Matt LaFleur, Packers weigh unlikely QB options as Jordan Love, Malik Willis battle injuries 1 Dec 14, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt Lafleur stands on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Packers get harsh reality check as NFL Playoffs near

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Dec 24, 2025 9:41 AM ET

The Packers‘ season and realistic aspirations were dealt a crushing blow when All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL in Week 15.

Making matters worse, quarterback Jordan Love was knocked into the NFL’s concussion protocol and a very uncertain near future in a Week 16 loss to the Chicago Bears that knocked Green Bay from a perch atop the NFC North to having to fight, scratch, and claw for one of the NFC’s two wild card spots.

In a lot of ways, Parsons’ arrival in early September and his early exit in mid-December will go down as the defining moments of Green Bay’s season.

Packers’ playoff outlook clouded by Micah Parsons’ injury

Entering a Week 17 clash against the Baltimore Ravens, who might be without former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, Green Bay boasts a 94% chance of making the playoffs, and can improve those odds to greater than 99% with a victory on Saturday.

Still, as veteran NFL reporter Mike Tanier points out, Parsons’ injury seemingly places a built in ceiling over Green Bay’s Super Bowl hopes.

“Micah Parsons really did bring the Packers one step closer to the Super Bowl before getting hurt,” Tanier writes for the Too Deep Zone. “But injuries elsewhere, offensive brownouts, red-zone miscues and a penchant for coming up small in big moments dragged them two steps further away. The Packers will tumble into the playoffs battered, bewildered and vulnerable, if they don’t somehow tumble out of them.”

If Love is able to return, and return to form, and Green Bay’s offense can piecemeal a passing game around an emerging rookie Matthew Golden, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs, launching an improbable playoff run without focal point Tucker Kraft, this season could go down as one of the more memorable in franchise history.

But, if the Packers stumble to another early exit, 2025 will merely be a season where Green Bay looks back on the promise of Parsons and wonders what might have been.

Packers' Matt LaFleur has 2-word message on hit that knocked Jordan Love into concussion protocol 2 Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur with cornerback Nate Hobbs (21) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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

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