Praising the Green Bay Packers' defense in 2025
By Andy Davies
The Green Bay Packers’ defense has been electric so far in 2025.
They currently rank seventh in the league against the pass and third against the run, with the least points allowed.
Green Bay have had two dominant victories within their own conference, beating two teams who made the playoffs last season.
With a 27-13 win against the Detroit Lions in Week One, and 27-18 against the Washington Commanders in the Week Two Thursday Night Football clash, the Packers put the league on high alert before a shock defeat to the Cleveland Browns in Week Three.
This was not down to defensive issues with Browns needing just a couple of years to score their only touchdown of the game after a Jordan Love interception. Could this side of the ball lead them to a Super Bowl triumph?
The impact of the Micah Parsons trade
One of the biggest offseason stories came towards the end of the brutally long offseason stretch, when the Packers traded for Dallas Cowboys wantaway defensive star Micah Parsons.
They gave up two first round selections along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark for the services of Parsons and so far, it looks like a worthwhile trade.
Not only are you adding in a star to this unit, who has 54 career sacks, but you are also allowing other defensive players to stand out and make some plays with opposition defenses scheming against Parsons instead.
Rashan Gary has recorded 4.5 sacks in addition to Parsons’ 1.5, with Devonte Wyatt registering two and Karl Brooks, Edgerrin Cooper, Barryn Sorrell and Lukas Van Ness all pitching in with half a sack each.
This is a defensive unit that has stifled last year’s number one seed in the NFC, and the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year. And this is with Parsons on a snap count due to a back concern. There are infinite possibilities as to what this defensive unit, led by Jeff Hafley, could do with Parsons fully healthy.
His impact was also praised by Packers quarterback Jordan Love. He said: “Micah Parsons is by far one of the most competitive people I’ve met in my life. I think that competitive nature is what he brings. Like what you said, he is itching to be able get off that snap count and go out there and play a full game. He is itching to go out there and be on the field as much as possible.
“Just being around him, I know what type of competitor he is. He wants to win everything he does. That’s just a little mindset that he is bringing to the team and obviously to that room. It’s that infectious energy, knowing what type of player he is, and the way he plays the game, I think he is going to make everyone better.”
Excellence in multiple facets
One area that has been really impressive for the Packers is their brilliance in multiple areas.
Whether they are going man coverage or zone, they can get at you from all areas.
Cornerback Keisean Nixon has defined this. Only Jourdan Lewis of the Jacksonville Jaguars has registered more passes defended so far this season. With 12 total tackles, he has shown his ability to get up and down the field and cause multiple problems for opposition offenses.
Whether you want to run at the Packers, or try and beat them in the air, this is a team that is going to make life tough for you.
Their aforementioned defensive unit featuring Gary, Parsons and Van Ness is going to cause problems for whoever is trying to run at them or protect their own quarterback, and Nixon is proving to be a perfect distraction from the loss of Jaire Alexander.
With the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers to come, the Packers have the chance to stake a claim for the NFC North division title by going 7-1 or 6-2 going into their Week 10 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.
With the Detroit Lions getting hot, the Packers will want to capitalise on their Week One win against them in the division tiebreaker.
ANDY DAVIES
NFL ANALYST
ANDY IS A SPORTS JOURNALISM GRADUATE WITH OVER FOUR YEARS EXPERIENCE OF NFL WRITING AND PODCASTING. ANDY HAS BEEN TO EVERY NFL STADIUM AND IS THE HOST OF THE ACROSS THE POD PODCAST. HE HAS PRESS PASS EXPERIENCE AT THE LONDON GAMES AND MANY OTHER NFL BASED EVENTS SUCH AS THE SUPER BOWL, HAVING INTERVIEWED THE LIKES OF AARON RODGERS, JASON BELL, OSI UMENYIORA, PATRICK MAHOMES, TRAVIS KELCE, DERRICK HENRY, SAQUON BARKLEY AND JALEN HURTS.