The NFL schedule (or any sport's schedule, for that matter) is a funny thing. While every single game matters—whether it results in a win, a loss, or the always dreaded tie—some matchups simply feel bigger than others.
Take the Green Bay Packers' 2025 slate, for instance. Now, divisional games are always big, so we'll take those out of the equation. So, beyond those, even before the acquisition of Micah Parsons, the Week 4 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys felt a little more important due to the history between the two clubs.
Last week's battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers obviously felt a little more special, as that marked the first—and likely only—time the Packers will play against Aaron Rodgers. And Green Bay fans everywhere undoubtedly circled next week's Monday night matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have become a much bigger rival recently than in years past.
But then you get a contest like the Packers have this week against the Carolina Panthers, one that undoubtedly falls into the "trap game" category. And this one is particularly interesting, as it's sandwiched right in between two of the more high-profile games on the Green Bay schedule.
The "trap game" term is obviously always insulting to one of the teams involved, as it signifies the potential for one team to overlook or become complacent against what's perceived to be a weaker opponent, leading to a loss that could have been avoided had proper focus been put in. But the term is obviously still around for a reason, as these things do happen.
Naturally, Packers fans have been concerned that after last week's emotional victory over Rodgers and next week's matchup with the defending Super Bowl champs, Green Bay could get complacent against Carolina. But the aforementioned Micah Parsons says that won't be a thing.
"This team is a very good team," Parsons told the media on Thursday. "I wouldn't consider this a trap game, even with Philly next week. This is just all about us and how we prepare, and we can't beat ourselves."
So, there you go.
The Packers need to be careful with the Panthers, as they have already lost one of these trap games
Parsons is correct in his assessment that Carolina is a good team. Sure, the Panthers took a 40-6 beating from the Buffalo Bills last week. But that was without Bryce Young. Prior to the Buffalo game, with Young in the lineup (and he will be back against Green Bay), Carolina had won three straight, including a win (not a tie) over the Cowboys.
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Packers fans know all too well how dangerous Young can be, as his best game as a rookie in 2023 came in Week 16 against Green Bay. The Packers ultimately got the win, 33-30, which they absolutely had to have, as they had to win their final three regular-season games just to win a tiebreaker to sneak into the postseason (see...every game matters). But Young was fantastic, completing 23 of 36 passes on that Christmas Eve for a then-career-high 312 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
So, you can see the reason for concern.
But that's not the only cause for concern, as it wasn't that long ago that Green Bay fell victim to one of these types of matchups. With the high-profile battle with the Cowboys looming in Week 4, the Packers took their only loss of the season thus far in Week 3 to the Cleveland Browns, who have just one other victory on the year.
And the Packers almost got trapped a second time. In Week 7, one week prior to the matchup with Pittsburgh, they were nearly upset by the Arizona Cardinals before a Josh Jacobs touchdown run with less than two minutes to play let them sneak away with a 27-23 win.
Parsons seems confident that the Packers aren't overlooking the Panthers, and Cheeseheads everywhere are obviously hoping he's right.