Competitive balance is good for business, so I can understand why the NFL strives for it so much. I also think a general improvement in coaching has helped a lot, too. Even the truly dysfunctional organizations have a glimmer of hope these days.

After watching the Packers defensive line get completely dominated by the Panthers patchwork offensive line, I shudder to think what the Eagles line might do. Of course, that probably means the Packers line will play like the Steel Curtain and completely shut down the Eagles running game...because that's just the sort of thing that seems normal this season.

I do not care how other teams are doing. Yes I watch the games but in the end all I care about is how the Packers are doing?

It is frustrating watching the Packers lose to teams they should beat. It does not give me confidence when they face a team that is better on paper like this week.

To win the SB a team must be very good in all three aspects, they need to have few penalties, they need to win the turnover margins, and they have to make the right decisions. I do not see the Packers doing that.

Thats a good write Ken, that the NFL installed dynamics that tend to equalize teams and allow small market teams to compete (in contrast to baseball). Then thereafter it is the quality of GM, scouts and coaches to take ad advantage of the favorable dynamics, or not. That makes a good product and in the end attracts and retains fans.
The right synchrony of coaches and GM is probably the biggest difference maker on success vs laughingstock. Get that right...and its a matter of time when you're picking at the top of each round (or in essence getting what's akin to a free first rounder compared to the SB champion franchise), as you mention: panthers, Patriots, Broncos appear to be examples (though too early to know; we thought commanders were legit).
Powerhouse teams still have advantages in attracting FAs to a winning culture....so there is still that, and so be it. A winning team culture is attractive...and is a reward in itself as is salary.
I'm not quite sure where you were going with the "young QB" bit though. Has anything changed regarding young QB talent? Just a fluke about so many young new QBs such as you list? Oh...and did you intend to omit JLove? Just curious.

Never been a fan of whataboutism.

With 17 of 32 teams having at least 5 wins that puts the Packers around average. Seems about right. What will differentiate this team from others vying for the top? As the weather cools and the power teams assert themselves will we be able to play that kind of ball. We'll need to see a big step by both the O-line and D-line if we want to be part of any playoff discussion.

I am not sure if a Jordan Love "jump on my back game" is going to do it but some guys need to show the team what is needed. Guys like Gary, Wyatt, Jenkins and Musgrave need to step up

Very good article Ken. I laughed at my spin class instructor after week 2...he's a Cowboys fan. He was all ready to concede the Super Bowl to the Packers. Coaches and players are constantly telling us, it's hard each and every week to win in the NFL, and we as fans sometimes ignore that fact.

That is why the Packers need to stop the silly mistakes and pre-snap penalties. They have the talent to beat anyone, but you can't do it when your constantly aiming the gun at you foot.

What about laziness, poor route-running, missed tackles, acting like a bystanderand committing the same penalties? What about coming out flat and disengaged? What about having a poorly-researched game plan?
I listened to Andy Herman's player grades and after he watched the Panther's game a second time, he said Doubs, Golden, Heath and maybe Watson ran lazy, bad routes. Jordan couldn't find them. Rodgers would have dressed down lax receivers and rightfully so.Is Golden already engaging in bad habits? Where is the receiver coach? Love may have his own issues but he has to deal with an erratic play-caller, a leaky O-Line and lazy route-runners. Many of these recurring problems are fixable but the current Offensive coaching staff including MLF are lax.

I very much dislike repeated ineptness. This is what is called 'shooting oneself in the foot'-it has nothing to do with parity. The reason Tucker Kraft is missed is because he was starting to carry this raggedy group-he was the heart, he was going to be responsible for leading-As a 24 y/o he shouldn't have to do that.

Is the Packers roster head and shoulders better than the rest of the NFL?
No. It’s definitely got talent, but not vastly superior to the rest of the league.
Accepting that is true, WHY do we expect them to dominate week after week? Because we WANT them to? Because we DESERVE it?
I’ve said it before: welcome to the roller coaster that is the modern NFL.
GPG!

Packers are under performing , that's poor coaching.

"The Denver Broncos rose from the ashes in two years."

Broncos have always been my 2nd team, spent a lot of my life in Denver. I am not sold on them. The Defense is great but they are the luckiest 8-2 team ever.

The trip from worst to first in the NFL is often a short journey today. Parity is alive and well in allocating the player talent pool. The Cap Monster, free agency, and schedule development all ensure it.

Where there is a lack of "parity" is in hiring Management and Coaching talent that any given team can assemble. This is the greatest difference maker, IMO. And if the team has both top management and coaching, they usually make the playoffs.

And if they have poor management or below average coaching or both...even selecting at the top of the draft rarely helps them leave the basement.

All I know is its the teams with very good defenses that are at least staying in their games. No one is blowing them out. Add a passing and running game and your looking at the few elite teams. Rveryone else is fighting to survive.

Ken Lass: "The Lass Word: Everybody's Good, Nobody's Good"

Ken, are you stealing theme from the opening line of the book "A Tail Of Two Cities"?

Packers by 8 plus

Halfway through the season, half the teams have 5 wins. I like that. I wouldn't want to be a fan of a team that's already out of it and still has to go out and get beaten for another two months .

I wonder if all the fans of the other 5 win teams feel their team should/could have been undefeated at this point.? Anyway, if you have 5 wins at this point, you're in the mix.

Eagles-Packers-Lions-Bucs-Rams-Seahawks-49ers. Those are the top teams in the NFC, the playoff teams at the halfway point. This is a very important game for the 2025 Packers. It's hard to argue we're the best team in the NFC if we can't defend our home field. A win puts us out front, a loss puts us clearly behind Philadelphia, even though we could still win the division and make the playoffs.

This is primetime, under the lights, best against best. I really hope the offense gets off the bus and shows up in the first half. We're going to miss Kraft, no doubt, but the door of opportunity is open for somebody else now.

The defense will keep the game close, as they have in every game. The Eagles don't turn it over, they're very good in short yardage and redzone offense. This is the best offense we've faced, they've had a week of rest, and keeping a leash on them isn't going to be easy. I'm hoping we can keep them under 30, and I'm hoping we can score at least 30. We're not going to win this scoring 13 points.

There's always been a dominant franchise during certain eras, and that trend doesn't seem to be ending. Kansas City keeps making it to Super Bowls, largely thanks to having an outstanding quarterback, which is the norm for those dominant franchise runs.

In my view, since the introduction of free agency, parity in the league has consistently strengthened and is noticeable nearly every year. This season is no exception. Even dominant teams, and certainly most others, rarely make it through a season without some bad games against supposedly weaker opponents.

Great title for the article.