Following a humiliating home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Green Bay Packers are relying on veteran leadership and internal talent to stabilize their defense.
It's sure been a tough go for the 1-2 Green Bay Packers over the first three weeks of the 2026 NFL season.
The Packers have struggled in all facets of the game and in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, they looked like not just a bad team, but perhaps one of the worst teams in the league. Remember, Atlanta is not supposed to be all that great this season, yet the Falcons walked into a Primetime game at Lambeau and won, 35-14.
So much talk have focused on the terrible offensive line, which general manager Brian Gutekunst has tried desperately to revamp this week, but the defense shouldn't be let off the hook.
Against the Falcons, the defense gave up 498 total yards, including 242 yards on the ground.
Bijan Robinson, a great running back without a doubt, looked like the second coming of Walter Payton. The Packers couldn't tackle him even if they tried...and they did try. He rushed 29 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., in his first game played since a 2025 ACL injury, threw for 256 yards and a touchdown, though the Packers did force one interception.
It was a tough game for the defense, to say the least. So how to the Packers bounce back in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.
According to Lukas Van Ness, it comes down to the leadership and experience in the room. That's how the Pack can get back on track.
"Just leaning on the veteran leadership with guys like Zaire and X [Xavier McKinney] that have been through the trails and tribulations," Van Ness aid, per Vince Lovergine. We believe in the guys that we have in this building."
It can't be said that the Packers believe in the guys they have in the building, or at least in the offensive line room. That unit has been so bad that Gutekunst went out and signed three veterans — Laken Tomlinson, Mekhi Becton and Kevin Zeitler — off the street this week.
Such an overhaul isn't needed on defense.
Van Ness is coming into his own in his fourth season (he has 18 tackles, four tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks so far this season) and the Packers have stars at linebacker (Edgerrin Cooper) and at safety (Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Xavier McKinney).
Cornerback is a bit of a concern, but rookie Brandon Cisse looks the part as he works through the growing pains of being a rookie cornerback starting his first games in the NFL. To his credit, Keisean Nixon is also having a good season so far. He has one interception, one pass defended, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and 18 tackles on the season.
Undoubtedly, the Packers can use more juice from the interior of their defensive line. Devonte Wyatt has been quiet through three games and veteran Javon Hargrave has been a non-factor.
While they're waiting on the return of Micah Parsons, the Packers could also use some more pass-rush from whoever is opposite Van Ness on the defensive line. Between Barryn Sorrell and rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton, the Pack need just a little bit more pressure.
In terms of leadership and experience on defense, the Packers have it, though. They also have plenty of talent on that side of the ball, and Parsons hasn't even returned to practice yet.
Tampa Bay's starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, won't play in Week 4 due to a dislocated thumb. That means the Buccaneers are going to roll with undrafted free agent rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback.
This is an opportunity for the Packers defense to make a statement. No overhauls are needed here. That is, unless they get torn up by Daniels and the Bucs.
