It’s been just a season and a half since the Green Bay Packers last played the Carolina Panthers — 26 regular-season games, to be exact. We’re only 24 games into the Jeff Hafley era, but the last time Green Bay played Carolina is a reminder of how far Green Bay’s defense has come in such a short time.
If you don’t remember, the 2023 game against the Panthers on Christmas Eve was the peak of the Joe Barry needs to be fired storm. Ultimately, if it wasn’t already decided to this point, it likely pushed Matt LaFleur to fire his former defensive coordinator.
On December 24, 2025, the 2-12 Carolina Panthers invited the Packers into Bank of America Stadium for a game that looked like a get-right spot on Green Bay’s schedule after it dropped two in a row to the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers amid a playoff push. Despite dropping the two games prior, we were getting our first taste of Toyotathon Jordan Love, and that continued in this game. But it didn’t stop Joe Barry and the Packers’ defense from making this eventual 33-30 win much harder than it needed to be.
Carolina’s offense was abysmal in 2023. It finished the season ranked 31st in total EPA, 31st in success rate, 32nd in pass yards, and 31st in total TDs. The Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets were the only team worse than them. Bryce Young was also in the middle of one of the worst rookie seasons for a first-overall pick in NFL history. He finished 35th out of 38 qualifying QBs in PFF Grade.
Young had eight TDs and nine picks coming into the game. He averaged 181 passing yards per game, and his career high was 247 in a game. In this game, Young had 312 yards and two TDs. Carolina’s offense put up 394 yards of total offense and scored 30 points, surpassing their previous season high of 24.
That was nothing new to Packers fans. It was just another abysmal showing against an abysmal opponent in a tenure filled with them.
Luckily, that game was near the end of that tedious experience. A year and a half later, Green Bay is now in a completely different spot. A spot that Packers fans are unfamiliar with over the last two decades.
They have a good defense!
It’s a testament to Jeff Hafley and Brian Gutekunst for how fast this defense has turned around. Between the additions of Xavier McKinney via free agency and Micah Parsons via trade, and the drafting of Edgerrin Cooper, Evan Williams, and Javon Bullard, the overall talent of an already talented defense has improved. Still, the scheme and play-calling are also worlds better.
Last season, Green Bay’s defense ranked fifth in total EPA despite a pass rush so ineffective that they fired the defensive line coach.
After adding Micah Parsons this season, Green Bay’s defense is yet again playing at a level we’ve rarely seen since they won the Super Bowl 15 years ago. They rank in the top 10 in several defensive metrics, including points per game, yards per game, quarterback hits and pressures per game, sacks per game, and more, despite not causing many turnovers.
There have been some frustrating elements to the defense over the last two seasons. The lack of a pass rush last season. The 15-play, eight-minute touchdown drives, soft coverage in the second half of games, and inconsistent cornerback play this season. The defense isn’t perfect, but what we’ve got the last season-and-a-half felt impossible only two years ago.
The Panthers’ offense is extremely beaten up right now. They have a slew of offensive line injuries, and last week they got annihilated by the Buffalo Bills, 40-9, and Andy Dalton looked like he should retire. He had a pick, two fumbles, and was sacked seven times. However, they’ve been a frisky team all season. With Young returning from an ankle injury, the defense must show up for this game, despite what the Panthers looked like last week.
Carolina’s run game with Rico Dowdle, along with this offensive line, has been dominant when healthy.
However, the line isn’t going to be healthy this week. The Panthers were already missing starting guard Robert Hunt due to a torn biceps. Backup Chandler Zavala is on IR, but he logged a full practice on Wednesday. Third in line was Brady Christensen, who was the backup RT on the initial 53, but was playing well as the right guard. Unfortunately, he ruptured his Achilles tendon last week. On top of the Christensen injury, starting right tackle Taylor Moton left the game early with a knee injury, and starting center Cade Mays left with an ankle injury. Moton was a limited participant, and Mays was a DNP at Thursday’s practice.
The Packers are 13.5-point favorites at home. With Carolina’s offense banged up, this game could highlight the complete transformation of Green Bay’s defense from the last time these two teams played. Two years ago, they had an embarrassing defense that let one of the worst preferred starting quarterbacks this decade, rookie Bryce Young, have a career game. Now, they can embarrass a much-improved, however still not great, Panthers offense and Bryce Young.
