The Green Bay Packers got a nice Christmas gift as they clinched a playoff berth after the Detroit Lions were upset by the Minnesota Vikings. Now, they are playing for the chance to win the NFC North. It’s not in their control, as any Packers loss or Bears win in the next two weeks will clinch the division for the Bears.
The Packers were off to a slow start on offense before Malik Willis scored before halftime. Jayden Reed is off to a quiet start in the first half and needs to get going for his team to win.
Jayden Reed’s Slow Start
Reed dealt with injuries for a majority of the 2025 season, but tonight that’s not the case. He’s out there, but hasn’t produced for Green Bay. He has one catch for two yards. The Packers haven’t completed many passes, just seven in fact, but Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs have made those receptions count.
The backup quarterback can’t be used as the sole explanation for Reed’s slow start in the first half, as Willis looks the part and has been perfect, throwing the ball.
They do trail the Ravens at halftime, but a big second half from Reed could spark a Green Bay comeback in their final home game of the season. It won’t happen if the Packers defense can’t stop Derrick Henry, though, who had three touchdowns in the first half. But at least Green Bay can breathe and not worry about missing the playoffs.
The most pressing issue for Green Bay is getting its franchise QB Jordan Love back from injury. Love has been great for the Packers in 2025. He is the fourth-best quarterback in PFSN’s QB Impact metric with an impact score of 87.5 and is just 0.1 behind MVP candidate Drake Maye.
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Love has dealt with a mix of offensive weapons this season. Tucker Kraft was his main target to start the year until Kraft suffered a season-ending injury.
Reed missed most of the season, and Watson didn’t return until halfway through the season from an ACL tear in the previous season. Rookie Matthew Golden missed time, too. The Packers are a receiver-by-committee group and have produced throughout 2025.
They’ll need their receiving targets to show up in the second half as they look to erase their 13-point halftime deficit. The offense needs to step up, but their defense needs to show up, too.
Their defense is without its star, Micah Parsons, but Parsons is out for the season. He won’t be able to save them, and if their defense can’t figure it out without him, the Packers could be headed for an early playoff exit.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
