Five Keys to the Packers Becoming True Contenders In 2025
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers won 11 games last season, a two-game increase over 2023. However, the Packers failed to win a playoff game last season after winning one the previous year, which left a sense of disappointment in the air. The Packers are a young and talented team, but can they take the next step forward and become more than just a playoff team? Here are five keys to success for the 2025 Green Bay Packers with training camp less than a week away:
Number One: Jordan Love Stays Healthy and Shows Progress
Jordan Love was injured during the final series of the Packers season opener against the Eagles in Brazil last season. He missed two games and parts of two others with assorted injuries and never seemed truly healthy during the season.
Love played through the injuries and still managed to have a slightly better season statistically than he had the previous year. Still, he did not play as well as he did in the final eight games of the 2023 season when he appeared to be one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
To take that next step, Love needs to improve his accuracy and footwork and become a more vocal leader.
Keeping Love healthy and seeing him grow as a player and as a leader would go a long way towards helping the Packers become an elite team. If Love becomes an elite quarterback, the talent the Packers have on their roster gives them a realistic chance to beat any team in any game.
Number Two: No Major Regression from Last Year’s Free Agents
GM Brian Gutekunst signed two big-ticket free agents last offseason in running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. Both had outstanding first seasons in Green Bay. McKinney had his first career All Pro season after intercepting eight passes. Jacobs rushed for more than 1,300 yards and became the focal point of the Green Bay offense.
While neither player may match their 2024 level of play, not taking too big a slide in 2025 will be more than sufficient. McKinney and Jacobs don’t have to be as good statistically as they were last year, but they do need to remain impact players this season for the Packers to take another step forward.
Number Three: The Defense Adds Playmakers
The Packers defense will need at least a couple of players to step up and become playmakers this season alongside McKinney. The leading candidate seems to be linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who showed a lot of promise as a rookie last year.
Other leading candidates include Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Keisean Nixon.
Regardless of who steps up, the Packers need some impact players on defense to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The 1996 Packers had Reggie White and LeRoy Butler leading the way. In 2010, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson were the key players. We’ll see if the 2025 team finds some stars on defense to set the tone for the defense.
Number Four: Reduce Drops
The Packers offense had one of the highest drop percentages in the NFL last season. Most of the team’s top receivers had issues with drops last season including Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs.
The drops hurt the team’s offensive consistency and their ability to keep drives alive.
The addition of Matthew Golden and just a return to average drops would go a long way to making an already effective Green Bay offense even more dangerous.
Number Five: The Secondary Must Remain Solid Without Jaire Alexander
The Packers released Jaire Alexander after he missed 20 of the team’s last 34 games in the past two seasons. The team currently lacks a proven shut down cornerback. Depth at the position is also a concern. Behind Keisean Nixon, newcomer Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine, the team lacks experienced players they can count on to play corner.
When the Packers face elite wideouts like Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown twice a year in their division, having a solid group of cornerbacks is vital.
The Packers also need to figure out who the starting safety is opposite McKinney. At least one of their two second-year safeties needs to step up and become a reliable starter. Will Evan Williams or Javon Bullard make a second-year jump to solidify the safety position? If they do, the secondary again improves over 2024.
These are five keys for the Packers to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders this season. There are other factors, of course, but if the Packers get positive answers to most of these questions, they could be very dangerous in January.
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Comments (44)
Leatherhead
July 19, 2025 at 11:06 am
1) Score points. Score points early. Score points often. Score points on the road. Score points against good teams. Every year, you look at the top scoring teams, and they're in the playoffs (last year, 10 out of the Top 10 made the playoffs) The teams that can score in the playoffs advance,and the ones that can't, don't. (It takes at least 24 points to win most playoff games).
2). That means not wasting possessions. Turnovers, dropped passes, major penalties....all of these are examples of stopping yourselves. This offense has enough talent that if they don't stop themselves, they should score on half their possessions.
3) Protect the homefield. Last year, we lost to Bears, Lions, and Vikings on our homefield. The Bears loss didn't really change things. We lost a close game to Detroit where we hurt ourselves badly with a turnover, and Minnesota came out while our defense was still in the locker room. Had we taken care of business against Detroit and Minnesota, we'd have finished 13-4, and Minnesota would have been 13-4, and Detroit would have been 14-3.
4) Use the depth. Rest your key dogs early in the season, let the other guys try to carry the load, and that way you've got fresh people when the stretch run starts.
5) The Packers need to remember that they can lean on Jacobs; we don't have to throw 35-40 passes to be successful.
Bearmeat
July 19, 2025 at 02:33 pm
Mostly really good points LH
But I disagree with your fifth point. We ran too much last year. And I understand why with Love‘s injury but the offense was less explosive than it otherwise should have been. We need to pass more in neutral game script and Love has to take that leap to elite. Which you and I both think he will!
Leatherhead
July 19, 2025 at 03:19 pm
We had the second fewest pass attempts in the league last year; Philadelphia had the fewest.
Bitternotsour
July 19, 2025 at 04:19 pm
funny how that worked out for Philly.
Bearmeat
July 19, 2025 at 04:31 pm
Yeah. And it took, literally, an all decade performance from the OL and RB, as well as a defense that was unassailable the last two months of the season. Plus, almost no injuries on either of the ball for them to do it. Look at the past 20 years of Super Bowl participants. Most were elite at passing the ball.
Bitternotsour
July 20, 2025 at 09:19 am
and yet, it was successful. there are lots of ways to skin a cat.
LLCHESTY
July 20, 2025 at 12:44 pm
No worries, in the 5 games Love was fully healthy they were top 10 in the league in passing percentage. As long as he's healthy they will pass more this year.
As I've said before I'd like to see about 5 more pass attempts a game. Detroit had 534 rushing attempts and 551 pass attempts compared to the Packers 526 and 479 respectively. But the Lions were much better at converting 3rd aand short and went for it a lot more on 4th and short. There's video of Campbell getting his team fired up before facing the Packers by saying they were going for it on every F'in 4th down and it worked for them.
LLCHESTY
July 20, 2025 at 08:26 pm
3rd fewest, the Ravens had less than the Packers.
Leatherhead
July 21, 2025 at 08:32 am
I love having a person who uses their wit to pick nits. Whether the Packers were 2nd or 3rd doesn't change the point....which you don't seem to get.
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Green Bay, Steelers, Chargers. Colts, Bills, Commies.
These teams threw the least passes in the league last year. 7 of them made the playoffs. The Colts didn't make it and they finished 8-9.
Here's the point: Good teams don't have to throw the ball very much.
Browns, Bengals, Cowboys,Raiders, Jets, Chiefs, Seahawks,Dolphins. They threw the ball a lot. Burrows and Mahomes are two top QBs, but the rest of these teams aren't that good.
Packerpasty
July 22, 2025 at 10:05 am
Yup, get that running game going and start winning at Lambeau...I dont think its in MLF's nature to not throw the ball a lot, he has to use the other weapons like the RB's and TE's...and once again WIN AT HOME!!
LLCHESTY
July 19, 2025 at 11:15 am
When I saw the headline the 1st thing I thought was the passing game being more consistent but then I thought about either Bullard or Williams becoming a top notch player so nice to see them mentioned. Adding another top player(or two🤞) to the inside could really lock down the middle of the field. Completions to the outside usually result in bigger plays but are also lower percentage throws, if QBs are constantly forced to look outside it's also easier to give the CBs help.
If I had to guess which one steps up I'd lean Williams but wouldn't be surprised if Bullard plays well also. Williams is a student of the game which is almost a necessity at safety. Meanwhile Bullard took his lumps last year but they put a lot on his plate which could pay off this year with his ability to play multiple spots. When they signed McKinney one of the impressive things that was talked about was him being equally good at FS and SS. I'd like to see him used a little more at SS in passing situations, if Bullard can handle the deep responsibilities it would allow them to rotate Bullard and McKinney pretty freely and cause confusion with QBs and allow Bullard to see ball, get ball. Hafley has talked about this repeatedly. In 2022 Bullard played 624 snaps at Georgia and 510 of them came in the slot. In 2023 he played 596 snaps and 362 of them were at FS. So the ability is there if his overall understanding of his assignments has improved.
Oppy
July 19, 2025 at 11:29 am
Expectations for Bullard concerns me.
I think most fans put a lot of faith in Bullard because of his draft status, his pedigree, and what the expectations of his strengths would be based on pre and post-draft reports.
He is only a first year player and his window to grow and develop is still in its infancy, but I only saw a decent player on the field in 2024. I don't think Bullard's play in the slot was very notable.
Let me make it clear, I don't think he was in any way 'bad', and he may certainly become a plus player for the Packers this year or over the next two years.. but Packers fans seem to be overstating his 2024 performance in my opinion.
Evan Williams showed much more upside in 2024 in my opinion. They're young, anything could happen with their development and careers. I've just seen/felt this kind of emotional attachment to young Packers players before where fans' perception of the play on the field did not really match the reality, and I feel like that might be happening with Bullard at this point in time.
Leatherhead
July 19, 2025 at 11:43 am
He was a ''decent'' player.....on a very good defense.
He was 3rd in snaps, with about 800, behind Nixon and McKinney.
He got in on more tackles than anybody except Walker and McDuffie.
He's a core player in this above-average group. I don't think that's overstating, You want him on the field.
Williams......is also a guy you want on the field. When he's on the field as a FS, it allow McKinney and Bullard , as SS and Nickel, to play more aggressively because they know he's back there. He's smart.
Nixon-Valentine-McKinney-Williams-Bullard. That's what I'd like to see as our starting secondary.
TKWorldWide
July 19, 2025 at 01:30 pm
You want him on the field.
You NEED him on the field!
Oppy
July 19, 2025 at 01:31 pm
Let me remind you that you thought the exact same of Josh Meyers: He was obviously a good starter because he was starting in a group that was above average.
Let me also remind you that Josh Meyers is probably looking at fighting for a back up job on his new team. You frequently confuse "good player" with "the best player we have on the roster."
Nobody should 'want' Nixon to be a starting CB on their team. Valentine has promise but is no better than average at this point in his career. Bullard was somewhat of a liability in the slot and, IMO, at this point in his career should only be on the field when we're trying to beef up run support. As I have stated, I think it's possible he might not end up being the player the Packers hoped he'd become. Time will tell.
Williams looks to be a baller, though. He might end up being great. I like Oladapo for long term development.
By the way, you neglected to mention Hobbs, who became the best CB on the roster the moment that Alexander was gone. If you want to see Nixon/Valentine/Bullard on the field before Hobbs, I have to seriously question your ability to gauge DB talent.
Bearmeat
July 20, 2025 at 07:24 am
I don’t agree with you about Nixon. He played well at outside CB last year. Not all pro. But well. And his deal for an outside CB is a steal. With Love’s money coming due soon, and expected deals for Tom and Walker, we will need that money. K is a good player. Not a great one. But a useful one.
jannesbjornson
July 20, 2025 at 09:13 am
No CBs taken in the first three rounds of the past couple drafts when they knew Alexander's days were over.
Hobbs is a bandaid.
Oppy
July 20, 2025 at 09:36 am
In my opinion, Nixon should be no better than a depth CB, not a guy you hang your hat on as a starter.
I was of the belief the Packers needed to improve at CB before the draft, and that was while I was projecting 2025 to feature a (hopefully) healthy Alexander.
We've got who we've got for 2025. CB is our weakest position group heading into this season. It's the only position group where I can say I don't think we have a player who would be considered at or above the top half of the league's starters from a talent perspective. Is this a "good enough" group to get by? I hope so, and that will be on the strength of Hafley's excellent DB coaching and scheme.. but make no mistake, the Packers need to improve the talent pool at CB.
LLCHESTY
July 20, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Like I said above if Bullard and/or Williams take a big step i think they'll be one of the top middle of the field defenses and forcing teams to throw intermediate and deep passes outside the numbers can result in giving up some big plays but also are much harder to complete. If they can combine that with a more consistent pass rush it could be a very good year.
SicSemperTyrannis
July 19, 2025 at 12:46 pm
It really comes down to the philosophy of seeing the best out of a new player and evaluating him on that, or looking at the whole body of work. Either way I think there's no contest, what Evan Williams has put on the field during regulation play is better. I've read but do not know if 1265 puts blinders on to only see upside potential, at least early in a career. I'll add #7 to the list of players who if they just eliminate the negative plays would improve dramatically. Now I've also got to hope Quay recovers 100% at any time this season :/
jannesbjornson
July 20, 2025 at 09:07 am
Did well as a rover, his college profile. The pedigree safeties were Bullock, Kam Kinchens and Mustapha.
Gutey strikes again.
LLCHESTY
July 20, 2025 at 12:51 pm
I agree that he struggled last year, especially when he had to fill in for Williams and Hafley talked about it a couple times last year that he kind of got thrown to the wolves by having to play SS on short notice when he had practiced at slot all week.
They filled his plate last year, hopefully this year he's got a better handle on the three positions and can play at full speed. Either way I think we'd rather see Nixon or Hobbs as the slot defender on passing downs unless Bullard takes a big step in coverage.
Since'61
July 19, 2025 at 12:24 pm
I essentially agree with the 5 keys in the article but I would have included better pre game planning/preparation and improved in game management and decision making by MLF. MLF needs to step up his coaching particularly against the better teams. His challenges and clock management have hurt the team and after six years as an HC he should be past the same critical errors. Also the team needs to be more disciplined and mitigate their penalties especially pre snap penalties on offense.
I agree with LH, score points and less drops. GPG. Thanks, Since '61
SicSemperTyrannis
July 19, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Strongly agree!
I'll reiterate that I hope to see our offense go through our playmakers which are, in order, #8, #85 Tuck Norris (yes the sun will ask his permission to rise if he's recovered fully and actually added strength this off-season) and #11. Not to downplay #10 but our O line is the big variable there, and even if (God forbid) #10 is off the field for any reason we have a proven and useful backup QB. I can't believe anyone has entertained the notion of letting him out of the building?!?
This places our overflowing WR room significantly down on the totem pole, especially if #88 has his best season yet; again, our O line is the biggest variable but Luke has been anything but Ol' Faithful. Splash plays from deep threat WRs can still amass our biggest yard totals, and I hope everyone (except for MLF) continues to sleep on Mecole Hardman because I've seen him make some big time plays in big moments of big games. That's exactly what GB has been missing.
Our fastest WRs, in order:
Golden Boy
Mecole Hardman
Bo Melton
#9
#11
SPEED KILLS!
I still place our HC as the single biggest "area of opportunity" for improvement; last year was not his best. Whether he delegates key functions in difficult game situations as I have always wanted or something else, he'll have chances to prove his mettle. I hope he goes with "playing the hot hand," as well as blends rush and pass attacks so opposing defenses are back on their heels where they belong 😎
GPG
Bearmeat
July 20, 2025 at 07:26 am
How about in 2023 against the Lions, Chiefs, Cowboys? All games we were expected to lose. What about 21 and 20 and 19 in games we were expected to lose?
I don’t understand the “MLF sucks” crowd. I really don’t. He is, unarguably, a top 10 coach. Yes, of course he can improve. Everyone can. But we have a good one.
Leatherhead
July 20, 2025 at 11:46 am
You are correct. MLF is one of the better coaches in the league, and one of the better ones in Packers history. Ray Rhodes? Forrest Gregg? Infante?
This "I'm going to show how astute I am by taking shots at MLF" stuff on this board is just nonsense.
Bitternotsour
July 20, 2025 at 12:17 pm
You too recognize the shortcomings. Offensive coach whose offensive showings in the playoffs are wanting. Can he overcome his historical failures? For some of us questioning his ability to get over the hump isn't a flex, it's a very real concern.
He needs this offense to be averaging 30 per game. Either that or he needs the offense to own time of possession so that 30 aren't necessary. Either way that is a function of his offense.
Leatherhead
July 20, 2025 at 02:51 pm
I think that no matter what the sport, you win based on what you do when you have the ball. When you don't have the ball, you're trying to get the ball.
We hired an offensive coach to be our HC. We spent draft picks and money on the QB. We've loaded up on blockers and weapons. We're ready. I can understand the 10 point playoff game against Philly, partially because of the injuries. In fact, in all the season ending games with LaFleur, there are legitimate excuses/reasons for falling short.
It's become a pattern, though; it's not just a bunch of isolated events. Yes, blame Rodgers or Kevin King or Jones or a blocked punt or injuries......the result always seems to be a season that ends before it would have had to. and we have kind of a weak score on the board. You have to be able to score points against good teams in the playoffs. 21 won't get it done.
WD
July 19, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Playoffs? Playoffs? ........We were 1-7 in our division and just barely beat the Bears once.
dobber
July 19, 2025 at 12:32 pm
1-7?
Shhh...he's on a roll.
WD
July 19, 2025 at 01:24 pm
My bad. I stand corrected. The Packers were 1-5 just barely beating the Bears, I feel much more optimistic now!
SicSemperTyrannis
July 19, 2025 at 01:08 pm
1 divisional win, literally by a fingertip. There's lots of work to be done and I'm not counting any chickens before they hatch, but I am looking forward to a fun season and honestly would not be surprised if the Lombardi comes home this season. How much of the fire from #25 and 8 has spread throughout the locker room? Because if everybody's as hungry as those two, it's practically a LOCK.
GPG!!
Snap the ball
July 20, 2025 at 12:30 am
Lions won’t make the playoff
Packers and Bears will
Playoffs
Packers
Eagles
Commanders
Rams
Bears
San Fran
Tampa
Packerpasty
July 22, 2025 at 10:09 am
The Lions have too good of a roster to not make the playoffs, sure they lost two valuable co ordinators but they still are a very dangerous team...it would be nice if the Packers would start beating these teams when they visit Lambeau...
Snap the ball
July 20, 2025 at 12:32 am
Playoffs
Packers
Eagles
Commanders
Rams
San Fran
Bears
Tampa
LLCHESTY
July 20, 2025 at 01:01 pm
Well which one is it, San Fran and the Bears or the Bears and San Fran?
splitpea1
July 19, 2025 at 12:45 pm
1. Jordan Love has to have a Pro Bowl season. We're beyond the point of "progress" here, and he has to show he is the man to lead us to the promised land. Note that neither of last year's Super Bowl QBs made the Pro Bowl, but they have better teams around them and they've both been there before.
2. The defense has to pick up where it left off, but we need mush more pressure on the QB. Somebody along that line has to be dominant, and Gary is as good of a candidate as any. Clark needs to step it up from the inside along with Wyatt. And the Van Ness question needs to be settled: did we draft an impact player for now and the future or a Chippendale that won't get a second contract?
3. Trouble-free special teams. McManus has to be just as good as he was last season.
4. A better third-down conversion rate. While we weren't terrible at just under 40% last season, that number needs to improve. Maybe that can be accomplished with a reliable short passing game using Kraft, Reed, and the RBs more. I'd like to see the offense evolve a little in this regard.
5. A more collected and cerebral leadership style from MLF. Sometimes he gets caught up in the moment and displays too much emotion instead of communicating ready answers to his players for a particular situation. Just calm down and assess the long-term implications for the game before you act.
ricky
July 19, 2025 at 02:48 pm
A player who is critical to the success of the team, but hasn't been talked about recently, is the kicker, Brandon McManus. He came in after being cut by Washington in October, and had a great year. Was this a fluke, as it was with De'Vondre Campbell, a free agent who made first team All Pro his first year, then became a JAG after that. Since most NFL games are decided by very small margins, a kicker who is accurate is essential.
Ya_tittle
July 21, 2025 at 11:35 am
He got cut during summer by Washington over the sexual assault thing.
Bearmeat
July 19, 2025 at 04:36 pm
For me, the “Ascension to true contender status” will be marked by:
1. Winning the NFCN with an 11-6 or better record. Going 4-2 or better in the division.
2. Progress from Love into the top 6 QBs. Being truly elite without a question would settle it forever.
3. Triple the amount of pressure from our front 4.
4. No injuries at CB. I am fine with the top 3. But very nervous behind that.
5. Continuing to be above average at stopping the run. Backup NT stepping up… Clark reverting to form.
6. Much more consistent play from our passing game. Both QB and WRs. Especially on 3rd down.
7. Being solid in all phases of special teams. For once…
TarynsEyes
July 19, 2025 at 05:46 pm
I haven't seen a 'wish list' like that since the one I wrote at age 4, and that didn't come to realization either. Perhaps it's why I'm not so boundlessly optimistic. Any chance they don't need all of that to get what we all would love to have, again, since 'you can't always get what you want, or need.
Bearmeat
July 20, 2025 at 07:27 am
If those things were all unlikely, I’d agree with you. But I’d say that every player I referenced has done the job I’m asking for. But not consistently. It’s reasonable.
LeotisHarris
July 19, 2025 at 04:50 pm
The Packers are longshots at this point, but if a lot of things happen they could be dangerous illegitimate Super Bowl contenders in January. Maybe even in December. That's why they play the games.
Bitternotsour
July 20, 2025 at 09:25 am
i see what you did there