Coming off an embarrassing 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings to kick off this 2026 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers bounced back with a Week 2 win over the New York Jets, although they did need a fourth-quarter comeback and extra time to pull off the 20-17 overtime victory.
But a win is a win, and it was unquestionably a much-needed one, as Matt LaFleur & Co. hadn't won a game that mattered since December 7, as they lost the last four games of last year's regular season and their wild-card matchup with the Chicago Bears before blowing a double-digit lead to the Vikes in Week 1.
Not only did the Packers put an end to their six-game losing streak, but they also avoided an 0-2 start for the 20th consecutive season, which stands as the longest active streak in the NFL.
The last time Green Bay started a season with two straight losses was in Brett Favre's penultimate campaign in Titletown in 2006, first taking a 26-0 defeat to the rival Bears in Week 1 and then a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. Both defeats came at the friendly confines of Lambeau Field, by the way.
For those wondering, sitting in second place on that list are the Dallas Cowboys, who, following their own Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders, have now avoided an 0-2 start every season since dropping their first two in 2010.
The Packers must figure out how to put together a full game of good football
Avoiding an 0-2 start is crucial, as only 11 percent of teams to start a season in such a way since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger have gone on to make the postseason. So, you can see why Green Bay getting past Gang Green was so important. But here's the thing: if the Packers can't figure out how to put together a full game of good football, they're not making the playoffs anyway.
For about 40 minutes against the Vikings in Week 1, the Packers were in complete control, as they took a 22-10 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
But as the world witnessed, the final 20 minutes were an absolute trainwreck, as Green Bay surrendered 29 unanswered points. And after the way in which last season ended in the Wild Card Round, with the Green & Gold coughing up a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter and allowing Chicago to score 25 points in that final frame, that was naturally disheartening for every Cheesehead around the world.
This past Sunday, of course, was a different story, as it was the Packers who had to come from behind to steal a victory. We'll give the Green Bay defense its just due, as the Jets were held to just 285 total yards and 17 points.
But the Packers' offense was downright dreadful for the vast majority of the game, scoring just seven points over the first 52 minutes before scoring 10 over the final eight minutes of regulation to tie the game and then obviously the final three in overtime on Trey Smack's 26-yard, game-winning field goal.
All in all, the Green Bay offense tallied just 199 total yards, averaging a measly 4.0 yards per play, and went an atrocious 1-for-9 on third down. So, this team was extremely lucky to extend that streak of avoiding an 0-2 start.
But again, even after getting to 1-1, if the Packers can't start playing consistent football for 60 minutes, they won't be extending their streak of consecutive playoff appearances to four.
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