Captains’ Code: Breaking Down 2025 NFL Team DNA — Green Bay Packers
Edition #286
Everyone’s doing season previews — but we’re doing something different. The
Captains’ Code is all about what really makes or breaks an NFL team. It’s not just about rosters or vibes. It’s about the identity, the pressure points, the bold calls, and the one thing that could send everything crashing down… or finally take them over the top. No filler. Just straight-up football breakdowns that tell you what actually matters heading into 2025.
The X-Factor That Will Make or Break This Season
Health pending, the Packers will at some point this season have six very viable receiving targets on offense: WRs Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Matthew Golden, and TE Tucker Kraft. Yes, that’s a ton of talent… but who is the guy? We’ll now be three years into the Jordan Love era and a go-to target, a la Davante Adams, has yet to emerge from the Green Bay receiving room. But that guy might now be in the building. At least that’s what the Packers are hoping. Early reports from Packers training camp on Matthew Golden are promising and he may just have the hands and the physical traits to be that reliable week to week target the Packers have been so desperately needing for their young QB.
Last Year’s Numbers:
-4th in offensive DVOA and 7th on defense
-Youngest offense in the league in 2024, 2nd youngest defense
-Will be the youngest team again in 2025
-1-6 against the NFC North
-Only 22 sacks taken by GB QBs (2nd best in NFL, behind BUF 14)
-10th in sacks on defense, but 17th in QB Hits
-14th in third down conversion % (can a reliable Matthew Golden help lift this?)
Key Player(s) to Watch: The Heroes and the Wild Cards
Matthew Golden on offense and Lukas Van Ness on defense.
As just mentioned, the Packers desperately need someone to emerge from the wide receiver room as a trustworthy option for Jordan Love. Matthew Golden has been catching everything thrown his way in the preseason and if he can continue that trend in the regular season, Green Bay could be cooking with gas. On the defensive side of the ball, outside linebacker Lukas Van Ness has yet to live up to the expectations associated with being drafted 13th overall. All eyes are on him as he enters his third season. If he can get closer to double digit sack numbers (4 in 2023 and 3 in 2024), then the Packers pass rush, which still includes 2024 Pro Bowl selection Rashan Gary, all of a sudden becomes extremely formidable.
Coaching: What’s Different This Year?
The Green Bay defense improved as the 2024 season went along under first year Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley. Anytime a coordinator enters their second season and their scheme becomes more understood by the roster, the expectation is for improvement to continue. That is certainly the expectation for Hafley’s unit in 2025. To help with the defensive front, the Packers brought in DeMarcus Covington to be the Defensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator, and promoted Sean Duggan to coach linebackers. Covington in particular should bring a noticeable difference to the defense. He was part of the Belichick Patriots teams from 2017 to 2023.
The Bold Prediction
Jordan Love will enter the MVP conversation and lead the Packers to the NFC’s #1 seed.
The Realistic Win Total & Why
11-6.
Last season, the best of Green Bay didn’t show up against 2024 playoff teams, let alone the three other teams in the NFC North. Still, they won 11 games and made the playoffs. If this young roster takes a step forward and they can snag a couple more wins against Minnesota and Detroit (teams with major questions to answer in 2025), why can’t they get back to (or surpass) the 11-win mark?
The Biggest Question Mark Heading Into 2025
The questions Green Bay faces in 2025 are much less existential than their division rivals. But their biggest question is still worth calling out: where is the elite talent on this roster? They have guys everywhere… but unless some of these guys take meaningful steps toward being All-Pro caliber talents, it might be another disappointing season in Wisconsin.
My Takeaway
The Green Bay Packers have one of the highest floors in the league this season, but their ceiling will be determined by whether or not true stars emerge on either side of the ball.
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Green Bay is one of those teams that seems to be overlooked since the Rodger’s drama has left. It would be nice to see them become a young elite team.