The Green Bay Packers continued their fall down the USA Today NFL power rankings after losing by three touchdowns to the previously winless Atlanta Falcons in the home opener in Week 3. The Packers, who started the season at No. 16 and were No. 20 after beating the New York Jets in overtime in Week 2, fell six more spots entering Week 4, landing at a season-low ranking of No. 26.
Dark times have arrived in Green Bay. Instead of looking like a Super Bowl contender to start Matt LaFleur's eighth season in charge, the Packers look like one of the NFL's worst teams through three weeks.
In his blurb, Nate Davis of USA Today said he does not think Packers quarterback Jordan Love has elevated those around him to start 2026.
From Davis: "While he's been
hindered by key offensive absences, Jordan Love does not look like a quarterback who deserved a $55 million-a-year contract."
It's a debatable claim, given the Packers have a historically bad run game, a truly disastrous pass-blocking offensive line and pass-catchers who lead the NFL in drops. Is there a quarterback in the game who could thrive in these circumstances?
Nothing has gone right for the Packers offense, particularly up front. Fixing the blocking is the No. 1 priority, and the Packers signed two veterans this week, potentially providing some immediate help. Can the offensive line keep Love from getting hit a dozen more times on Sunday?
A chance to rebound does arrive in Week 4. The Packers go to Tampa Bay to play the Buccaneers, who sit at No. 31 in USA Today's NFL power rankings after an 0-3 start. Tampa Bay, the lone winless team in the NFC, will start undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback against the Packers. Only the Miami Dolphins, under former Packers coach Jeff Hafley and former Packers quarterback Malik Willis, sit below the Bucs in the rankings.
Packers power rankings by week (USA Today)
- Week 1: No. 16
- Week 2: No. 22
- Week 3: No. 20
- Week 4: No. 26
Here's where the Packers rank in other national power rankings entering Week 4:
ESPN: No. 20 (down 3 spots)
From Rob Demovsky on the season's fantasy football surprise: "Coming off last season's torn ACL, Kraft was ninth among tight ends in our draft rankings. Through three games, he's 27th in fantasy points at the position. Kraft has just nine catches for 108 yards and no touchdowns despite not being on a snap limit. As bad as the Packers' offensive line has been, the Packers still rank tied for fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game. But Kraft has not been a big part of that."
NFL.com: No. 28 (down 8 spots)
From Nick Shook : "Matt LaFleur accurately summarized Thursday's 21-point loss to Atlanta in the postgame interview, calling it a 'humbling night.' Green Bay’s offense lacks a running game and is putting too much on the shoulders of Jordan Love, and the defense’s inability to tackle effectively doomed the Packers in their second defeat. It’s fair to say they could easily be 0-3 right now, and I’m not sure where they go from here. If these issues persist against the Buccaneers in Week 4, we’ll be entering crisis territory."
Yahoo Sports: No. 25 (down 5 spots)
From Frank Schwab: "This is as low as the Packers have been ranked in a while. They haven't had a double-digit loss season since 2008. The Packers might not reach 10 losses this season either, but it has been an ugly start. The defense was OK before it allowed 498 yards on Thursday to the Falcons' Michael Penix Jr., who hadn't played a game in 10 months. Green Bay's offense is 25th in EPA per play and 30th in success rate, primarily because the offensive line is a mess. Jordan Love has been pressured on 44.4% of his dropbacks, according to PFF, which is a career high. The line isn't doing great blocking for a mediocre group of running backs either. The Packers average a league-worst 3 yards per carry. Head coach Matt LaFleur is on an early hot seat after that awful loss to the Falcons, in part because it's hard to figure out how the Packers turn it around."
CBS Sports: No. 22 (down 9 spots)
From Pete Prisco: "They have big problems across the board. The offensive line can't block, they can't run it, Jordan Love hasn't been good and the defense has been mauled. Other than that, everything is good."
The Athletic: No. 27 (down 9 spots)
From Josh Kendall and Chad Graff: "Green Bay has lost five of its last six games, and that’s always going to fall on the quarterback, but the Packers defense has given up 30 points per game in that stretch, and Love hasn’t been that bad (11 touchdowns, four interceptions). That said, he had the fifth-lowest completion percentage of his career Thursday (52.8) behind a battered offensive line that allowed him to get hit 14 times."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers keep falling in NFL power rankings after humbling home opener loss
