It's too early to call this a must-win, but it sure feels like it.
The Green Bay Packers have lost two in a row, both at home. Their advantage in the NFC North has disappeared, slipping to third in the division and seventh in the conference. Matt LaFleur's squad enters a get-right game against a struggling New York Giants team with an interim head coach and a backup quarterback.
It won't get any easier for the Packers, who draw the Minnesota Vikings (twice), Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears (twice), Denver Broncos, and Baltimore Ravens with their final seven contests.
If the Packers can't bounce back in this game and fall to 5-4-1, they will face serious questions about simply making the postseason, let alone winning a Super Bowl. That's why it feels like a must-win. In particular, these four Packers are under increasing pressure.
The Packers under the most pressure in must-win game against Giants
Matt LaFleur
The Packers have lost back-to-back home games and scored a combined 20 points. It's on Matt LaFleur the play-caller and Matt LaFleur the head coach to turn things around.
Green Bay went from winning ugly to just flat-out losing ugly games. LaFleur faces arguably his toughest challenge to date. He has lost Tucker Kraft and Elgton Jenkins, while defenses have figured out the blueprint to stopping his offense.
How can the Packers overcome their blocking issues? How can they replace a stagnant run game? With LaFleur already facing questions about his Packers future, the pressure is heating up fast.
Jordan Love
There's only so much Jordan Love can do when his head coach is calling a million run plays, and when he finally drops back to pass, there's instant pressure in his face. That said, Love likely won't get a perfect supporting cast from here on out. Alongside LaFleur, they must figure out how to overcome inconsistent pass-protection and a lack of help from the rushing attack.
Troy Aikman noted on the Monday Night Football broadcast that the Philadelphia Eagles' pass rush was "really unsettling" Love. Even in a game where everything came crashing down around him, Love still didn't see a few wide-open receivers and missed out on big plays.
The Packers need Love to elevate those around him. It requires a combined effort from LaFleur and his teammates, but Green Bay needs Toyotathon Love to arrive.
Jordan Morgan
Jordan Morgan's battle with Sean Rhyan for right guard snaps is officially over, with Rhyan sliding to center to replace Elgton Jenkins, who is likely done for the season.
But Morgan needs to step up and start playing like a first-round pick. It's beginning to look like his long-term position along the offensive line is either left tackle or nothing, but that job won't open up until next season. The Packers need him at guard for now.
Morgan's pass protection has been OK but inconsistent. Per PFF, he has allowed 18 pressures and two sacks, both the second-highest totals for the Packers. But it's in the run game where the biggest concerns lie, as his 52.6 PFF run-blocking grade ranks 55th among 79 guards.
If the performances don't improve, Morgan could soon face pressure from second-round rookie Anthony Belton.
Brandon McManus
Brandon McManus fixed the Packers' kicking issues last season by booting through 95.2 percent of his field-goal attempts. It's a different story now. He missed three kicks in the opening four games (two were blocked) before suffering a quad injury that cost him two weeks.
Since then, it has been difficult to understand the Packers' decision-making. McManus has missed four field goals over the past three games. Is he still not fully healthy? Is he feeling the pressure from Lucas Havrisik, who didn't miss a single kick while converting a franchise-best 61-yarder during McManus' absence?
The Packers bizarrely hold two kickers on the roster but keep using the wrong one.
McManus' misses have cost the Packers dearly in consecutive three-point defeats. Anything but a bounce-back game at MetLife Stadium will turn the calls for Havrisik into an undeniable roar.