When and Where: Week 10 in Green Bay after a Week 9 bye
Last season: Started it by losing to the Eagles. Ended it by losing to the Eagles.
Added: Aaron Banks, Nate Hobbs
Lost: Josh Myers, Eric Wilson
Players added or lost in order of snaps played last season.
Top draft picks: Matthew Golden, Anthony Belton
Biggest question facing this team: Can Jordan Love take the next step?
In 2023, Jordan Love was pretty good for a first time starter. He was 2nd in TD passes as the Packers won 9 regular season games and a playoff game. In 2024, he was… well, pretty good for a first time starter. Love didn’t really progress last season, nor did he regress. For a second year starter, plateauing isn’t the worst outcome.
But Jordan Love is not your typical third year starter, because he spent his first two seasons as a backup. Love is older than and was drafted before Brock Purdy, Justin Fields, and Trevor Lawrence, yet has fewer career passing attempts including the playoffs. He is only four months younger than Jalen Hurts. By the end of the season, there could be eight NFC teams starting a QB younger than Love.
While the rest of the roster is still in a rebuild mode, the QB position isn’t. Though the Packers can’t get out of Love’s contract until after next year, this is a make or break season for him. It is possible that by the end of the season he’s the best QB in the NFC North and the Packers are Super Bowl contenders. It is also possible that by the end of the season Love is the worst starting QB in the NFC North.
It is a bit reductive to say that everything hinges on the QB, but if your $100M guaranteed QB can’t carry your team, you’re just treading water.
