Green Bay's Vibes Haven't Changed Much Despite Beating the Giants

The Green Bay Packers' win over the New York Giants on Sunday ended with a sigh of relief rather than a ringing endorsement of Green Bay’s ability to solve its various issues. The victory was more an indication that the wheels haven't fallen off the bus entirely than a confidence booster for a team looking to make a Super Bowl run.

If not for the mistakes on offense made by repeat offenders, plus an offensive line that still hasn't solved the riddle, the Packers would have won that game by at least two scores. But all of those inconsistencies appear to be baked in for a team that cannot quite become the best version of itself.

Let's start with the good.

Pre-snap penalties have been a thorn in Green Bay’s side all season long. The Packers were flagged five times against New York, but none were of the pre-snap variety. The Packers were called for offensive holding three times, pass interference once, and a face mask. Two weeks ago, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Matt LaFleur's team was penalized for two illegal formation penalties, a false start, and a delay of the game.

More good news: Jordan Love was magnificent. On a day where the Packers’ receivers combined for six drops, and the Giants pressured Love early and often — even briefly leaving the game with a shoulder injury — Green Bay's man under center was brilliant. Love received his highest grade ever from Pro Football Focus for his masterpiece (don't box-score hunt) against New York.

So why has the team narrative not flipped?

Their effort on Sunday was good enough to beat a 2-9 team. However, it would not suffice against the likes of Philadelphia, the Detroit Lions, the Los Angeles Rams, or any of the heavy hitters in the AFC.

Those types of teams make you pay when you have six drops. Those types of teams don't turn eight quarterback hits into two sacks; they knock your quarterback down behind the line of scrimmage and maybe even add a takeaway.

The Rams had Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in hell on Sunday. Darnold threw four interceptions and couldn't figure out Los Angeles' defense. It was an example of a really good team making another good team pay for its mistakes.

The Giants, led by an interim coach and their third-string quarterback, haven't shown they can make a team pay mightily for their errors. In fact, it's been quite the opposite. Part of the reason New York fired Brian Daboll in-season was because it had blown double-digit leads in four games this year.

It's possible that even an emphatic, convincing win for the Packers over New York would have left some still skeptical after the prior two games. They would need to show a much higher degree of polish, at the very least, for this victory to feel like a turning point.

Instead, many in Packerland are left wondering whether the drops will continue to be a problem. They're left wondering if this current cast of characters on the offensive line will figure it out in time this year or if this is what it's going to be the rest of the way. They're left wondering if the kicking game will come back to bite this team in a costly spot, given that Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik have been inconsistent.

LaFleur did his best version of "coach speak" after the win. He's

Green Bay can still become a true contender in the NFC. The goal for the Packers is to be playing their best when it gets to the postseason. They aren't there right now. That's fine for the moment, but it's worth wondering if they'll ever get to that point of stability. The win on Sunday didn't resurrect the Super Bowl daydreams inspired by the convincing back-to-back wins to start the year.

Sunday's victory provided some assurance that the 2025 Packers aren’t spiraling. But it also did not suggest that this team is firing on all cylinders again.