Dak Prescott exposed major flaw in Packers' secondary 9 Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws under pressure from Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Micah Parsons has strong message for Packers teammates after 40-point collapse

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 1:51 PM ET

The Packers’ defense needs to rediscover its identity in Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and it will have the opportunity to do exactly that against an offense that is reeling and can’t keep quarterback Jake Browning upright.

After allowing 40 points against the Cowboys, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and the Packers’ veterans on that side of the ball were forced not just back to the drawing board but also into some difficult conversations about accountability while trying to avoid pointing fingers.

Micah Parsons challenges Packers’ defense, after bye week

According to All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, that has been the most daunting aspect of the Packers’ bye week.

“I think everything is about how you react to the play,” Parsons recently told reporters. “I think everything is about how you overcome the challenges and adversity. Two things can happen. We can go in that locker room or we can go home, put our heads down and we just blame each other and point the finger. Or we can be men and we can say, ‘This is where I’m coming from, this is where you’re coming from, and how do we fix it?

“I think we got to be adults here. We got to be professionals. There’s always going to be bad times. We’re in a rough patch right here, and we owe an obligation to ourselves if we want to be that team to hold that standard up to get there.”

Given that this is Hafley’s second season at the helm of a defense that features All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney, Parsons, playmakers such as Rashan Gary and Edgerrin Cooper rightfully have lofty expectations.

Some adjustments to create a more disruptive pass rush and more consistent linebacker play could hold the keys to the Packers’ defense not just playing up to its potential but the Packers making good on the Super Bowl aspirations that were reinforced by trading for Parsons in the first place.

Dominant Micah Parsons stat emerges from Packers' tie vs. Cowboys 1 Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) looks on in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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