The Green Bay Packers needed every ounce of their depth and quality on the defensive side of the ball to pull out a 28-21 win against the Chicago Bears. Not only did Caleb Williams routinely slice this defense up in the second half, but Jeff Hafley couldn't stop anyone on the ground.
Even the below-average tandem of D'Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai managed to grind out 120 yards between them, most of which came in a second-half push that was only as limited as it was because Bears head coach Ben Johnson insisted on throwing the ball.
While the Packers have one of the game's best defensive players in Micah Parsons, the rest of the defensive line has not benefited from the gravity he provides in the same way many would have expected. As such, the plans for improving the roster in the offseason could not be any clearer.
Even though the Packers don't have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft thanks to the Parsons trade, that shouldn't change the main goal for GM Brian Gutekunst. Be it through the draft or free agency, multiple new defensive linemen who can stop the run need to be added.
Packers must improve defensive line after poor showing against Bears
It goes without saying that losing established starter Devonte Wyatt for as long as they did may have been the death knell for this group. Colby Wooden and rookie Warren Brinson, among others, have now found themselves in elevated roles, but they haven't been able to replicate Wyatt's productivity.
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On top of that, Pro Bowl edge setter Rashan Gary did not record a sack in the entire month of November. Former top pick Lukas Van Ness has been both injured and ineffective.
Teams that could play Green Bay in a hypothetical playoff matchup, including a Chicago team that may be emboldened after coming so close to a victory at Lambeau Field, may look at how easily the Packers were run on in this game and make that the focal point of their plan to stop them.
While this NFL Draft class is full of quality run-stuffing interior linemen, and the Packers may spend a bit of cash to improve the edge room around Parsons, they might need to grit their teeth and hold on tight for the rest of the 2025-26 season.