The Green Bay Packers finished 11-6 last season, but they were just 1-5 in NFC North play -- finishing third in the division. Their lone divisional victory was a come-from-behind 20-19 victory over the lowly 5-12 Chicago Bears.
The franchise placed a key emphasis on improving its play against divisional rivals and had an opportunity to prove it in Week 1 as the Detroit Lions — who finished last season 15-2, their best mark in franchise history — came to Lambeau Field. The Packers stepped up to the challenge as they proved that, once again, the NFC North runs through Green Bay.
The Packers won 27-13 in a game that was more lopsided than the final score suggests, as their opponent's only touchdown on the day came with under a minute left in the game. Jordan Love, who was tabbed as a potential MVP candidate entering the season, received plenty of praise following the game.
Packers QB Jordan Love has a strong performance in season opener
Early in his career, the biggest knock on Love has been his lack of consistency taking care of the football. In his six divisional games last season, he threw for seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He only had one game where he threw for at least two touchdowns -- finishing with four -- but he also had three passes picked off.
The Packers star got his 2025 season off to a strong start. While he finished with just 188 passing yards, he threw for two touchdowns, no interceptions, and completed 72.7 percent of his pass attempts. Love was named a Week 1 winner by Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski:
"Love underwent surgery on his left thumb in August, but he showed no lingering effects in a strong performance against the Lions," writes Sobleski. "The 2020 first-round pick led three consecutive scoring drives to start the game. He made completions to nine different pass-catchers in the first half and finished with 188 passing yards and two touchdowns with a 73 percent completion rate. With a plethora of young wide receivers at his disposal, Love should bounce back from an inconsistent 2024 campaign."
All in all, 10 different Packers caught at least one pass. If Love continues to take care of the football and spread the ball around, Green Bay will be primed to compete for its fifth Super Bowl.
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While his passing yards total wasn't very impressive, he was not asked to throw the ball much in the second half. He threw for 167 yards before halftime, and the focus then shifted to eating clock. Love attempted just six passes in the second half, only one of which came in the final quarter — his final pass was with 12:40 left in the game.
The statement win, particularly the performance from the Packers' starting quarterback, should put the entire NFL on notice. It also shows that the division is Green Bay's to lose.