Packers’ 2025 Season Uncovered: The shocking standouts, jaw-dropping surprises, and painful letdowns that fans can’t ignore.QQ

Green Bay is 7-3-1, second place in the NFC North.Nov 25, 2025 7:00 AM EST

It hasn’t been the cleanest 11 first games of the season for the Green Bay Packers. Entering the final stretch of the regular season, the Packers lost some absurd games, in particular to the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, and had a tougher time than expected to win some others — Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals, for example.

Either way, the team has also had some great moments and is coming off a well-rounded win over the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback Jordan Love and edge defender Micah Parsons are playing like the real stars they are, and there are certainly reasons for optimism moving forward.

The Colts must tread lightly against a Houston Texans team gunning for the top spot in the AFC SouthThe Colts must tread lightly against a Houston Texans team gunning for the top spot in the AFC South

So, let’s do the Green Bay Packers report card for the second third of the regular season — the first one is here.

Offensive superlatives

MVP: Jordan Love

Just like in the previous report, there’s no way around it. Jordan Love is the best and most valuable player on offense, and he’s the reason why the unit was able to overcome some tough stretches. Even with questionable offensive line play, up and down pass-catchers, injuries around the offense, and sometimes a conservative play-calling, Love has been able to step up to play the best football of his career.

Glue guy: WR Christian Watson

We had chosen Tucker Kraft for this exercise this time around. Now that he’s injured, Watson has taken his place. Back from an ACL injury, Watson has been fairly productive as a receiver, but he also blocks for his teammates and opens underneath zones due to his ability to stretch the field. Over the past three weeks, he’s led the receivers in snaps, and that’s for a reason.

Biggest surprise: RB Emanuel Wilson

That might be a short-term option, to be sure, but Wilson has proven he can have a real role within the offense even when Josh Jacobs is available. They have different running styles, and Wilson may be more explosive. Against the Minnesota Vikings, the former undrafted player showed he can generate much more than what the offensive line gives him. In the previous exercise, the positive surprise was Romeo Doubs, who has since regressed a little bit.

Biggest disappointment: TE Luke Musgrave

When Tucker Kraft tore his ACL, there was an immediate expectation that Luke Musgrave could take over as TE1 and keep it going from where it stopped back in 2023. Well, so long for that hope. He has still been TE3, behind John FitzPatrick and Josh Whyle, as a situational deep threat. He’s simply not as productive as a pass-catcher to justify the lack of ability to block and play special teams.

Turning point of the last six weeks: Second half against the Giants

The Packers lost to the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles, and that was after getting some ugly wins. When the Giants game went to halftime 13-13, it was a familiar feeling for Packers fans against a lesser opponent. So when the Packers were able to play better and beat the Giants, that moment somewhat changed how the team perceives itself. With more confidence, the Packers had a more complete game to convincingly beat the Minnesota Vikings this week and enter an NFC North stretch with better vibes.

Offense Overall Grade: B+

Defensive superlatives

MVP: EDGE Micah Parsons

There’s no way around it. Parsons is an elite player, with elite individual stats and a huge impact on the rest of the defense as well. So far this season, the edge rusher is third in the entire NFL with 60 pressures, plus 10 sacks — the first Packers player to have a double-digit sack season since Za’Darius Smith back in 2020. He drives so much attention from the opposing protection schemes that life is much easier for the other defensive front pieces.

Glue guy: DT Devonte Wyatt

Wyatt is now fully-healthy, and his return is highly impactful for the defense. He’s fourth in the NFL in pressures among interior defensive linemen who played fewer than 10 games, and his ability to create havoc is big for Jeff Hafley’s scheme. Wyatt by himself is not a great run defender, but the run defense in general looks better when he’s on the field because the offense has to adjust to his aggressive playing style.

Biggest surprise: CB Carrington Valentine

In the previous report, we had mentioned Keisean Nixon. Now, we go with another cornerback. Carrington Valentine surpassed Nate Hobbs on the depth chart, and there’s a good argument to say he’s now the Packers’ top cornerback. Allowing a reasonable 91.3 passer rating when targeted, CV has been a real challenge for good receivers, and he’s had three pass breakups this season. A former seventh-round pick, Valentine is playing the best football of his career. 

Biggest disappointment: CB Nate Hobbs

First, it was because of play. Now, it’s because of knee injuries. Nate Hobbs simply hasn’t been what the Packers needed and expected when they gave him a four-year, $48 million contract in free agency. Over the last third of the regular season, Hobbs will play to avoid being released in the offseason after just one year in Green Bay.

Turning point of the last six weeks: Evan Williams’ interception

Just like the offense, the defense was also able to turn it around against the Giants. Well, the unit had already been playing at a high level, but turnovers were missing. That’s until Evan Williams picked Jameis Winston off in the end zone late in the game, mostly sealing the Packers’ win. Turnovers tend to come in bunches, and Micah Parsons forced a fumble recovered by Rashan Gary on the following drive. The defense also intercepted J.J. McCarthy twice, a clear sign that things are getting better in this much-needed area.

Defense Overall Grade: A-

2025 draft class superlatives

Overachiever: T Anthony Belton

Belton played fine at tackle, but lost space to Darian Kinnard. So the Packers tested him at guard, and the early signs couldn’t have been better. After just a week of practice inside, Belton was already able to rotate with Jordan Morgan at right guard — and the results were so good that Belton played the entire second half, possibly taking over the starting job.

Rookie we need to see more from: WR Matthew Golden

If you look at separation charts, Golden is always close to the top. If you look at production charts, the story is different. The rookie first-round is good and has been fairly productive when given the chance, but the chances aren’t there frequently.

Underachiever: EDGE Barryn Sorrell

It’s not that Sorrell has been bad necessarily. He’s a fine rotational edge defender. It’s just that the Packers have too many good guys at the position — Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare. In theory, Sorrell could’ve played more when Van Ness was injured, but Enagbare stepped up and saw his snaps rise during that stretch.

Draft Class Overall Grade: B-

Coaching Report Card

Grade: B-

Matt LaFleur is a great play-designer and a good play-caller. Mostly, though, he has a conservative view of the game of football. That applies to his pass and run rates, to fourth down decision-making, and to putting the foot on the gas or not at times. That’s a fair personal view, and you could even agree with him. I don’t, though, and some aggressiveness could make Jordan Love an even more productive quarterback. Overall, though, LaFleur is a great head coach with a special ability to make the most out of his offensive pieces.