NFL standings ordered by sacks: Packers have room for improvement
The Green Bay Packers' pass rush has made a solid start to the season, but there's room for improvement.
Star linebacker Rashan Gary leads the way for the Packers with 3.5 sacks and six quarterback hits despite only playing on a little over a quarter of the snaps this season. The Packers are easing Gary into a full-time role after returning from injury. According to Pro Football Focus, Gary leads the NFL in pass-rush win rate through four weeks.
However, for the Packers to reach their potential defensively, they need a more consistent effort from their other pass rushers.
NFL standings ordered by sacks: Packers need more consistency
- Buffalo Bills (16)
- Los Angeles Chargers (16)
- Seattle Seahawks (16)
- Baltimore Ravens (15)
- Dallas Cowboys (14)
- Indianapolis Colts (14)
- Detroit Lions (13)
- Tennessee Titans (13)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (13)
- Washington Commanders (13)
- Cincinnati Bengals (12)
- Cleveland Browns (12)
- Arizona Cardinals (12)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12)
- Carolina Panthers (12)
- Green Bay Packers (11)
- Minnesota Vikings (11)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11)
- Kansas City Chiefs (10)
- Miami Dolphins (10)
- New England Patriots (10)
- New Orleans Saints (9)
- San Francisco 49ers (9)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (9)
- Denver Broncos (8)
- Las Vegas Raiders (7)
- Los Angeles Rams (7)
- New York Jets (7)
- Houston Texans (7)
- Atlanta Falcons (5)
- New York Giants (4)
- Chicago Bears (2)
Part of the problem is that teams are running the ball so successfully against Green Bay.
The Packers' opponents have rushed 139 times this season, second-most in the NFL. Only the New York Jets have faced more rushing attempts. Until Green Bay shows it can stop the run, teams will continue to test them. The same was true in 2022.
If the Packers can force opponents into more third-and-longs, it will create obvious passing situations and allow the defense to play to its strengths.
Rashan Gary needs better support from the other edge rushers. Green Bay's interior defensive linemen have stepped up: Devonte Wyatt, Kenny Clark, and Karl Brooks have combined for 6.5 sacks. But edge rushers not named Rashan Gary have offered very little. Rookie Lukas Van Ness has one sack, but Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, and Justin Hollins are still on zero.
As always for Green Bay, it starts by stopping the run. Then, and only then, can this defense play to its strengths and get more sacks.
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