Packers finally getting more
opportunities to see how they measure up against NFC North rivals
[November 18, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
Since beating the defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions on the
season's opening weekend, the Green Bay Packers haven't played a
single divisional game.
That's about to change in a big way. The Packers play each of their
division rivals over the next three weeks.
Green Bay (6-3-1) hosts the Minnesota Vikings (4-6) on Sunday before
heading to Detroit for a Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Lions
(6-4). The Packers end this three-game stretch by hosting the
first-place Chicago Bears (7-3).
“Obviously the divisional games are absolutely critical and you talk
about this three-game stretch, but really all that matters is this
one game for us right now,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday.
“I mean, we've just got to focus on what’s right in front of us, and
that’s to try to put together the best plan to go out and play a
team that I think is an extremely tough football team. Shoot, they
put it on us twice last year, so our guys will be motivated.”
This series of three games should indicate how realistic a chance
the Packers have of winning their first NFC North title since 2021.
They already have matched their NFC North win total from last
season, when they went 1-5 against division opponents.
The Packers got some good news Monday on the knee issue that caused
Josh Jacobs to exit a 27-20 victory over the New York Giants.
LaFleur said Jacobs has a bruised knee and won't need to go on
injured reserve.
LaFleur said Jacobs “potentially” could be available for Sunday's
game.
“It’s just more or less trying to get the swelling down,” LaFleur
said. “And unfortunately, that’s a pretty hard surface over there,
and sometimes (that's) the byproduct of that.”
What’s working
Winning a game in which Green Bay was missing its starting
quarterback (Jordan Love) for part of one touchdown series, their
leading rusher (Jacobs) for most of the game and their starting
center ( Elgton Jenkins ) for the entire game showcased the Packers'
depth. ... Even with Jacobs limited to seven carries, the Packers
rushed for 128 yards while gaining 5.6 yards per attempt. ... They
committed no turnovers.
What needs help
Bad hands hindered the Packers on both sides of the ball. Several of
Love's passes were dropped, and Green Bay's defensive players
mishandled a few potential interceptions. ... The Giants followed
the blueprint that paid off for Carolina two weeks ago by running
the ball effectively and limiting Green Bay's number of possessions.
The Packers gave up 142 yards rushing and allowed the Giants to
control the ball for more than 35 minutes. ... The Packers have
missed a combined four field goals and two extra-point attempts over
their last four games.
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Stock up
WR Christian Watson had his first two touchdowns of the season with
contested catches of 1 and 17 yards. His second TD put Green Bay
ahead for good with 4:02 left. ... Love left briefly with an injury
to his left (non-throwing shoulder) but returned and completed two
touchdown passes without an interception. ... QB Malik Willis
finished one series because of Love's injury and threw the 1-yard
touchdown pass to Watson. Willis also had a 16-yard run on a
third-and-8 play during that drive. ... WR Savion Williams set up
Watson's go-ahead touchdown by making a contested 33-yard reception
on third-and-10. ... S Evan Williams intercepted a Jameis Winston
pass with 36 seconds left after the Giants had reached the red zone.
... DE Micah Parsons recorded 1 1/2 sacks, with one coming on the
game's final play.
Stock down
WR Malik Heath didn't make the trip to this game because of what the
team described as a “coach's decision.” LaFleur declined to specify
the reasons for Heath's absence. ... K Lucas Havrisik filled in for
an injured Brandon McManus and missed two PATs amid swirling wind.
... TE Luke Musgrave hasn't stepped up his production in the two
games since Tucker Kraft tore his ACL. Musgrave's lone catch Sunday
resulted in a 1-yard loss and a fumble out of bounds. Another pass
to Musgrave was initially ruled a fumble before getting changed to
an incompletion.
Injuries
Along with the Jacobs injury, LB Quay Walker left the Giants game
because of a stinger. LaFleur said Walker was day to day. LaFleur
added that Love was “definitely sore" but also was “doing good”
after coming back from that shoulder problem.
Key number
27 — The Packers have scored exactly 27 points in five of their six
wins this season.
Next steps
The Packers try to beat the Vikings at home for the first time since
the 2022 season. The Vikings have won in each of their last two
trips to Lambeau Field — 24-10 in 2023 and 31-29 in 2024. The
Packers haven't lost three straight home games to Minnesota since
1991-93, a stretch that included two games in Green Bay and one in
Milwaukee.
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