The Green Bay Packers came off their bye week following a thrilling 40-40 tie with the Dallas Cowboys and bounced back with a 2 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals. Those wins improves their record to 4-1-1 and returns them to first place in the NFC North and first place in the NFC.
They beat the Bengals 27-18, with leaders such as RB Josh Jacobs leading the way with a dominant outing, rushing for 93 yards and two touchdowns while adding 57 receiving yards. Rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden, the team’s first round pick, posted a career-high 86 receiving yards on three receptions and chipped in 16 rushing yards.
“Golden just needs to get the ball more,” freshman Thurston Robash said. “Their biggest strength in my opinion is the wide receiver depth that we have. I think the Packers will end the season 12-4-1 and win the division over the Lions.”
Quarterback Jordan Love finished with 1,259 passing yards and nine touchdowns on the year but also threw his second interception of the season while trying to thread a tight pass in the first half.
“In my opinion Love hasn’t been playing up to what everyone expected of him,” Robash added. “He needs to stop trying to be Aaron Rodgers and forcing throws.”
With kicker Brandon McManus sidelined by a quad injury, Green Bay signed Lucas Havrisik as a temporary replacement. Despite not having kicked in the NFL since 2023, Havrisik impressed, making both of his field goals and all three extra points.
The Packers carried a 10-0 halftime lead thanks to a strong defensive performance against Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco, who was making his first start for Cincinnati. In the second half, Green Bay extended its lead as Jacobs powered through for his second touchdown, making it 17-7. Love later connected with tight end Tucker Kraft for a 19-yard score that put the game out of reach.
Cincinnati narrowed the gap to 24-18 late in the fourth quarter on a touchdown and two-point conversion from Ja’Marr Chase, but the Packers held firm. A 39-yard field goal by Havrisik sealed the 27-18 win.
In week 7 the Packers looked to improve to 4-1-1 and did and also got their first away win of the year. The offense was fueled by 2 Josh Jacobs touchdowns and a 61yd field goal from Havirsik, which is a new Packers franchise record which was previously held by Mason Crosby with 58yds. The defense was also fueled by a Micah Parsons breakout game with 3 sacks and 5 QB hits.
The Packers let up their first first quarter points of the year but still have yet to let up a touchdown in the first quarter. The Packers were behind most of the game and without Parsons many fans feel they wouldn’t have won that game.
“Micah played like his contract that game,” Robash said. “He finally had a breakout game, and I heard he had his first ever 3 sack game so that’s great. I hope he stays healthy because he’s a big part of this defense.”
Next week the Packers for the first time ever will be looking to face their old QB Aaron Rodgers, 4 time MVP winner and 1 time SBMVP winner. If the Steelers win then Rodgers will have beat every team in the league and would be the 5th person to ever do that.
In next week’s game for the Packers, Rodgers will be looking to chase history and Jordan Love will try to beat his old mentor for the first time ever.
