The Green Bay Packers took a step forward in 2024. They added two more wins to their total, made the playoffs for the second straight year under Jordan Love, and—at times—looked like a team capable of making noise in January.
The defense was more consistent. First-year coordinator Jeff Hafley brought a sense of cohesion, and the unit played its best football in years.
But progress in the NFL isn’t linear, and with every step forward, there were missteps. When the playoffs arrived, Green Bay ran into the same issues that haunted them all season. If they want to take the next leap and avoid another early postseason exit, there are four glaring weaknesses they need to address.
1. Clean Up Self-Inflicted Mistakes
The Packers didn’t need an opponent to beat them in big moments—they did a good job of that themselves. Whether it was turnovers, penalties, or questionable coaching decisions, Green Bay consistently found ways to trip over its own feet when it mattered most.
They finished the season ranked 23rd in penalties per game at 6.6. Only two playoff teams were worse, and none made it past the divisional round.
They had a knack for picking the worst moments to make costly mistakes, whether it was a momentum-killing penalty, a turnover deep in enemy territory, or a blown defensive assignment.
Some of this is expected from a young team. This year’s Packers were the second-youngest team to ever make the playoffs, trailing only last year’s Packers. That’s a cool stat to toss around, but it doesn’t win championships. If Green Bay is serious about taking the next step, they need to clean up these unforced errors.
The challenge is figuring out where improvement comes from. Discipline issues tend to be part coaching, part personnel, and part the natural growth of young players.
The Packers have plenty of talent, but winning in January requires more than that. They need to become a smarter, more disciplined team.
2. Find a More Consistent Pass Rush
If you look at the raw stats, Green Bay’s pass rush doesn’t seem like a problem. They tied for eighth in the NFL with 45 sacks and ranked 11th in sack percentage (7.4 percent).
But dig a little deeper, and the inconsistencies are glaring. The Packers racked up eight sacks against Tennessee in Week 3 and another seven against Seattle in Week 15. That means one-third of their total sack production came in just two games. Meanwhile, they had seven games with one or fewer sacks.
The pressure was streaky, and that’s a problem. A defense can’t be feast or famine when it comes to getting after the quarterback, especially in today’s pass-heavy NFL.
The issue starts at the top. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are the two highest-paid defensive players on the team, and neither lived up to expectations this season. If the Packers are going to rely on them as foundational pieces, they need more consistency.
But the problem isn’t just about star players—it’s about depth. Lukas Van Ness showed flashes, but he wasn’t an every-week factor. The defensive line lacked a true second wave of pass rushers to keep the heat on opposing quarterbacks.
The solution is a little bit of everything. Gutekunst needs to hit the free-agent and draft markets for reinforcements, but Green Bay also needs internal growth. Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, and Devonte Wyatt all need to take the next step. If that happens, and if Gary and Clark deliver like stars, this defense can get where it needs to be.
3. Add Offensive Playmakers
At their best, Green Bay’s offense was explosive. But at their worst, it was a slog. And far too often, it was the latter.
Jordan Love had 37 explosive passing plays in 2023. That number plummeted to 17 in 2024. That’s a dramatic drop-off for a quarterback who was supposed to be ascending following a massive contract extension.
A big issue they faced is drops. Jayden Reed finished top 10 in the NFL in drops while Dontayvion Wicks led the league in drop percentage. If those two—and the rest of Green Bay’s receivers—just catch the passes they’re supposed to, Love’s numbers look a whole lot better.
The second issue is yards after the catch. Reed was dynamic early in the year but fell off a cliff in the second half. After racking up 620 yards in his first nine games, he managed just 237 yards in his final eight. Wicks, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson also struggled to make things happen after the catch.
And speaking of Watson, his torn ACL throws another wrench into Green Bay’s plans. If he’s not ready to go at the start of next season, the Packers can’t afford to rely on internal improvement alone. They need to add another playmaker to this offense, whether it’s a free agent, a draft pick, or a trade.
Love has the tools to be a great quarterback. But he needs weapons who can actually make plays.
4. Be More Aggressive on Fourth Downs
The NFL is shifting. Teams are going for it on fourth down at record rates, and the math overwhelmingly supports the aggression (sorry, analytics-haters).
Meanwhile, the Packers zigged while the rest of the league zagged.
Green Bay attempted just 16 fourth-down conversions this season, one of the lowest totals in the league. Their passiveness was glaring against aggressive teams like the Detroit Lions, who scored multiple fourth-down touchdowns against them this year and iced a game against Green Bay with a gutsy fourth-down call.
Matt LaFleur started his coaching tenure in Green Bay as an aggressive playcaller, but that approach has faded. In big games, especially, he gets too conservative. That needs to change.
Some of this ties back to the lack of playmakers. If LaFleur doesn’t trust his guys to convert, he’s less likely to roll the dice.
But at some point, the Packers have to lean into playing to win, not playing to not lose. LaFleur should spend the offseason studying the successful offenses across the league. One common factor he may notice is their aggressiveness in key situations on fourth downs. In a copycat league, that's a great thing to copy.
If Green Bay wants to be a contender, it starts with fixing the details. They need to clean up their mistakes, create a consistent pass rush, add weapons, and embrace a more aggressive mentality.
Because the NFL isn’t waiting for them to figure it out.