Last season, the Packers benefited from facing the AFC South. That was the NFL\u2019s weakest division, and the Packers went 4-0 in those games. This year, they drew the AFC North, which had three teams finish above .500 last year. Add in the always-tough NFC North, where the Lions and Vikings combined for 29 wins. Plus, the Bears look better on paper, and the road to double-digit victories gets much steeper.<\/p>\n
Injuries<\/p>\n
Every NFL team deals with injuries, but when they strike key players, seasons can unravel quickly. Right now, almost every Packers wideout besides rookie Matthew Golden<\/a> is banged up. On the offensive line, starters Aaron Banks and Elgton Jenkins have dealt with back issues, a type of injury that can linger throughout the season. Given the lack of proven depth on the interior of the offensive line, the health of those two is critical.<\/p>\n And of course, there\u2019s Jordan Love<\/a>. After finishing the 2023 season on a high note, Love was viewed as a dark-horse MVP candidate in 2024. But a knee injury in Week 1 derailed his momentum, and later an elbow issue in the season finale left him struggling in the playoffs. If Love goes down, so do the Packers\u2019 championship hopes.<\/p>\n Early Bye<\/p>\n The Packers have a Week 5 bye this year, far from ideal. Teams generally prefer a break closer to midseason to rest, reset, and recover. Unless Green Bay earns the NFC\u2019s No. 1 seed (and the playoff bye that comes with it), they\u2019ll have to play 16 straight weeks to reach the Super Bowl. That\u2019s a brutal grind in such a physical sport. The silver lining? The Eagles also had a Week 5 bye last season and still managed to win a championship.<\/p>\n Defense<\/p>\n Statistically, the Packers\u2019 defense looked solid in 2024, finishing sixth in yards allowed and fifth in points allowed. But those numbers don\u2019t tell the whole story, and the front office did little to strengthen the unit this offseason. GM Brian Gutekuns<\/a>t didn\u2019t select a defensive player until Day 3 of the draft, adding edge rushers Barryn Sorrell and Colin Oliver, defensive tackle Warrin Brinson, and cornerback Micah Robinson. None are projected starters, and both Sorrell and Oliver are sidelined with injuries.<\/p>\n Instead, Gutekunst appears to be banking on internal growth. Former first-round picks Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, and Lukas Van Ness have yet to live up to their pedigree, and the expectation is that they\u2019ll take significant steps forward in 2025. On top of that, proven veterans Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary are coming off down seasons and need to bounce back. For Green Bay\u2019s defense to hold up against a brutal schedule, all of these players must be more productive.<\/p>\n Jaire Alexander Released<\/p>\n