The Green Bay Packers are officially 4-3 after a frustrating last-second 20-17 loss to the division rival Detroit Lions. The offense continued to suffer from another case of the dropsies, Jordan Love lost two more offensive linemen, and the refs…the refs! Let’s dive into this weekend’s winners and losers.
Winner: Jordan Love
QB Jordan Love is once again making do while the world falls apart around him. After starting C Sean Rhyan went down with an injury in the first quarter, Jacob Monk subbed in and…also left the game
with an injury. Like, almost immediately after. Did you guys know John Williams played center? Does John Williams know he plays center? Love was running for his life on Sunday, and still able to make some incredible plays in the process, like his gorgeous TD pass to TE Tucker Kraft in the first quarter.
With almost no time to throw, he was somehow able to get this one to WR Savion Williams on 4th and 5. Later in the game, he had another gorgeous throw to WR Christian Watson on 4th and 3.
Along with the pocket collapsing around him, Love had to deal with the drops. THE DROPS. This time it was Bo Melton and Josh Jacobs getting into the act. Jacobs’ drop, in particular, cost the team a go-ahead touchdown.
Love finished the game 27 for 45 (60%) for 274 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, and 0 roughing the passer calls.
Winner: Javon Bullard
The Packers safety continues to impress this season. He had some great coverage on WR Amon-Ra St. Brown to force an incompletion on 3rd and 17, and the Lions punted as a result. Later in the game, he tackled St. Brown for a big loss on a jet sweep, a play which otherwise might’ve done some damage to the Packers in years past. Bullard is playing like a stud in 2026. He finished the game with 2 total tackles and 1 PD.
Winner: Evan Williams
Lions QB Jared Goff has yet to throw a pick this season, and S Evan Williams came close to changing that, twice. The drops from the offense unfortunately carried over to the defense, because Williams dropped both of his near-picks. That’ll be the big story about Williams’ play from Sunday, but he was disruptive all over the field, as he has been all year. Williams finished the day with 9 total tackles and 1 PD. All-Pro season: still on.
Loser: Matthew Golden
WR Matthew Golden has blossomed into one of Jordan Love’s favorite targets, and for good reason. Golden is a playmaker, and he’s hard to beat without getting called for PI. Love targeted Golden a game-high 12 times on Sunday but he caught just 6 of 12 targets for 39 yards. He had some really great plays, like his first quarter catch below, but the drops continue to stain the Packers offense in 2026, and they need to be fixed, fast.
Loser: Josh Jacobs
The RB finished the day with 11 carries for 36 yards, 5 catches for 55 yards, and 1 TD. He also pled no contest to battery in September after a May 2026 incident involving his former girlfriend and dropped a go-ahead touchdown. Yikes.
Loser: Trey Smack
Brandon McManus, I order you to stop haunting my rookie kicker’s body immediately. Smack was absolutely atrocious on Sunday, ruining what was otherwise a pretty nice opening drive for the Packers offense when he missed a 26 yard FG. Later in the game (and exactly one play after Jacobs’ drop), he missed a 35 yarder after it looked like a Lions player got a hand on it. 6 points left on the field by the kicker. The Packers lost by 3 points. Math is fun (derogatory.)
The Packers have a short week as they head back home to face off against the 3-3 Carolina Panthers, who just got blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend. The Panthers have given the Packers a bit of trouble in recent years: they beat them 16-13 in 2025, and nearly beat them on Christmas Eve during their 2023 meeting (with a 2-12 record!) Can the Packers right the ship with just a couple days off? Find out on Thursday Night Football.
