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The Packers Need a Dominant Performance versus Bengals

Originally posted on PackersTalk.com | By Kaylie Wittwer | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 9:40 AM ET

The Packers played an absolute barn burner of a game against the Cowboys a week ago, only for it to end in a tie. There is nothing more defeating than playing a game to end in a tie. It is as if the life is sucked out of you and it leaves you empty.

The season started off 2-0, with key victories against the Lions and Commanders. Two of the best teams in the NFC, respectfully. However, all of that momentum came to a pause with a brutal loss to the Browns, then a tie to the Cowboys.

Coming off a bye week, the Packers are going to face an absolutely decimated Bengals team. Without Joe Burrow under center, there is clearly no excuses. During the first two weeks, you could have circled this game as a win.

However, even though the Packers are 14.5-point favorites, the past two games have proven nothing comes easy. If this team continues to make things harder than they actually are, we will be right back in this spot yet again.

Packers are back in Lambeau for First Home Game in a Month

When the schedule was released, this is a game I had real excitement for. In a perfect world, it would have been Joe Burrow versus Jordan Love at Lambeau. Both quarterbacks coming from a loaded 2020 class at the position.

Nevertheless, Joe Burrow ended up with a turf toe injury. While optimism remains that Burrow can return by the end of the year, the prognosis seems to be he will miss an entire season. A brutal blow for a Bengals team that seems to battle an injury bug year after year.

The Bengals also have a dynamic receiving duo in Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, without Burrow the quarterback position is in question. Jake Browning has started the past couple of weeks, but has played poorly.

There is a chance the Bengals could make a change at quarterback this week. Since Burrow went down, the offense has generated 24 points in three games. I did not count the 7 points scored in garbage time versus the Lions.

This is a Packers team that has to take advantage of an opportunity. The offense has to come out firing on all cylinders. The defense has to pick up the momentum they had through the first three weeks. The special teams need to be average. All I am asking for is no blunders, just be average.

We will see how this team responds after the Browns and Cowboys games. How they respond will certainly determine the direction for the rest of the season.

This article first appeared on PackersTalk.com and was syndicated with permission.

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