With three teams in the NFC North making the playoffs last season, it is clear that the level of competition in this historic division is ramping up. Each team has its sights set on the Lombardi trophy, but as they look forward, the Green Bay Packers will need to be sure they are standing on solid ground.
Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon has just released his one-sentence description of the worst-case scenario for every NFL team, forcing fans to examine the upcoming season without the rose-colored glasses that often arrive during the post-draft lull of the offseason.
Gagnon's NFC North nightmares revolve around questionable quarterback play, with last year's draftees Caleb Williams and JJ McCarthy entering this season as mystery boxes instead of full-fledged playmakers.
However, the quarterback that Packers fans care about most is Jordan Love and his potential to improve in 2025. In his second year as the team's starting quarterback, Love missed two games due to an MCL sprain that seemed to limit his ability during the weeks after his return. His yards per game and completion percentage dropped slightly from last year, and he found himself throwing more aggressively with a higher number of yards per pass attempt.
Packers' 2025 season rides on Jordan Love improvement
The nightmare scenario theorized by Gagnon raises concerns that Love may not take a step forward this season and could instead be left behind while the rest of the division’s quarterbacks make positive strides toward solidifying their teams as true Super Bowl contenders. Even though Love made his fair share of errors early in the season, it’s important to note other factors that likely played a role—such as his Week 1 injury and the constant drops throughout the receiver ranks.
Despite these issues, Love became one of the league’s better passers down the stretch, and there’s reason to believe the strength of Green Bay’s passing game could continue to improve next season.
Throwing no interceptions after Week 11, Jordan Love’s biggest issue wasn’t giving the ball away—it was getting it to stay in the hands of his receivers. Love ranked third to last in completion percentage among quarterbacks who started 15 games or more, only ahead of Aaron Rodgers and Caleb Williams.
It can’t be overstated how much of a factor drops played in that completion rate narrative; having the second-worst drop rate in the NFL won’t reflect well on any quarterback, as head coach Matt LaFleur has pointed out. The additions of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams might help sort out those problems as competition for starting positions begins.
Another important factor in a quarterback’s success is how well protected they are behind the offensive line. New additions via the draft (Anthony Belton and John Williams) and free agency (Aaron Banks) will find roles that help keep Love safe, while mainstays like Zach Tom and Elgton Jenkins prepare to prove their worth ahead of upcoming contract years.
Last season, out of 39 quarterbacks, Love finished with the third-lowest sack rate—going down on just 3.19% of pass attempts. That’s a great sign for what next year could hold. By giving Love room to breathe, receivers can benefit from even tighter throws and turn upfield instead of toward the sideline.
Despite being introduced to a nightmare scenario, Packer fans hope for even higher highs in 2025. Jordan Love has all the skills, weapons, and protection he needs to eliminate questions about his ceiling. As the season unfolds, we'll see how the NFC North's quarterbacks handle expectations and who is willing to make a move toward the Lombardi Trophy.