The Green Bay Packers improved from 9-8 to 11-6 and made the postseason for the second consecutive season in 2024, but a disappointing finish well short of the Super Bowl helped shed light on where the Packers must improve to be a true contender in 2025.
The question, as training camp nears: What must the Packers fix entering the 2025 season?
The staff at Packers Wire made their picks below:
Zach Kruse: Passing game performance in big games
As most know, the Packers went 0-6 in games against the Eagles, Vikings and Lions last season. A big reason why was the performance of the passing game in those big games. Over the six losses, Jordan Love completed 58.6 percent of passes, threw eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions, had more turnover worthy plays than big time throws and produced a passer rating of only 78.0. But it wasn’t all on the quarterback; receivers dropped a whopping 15 passes in those games, and the drops often came in big spots. It’s hard to win big games in the NFL without better, more consistent play from the passing game, so the Packers must improve significantly here. Having Love healthy and getting a step from the wide receiver group should make a big difference in 2025. If the Packers are going to compete in the NFC North and make a deep run in the playoffs, Love and the passing game must lead the way in the biggest games.
Brandon Carwile: Consistency from wide receivers
For the last few years, we’ve heard a lot about the potential of Green Bay’s wide receivers. There have definitely been some encouraging moments, but drops have been an issue for this group, and no one is a true game-breaking threat. That needs to change. The Packers have a dominant running game with Josh Jacobs, but the offense could be Super Bowl-caliber if the passing game can be more consistent. The addition of Matthew Golden will help, but Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks have been in the building for multiple years now, and the expectations are high for each. It’s time these guys start living up to their potential, giving Jordan Love one of the most versatile receiving corps in the league.
Mark Oldacres: Pass rush from front four
Jeff Hafley did an excellent job of manufacturing pressure on the quarterback last year, and the Packers ranked eighth in the NFL in sacks in 2024, but they need to be able to win in more conventional ways up front. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are both coming off down years, while Lukas Van Ness has not sufficiently progressed as a former first round pick. Those things need to change in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Biggest thing Packers must fix entering 2025 season
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Brandon Carwile and Mark Oldacres, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
