Packers’ so-called weak link is locked in and locking down, opponent passing stats suggest through 3 games

Green Bay obviously did just fine without him, holding the Lions to 13 points, and Hobbs returned in Week versus the Commanders. So far, Terry McLaurin’s 48 receiving yards that week is the most of any receiver against the Packers. Those top three guys are outperforming expectations in a major way.

It’s not like they’ve been defending scrubs either. At quarterback, they have faced Jared Goff, Jayden Daniels, and Joe Flacco (okay, old Joe might be a scrub). At receiver, the trio has been tasked with the Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, the Commanders’ McLaurin and Deebo Samuel.

It’s not as though the pass defense was shredded by the Browns; Flacco threw for 142 yards and Cedric Tillman led Cleveland receivers with three catches for 26.

While the Packers have issues to clean up across the board, that Browns loss was more on the offense and special teams play than it was on the defense – particularly in the passing game, as Cleveland ran the ball productively with Quinshon Judkins (18 carries, 94 yards).

In Dallas on Sunday, Green Bay will catch a break if CeeDee Lamb sits out after sustaining a Week 3 injury. The Cowboys offense still has Dak Prescott under center and weapons like George Pickens running routes, but if their past play is any indicator, Nixon, Hobbs, and Valentine should be up to the task.