The No.1 Seed Green Bay Packers Can Play Better
The Green Bay Packers have been one of the most mystifying teams in the NFL during the first seven weeks of the 2025 season. They’ve played flashes of glory, seconds of brilliance, and periods of frustration all during the same game. And yet somehow, through all the uncertainty and angst, Matt LaFleur’s squad is the NFC’s No. 1 seed at 4-1-1. In a league of parity, the Packers have been able to stay above the fray, even if their games have not always been confidence-inspiring.
Green Bay is not currently appearing as a juggernaut. However, the longer the season lasts, it becomes evident that making it through the NFL grind is sometimes more impressive than dominating it.
Peak Of the NFC Without Dominance
It won’t always be pristine, but the Packers are winning. They sit at 4-1-1 and share the lead at the top of the NFC North and the league’s top seed entering Week 8. Others, such as Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, possess prettier victories, but the grit of Green Bay has separated it from the pack.
The NFC is loaded with solid suitors, five teams sit at 5-2 or 4-2, but the pairing of the Packers’ offense and defensive resilience positions them the best. Aside from a tie and some questionable second halves, Green Bay is one of only two teams in the league that have one loss. In a year in which there is no team that has necessarily been elite, the Packers’ steady winning has put them in a very attractive position.
Not The Packers’ Best Football — But Still Winning
What is so amazing about Green Bay’s ascent to the top is that it hasn’t been done on the strength of their best football. The Packers haven’t played a complete game since they beat Washington in Week 2. The offense has struggled at times, particularly on sluggish starts, and the defense has been vulnerable to collapse late, but they find a way to win.
It’s a testament to the depth of the roster, and to LaFleur’s game-day tinkering. Against Cincinnati, the defense didn’t collapse in the crunch. Against Arizona, the offense awoke in time to seize control. Each win has been different, but they’ve shared one underlying theme: the Packers know how to get it done. It doesn’t necessarily have to be aesthetically pleasing, but style points aren’t listed in the standings in the NFL.
The Missing Ingredient: Complementary Football
The biggest obstacle that stands in the way of the Packers becoming the true masters of the league is that they can’t play complementary football. While Jordan Love and the offense are cooking, the defense suffers. While Micah Parsons and the defense shred the other side to ribbons, the offense stalls. It’s been a frustrating trend — one which continues to turn would-be blowouts into nail-gainers.
LaFleur owned up to the problem, pointing out how Green Bay’s second-half defense has not matched the first-half effort. The Packers have surrendered nearly 80% of their total points after halftime, a trend that has continued to keep weaker teams in games. Along the way, penalties and special teams errors have cost the team chances to close off games early. If Green Bay can get all three phases on rhythm, they can be the best team in the NFC.
Finding Ways To Win Close Games
But there is a lesson to be learned in winning ugly. Last week’s win by the Packers over Arizona was not pretty, but it was just another example of that mental toughness necessary to be a champion. From LaFleur’s fourth-down theatrics to Lucas Havrisik’s record-setting field goal, Green Bay was able to find a way to get the job done when it mattered most.
Good teams win close games, and good teams learn from them. Great teams are forged from them. This Packers team is learning to remain composed in adversity, a useful thing for football played late in the season. They’ve been pushed by adversity, from blown leads to costly turnovers, and still won. That’s the kind of experience that means something in January.
Despite all their flaws, the Packers are their own men. They’ve been inconsistent, at times undisciplined, and at times infuriating to watch — but still the league’s top seed. That says a lot about the team’s ceiling.
Final Thoughts: The Best Is Yet to Come
If Green Bay can only get into rhythm on both sides of the ball, they will shift from tough-as-nails contender to de facto Super Bowl favorite. The pieces are all there already: an explosive quarterback, a top-of-the-line pass rush, and a coach who knows how to win. The Packers have yet to reach their peak — and that is exactly what should be keeping the rest of the NFC lying awake at night.
