Can Green Bay Keep It Rolling in the Desert?

Packers Look to Continue Winning Ways in Arizona

Entering their Week 7 matchup, the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals are in almost identical positions as they were in their 2024 Week 6 meeting. In 2024, the Packers put together one of their most impressive performances of the season, a 34-13 win, which included Jordan Love’s second-career four-touchdown game. Heading into the 2024 contest, the Cardinals were 2-3 and the Packers were 3-2.

Going into this year’s game, the Cardinals are 2-4, losers of four straight, and the Packers are 3-1-1. How both teams have done in 2025 has summed up what most of the NFL has experienced this season. The Cardinals enter the game losers of four straight, but the total of the four losses is just eight points. Their losses are by 1 (San Francisco), 3 (Seattle), 1 (Tennessee) and 4 points (Indianapolis).

Meanwhile, the Packers are a few special teams mistakes from likely being 5-0 and the lone undefeated team left in the NFL. Instead they have their first tie since 2018 and are currently the NFC’s No. 2 seed, behind the 5-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A year ago, the Packers entered their game with Arizona fresh off an important road win against the Los Angeles Rams. In the 34-13 win a year ago, Jordan Love had one of his best career games.

If the Packers are to get their second straight win in Glendale, it’s likely they will have to lean on the things that they have been successful with this season: Jordan Love airing it out on 3rd down, relying on Josh Jacobs on goal-to-go situations and the defense keeping the Cardinals from any big plays.

Despite it’s so-so performance against the Cincinnati Bengals (no takeaways, 1 sack), the defense did not allow a play of over 20 yards the entire game, forcing Joe Flacco, Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins to “dink and dunk” their way down the field. Will Kyler Murray (or Jacoby Brissett) have that same patience in Sunday’s game?

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Can Green Bay Keep It Rolling in the Desert?

The Packers are rolling — but can they keep it going in Arizona? Aaron Nagler (live from New York) and Corey Behnke (across the street from Lambeau) are back for another episode of Packer Transplants Live! They’re breaking down Josh Jacobs’ monster performance, Jordan Morgan stepping up at right guard, and the defense’s struggle to force turnovers. Plus: Packers news updates, the best of the Packers Blogosphere, and fans live YouTube comments.

Why are the Packers running the ball so much?

The Green Bay Packers are once again on the winning side of the ledger after a quick pit stop in the strange lands of a tied NFL game. Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals was not the blowout that fans wanted, but the team is once again on the right track. As of this week, they stand atop the NFC North (thanks to said tie, strangely enough), and have the fifth best record in the entire NFL.

But it’s pretty clear that the offense is not yet operating at its peak efficiency.

One of the stranger aspects of the offense is how, in the modern pass-oriented NFL, the Packers are one of the most run-heavy offenses. So far through the five games the Packers have played in 2025, they have passed the ball 147 times, and rushed the ball 134 times, an approximate split of 52% to 47%. This lands them squarely among the most run-happy teams in the NFL, behind the Seahawks at a 51% pass rate, and tied with the Lions. The overall top ten of that list does have some really good offenses in it. As we mentioned, the Seahawks, Lions and Packers live there, but you’d also find the Bills, the Commanders and the Colts on that list as well (it still feels weird to refer to the Colts as a good offense, doesn’t it?). On the opposite side of the spectrum, the most pass-happy teams in the league have the Chiefs (who come in at #1 with a 68% pass rate), the Cowboys, Chargers, and the Patriots. So right off the bat, we can approach this deep dive knowing that you can be successful with either strategy.

Obviously, this discussion must start and end with Matt LaFleur. As the head coach / offensive playcaller, this offense runs by his design. All the strategies that we have seen stem from him, and it’s his tendencies that we’ll start with.

Positive steps along the offensive line

Aaron Nagler sits down with Andy Herman (Pack-A-Day Podcast) to unpack a victory Monday the day after the Packers 27-18 win over the Bengals.

The Packers Really Miss Devonte Wyatt

When Brian Gutekunst decided to trade away Kenny Clark and two first-round picks for Micah Parsons, he wasn’t just betting on Parsons being a game-changer. He was also betting on Devonte Wyatt to take a huge step forward. Clark’s departure made Wyatt the eldest and longest-tenured defensive tackle on the roster. Kenny Clark left some huge shoes to fill. Fortunately for Gutekunst, Wyatt has been up for the challenge.

Prior to the 2025 season, Devonte Wyatt was a rotational role player. His forte was rushing the passer. He had never played more than 50% of the defensive snaps until this season. But the Packers saw enough in those limited snaps. "He's a physical, explosive guy. When he was healthy last year, this is what we saw,” defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said earlier this season. “He's playing more snaps. We've just got to keep him going."

Wyatt was off to a great start this season. He was improved against the run and disruptive when rushing the passer. Unfortunately, a knee injury has kept Wyatt off the field recently, and his absence is very noticeable. Green Bay’s run defense without Wyatt has been somewhat inconsistent and occasionally problematic. Their pass rush isn’t as disruptive or balanced. The fourth-year defensive tackle has become one of the most important players on Green Bay’s defense, and they need him back as soon as possible.

Morgan at RG Could Elevate the Running Game

After five games in the 2024 season, running back Josh Jacobs looked to be well on his way to being named one of the best free agent acquisitions in Green Bay Packers' history. In the absence of Jordan Love for two games, Jacobs helped take the pressure off of Malik Willis en route to a 2-0 record. Despite a lack of a threatening passing game early in the season, Jacobs still made his mark on offense to save the squad from being easily halted. Moving forward to 2025, it's the passing game that needs to compensate for the lack of a threatening running game early in the season.

This isn't necessarily Josh Jacobs' fault, but rather a lack of consistency on the offensive line. Injuries have caused shuffling all along the Packers' front five, and therefore have contributed to a lack of running lanes for the Pro Bowl running back. There have been a few glimpses of hope here and there, but it wasn't until Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals that things seemed to click on the ground all game long.

What was the noticeable change? Well, for one, the Packers finally had all their preferred starters along the offensive line in place. The second most noticeable change would be the move of Jordan Morgan to right guard, playing 82% of the offensive snaps at that position over Sean Rhyan.

Pass Rush Woes

The success of the defense early this season was predicated on the pass rushers getting to the quarterback, allowing the defensive backs to be aggressive in coverage. The Cowboys showed the NFL how to combat that - get the ball out way before the rushers can get home. After a slow start, the Bengals switched to that approach and a veteran quarterback like Flacco was more than adept at executing it in the absence of a real pass rush.

After not getting home with four, Hafley reverted to trying some blitzes, but with the same results. Too often on tape you could see 3 or four Packers rushers bunched together in the middle, kind of getting in each other's way as penetration was not happening. That is where the Packers sorely miss Devonte Wyatt. His ability to shoot gaps and get in the backfield opens up space for the other rushers. Without it, you just have a big logjam in the middle no one can break through.

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Lucas Havrisik Is A Great Sub

Lucas Havrisik looked like an everyday kicker on Sunday by hitting a 46-yard field goal in the first quarter and he followed that up with a 39-yard field goal with 1:52 left to ice the game to put the Packers ahead by nine. Green Bay beat the Bengals 27-18 in front of plenty of orange at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

“I just treated it as a normal game day,” said Havrisik, who was 34-for-53 on field goal attempts while kicking at the University of Arizona from 2017-2021. “It was a long day in the hotel waiting. It was weird, but I’m glad it all worked out. Very happy to be here and play some football.”

After the game, Packers coach Matt LaFleur gave the mellow kicker a game ball — and most people didn’t even know his name. And you can’t blame them, he tried out for the Packers on Friday, signed on Saturday and had to sit on his hands if he was going to actually play due to McManus’ quad. He didn’t know he was going to suit up for Green Bay until about 2:00 p.m. The Packers kicked off at 3:25 p.m.

Anxiety flows through the veins of a substitute teacher like haphazard tubes going down the Ariens Sledding Hill. He’s used to it. He understands what it’s like to wait until minutes before the first bell before accepting a subbing job.

And Havrisik handled it all very well. In addition to going 2-for-2 on field goals, he was 3-for-3 on extra points and he did a solid job on kickoffs as well. He did so well that I wouldn’t be surprised if another NFL team calls about a subbing opportunity. He proved with the game hanging in the balance that he can get the job done — which is the true hallmark of a very good kicker.

Packers-Cardinals Cheesehead TV Nation preview

For our Die Hard members, Aaron Nagler and Andy Herman preview the Green Bay Packers Week 7 showdown with the Arizona Cardinals

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