The Green Bay Packers have a lot to clean up to avoid falling to 0-2. Whether they can button up their blemishes ahead of an interconference clash with a surprisingly frisky New York Jets squad remains to be seen, though.
Slowly but surely, things went awry for the Packers despite leading through three quarters of their ugly 39-22 Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The offensive line (especially the guards) was a flat-out disaster, and it didn't seem like everyone was on the same page.
How Green Bay responds bears watching. They can't afford to overlook a Jets club that turned heads with an impressive 23-10 road victory over the Tennessee Titans to open 2026. A second defeat to kick off the campaign would surely sound the alarm bells throughout Titletown.
That being said, keep the four facts highlighted below in mind when the Packers travel to MetLife Stadium to face New York.
4 facts to know before Packers' pivotal clash vs. Jets
1. Chris Brooks, not MarShawn Lloyd, was the Packers' starting RB
Many assumed Lloyd would step into the primary running back role with Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which happened — sort of. The oft-injured third-year pro led the team in carries (13) and rushing yards (37) against Minnesota, yet Brooks officially got the nod and logged more snaps.
Vikings defense coordinator Brian Flores is a madman who blitzed on an absurd 73.9 percent of Green Bay's dropbacks. For context, no other team reached 50 percent in the first slate of the season. Brooks was far and away the preferred option in protection, specifically on third downs and likely passing situations, so he naturally saw more playing time.
Guess who ranks fourth in blitz rate heading into Week 2: the Jets (46.2). Their head coach, Aaron Glenn, will see an overwhelmed Packers O-line after watching the film and will presumably dial up the pressure. The approach certainly worked for Flores and Co.
2. Omar Cooper Jr. won't suit up
New York's first-round rookie wide receiver reportedly suffered a high-ankle sprain in the win in Tennessee and is week-to-week. He got hurt early in the first quarter and never returned. His speed and playmaking ability flashed before going down, turning a shallow cross route into a 30-yard catch-and-run.
Cooper's absence is a notable development for a talented young Packers secondary, particularly at safety, which remains a work in progress.
3. Packers were the only NFL team to record seven 20+ yard completions in Week 1
Much of Green Bay's production through the air (and in general) came on splash plays. Flores' decision to unrelentingly bring the house left the back end exposed, and quarterback Jordan Love and Co. made them pay.
Entering Week 2, the Packers are fourth in explosive play rate (15.0 percent). Wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden and tight ends Tucker Kraft and Jonnu Smith each recorded 30-plus receptions.
4. Jets allowed zero 20+ yard receptions in Week 1
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? We're about to find out; the outcome of the Packers-Jets showdown could come down to the explosives battle.
Moving the ball on the ground is easier said than done without Jacobs. Lloyd and Brooks can only do so much, meaning Love will have to carry the offensive burden once again. New York must not lose sight of Watson, who posted an outstanding 6-147-2 receiving line in Minnesota.
For what it's worth, New York faced a hapless Titans aerial attack helmed by developing sophomore signal-caller Cam Ward. Love, Watson, Kraft, Golden and the rest of Green Bay's weapons present a much greater challenge.
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite 2.0 ($).
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