Packers Turnaround After Rough Start to NFL Season
After the first three weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers found themselves at 1-2, having just suffered a significant loss to the Atlanta Falcons, 35-14, in a primetime match. Their struggles were evident, particularly at the quarterback position.
Quarterback Jordan Love faced constant pressure from the very beginning of the season, which lingered throughout that Thursday night game against Atlanta. Data showed that in the first two weeks, he was pressured 44.4% of the time on his dropbacks, ranking him among the most pressured quarterbacks in the league, only trailing a few others like Bryce Young and Deshaun Watson, according to Pro Football Focus.
During those attempts, Love managed to complete only 36% of his passes, totaling 300 yards—with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
In response to these challenges, the Packers made some changes to their offensive lineup after the defeat, using the mini bye week to bring in veteran players Laken Tomlinson, Mekhi Becton, and Kevin Zeitler to strengthen the offensive line.
Tomlinson made his debut as a starter in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Becton currently remains on the practice squad and Zeitler, although active for the Week 5 game against the Chicago Bears, found himself behind Travis Glover on the depth chart. Nevertheless, it seems that the offensive line has improved.
Interestingly, even though Love had been one of the most pressured quarterbacks up until Week 3, the situation shifted over the next two weeks. In Weeks 4 and 5, he faced pressure on just 20% of his dropbacks, which was notably the lowest rate among all quarterbacks during that span.
And it wasn’t as if the coaching staff suddenly opted for a quick, horizontal passing strategy to accommodate the pressure. In fact, Love attempted 13 passes of 20 yards or more downfield during these two games, suggesting more complex route concepts than simple passes.
For example, in the game against the Bears, the first play was a bold call from LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, featuring a slow-developing flea-flicker. This certainly signaled confidence in the line’s ability to protect.
Stenavich shared insights on the play with the media, pointing out how the Packers executed a deep shot to Christian Watson off play-action. This involved Tomlinson assisting both the center and left tackle in maintaining protection.
Despite the Bears’ blitz on that play, the offensive line held up just enough for Love to capitalize on the opportunity. He targeted Watson again successfully, exploiting gaps in the defense.
Taking another look at the play-action element, the Packers had only used play-action on 18.8% of Love’s dropbacks in the first three weeks, ranking them near the bottom of the league. By contrast, in the recent games, that percentage jumped to 30.6%, placing them mid-tier. During that stretch, Love completed 78.1% of his play-action passes, throwing for three touchdowns without interceptions and averaging impressive yardage per attempt.
Against the Bears alone, over 41% of his passing plays used play-action, highlighting its effectiveness as he completed almost all of his attempts for substantial yardage.
So, it appears that these adjustments have made a noticeable difference. However, it also comes down to executing good blocking. There was a point in the recent game where the offensive line efficiently handled a stunt, allowing Love to find confidence in the pocket and connect on a standout throw.
After a rocky start, it seems like the Packers have gained some momentum, especially on the offensive line. They also seem to have pinpointed some effective strategies in their passing game, aiding in reducing pressure and creating big plays.
As they evaluate their best lineup for Love, one old NFL saying comes to mind: September highlights what needs fixing, October is for making adjustments, and November plus December are about preparing for what’s ahead. It seems the Packers are well on their way to fulfilling these tasks.
