The Green Bay Packers are halfway through their 2026 campaign and currently sit at 5-3 after a Thursday Night Football win against the Carolina Panthers last week. Up next for the Packers is a tough test, as the team travels to Foxborough to play the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots.
For the Packers, it'll be the second AFC team they've played all year after a stretch of six straight NFC opponents. More importantly, though, it'll be a crucial test to see where the team stands, especially as the playoff picture continues to come into focus.
Ahead of the huge Week 9 contest, let's look at some of the biggest things to watch as the Packers look to win their second straight.
- 3 things to watch for in Packers' Week 9 game vs. Patriots
- Biggest X-factors for the Packers in Week 9
- Packers' keys to winning against Patriots in Week 9
3 things to watch for in Packers' Week 9 game vs. Patriots
1. Passing game success
It's no secret that the Packers' passing game has driven nearly all of the team's offensive success. To beat the Patriots, it will need to continue. Jordan Love and the position players are currently clicking in a huge way, but they have a big test this week.
The Patriots' secondary, led by superstar Christian Gonzalez, is no slouch. The defense as a whole is an opportunistic bunch, but its secondary is a confident group that loves to play man coverage at a high rate. Whether or not the Packers can convert through the air will tell the story of this game.
2. Offensive line protection
Much like the Patriots' secondary, its defensive front is a fearsome group. The Patriots currently rank second in pass-rush grade, according to PFF, with high-level players at pretty much every position. The Packers' offensive line, on the other hand, has infamously not dealt well with pressure.
While the group has gotten better over the weeks, it'll still be a huge test for the Packers. We already know the run game will likely have some struggles, but whether they can keep the pocket clean long enough will be the true key here.
3. Kicking struggles
Trey Smack's struggles have continued. After a stellar start, Smack has missed a kick in each of his last two games, including a meltdown against the Detroit Lions. This week, Smack enters a game that looks to feature some rough weather.
The current forecast calls for 50-degree temperatures, but potentially some strong winds. In an outdoor stadium like Gillette Stadium, that means kicking will be a challenge. Smack has already shown issues kicking in more moderate conditions, so he'll be one to watch on Sunday.
Biggest X-factors for the Packers in Week 9
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden
As noted above, the Patriots' secondary loves to play man coverage. Head coach Matt LaFleur has traditionally schemed up plays against the coverage well, but the Patriots boast a legitimate star-studded secondary, headlined by Christian Gonzalez. If the Packers want to succeed, they'll need their two lead wide receivers to get open and make some plays.
Trey Smack
Putting Smack here feels more like a plea than anything, but if the Packers want to win games going forward, they simply need the rookie to perform better.
The team has managed to win despite some misses in a number of games, but Smack's continued so-so performance just won't cut it for too long. While the Packers continue to express confidence in him, another bad Smack game could have the questions growing even louder.
Brenton Cox Jr.
After star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper went down with a torn Achilles, many wondered how the Packers would fare without him. While they can't exactly replicate his production, Brenton Cox Jr. has done a great job filling in.
Throughout his last four games, Cox is credited with 16 pressures and six quick pressures over 81 snaps, and has really helped an edge group that is missing Micah Parsons and a defense that is missing some players behind him.
The Patriots' offensive line is similar to the Packers' in that they are prone to giving up pressure. If the Packers want to succeed on Sunday, Cox will need to keep up his play.
Packers' keys to winning against Patriots in Week 9
Protect up front
We touched on it a bit, but the offensive line is going to need to have a good game for the Packers to win on Sunday. The Patriots are one of the best teams in the league at generating pressure, and while the Packers' offensive line has looked better of late, New England's pass rush is one of the best Green Bay has faced this year.
Force Patriots mistakes
Throughout the season, Green Bay's defense has been successful at creating turnovers. The team ranks second in the league in total takeaways and has had five straight games with multiple turnovers to boot. In order to come away with a big win, the Packers will need to keep that up and force either Drake Maye or other players on the Patriots to give up the ball.
Keep things simple everywhere
Traditionally, keeping things simple would generally adhere to things like the offense. Play calling, operations, and more. However, this is a broad stroke for the whole team.
Not only will a simple game plan work best on Sunday, but it can also help avoid mental mistakes. The Packers have struggled with that throughout the season, though, so it does feel like asking a lot at times.
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