The Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 23-13 on “Sunday Night Football.” However, it’s impossible to review the game without discussing wide receiver Matthew Golden. The game should have been much easier for Green Bay, and that’s because Golden dropped two touchdown passes that were thrown his way.

Those were two massive drops in a primetime game. Even so, Golden still finished the night with 13 targets, six receptions, 104 receiving yards, and one touchdown, averaging 17.3 yards per reception. Outside of those two big plays, it was a great performance.

The former first-round pick has had a breakout season for the Packers in his second year in the NFL. And based on what quarterback Jordan Love shared after the game, Golden’s mentality is what’s driving that success.

“He’s resilient, and he definitely showed that,” Love revealed. “Would he like to have a couple of plays back? For sure. But at one point, he came back to me and said, ‘Just keep trusting me. Keep coming to me.’ That’s what you love to see, that confidence and resiliency. I tell these guys all the time, don’t ever hang your head after a bad play. Expect the ball to keep coming your way and make the next play.”

Asking for the ball to overcome a bad stretch

The drops obviously matter, and two touchdowns left on the field could have changed the complexion of the game. Under different circumstances, they could have cost Green Bay the win. The interesting aspect is how Golden responded.

“That’s what we talk about,” Love added. “Stuff happens during the game. We want to make every play, but when we don’t, guys have to respond and find a way to make the next play. It’s always about the next play, and I think the guys did a good job of that [on Sunday night]. They responded after a couple of drops and started making more plays.”

A young receiver who just dropped a touchdown pass needs to know his quarterback still believes in him, and Love kept giving Golden chances. Golden also has been one of the most impactful offensive pieces on the team, if not the most impactful. Moving away from him would have hurt the offense more than the drops did. Green Bay kept feeding him, and Golden eventually delivered with a 100-yard night.

“It’s football. I want to see us make every play, make every throw, and make every catch,” Love said. “That’s the expectation. Stuff happens, and drops happen. Obviously, I want those guys to make those plays, and we’re capable of making them. But for me, it’s about having a next-play mindset. You have to move on, fight back, and continue to make good plays. It sucks, but it’s something we have to keep getting better at.”

Passing game carries the offense

The duo of Golden and Christian Watson has been extremely successful for the Packers this season. Six receivers have had at least 500 yards in 2026, and two of them play in Green Bay. That production has been essential especially because the running game hasn’t been effective at all. Green Bay ranks 32nd in the NFL running the ball, and that puts a lot of pressure on the passing offense to produce.

With Love, Golden, and Watson all playing at a high level, that’s where the Packers have found the offensive production they needed early in the season.

There’s still a clear area to correct. The Packers lead the NFL in drops, and Golden’s two against Dallas are a big part of that conversation. Green Bay will want more concentration from the second-year receiver, especially in high-leverage moments when points are on the line.

But the overall picture is positive. Through six games, Golden has 30 catches for 501 yards. Extrapolating that production to a 17-game season, he is on pace to finish with 1,419 receiving yards.

Different experience in Year 2

Golden’s rookie season was underwhelming in terms of production and numbers. The jump from that to his current performance is significant, and it reflects more than just physical development or a bigger role in the offense.

Plenty of young receivers would have shrunk after two dropped touchdowns on national television. Golden did the opposite. He asked for more targets, his quarterback trusted him, and he turned the night into a productive one anyway.