2025 NFL Week 10: Packers vs. Eagles Preview & Prediction

First things first: Boy, were we off regarding the Packers game vs. Carolina. Way off. Despite the obviously better talent, the Pack sure underperformed — as they did at Cleveland. Losing to teams you should beat is not a way to demonstrate a team's championship bona fides. Especially leading into a Monday night game against the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles...the team that smacked the Packers down not once but twice last season.

So, why is it that the Packers seem to play down to the level of a supposedly lesser team? Perhaps playing not to lose? Failing to make adjustments? Missed opportunities, lack of turnovers, special teams glitches...? Now, losing emerging star TE Tucker Kraft during the game and, as it turns out, for the rest of the season to a torn ACL, had an impact on a game plan that probably ran a good chunk through him certainly had a negative effect. But, really, scoring a grand total of 23 points combined vs. Cleveland and Carolina? C'mon. This offense should be able to score more than that in one game even in their sleep.

Especially when the defense holds the opposing two teams to a total of 29 points ... although, admittedly, not getting critical late stops as the games wound down and allowing long field goals as the clock runs out ... can't ... do ... that. It's a concerning trend. Getting gutted up the middle is a formula for defeat ... especially against one of the game's top running backs.

The Packers have some issues. One of the surest ways to rectify that situation is to get a statement win at Lambeau Field tonight vs. the Eagles. So let's take a quick look at what we might expect.

This is a scene Packers fans hope to not see often this evening. Philly RB

Saquon Barkley was a killer for the Packers defense last season. He's not

off to the same start as last year, but with a run defense that's been gashed by

lesser rushers, the Pack has to focus on containing him tonight.

(Photo by Bill Streicher Imagn Images)

The Preview

Here we are in Week 10 of the 2025 NFL season and do we really know who this Packers team is? Sure, the record of 5-2-1 puts them at the top of the NFC North (who'da thunk that tie vs. Dallas would come in handy after all???). But other than the first two games where they were proclaimed by fans and national pundits alike as odds-on Super Bowl favorites, what have they shown? Inconsistency. Offensive linemen and coaches admitting that guys are still blocking the wrong guys. Special teams breakdowns. Lack of turnovers by the defense. Key players not being able to stay on the field. Personnel moves on both sides of the ball that now seem questionable at best. A head coach making inexplicable in-game decisions. e.g., going for it on 4th and 8 deep inside the opponent's territory instead of taking a field goal, ultimately being the difference in the game?

OK, so that's a bit of a look back instead of a forward preview, isn't it? Here's what we know going into tonight's game.

First, the Pack's supposedly deep wide receiving corps was down to just two healthy players on the practice field at one point this last week. Tonight, it's likely Matthew Golden and Savion Williams will not play. Of course, Jayden Reed is still out. TE Tucker Kraft (although not technically a wide receiver he sure was often schemed as one) is done for the year. Calling Luke Musgrave ... calling Luke Musgrave! WR Dontayvion Wicks is supposedly back tonight and there is some speculation that Bo Melton — who had been moved to cornerback this season from wide receiver because of the overcrowding at the position — could get some action at receiver tonight ... as well as at corner given Nat Hobbs is out, again. Wouldn't that be something to see?

Apart from the potential lack of receivers tonight, the Packers still haven't got their running game going. Tonight would certainly be a good night to get that in gear. If the Pack can run the ball to set up play-action and keep the Eagles offense on the sidelines that would be to the Pack's favor. And given the predicted weather forecast for this evening, a running game will likely be needed: it is expected to be cold and windy, with kickoff temperatures around 28 F and wind chills around 20 F with winds at 5 to 15 mph. Oh, yeah, there is also a slight chance of snow. So, yes, a Packers running game would be timely.

Now, the Eagles have the defensive script on how to keep the Packers in check given both Cleveland's and Carolina's success: stop Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson and force Jordan Love to throw underneath. That's OK if the chains are moving, but without a running threat that is a death-by-papercuts outcome for the Pack.

On the flip side, the Packers must contain Philly RB Saquon Barkley and if they do that, then also contain QB Jalen Hurts. 

How are you feelin'?

The Prediction

After their earlier season humiliation against the Browns, the Packers came back nicely. Until the game last week vs. the Panthers, that is. We'd like to think that would be the case tonight — getting right again. Losing two in a row at home is not what you need at this stage of the season. The Packers are at the time of this writing a 1-point home favorite. Oy.

Still, given the ongoing issues of consistency the Packers have had — including that of Kicker Brandon McManus in the last two games — and Philly come off their bye week, we find it hard to believe the Packers will take this game. Hope we are wrong. Nothing we want more than a Packers victory against their NFC East nemesis. If they play up to their capability, the Packers can pull it off. Probably another down to the wire game. Let us pray.

We're calling it Packers 20 - Eagles 24.

Go Pack Go!!!

2025 Week 9: Packers vs. Panthers Preview & Prediction

Before looking at this Sunday's game at Lambeau Field between the 5-1-1 Green Bay Packers vs. the 4-4 Carolina Panthers we obviously need to give a nod to last Sunday's night's 35-25 win in Pittsburgh against the Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers. C'mon, say it with me: YES!

While the Steelers seemed to be holding sway in the first half, the Packers turned it up in the second, and particularly in the fourth quarter. QB Jordan Love had an epically good evening, throwing for 360 yards, 3 TDs and at one point completing 20 passes in a row, tying the Packers franchise record held by Brett Favre. Love said after the game he had no idea how many passes he had consecutively completed and that he was tied with Favre for the record; he said he may not have chucked that 21st pass into the turf if he had known. Either way, well done, Mr. Love.

One of the big factors for Love's success on the night was the return of WR Christian Watson coming off his torn ACL recovery. It looked like Watson hadn't lost a step and caught all four  passes on which he was targeted for 85 yards on the night. Welcome back, Mr. Watson!

Another big factor for Love and the Packers offense was the big night for TE Tucker Kraft, who had 143 yards receiving on seven catches with more than 131 of those yards coming after the catch ... yes, that amazing YAC stat! Can it be argued that Kraft is one of the top tight ends in the NFL at this point? A-duh! He was targeted 10 times for the second game in a row. That is getting into Receiver #1 territory...in fact, the last time a Packers receiver was targeted 10 time in three straight games was Davante Adams in 2021 (if memory serves). If it seems as if head coach Matt LaFleur is game-planning around Kraft it might just well be because he is. And a third straight 10 target game might well be in the cards today.

DE Michael Parsons (#1) had a big night for the Packers against the

team's former starting QB, Aaron Rodgers (shown here as a stand-in is

the Bengals Joe Flacco), including a sack and multiple pressures.

(Photo by Tork Mason, USA Today NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Oh, and the Packers defense did what they needed to do against former QB Rodgers, including sacking the increasingly immobile A-Aron. DE Micah Parsons was part of that sack success. And when he wasn't directly involved in the sack, he created such havoc that others, such as Rashan Gary, also recorded sacks. May it continue thusly.

All in all, the Pack won in Pittsburgh for the first time since the immortal Bart Starr was QB'ing the Packers ... in 1970. Guess you could say Green Bay was due.

In the process, as this may well be the last time that Rodgers plays against his former team, he has beaten 31 of the NFL's 32 teams; he did not get the win against the Packers. Amen.

We were also fairly close on our final prediction...but the Pack, thankfully, did slightly better than expected, which is always welcome, of course. We had it going 30-27 in favor of the Packers, the final score was 35-25.

The Preview

While it is expected that Carolina will have starting QB Bryce Young back today, they do have some potential concerns with others. Cade Mays (C) and Princely Umanmielen (OLB) are ruled out, a number of others are questionable. While 4-4, the Panthers got smacked by the Bills last week, 40-9. Granted Young did not play, forcing the Cats to go with veteran QB Andy Dalton who did not have a good day, obviously.

The Packers come into this game fairly healthy. Granted, the Pack still has issues to resolve as we go into Week 9 (!) of the season. Chief among them, some might say, is that the running game is still not rolling. Carolina could be the ideal opponent to match up against to help remedy that situation: they gave up 245 yards and 12 first downs rushing to the Bills. Ouch. Still, as reports note, Carolina has allowed 200 or more yards rushing twice in their eight games, but they've allowed only an average of 75 yards per game in the other six. A bit of a Jekyll-Hyde thing. While RB Josh Jacobs has been productive in terms of scoring touchdowns, the big chunks of yardage haven't yet been there. His backfield partner, however — Emanuel Wilson — so far has been the back to reel off some good runs. Between the two, they should have a big day today. Particularly since there now seems to be stability on the offensive line.

Now, some have referred to today's game — only the second home game in the last seven! — as the proverbial trap game with next Monday night's game against the Eagles (who have a bye this week...oy) on the horizon. The Packers can't look past the Panthers. We don't need a repeat of the Cleveland game (the horror...the horror....). But I don't believe the coaches or the leaders on the team will let that happen. They can't let that happen.

We're still looking for a full 60-minute game from this squad. Could they use this game as a tune-up in that regard for the Eagles? That would be good. Very good.

The weather report for today's game has the temps in the low 50s, with any rain holding off until later in the evening, but winds may be gusting up to 25 miles per hour during the game. Challenging.

By the way, Brandon McManus will once again be the active kicker for the Packers. Phenom fill-in and Packers record holder for the longest FG in franchise history (61 yards!) K Lukas Havrisik is still on the roster but again inactive today. But with the trade deadline coming up and other key personnel coming off IR in the weeks ahead, Packers management may face a difficult decision on the kicking front in the coming days. McManus, after missing two field goals last week (including a 57-yarder), needs to reestablish his consistency today when given his opportunities. Havrisik will likely be playing for someone the remainder of the season given his audition with the Pack. But if the team is unable to trade him, they will need to release him and will likely be picked up by another team. He's a kicker you'd love to keep on the practice squad but he would need to be released and not picked up in order for that to happen. Not likely. Anyway, keep an eye on his performance today.

The Packers will be wearing their 1923 throwback uniforms today,

including hand-painted "leather" look helmets. Very cool.

(Photo by Evan Siegle, Green Bay Packers)

The Prediction

The Packers are favored by 13 points at the time of this writing, if one is a betting person and is concerned about such things. We're always uncomfortable with a spread that large. We're happy with a "W" regardless of the final sores. Still, it should be noted that this is a game in which the Pack should dominate in all phases of the game. Whether that is reflected in the final score or not ... ???

We're calling this game Packers 34 - Panthers 20.

Go Pack Go!!!

P.S. The Packers will be wearing their 1923 throwback uniforms today, including hand-painted "leather" look helmets. According to Packers historian Cliff Christl, these 1923 uni's reflect perhaps the most important year in Packers history: it was the year the Packers became a publicly held, nonprofit corporation. As Christl noted in a recent radio interview, if that had not happened the likelihood of the team surviving and remaining in Green Bay would have been slim and none. Keep that in mind as you watch the game today. And thank those community visionaries of more than 100 years ago for putting the future of the team in the hands of the fans. And if you're like more than 500,000 fellow fans, we salute you as a fellow owner of the Packers.