The Green Bay Packers have reached the playoffs in each of the past three seasons with quarterback Jordan Love as the starter, but they’ve won just one playoff game during that stretch. Green Bay has been successful to a certain extent, yet the standard in this franchise is a Super Bowl. Outside of that ultimate goal, several factors will determine whether the Packers take the next step in 2026, both in the short and long term.

---

Winning the NFC North

Since the Packers last won the division in 2021, every other NFC North team has claimed the title. That drought has forced Green Bay into unfavorable playoff positioning, entering as the seventh seed and playing on the road in all three postseason appearances. Winning the division would change the equation entirely, providing home-field advantage in the wild card round for the first time in Love’s career as a starter. For a team that has struggled to win on the road in January, reclaiming the NFC North is a foundational piece of playoff success.

---

Jordan Love handling more volume without sacrificing efficiency

Love has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in football, but the numbers tell a clear story about what happens when his attempt totals climb. Per Sumer Sports, in 21 games with fewer than 30 attempts, Love posted an EPA per play of 0.338, a passer rating of 105.8, a touchdown rate of 6.1%, and an interception rate of 1.2%. With median volume (30 to 39 attempts across 19 games), those figures dropped to a 0.205 EPA per play, 98.1 passer rating, 5.6% touchdown rate, and 2.0% interception rate. In seven high-volume games (40 or more attempts), Love’s EPA per play fell to 0.138 with an 84.1 passer rating, a 4.6% touchdown rate, and a 3.0% interception rate.

Love improved his success rate in 2025, and the Packers’ offense has been among the best in football in terms of efficiency. Blending higher volume with sustained efficiency is the next step. If Love can maintain his standard when asked to throw the ball more, that would provide the certainty that he belongs in the elite tier of NFL quarterbacks.

---

Offensive line establishment

The Packers have had serious trouble along the offensive line over the past few years, particularly in 2025 in the run game and, to a lesser extent, in pass protection. With left tackle Rasheed Walker departing, Jordan Morgan now establishes himself as the starting left tackle. Right guard Anthony Belton enters his second season, now with a full offseason of preparation at the position.

This is a defining moment for Green Bay’s offensive line. Love is one of the best quarterbacks in football when kept clean, and coach Matt LaFleur’s offensive structure depends on the front performing at a high level. If the line can stabilize, the effects will ripple through the entire offense for the next couple of years.

---

Wide receiver success with a new model

Over the past few seasons, the Packers leaned heavily on a wide receiver committee, rotating five or six players and splitting targets across the group. That model has shifted. Green Bay lost Romeo Doubs in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks, placing significantly more responsibility on Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden.

For those players individually, the increased volume is a major opportunity. If they can thrive with larger target shares, they establish themselves as high-end pieces in Green Bay’s offense for years to come.

---

Defensive performance under Jonathan Gannon

The Packers have cycled through defensive struggles for more than a decade, from Dom Capers to Mike Pettine to Joe Barry. Jeff Hafley brought some relative success over the past two years before leaving to become the Miami Dolphins’ head coach. Now the Packers have turned to Jonathan Gannon, the former Arizona Cardinals head coach, as their new defensive coordinator.

Green Bay is shifting back to a 3-4 base, though Gannon has shown he can run a variety of defensive schemes. How the defense performs under him will be a massive indicator of where this team is headed in 2026 and beyond. The evaluation goes deeper than wins and losses. It’s about whether Gannon can elevate the unit’s talent and build something sustainable for the next few seasons.