Because of their lackluster start to the 2026 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers find themselves in an urgent situation just four games in. The Packers stand 1-2 and are virtually three games behind the NFC North-leading and undefeated Minnesota Vikings because of their opening-game loss in Minneapolis. With that, and realizing just 14 games remain, every contest from here on out becomes extremely vital. Green Bay can ill-afford many more catastrophic defeats as the season nears the quarter turn on the season’s track.
Sunday’s road contest at the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the first of those critical events. The following is a preview of what the Pack must do to get back to .500.
Much has been reported on the inept performance of Green Bay’s offensive line through the first three games. Against Minnesota, the Vikings pressured quarterback Jordan Love endlessly into giving up a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead, thanks to three sacks and two turnovers in the final 16 minutes.
In their lone win, a gutty 20-17 overtime road win over the New York Jets in week 2, the Packers rushed for just 63 yards. Against the Atlanta Falcons last Thursday night, Green Bay runners gained only 17 yards in nine carries.
The line’s woes are partly due to injury. Starting tackle Zach Bako-Bewele tore a patellar tendon against the Jets and is out for the season. Guard Aaron Banks, who has played just one half of football this season, is doubtful to play against the Buccaneers. Jacob Monk, who was thrust into the lineup because of Banks’ ailments, did not practice this week because of his quadriceps muscle.
Those who have actually participated as an offensive lineman this season have been, well, offensive. According to Pro Football Focus, Green Bay’s front five rank dead last (32nd) in the NFL, citing the 28 quarterback pressures allowed against the Atlanta Falcons.
To their credit, the Packers’ front office has not buried their collective heads in the sand in hopes of the troubles going away. Green Bay had a busy week of “Hail Mary” signings, inking three former NFL starters to deals, even if all three may be past their prime:
The Packers have not confirmed who, if any, of the new acquisitions will start or even see valuable game time. Monk’s injury and recent struggles when healthy, though, may push Zeitler into a starting role quickly.
Green Bay may have caught a bit of luck with the news that Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss Sunday’s game due to a dislocated thumb. Mayfield was injured during last week’s loss to the Vikings, which is expected to keep him out of action for at least three weeks.
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, who made 45 collegiate starts for the Kansas Jayhawks, will make his first NFL start in Mayfield’s place. With his NCAA experience under his belt, Daniels is not lacking in confidence leading up to facing Green Bay.
“You have to be someone who comes in and is able to set the temperature of the room, not test the room and try to be able to blend in with it,” Daniels said. “If the team’s low, I have to be able to pick it up to be able to make sure that they’re even, and if we’re high, then I have to be able to be low to make sure that we’re even. I try to be as even keel as possible, and I think being able to go out there and have that even-keel feel, the team around you feels that.”
Buccaneers’ head coach Todd Bowles affirmed his faith in Daniels, saying that those around him will help in the young quarterback’s success.
“[Daniels’] performance speaks for itself when he’s out there. His confidence speaks for itself and [teammates] rally around him,” Bowles said this week. “I think everybody has to do their job; they don’t have to do anything more than they’re doing,”
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There is no doubt that members of Packer Nation are unhappy about their team’s underachieving start to the start of the 2026 season. While expectations of reaching the Super Bowl in February may be far-fetched, those who bleed green and gold hold the Packers to a higher standard.
That starts with head coach Matt LaFleur. His coaching seat could not get much hotter, and another uninspired performance in Florida this weekend would ramp the temperature even higher.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Green Bay’s response to their offensive line issues denotes a whole new level of despair. If these transactions do not pan out against a beatable opponent, this season may be over sooner rather than later.
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