When the Green Bay Packers’ schedule came out in May, many pointed to some big-time matchups against big-time quarterbacks. Showdowns with  Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen topped the list. But so far, through three weeks, Green Bay hasn’t faced a murderer’s row of quarterbacks. That trend will continue into Week 4.

In Week 1, the Packers were set to face Kyler Murray in Minneapolis. Plenty of buzz surrounded the matchup between Murray and Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The pair had just spent the past three years together in Arizona when Gannon was the head coach.

The hype fizzled out early when Murray exited due to injury. In stepped journeyman Carson Wentz, and the Vikings coasted to a 39-22 victory.

With no disrespect to Wentz, he’s been a backup for a few years now, and there’s a reason for that. His play sharply declined in 2021 with the Indianapolis Colts. Since then, he’s bounced around to the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and now the Vikings.

Clearly, Minnesota’s blueprint didn’t involve Wentz taking the field in the opener. Murray’s injury changed those plans. Even with QB2, the Packers couldn’t claw out a win and got pummeled in the fourth quarter.

In the next two weeks, the Packers faced Geno Smith and, most recently, Michael Penix Jr. Again, no disrespect to the pair, but it’s not exactly a gauntlet of quarterbacks for Gannon’s defense.

Still, the Packers managed only 1-1 and now sit at 1-2. Quarterback is always a team’s most important position. As Green Bay’s schedule took shape, a 1-2 start seemed almost unfathomable given the trio of quarterbacks they faced.

Now, the Packers will face Tampa without Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield suffered a thumb injury in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, and head coach Todd Bowles said he will miss at least three weeks. Mayfield didn’t get off to a great start this season. In fact, it was brutal.

Among all quarterbacks with at least 50 pass attempts through the first three weeks, Mayfield has the lowest EPA per dropback (-0.30), according to Next Gen Stats.

Even with the shockingly abysmal start, take a poll around Green Bay, and it will unanimously show they would rather face undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels than Mayfield.

Remember, Mayfield strolled into Lambeau Field three years ago and became the first visiting quarterback ever to post a perfect passer rating (158.3). Tampa Bay spanked Green Bay 34-20 that day.

On Sunday, Daniels will step in, and he has an incredible story.

Undrafted rookie quarterbacks rarely make a 53-man roster in Year 1. It’s even rarer for them to get a start, which is the box Daniels will check against the Packers.

Daniels had to beat out Connor Bazelak to get the chance to compete with veteran Jake Browning. He beat out both and landed in Sharpie as the No. 2 quarterback behind Mayfield.

He’s a true dual-threat quarterback out of Kansas, so Green Bay cannot waltz into Tampa Bay and expect to win easily. Given how the Packers are playing, they can’t treat any opponent like that.

Jalon Daniels (and Kansas) are so fun pic.twitter.com/twxrrq2zt3

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 24, 2022

While Daniels offers his own set of tricks that will keep the Packers guessing, it’s still not the same as facing Mayfield. Daniels isn’t a rookie quarterback with some experience. This is an undrafted rookie securing his first career start after grinding out the summer to claim the backup gig. It would be stunning if Daniels came out and carved up Gannon’s defense while playing at an elite level. A lot of that again is just the timing.

Green Bay is getting Tampa Bay at the right time.

Peeking ahead, the Packers will welcome in the Chicago Bears to Lambeau Field after this week.

On Monday night, veteran Case Keenum carved up Philadelphia’s defense in a 27-7 win for Chicago.

Caleb Williams avoided injured reserve but is reportedly on the shelf for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury. If so, the Packers will again be without a starting quarterback. However, Keenum showed the Bears can be just as dangerous on offense in the interim with him under center.

It’s been a bizarre start to the season for the Packers for many reasons. It’s very possible and leaning towards probable that in the first five weeks of the season Green Bay will face Wentz, Smith, Penix, Daniels, and Keenum or Tyson Bagent. Sitting at 1-2, the nightmare scenario of starting 1-4 while facing that group of quarterbacks would have everyone in Titletown mashing the panic button.

On paper, Green Bay is getting another break this Sunday. They must take advantage of the situation this time for any chance to crawl out of this early hole.