at 01:52 pm

Well, I watched it. I don't know who best available is, but having all-22 tape is kind of a prerequisite for QB play assessment, but with that being said, this is all first read clips, with a single exception, which is the play at about 10:10-ish, where it actually looks like Willis is trying to work through the progressions before he scrambles and then finds a man to the left sideline, although it's hard to tell whether this is a designed route progression or if he's just in scramble drill and found an open man.

Also, sidenote, that's not a no-look pass. He's clearly looking at the target before and after the delivery, he just ends up turning his head momentarily while torquing his body around to make the throw.

Thanks for the link.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:55 pm

It would be interesting to see how #2 might develop in the NFL, if given the opportunity. I agree with you that so far we haven't seen him process nearly as well as JL10, although I'll counter that when Jordan had this little experience he didn't either. My point being that I'm not willing to declare that #2 "can't," only that he hasn't yet.

It's tempting to ponder the new Prez being unwilling to "run it back" possibly yielding the same results GB's gotten since '21. New HC GM and QB is the "bright shiny new toy" similar to "oh look a squirrel," without at all knowing if that might be better or worse. It would certainly be different, and right now it's easy to imagine it would at least be more fun than the last 2.5 games.

I find it unlikely that JL10 doesn't continue to improve. I don't know the entire dead cap hit giving up on him would cause, but I think the number of $99MM next season is correct?

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bassrock's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:48 pm

How many years does Love get to keep developing? 6 so far and still doesn't see the field, throws off his back foot 95% of the time and seldom puts the ball where it needs to be or is suppose to be? When Willis does those things already and hasn't had near the oppertunity in the system that Love has had. At some point someone needs to actually answer the questions as it sure seems like Love hasn't developed much the last few years.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:02 pm

You have zero idea what you're talking about. Go look up JT O'sullivan "QB School" on Youtube. Watch any/all of this Love breakdowns. Do the same for Benkert and Kurt Warner if you can find 'em.

Love isn't perfect, but what you'll learn is two things: 1) All these ex-NFL QBs have great respect for Jordan Love's game, and 2) you are a clown and don't know what you're talking about.

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LambeauPlain's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:39 am

What NFL Playoff QB right now has better statistics and a worse performing OL than Love?

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PackerBackerAZ's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:57 pm

Why you believe that Love is so much better than Willis is interesting. Just because you say he panics and is only locked in on his first receiver, doesn't mean you know what he's seeing or thinking. You're not a mind reader.

There's a reason why last night Malik Willis posted his 6th TD pass last night. Not of the night, not of the season, but of his career.

Maybe Willis made the fabled third year jump in 24 and another fourth year jump this year. Maybe his ceiling is now higher than Loves. Maybe his floor is also higher right now. Love can play at an elite level some of the time. Willis seems to play at an elite level whenever he's given the chance.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 06:58 pm

Well, you should have a field day rubbing it in my face in 2 to 3 years when Willis is cemented as a bonafide legit NFL Starting QB.
I eagerly await it. I would love it for Willis if it came to be.
I don't think it will.

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PackerBackerAZ's picture

December 29, 2025 at 12:27 pm

He might not be a viable starting quarterback in another system. However, he is performing better than Love in this system. All he does is succeed whenever called upon. Maybe Love won't be successful in another system either. We won't know that until the Packers get a different head coach and/or offensive coordinator. I do see Love making bad decisions at critical times in games. I don't see that from Willis. I know, I know....small sample size. What's the only way to get Willis a bigger sample size?

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Tekraut17's picture

December 29, 2025 at 08:08 am

Totally agree with you. These people calling for Willis to start over Love and who complain that JLis overpaid are either biased because he took over for AR or just aren't looking at the facts. Go check his grades. I'm sure the coaches see both of them every day and play the best QB...their jobs depend on it. Not to mention Willis has played a lot fewer minutes and he's hurt more often. His frame isn't made to take the punishment of playing every down.

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Oppy's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:09 am

I'm not aware of Willis' injury history outside of his injury vs. the Bears which seemed to be re-aggravated at the end of the Ravens game.

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GreenandBold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:28 pm

No doubt he is better than Love

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TarynsEyes's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:29 pm

The main doubt that Willis proved about Love, is he isn't a top 10 QB, elite, and simply not worth the contract, as I'm record of saying before they gave it to him.

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PackerBackerAZ's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:04 pm

I wanted the Packers to evaluate Love through the 2024 season to get enough data to make an offer he'd earned. Now there can never be a true competition at quarterback due to that contract. The Packers are stuck with Love and Willis might prove to be the better qb.

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Oppy's picture

December 28, 2025 at 06:59 pm

Don't worry, he won't.

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dblbogey's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:27 pm

Very convincing argument -LOL.

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navydisposaleer's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:33 pm

You question will go unanswered...unfortunately. In sports, a number one, takes the cake even if the cake is dropped face down. There are examples of this all of the time in sports...may the better man sit, while the faker takes the reigns. It almost appears that way with the Packers no. 1 drafted receiver, Golden. If, Willis could have won the game by 20 points and he would still be released...as usual.

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dblbogey's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:24 pm

LOL.

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WD's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:48 am

I love and respect Jordan Love. However, after watching some of the top QB s in the league the past season I can honestly say that Malik Willis is the best QB i have seen... EVER! . The leagues top teams like the Bears, 49's Bills Broncos, Ravens etc have unstoppable offenses because of their mobile QB .
The game has changed over the years. Detroit has a great offense but because their QB lacks mobility they can be mediocre at best. I believe the same applies to the Packers. If the Packers let Willis get away they will regret it for a long time. I don't know how they do it but it sounds like a great problem to have.They must find a way to keep and start Willis. Surly they can find a way to trade Love. Unfortunately you can't afford to keep two great QB s.

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WestCoastPackerBacker's picture

December 29, 2025 at 12:16 pm

Matt Stafford anyone???

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LLCHESTY's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:24 am

"and a stacked draft class picked over unexpectedly quickly"

False. Deone Walker and others were available when they took Williams in the 3rd. Walker is top 10 among DTs in TFLs and has been productive vs the pass for a NT. Saying DTs weren't available is a copout.

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gsd3's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:35 am

Very true.
This team is decimated. It may help to salvage the season, may not. I would like to see them sign Cam Horsley off the Titans practice squad. Sign Stephon Gilmore and Kendall Fuller to the active roster. Both on the downside, but are experienced and can function in zone coverage.
Last gasp....I know.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:59 pm

Farley: for the love of God, DO SOMETHING and win a game!!

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Celise...'s picture

December 28, 2025 at 09:38 pm

i would like to see a new strength and conditioning coach so we wouldn't get so tired in the 4th quarter we can't stop a team from easily going down the field and scoring.

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jannes bjornson's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:35 pm

Belton, or Tate Ratledge as a guard? Williams made zero sense over a guy like Xavier Watts an All-American from Notre Dame, or Chimere Dike, another guy who was playing in their backyard for Badger and getting exposure at Florida.

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splitpea1's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:58 pm

All they had to do was make sure they got a solid prospect...like instead of staying put and taking S.Williams at 87, move up at least one spot to take Jamaree Caldwell. Oregon might have been worth another try after their success with Evan Williams.

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Coldworld's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:14 pm

Yes!!!! There were some very juicy DTs still on the board.
That doesn’t even consider CB options either.

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greengold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:09 pm

Thank you, LL.

Deone Walker was the #1 player that I wanted Gutekunst to select. Unbelievable how he let the Packers NT position ride without a legit, competent PAIR of NTs since BJ Raji and Howard Brown... Ted's near ending. What in the Wide World of Sports did Brian Gutekunst NOT LEARN vs. SF in the playoff loss where they ran it down our throats at will???

Get it together, Gutekunst. FFS. His ignoring the position has kept us unable to compete. Seriously. Wyatt? He's a freaking 3T, and a damn good one who can play the 1T at times. Not the same as having a legit baller of a NT. Our history since Raji attests to that.

Must have 2 good-great NTs to work in a rotation. Kenny Clark had his best years at NT, taking 70+ snaps per game, and not one player who could rotate with him. Slaton comes in, and they move Clark to 3T...

Ugh.

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BELIEVER's picture

December 28, 2025 at 05:41 pm

Savion Williams has done nothing at all. How could he be a third round pick, what a waste.

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Starrbrite's picture

December 29, 2025 at 06:31 pm

Right-a 3rd rndr should have more impact. I find myself asking the same about Golden.

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Coldworld's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:37 am

This team is at a cross roads. We’ve got no cap, no IDL, a fatally flawed CB room and no starting level DE other than Parsons. We are mentally soft and physically subservient on a regular basis.

We make poor choices about who to play and we seem to have a coach who’s offense needs the type of QB we are about to see hit free agency while we have a QB that would be better in a different offense.

This team is a mass of contradictions that will not allow success until resolved. Perhaps that’s management by committee, but perhaps it’s just the wrong management or both. We are being manhandled and our Achilles heels are being exposed. In a year of urgency, the draft yielded a potential long term RG though long delayed by coaching obstinacy and a guy who appears to be a duplicate of Reed in the first. After that, it’s probably our 6th rounder who has helped at all.

The first 4 rounds yielded belated help at RG in year where urgency was proclaimed and we at great cost brought in a great player at the cost of creating a very real cap window to succeed on what has now been showed to be a flawed roster on a poorly directed team. Compounding that is the reality that Van Ness still poses no real threat, Gary looks spent. Walker is just OK and Cooper has regressed. None of our high picks are worth retaining, with the possible exception of Walker. Gary and He kin’s probably played their way off the team.

In short, the current regime has driven itself into a corner and exposed its misconceptions and contradictions. Change is now imperative or we go backwards. The current regime has no direction or coherence and it’s run out of road and credibility. We are in the playoffs only because others were exposed a little earlier.

I sincerely hope that Policy has had a contingent search for a GM and HC underway and that the new GM can use that to endure the optimal HC. The entire offensive staff need to go. Nobody is progressing. Hafley should be considered by the search, but his gleam has dimmed somewhat recently. A candidate yes, but a shoe-in no.

Next week play no one with an injury we aren’t forced to. Get as healthy as possible for the post season. I don’t expect much but I do want both the chance to put out visibly sub par players removed and the excuse of health minimized. In the mean time get on with the search and accept that we are a playoff team solely due to the incapability of others nothing more and that, while injuries hurt, none of them really address our profound weaknesses at corner, IDL, DE. Lead blocker could be added. The Ravens showed us how even a great RB can be elevated by a true lead blocking specialist.

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Packerpasty's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:50 am

the Packers are in the playoffs only because for some reason the NFL expanded to 7 seeds in 2020/21...if not for that they would be toast for this year...again...sort of embarrassing...

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jannes bjornson's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:41 pm

Walker can be replaced. Not a big play guy.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:04 pm

Quay or Rasheed?

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Coldworld's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:17 pm

Quay was abysmal yesterday, against the run and in coverage. There’s no way we should extend him.

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Alberta_Packer's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:49 pm

A fine synopsis. Policy has a lot of homework to do this off-season - if done properly. Leadership should challenge the status quo - not accept it. I am interested to see if Policy establishes himself as a leader or as a manager. Being that a manager usually accepts the status quo.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:05 pm

I'd be very very surprised if Policy ever rocks the boat :/

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Coldworld's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:22 pm

Just let it settle sedately on the lake bed? Then he was another desperately unwise choice by Mark Murphy.

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Alberta_Packer's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:34 pm

I'm rooting for the ripple effect caused by a rocking boat.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:01 pm

Question for those who endured the 70s and 80s as Packer fans: (I grew up watching Broadway Joe Namath)

was last night as embarrassing a showing as you've ever seen from GB?

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MytQ's picture

December 28, 2025 at 04:58 pm

Not even close. Bears 61 GB 7. Nuff said.

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LLCHESTY's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:30 pm

💯That Bears loss that kept them out of the playoffs and got Starr fired was pretty bad too. Not so much on the scoreboard but in how that game ended. Starr definitely went out with a whimper not a bang.

In case the memories are fuzzy or you're too young:
"Entering their final regular season game on December 18 at Chicago, the Packers (8–7) could secure a playoff berth with a victory. Green Bay scored a touchdown to take a one-point lead with just over three minutes in the game, and Chicago running back Walter Payton was sidelined with a wrist injury. The Bears returned the kickoff to their 38 and drove fifty yards, down to the Packer twelve, with 1:17 remaining. Although Green Bay had all three of its timeouts, they opted not to use any, and the Bears kicked a winning 22-yard field goal with ten seconds on the clock. Green Bay fumbled away the ensuing kickoff, and the Los Angeles Rams (9–7) gained the final playoff slot."

Final regular season game on December 18th??🤔

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Starrbrite's picture

December 29, 2025 at 06:39 pm

The most embarrassing loss in my lifetime was the 61-7 drubbing the bears laid on the packers. I was also embarrassed when Kaepernick ran over us like he was Jim Brown.
The most devastating loss imo—Broncos SB.

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Grandfathered's picture

December 29, 2025 at 08:12 pm

Charles Martin body slamming a player (Vikings?) or maybe that player eating a hotdog on the bench. An embarrasing lack of discipline for several years in the late 70s and throughout the 80s

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Stik75's picture

December 28, 2025 at 11:42 am

Same old mantra. Every single season:
Blame the fans.
Blame injuries.
Blame Refs.
Blame bad luck.
Blame too young.
Blame, blame and blame some more.
Accountability is coming.
Much to the chagrin of ALL the pundit and fan Appoligists for Packer failure.
And worse that no one in the Packers organization does anything wrong. Ever.
0-4 to end 2024.
0-5 to end 2025. All to possible.
Yet retain the principals involved???
What are we looking for here???
0-6 to end 2026.
Hey that has a nice ring.

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WD's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:55 am

Excuse me. We did just make the playoffs. Moreover, we have now confirmed that we also have (arguably in Willis) the best QB of all time! This without a running game or much of an offensive line.due to injuries. If we get healthy and keep Willis we have a dynasty for many years to come.

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LLCHESTY's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:23 pm

There's been a few beat writers tweeting about Gary's effort but the one that pointed out he was locked by a WR on one of Henry's TD runs is the most telling. Before last night's game I thought they'd bring him back for his effort vs the run and his leadership, even though it looks like his skills are declining fast, but one of your highest paid players showing questionable effort could turn cancerous quickly. He most likely played his last game as a Packer.

The WR is under 200 lbs BTW.

https://x.com/i/status/2005308585014964598

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GreenandBold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:55 pm

That says a lot about Gary . When you don’t want to tackle a 250 pound freight train you stay blocked by WRs. The entire defense last night wanted nothing to do with Henry . So you slip at the right time or throw an arm out while you dive to the turf rather than man up and make a real effort to bring him down . Saw it all night long . In fact you see it all season . We need football players on defense not high draft picks with great combine numbers drafted on potential . Give somebody who loves football and everything that comes with it .

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Alberta_Packer's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:06 pm

The optics were not kind to Gary and company. The only player I saw who did not shy away from contact was Edgerin Cooper.

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:10 pm

LVN made some solo stops on King Henry. Bull stuck his helmet in there.

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Alberta_Packer's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:00 pm

I intermittently watched the game due to the low entertainment value - other than the Willis Show. So pleased to read that LVN and Bullard also came to play.

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vin0770's picture

December 28, 2025 at 04:14 pm

Making business decisions avoiding Henry 😢

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:08 pm

Is it possible that 52 is fighting an injury we don't know about, like Kenny Clarke was last season?

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Coldworld's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:20 pm

If it’s not, then he’s declined drastically at a very young age.

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greengold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:15 pm

Agreed. I would have cut Gary LAST week. Talk is cheap, and he's all talk...

Also, the cancerous aspect upon the rest of the team you mentioned, allowing a player to openly half ass his performances endlessly without accountability cannot be overstated. I'm wondering how that has been rubbing off on some other players who have been sliding down, like Karl Brooks...

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ArlenWilliams's picture

December 29, 2025 at 02:37 am

When things go this way one wonders about an injury kept quiet.

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splitpea1's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:40 pm

"It's just not Green Bay's year..." It never seems to be with the tandem of MLF and Gute, does it, so I don't know why the author is still trying to excuse them. Sure, we've had bad luck with injuries, but so do a lot of teams--and they manage to put on a better performance at home than last night with something still to play for.

"But the truth is..." The truth is that this is Gute's team, and as far as his defensive vision goes, he has learned little since 2019 when we were steamrollered twice by the 49ers in embarrassing fashion. We were doubled up in TOP against the Ravens. You earn the right to rush the passer when you stop the run, but in Gute's world it seems to be the other way around. Then he tried to cover his tracks with Gary pick/signing and the Van Ness pick with The Big Trade, but when Parsons went down, the tracks became quite visible again. In essence, the Packers haven't had a sack in three games now (the one that was credited to Walker last night is likely to be reversed according to A. Herman).

Without better talent evaluation/priorities and allocation of resources on both sides of the trenches, the ceiling for this team is probably always going to be a low playoff seed. Injuries happen, but if your depth consists of low Day 3 picks, UDFAs, and practice squad signings on the DL, then it's going to be tough to compete against smashmouth-type offenses.

Sure some of the roster is going to be back. But minus Wyatt, how much of this DL do you want back? And Quay Walker? He made a lot of tackles, but received a, LOL, stellar 33.3 PFF grade for his work in last night's game. We'll be moving on here...

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:11 pm

You have GM confused with coaches. Drafting (or otherwise acquiring) is distinct from developing, evaluating, creating personnel packages, and play calling to use certain individuals.

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Celise...'s picture

December 28, 2025 at 10:01 pm

agree with you 100%. doesn't matter who you draft if you don't have coaches to teach and schemes to maximize there skill sets. you can't make them play to your schemes and play well if that's not within their abilities.

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Major Snafu's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:18 pm

Your are correct. What we should take notice, the Vikes picked up two quality free agent pass rushers last year. When they lose a pass rusher to injury, they have four others who are talented to rely on. Van Winkle was there for the picking and they grabbed him even though they didn't need another pass rusher.
We got Parsons and gave our future away for him..

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LLCHESTY's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:37 pm

You can change your name all you want, the Viking stink follows you.

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Oppy's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:14 am

I agree, we should follow the formula of the team that is last in the division if we want to be on top.

It's kind of fun thinking about how despite their differences, every year at the christmas party Bears, Lions, and Packers fans get together at the eggnog table and laugh at the Vikings fans for being such ignorant schlupps.

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Oppy's picture

December 29, 2025 at 01:55 pm

Thumbs down? Hater, or purple pansy?

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Starrbrite's picture

December 29, 2025 at 06:58 pm

I believe Parsons will improve our future.

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Starrbrite's picture

December 29, 2025 at 06:57 pm

Quay reminds me somewhat of Blake Martinez—impressive tackling stats that don’t explain the entire story.

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GreenandBold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 12:54 pm

This game was unacceptable . It is time to clean house from the top down . If Policy does not fire Gute and MLF then I question this organizations desire to win Super Bowls .

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:13 pm

FIRE EVERYBODY!! (All the worst teams in the league that do that habitually can't be wrong)

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GreenandBold's picture

December 28, 2025 at 05:35 pm

You’re always hired to get fired eventually . And when it is obvious the GM and HC have run the team into the ground you have to make a change . Otherwise the downward spiral only gets worse and takes longer to turn around . MLF and Gute have had ample time to win a Super Bowl and the chances with these two get slimmer every year . Give them new contracts you must be kidding .

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bleedgreen's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:30 pm

7 or 8 years is long enough to to learn what you have in the way of management and coaching. This team is not going to get us where we want to be. Its obvious now.

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CheesePuff's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:52 pm

I would submit that as long as the Packers qualify for the playoffs, the Packers management is not going to rock the boat. As a publicly owned franchise maintained by a board with fiduciary responsibilities, I doubt they want to roll the dice on a new GM and coach when the current ones have gotten them to the playoffs more often than not. The Packers are a playoff team, not a super bowl contender.

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Packerpasty's picture

December 28, 2025 at 04:03 pm

yup and Titletown area is a constant success, always something going on, dont rock the boat, Packers making money hand over fist...

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Since'75's picture

December 28, 2025 at 06:52 pm

Well, reading cheesepuff and pasty's take on the Packers....

I can't help but be reminded of the Packers business model of the 70's and 80's.

We're making money, everything's fine, don't rock the boat.

Lets not go there ....again.

Maybe Randy Wright can be our next (gulp)...Head coach.

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Alberta_Packer's picture

December 28, 2025 at 01:58 pm

Stress and pressure will ultimately determine how well something or someone will perform. As we are seeing - the GBP are flagging in the final stretch of the season - to be limping into the playoffs - which suggests an earlier end. If so - we could attribute this disappointment to bad luck, injuries and other misfortunes. Or we can study and evaluate whether the structure (team) has been suitably designed and built to endure the pressures and stresses of a long season and playoff run. My opinion is that we are mostly looking at an engineering problem with this team. Therefore it never was going to be the Packers "Year."

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bjb2012sime's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:00 pm

Savion Williams reminds me of the Deguara pick, an over drafted gadget pick without a clear cut role. The selection is even more of a head scratcher now that we've seen his entire repertoire of bubble screens and end arounds for 2-3 yard gains.
Gutey must go- can't draft elite RAS guys if the coaching staff can't bring out the potential; with current staff need to pick players who are football players foremost.

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Oppy's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:24 am

Deguara was picked to play the H-back position in MLF's offense, the problem was that Aaron Rodgers refused to run MLF's offense.. and at that time, Rodgers had the ear of the CEO/President, Mark Murphy, who had inserted himself as the hub in the decision-maker wheel.

Blame who you want on that one, but it's hard for me to blame the GM for drafting the type of player that would fill a position the HC says he needs for his offense, but ultimately doesn't get to actually implement because the diva QB who is manipulating the CEO/President doesn't want to run it.

All that being said.. Savion Williams was a development/gamble pick any way you slice it. Intriguing but far from a finished product. He's also a rookie on a team that historically makes rookies wait before getting much real opportunity.. but I agree, he hasn't shown up as a player of interest so far.

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THESZOTMAN1's picture

December 28, 2025 at 02:30 pm

I got 1 takeaway:
Forget this game.
Just try to steal one in Minnesota to get some momentum for 1st playoff game.
At least let's I've ourselves a CHANCE to win.
The Szotman

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Major Snafu's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:13 pm

The Vikes are way too good. Had they had a settled QB, they would be first in NFC north , bears second pack third and missing playoffs.
Defense wins games by giving the offense the ball often. Pack d can't get off the field.

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LLCHESTY's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:40 pm

"The Vikes are way too good."

🤣🤣🤣

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SicSemperTyrannis's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:46 pm

I say the opposite, use this next game like a preseason game; rest all your starters or play them just enough to not get rusty, and develop depth. Prioritize winning the wildcard round.

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Since'75's picture

December 28, 2025 at 06:57 pm

Sic is right, there is no upside to try and win this game.

Treat it like a bye for important players, i think we lost enough players already.

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Major Snafu's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:02 pm

Hey Oldfart, Gary never was good but he wise enough to jump on a pile and get credited for a tackle. Hey as an M fan I watched the supposedly savior have a so so career.
He was a fraud. Missed the big games against the tough teams but lit it up against Rutgers and Maryland..
I prayed we would not draft this dork.
Pre draft analyst said " he lacks upper body strength to be effective against the bigger stronger linemen he will face in the NFL" Analyst had him a mid second or early third rounder, a pick to be a decent backup..
Gutt said he made his decision on Gary in Feb before the combine. That's when I lost any respect for Gutts ability to pick talent in the draft. I was correct.. Stokes? Love? Golden? Lloyd?
In addition our players didn't ," lose concentration" they just aren't very good tacklers and can't cover worth a shit

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Snap the ball's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:28 pm

Willis is better than Love at this point in the season.

5-3 at home. Not good enough

Vikings are within 1 game of us. With 3 different QBs

5-3 at home is the difference

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canadapacker's picture

December 28, 2025 at 03:40 pm

Come on people get a life. I wonder what the Lions ( ie Superbowl or bust this year) are writing. We have had some bad luck with the injuries - we have had some bad performances by some players and some of that - Stenavich and his crew - and some bad special teams - Rich and crew. Time to fix some things and some needs to be done by changing who is training these guys.

Now we are still in the dance and we are not part of the 18 teams who are not. That is goal one at the start of the season. And the thing is that we had 23rd hardest strength of schedule - which one can argue about what it means.

We do need change - we should hope that we do not lose our DC. Our team went from a team that couldnt tackle and had used to always give up a whole bunch of YAK. To a team that is know for not doing that ( except last night). But we need to spend what we need to spend on the Dline given what we lost both during the year and with the trade. We also need to do something with our Oline - we either cant block for the running play or we take too many penalties - and maybe Jacobs didnt do enough in the offseason - he is notable to have a good year then a bad year dating back to his time with the Raiders.

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Starrbrite's picture

December 28, 2025 at 04:19 pm

When we hammered the Lions on opening day, I could hardly contain myself. The way the defense rallied to the ball had me dreaming of a SB. Instead, we lose a few we were favored to win. Then we lose my favorite player-Kraft. Then in Denver, four players hurt in the 3rd quarter—Parsons for the year. So disheartening.
But that said, I’m supremely confident we beat the Bears in the playoffs…after that… not much conviction.
Go Packers!!!

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Swisch's picture

December 28, 2025 at 06:00 pm

Starrbrite, if we beat the 2-seed in the playoffs, we become the 2-seed (at least as far as matchups). Plus, the Packers can beat any team in the NFL.
Remember a few seasons ago when the wild-card 49ers beat the top-seeded Packers in the playoffs and went on to play in the Super Bowl.
I don't think the key word is confidence or conviction, but commitment.
In other words, play it through to the end with all that we've got, and see how far we can go.
Then, in any case, no regrets.
The fans can help by not giving up on the players and coaches.

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Lare's picture

December 28, 2025 at 04:30 pm

The point is, the Packers are not a legitimate Super Bowl contender any more. Sure, they can be somewhat competitive, but the point is that they just aren't good enough to be good enough.

Keep Gutekunst and MLF, they'll certainly give you hope of being decent every year. But if you want to be good, you'll need to do better.

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Since'75's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:03 pm

".....but the point is that they just aren't good enough to be good enough." - Lare

That's a pretty damn good line right there, wish i came up with it.

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Swisch's picture

December 28, 2025 at 05:36 pm

As I remember it, things didn't look so good in 2010 when the Packers eked into the playoffs as the last team in.
This idea of writing off the season already seems silly and sad. Also, it's darnright un-American.
With all of the adversity going into the game last night, and all of the mistakes during the game, the Packers were only a field goal behind at the end of the third quarter, and still fighting with a reasonable opportunity to win well into the fourth quarter.
We lost to two teams on a roll on the road, in the Broncos and Bears, and then took on an underachieving team fighting for their playoff lives in the Ravens. Not the end of the world, nor the end of the season.
To paraphrase a rallying cry from about 250 years ago, the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in these times of crisis shrink from their duty, while those who stay in the fight deserve the admiration and gratitude of their countrymen. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.
If a ragtag group of soldiers for an expansion-team country, freezing in the snow of Valley Forge, and risking their very lives, could come back from a dismal situation to win the American Revolution, shouldn't the Packers (and their fans) stand defiant against the odds and push ahead with maximum effort and steely determination.
(Pardon me if my history is off somewhat, and kindly corrections are welcome.)
The Packers have two weeks to clean up the penalties and other stupid mistakes, at which point they can beat any team in the NFL.
Let's get some grit!

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Swisch's picture

December 28, 2025 at 06:04 pm

I'm going to take downvotes by squeamish and squishy Packers fans as upvotes. So make my day, downvote away, all ye sayers of nay, apart from the fray.

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Since'75's picture

December 28, 2025 at 07:18 pm

Well then!!!

You shouldn't have any downvotes.
Matter of fact, you should have about 50 up votes.

Anyone who can equate Valley Forge with today's Packer team, has my vote and respect as a Packer fan.

Well done Swisch.

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Swisch's picture

December 29, 2025 at 12:01 am

Thank you kindly, Since'75,
I've been a Packers' fan since '72 at the age of ten, about which time I lived near and had the honor of visiting Valley Forge. It still stays with me.

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MitchAnthony's picture

December 28, 2025 at 10:34 pm

"The Packers have two weeks to clean up the penalties and other stupid mistakes, at which point they can beat any team in the NFL."

Two weeks? Two weeks? Would these be the same penalties and stupid mistakes we've been waiting all season for them to clean up?

Appreciate that optimism.

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Swisch's picture

December 29, 2025 at 12:05 am

It does seem rather late in the season, but I do like to think we can always improve -- no matter how many stupid mistakes I've made in my life of 60-plus years.

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Snap the ball's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:08 pm

I heard the nfl may go to 9 teams for the playoffs next year.

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Dragon5's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:32 pm

Mark: 🙄

Saints may only have 6 wins but show more heart
Giants could have secured the #1 pick vs Raiders, but repped instead.
49ers devastated by injuries all year yet crushing it.

Article titles like this embalm this franchise's current loser mentality.

Please stop.

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Packerpasty's picture

December 28, 2025 at 09:22 pm

Crushing it?? Tied up in 3rd quarter…

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Packerpasty's picture

December 28, 2025 at 08:32 pm

So now I’m reading that the Packers are named “ kings of the Seventh Seed”….no respect!!

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ArlenWilliams's picture

December 29, 2025 at 02:40 am

I think Gutekunst is going to be a busy man over the offseason and we all may have surprises coming. Also, that Ed Policy is going to keep the lid on the pressure cooker, by keeping both Gutey and LaFleur.

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Tekraut17's picture

December 29, 2025 at 08:16 am

So IF we could have handled a simple on-side kick would we even be having this discussion? We played the Raven's with a skeleton crew of back-ups in a game that arguably didn't mean much. Yah the division was still on the line but face it our injury situation is beyond the norm. It's one thing to have injuries but we've had them at our most important positions and best players. Sometimes it's just not your year...

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Packerpasty's picture

December 29, 2025 at 11:59 am

niners have more than a few very important players missing last night they had no problem moving the ball...had a problem stopping the Bears but not moving the ball..

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canadapacker's picture

December 29, 2025 at 08:37 am

There are some people who are really Debbie Downers and want to become Jets fans I believe. Fire this guy - why did he draft that guy - why didnt he resign this guy. Armchair quarterbacks are a dime a dozen. I am a Packer fan and I can complain once and a while about why did we not get a different DC under McCarthy when AR was at his prime. Why did TT always let guys go too soon as his mantra was it was better to let a guy walk one year too soon than one year too late ( which works as long as you pick up a better replacement - both in the near and long term - and he didnt). But in the final analysis - I am more of a ANY GIVEN SUNDAY. Last nights game was one of those - neither team played good defense. The 49rs without Warner were exposed. The Bears were the Bears. Last night Da Bears didnt win at the last minute - close but no cigar. Last night the 49rs didnt lose the game to Da Bears - like we did by ( apparently 4.7% of onside kicks succeed - ie 1 out of 21 - and it was Green Bay). So when talking heads talk about how great teams are by winning close games or one score games - that can just as easily change from year to year.
As far as coaching staff and GM - seeing that this is kind of a transition time with Murphy gone - I would like to see how he handles the staff situation. We need to be looking closely - at our scouts. Are we ranking the incoming players by the correct metrics. We now seem to be picking those willing to stick their noses in it and tackle - and for years we were a bad tackling team. We definitely need to look at our Oline coaches - why cant they get these guys ready to play - we need to see what is the matter with te ST - and maybe - I would say probably we need an influx of a different mentality there. Finally I would like to see us ( probably not due to both the number of and the number of key guys out for the season) put up a fight and maybe surprise bet 360 prognosticators.

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BuckyBadger's picture

December 29, 2025 at 09:45 am

All this talk like the team can't rebound next year is just defeatist talk. It was a year ravaged by injury but the upside is the team is still just entering its prime and can make a long run for more than a couple of years. This isn't like Detroit where they window is closing and probably should think about blowing it all up. The Packers are still on the young side and will come back next year better in almost every area. Injuries took away a chance this year but this roster isn't built to just win for one year.

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