Packers Should Set Sights on Eagles and Seahawks
The Packers will likely need former first round pick Jordan Morgan to emerge as a difference maker on the offensive line in order to catch the league's last two champions: the Eagles and Seahawks.
Seahawks and Eagles are new measuring stick for NFC
For the second time in the last decade, the NFC has won two straight Super Bowls. In 2020 and 2021 it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams. In 2024 and 2025 it was the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.
The two most recent winners are the new measuring stick for the rest of the conference. For the Packers, they defeated the Seahawks last season but are 0-3 against the Eagles in the last two seasons.
The current dominance of the Eagles and Seahawks feels very similar to the teams the Packers struggled against a few years after their last Super Bowl championship.
From 2012 to 2014, the two teams who represented the NFC in the Super Bowl were the Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers; two teams the Packers went 0-7 against over those three seasons.
In the current Seahawks and Eagles and the past Seahawks and 49ers, a common strength of all of those teams was their tremendous defensive units. The Seahawks and Eagles both have two Super Bowl titles in the last 13 seasons, and all four champions were really good at rushing the passer.
The Seahawks sacked Drake Maye six times and forced the quarterback into three turnovers, including an interception return for a touchdown which sealed the game in the 4th quarter.
A year ago, the Eagles pass defense sacked Patrick Mahomes five times in the Super Bowl, had two first-half interceptions, one of which was also returned for a touchdown.
In both games, the Patriots and Chiefs did not score a touchdown until the second half.
For the Packers to compete with the Eagles and Seahawks, their two biggest weaknesses from this last season will both have to be addressed in order to get over this hump of not being the NFC’s Super Bowl representative the last 15 seasons.
The biggest weaknesses the past season were the play of the offensive line and the interior defensive line. The play of the cornerbacks was probably the third on the list, but to match up with teams like Seattle and Philadelphia, the Packers can not get pushed around on the line of scrimmage.
Who will step forward on the offensive line?
After the offensive line disaster in the 2024 wild card loss to the Eagles, the Packers used major resources on the position in the last two offseasons, draft picks Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton were starters by the end of last season after injuries hit the line. Aaron Banks was signed to be a fixture for the next few years at left guard, however he did not play up to his contract as one of the highest paid guards in the league. The Packers are likely counting on those three plus Zach Tom to reliable starters in 2026. The starter at the center position in the air with Sean Rhyan as an impending free agent and Elgton Jenkins being a veteran with a big cap number, who’s also coming off a major injury.
Will there be upgrades at defensive tackle?
When the Packers made the trade for Micah Parsons, as successful as that move was for the Packers defense, it weakened the interior of the defensive line with the trade of veteran Kenny Clark. The position did have success early in the season before injuries hit the front seven. Devonte Wyatt was a difference maker on the interior, but he had trouble staying healthy once again. Lukas Van Ness and Parsons both added a presence as interior rushers, but both also missed games to injury.
The team also moved on from nose tackle T.J. Slaton and his loss was felt against the run. Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks were adequate players at defensive tackle, but both had trouble replacing the production of Clark, Wyatt and Slaton. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will likely have to add players at defensive tackle early in the draft and in free agency.
Can the Packers compete with those two in 2026
Despite finishing behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North standings and losing to their rivals twice in the final four weeks of the 2025 season, the Packers should be favorites in the NFC North in 2026. The team will return three key difference makers who did not finish this past season: Parsons, Tom and tight end Tucker Kraft.
If the offensive line can improve from within it should help quarterback Jordan Love and the passing game, which had glimpses of being an elite unit in the league when they had a healthy group of Chistian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs. With Doubs likely leaving in free agency, the possible emergence of Golden to go with Watson, Reed and Kraft should give the Packers offense the firepower it needs to go farther in January.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
__________________________
Comments (16)
HarryHodag
February 10, 2026 at 04:57 pm
Can't disagree with many points, especially for the need of improved play on both lines. Most fans judge a team's success by how many passes the quarterback completes. The reality is, as Seattle clearly showed, is the offensive and defensive lines must be among the best in the league. They also need to be aggressive, something severely lacking at times this past season.
Without getting into the whole coaching thing, the major difference for next season will be the health of the team. Too many games lost by key players to injury.
I would also caution about picking the Packers as favorites to win the division. It's going to be a dogfight with no team that much ahead of the others. Detroit likely will rebound. They still have great talent.
Since'75
February 10, 2026 at 05:32 pm
"The reality is, as Seattle clearly showed, is the offensive and defensive lines..."
*********
Generally speaking, most games are won or lost at the LOS.
HarryHodag
February 10, 2026 at 09:23 pm
Many fans, and especially the national sports media dopes, think all you need is a quarterback and a couple of track stars as wide receivers.
Since'75
February 10, 2026 at 05:02 pm
"The Packers will likely need former first round pick Jordan Morgan to emerge as a difference maker on the offensive line......."
A difference maker?
Hell, i think we should all be happy if he's a serviceable left tackle in his 3rd season.
********
"Brian Gutekunst said it’s ideal but unrealistic for Jordan Morgan to work solely at LT this offseason, even if the Packers plan for the 2024 first-rounder to start there next season." - Matt Schneidman
*******
"Brian Gutekunst's insistence Jordan Morgan will continue to crosstrain at guard should be genuinely worrying.
Rasheed Walker wasn't cross-training. He was the LT.
If you're not sure he's an OT and think he still might be better at guard (where he was BAD last year), yikes." - Peter Bukowski
egbertsouse
February 10, 2026 at 05:23 pm
The Packers should be favorites for the NFC North title? C’mon, man! They should be third in the division if Minnesota doesn’t find a decent quarterback.
BuckyBadger
February 11, 2026 at 08:04 am
You can look at the sports books and almost all of them have Green Bay as the favorite. I saw one have Detroit slightly ahead of them but it was basically even odds.
Chicago are frauds and the Lions missed their window and need to rebuild their OL more so than GB. Minnesota doesn't have a QB and there isn't much for them to go get. Packers should be the favorites.
Collins26
February 10, 2026 at 07:12 pm
The focus should be on winning the division. Something that hasn't happened since 2021.
Since'75
February 11, 2026 at 05:20 am
^This guy gets it.^
If all three teams in your Division has bested you the last three seasons, your first goal is to win your division.
splitpea1
February 10, 2026 at 08:06 pm
The Packers need to get more physical, period.
Agreed that we absolutely need to get better in the trenches, but getting better players and plays at the CB position is not to be overlooked, either. Did you see Witherspoon blitzing in the Super Bowl? He was a bit of a wrecking ball with a sack and another pressure that led to an interception TD. Of course Gannon has to be willing to use the CBs in this way on occasion and deviate from the unsensational "bend but don't break" philosophy. A little creativity and changeup would be most welcome
No need to worry about who the favorite is in the division yet. The Bears, Packers, and LIons will all be in the mix. Just because a couple players are coming back from injury doesn't automatically give them the crown--that's why they play the games.
BuckyBadger
February 11, 2026 at 09:12 am
They aren't just getting some players back. They will be getting back two blue chip players that are to 3 of what they do and are game changers in Kraft and Parsons. Then a very good Tackle in Tom makes a big difference. Those 3 players missing is probably enough to move a point spread 3 to 4 pts which is huge in the NFL.
Houndog
February 11, 2026 at 07:50 am
Mitch,
"the Packers should be favorites in the NFC North in 2026"?
What team have you been watching, Mitch?
The Lions and Da Bears have coaches that instill fierce attitudes, killer instincts, and confidence into their players.
The Packers do not!
BuckyBadger
February 11, 2026 at 09:08 am
Packers are the favorites of the NFC North. How good did the Lions do this year? The Bears are frauds.
TKWorldWide
February 11, 2026 at 08:03 am
Remember when Wolf drafted Antuan Edwards, Fred Vinson, and Mike McKenzie in that order? Which DB was the best of the 3? And which one did he trade to Seattle for Ahman Green? Ron Wolf was a boss!!
BuckyBadger
February 11, 2026 at 09:07 am
Did anyone watch the Eagles and Seattle and thought they where unbeatable in the playoffs? A healthy Packers team would be under 2pt spread on a neutral field and probably no more +3.5 on their turf. The Bears gave the Rams all they could handle and that team was fraud IMO winning on TO luck and fluke plays most of the year. They will take a step back next year as turnover regression is all but inevitable and Caleb still isn't efficient enough to run an elite offense.
Seattle had a great run but winning on defense like they did is very hard to repeat. How many of the defensive teams have repeat in the last 50 years? Their coaching staff will have change over and Sam Darnold still isn't a world beater. Philly had to fire their coordinators and their H.C. doesn't always seem to have a great grasp of the team. Not to mention their QB and #1 WR seem to hate each other.
TKWorldWide
February 11, 2026 at 10:38 am
Patriots had fewest injuries, Seattle was third.
Players matter.
ThinkBig
February 13, 2026 at 03:38 pm
Defense wins Super Bowls! Seattle, Phil, KC, KC, Tampa, KC......They all had stud defensive lines that collapsed the pocket and CB's who didn't play 12 to 15 yards off the ball when it is 3rd or 4th down and 5 or less for a first down or play a super soft zone when it is 4th down and long! Seattle and Phil's Defensive Tackles not only stopped the run, but they collapsed the pocket from the interior, and the Defensive Ends would force quick passes that were off target or tipped at the line of scrimmage and caused turnovers.....in addition, they would blitz (just like Flores and the Vikings) on 3rd or 4th down and play press coverage. Not drafting Carter, Smith, Mitchel, or DeJean are perfect examples of blown opportunities by Gute! LaFluer needs to be more aggressive on play calls when it is called for and take the points on field goals.....going for it 4th and 6 in the Red Zone is plain STUPID!!!!!!