Folks, the Green Bay Packers have done it again.
Another historic collapse has knocked the Packers down, and this time, it officially ended their season. After leading 21-3 at halftime, the Chicago Bears scored a jaw-dropping 25 points in the fourth quarter, ultimately sinking the wounded Packers.
Even at halftime, there was a sense of urgency for the Packers to put another score on the board early, and they failed to do so. Kicker Brandon McManus missed two field goals and an extra point, costing the Packers seven points in a game they narrowly lost. After a truly shocking yet predictable second half of football from the Packers, head coach Matt LaFleur certainly has questions to answer, despite receiving an extension.
The Packers face many key questions entering this offseason, with all eyes on an important few months in Green Bay.
Many key players have played their last snap for the Packers
There are several questions about the Packers' roster and how it will change between now and next season. From potential cut candidates to looming free agents, the roster will never be the same ever again.
Some free agents who would be characterized as losses include Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Kingsley Enagbare, and John FitzPatrick. If the money is right, bringing back Rhyan and Enagbare could be beneficial for the Packers, as both played decently in meaningful snaps down the stretch of the season. Potential cut candidates include Elgton Jenkins, Nate Hobbs, and Brandon McManus.
Wide receiver Romeo Doubs was excellent in the playoff loss, with eight grabs for 124 yards and a touchdown. He made up for his onside kick blunder against the Bears earlier in the season, and left it all on the field with everything on the line.
With depth at wide receiver, including Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden, there may finally be too many mouths to feed with Doubs needing a new deal as an unrestricted free agent. If his time in Green Bay is over, his strong hands and sharp route-running will be missed.
Linebacker Quay Walker is an interesting free agent to deal with in the offseason. His tackling is often an important asset to the defense. However, he is far too often lost in zone coverage on crucial plays. Bears tight end Colston Loveland had his way with him in the second half last week, particularly after Walker's partner, Edgerrin Cooper, left the game with an injury.
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Unfortunately, the lights were too bright for the 2022 first-round draft choice, who may not have done enough to earn another contract in Green Bay.
A free agent we did not see in the playoffs but must be discussed is quarterback Malik Willis. In his limited play this season, Willis has been nothing but excellent. The defense truly let Willis down against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, when he went 18/21 with 348 total yards and three total touchdowns.
Willis' growth in his tenure with Green Bay has been a pleasure to watch, and whichever team decides to pay him in the offseason is a lucky one. Willis provided quality quarterback play while being an even more exceptional part of the Packers' locker room.
Aside from free agents, there is one Packer who will almost certainly be cut this offseason: Rashan Gary. The 2019 first-round talent struggled to rush the quarterback in the back half of the season, finishing his last 10 games without a sack.
Fans on social media and even former players were quick to point out Gary's lack of effort on a handful of plays throughout the year, which is not a good look for a player who is getting paid $24 million per season. Cutting Gary would save the Packers $11 million in 2026 and would free up pass-rush snaps for Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, and Barryn Sorrell.
Matt LaFleur is still under pressure despite landing extension
Before the game, many wondered if Matt LaFleur was coaching for his job. My response was that LaFleur's job is safe, as long as the Packers avoid a historical embarrassment. After learning once again that it is never safe to assume in Green Bay, LaFleur's future was called into question. In what could be classified as a surprising move, the Packers did hand Matt LaFleur a contract extension, despite the playoff embarrassment.
Despite LaFleur's extension, the emphasis on winning next season does not change. It is easy to forget that if the NFL had not expanded the playoff picture and added a seventh seed, the Packers would now have missed the playoffs four straight years under their head coach. LaFleur likely has one more shot to pull it all together, and, if he fails to do so, he could again face pressure next offseason.
Who stood out positively to end the season?
Despite the sour end to the season, there is plenty to be excited about in Green Bay. It is easy to forget that before the injuries to key players decimated the Packers, they looked like one of the best teams in the NFL. There are some players, particularly from the playoff game, who don't deserve blame for the loss.
Jordan Love was outstanding, throwing for 323 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. The Packers had a ton of reasons they lost this game, but Love was not one of them. He became just the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300-plus yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, and still lose a playoff game.
In what felt like perfect timing, rookie Matthew Golden finally got into the end zone in the fourth quarter against Chicago. It was truly a spectacular effort from Golden, who had to get around numerous defenders on the wide receiver screen to scamper in for the score. Golden ended up with four grabs for 84 yards and the touchdown.
He looked crisp in his route-running and showed up in big moments. What really stood out was that on a fourth down late in the fourth quarter, when the Packers had to have it, LaFleur drew up a play for Golden, who delivered on an out route. In his limited action, Golden showed flashes of brilliance all year, and he showed in the playoffs that Green Bay could have a star.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was having himself a night before he had to leave the game with an ankle injury in the second half. Cooper managed eight tackles, was solid in coverage, and forced a crucial tipped ball on one of the Bears' four failed fourth-down attempts.
It was not until Cooper left the game that the Bears were able to sustain drives and ultimately mount the comeback. The Packers clearly found an excellent player in Cooper, and his development going into year three should only help him ascend further.
A long offseason awaits the Packers
Injuries, questionable play-calling, and all-too-familiar special teams mistakes derailed what could have truly been a special year for the Packers. After an earlier-than-anticipated playoff exit, there is plenty to correct in the offseason. At some point, the team has to take the next step.
If the Packers hadn't lost Tucker Kraft or first-team All-Pro Micah Parsons, they had a real shot. It was only a matter of months ago that they looked like the best team in the NFL. The good news? The core will return to help the Packers make a run in 2026.
Reaching the Super Bowl is always the goal, and anything short feels like a failure. If the stars can align for this football team, the sky is the limit.