Amidst a dismal 1-2 start, "Hercules" begins to dominate the trenches while a revamped secondary and explosive wideouts offer hope for a struggling Green Bay Packers roster.
It feels like the sky is falling for the Green Bay Packers.
That's the vibe that losing to a divisional rival (the Minnesota Vikings) in Week 1, struggling to beat a bad New York Jets team in Week 2, and a butt-kicking in Week 3 on Thursday Night Football by the Atlanta Falcons will create.
Let's not forget that this team and its head coach, Matt LaFleur, have lost seven of their last eight games, including last season.
Realistically, things won't get much better until the offensive line improves, and that seems unlikely to happen in season. Signing Laken Tomlinson is at least a step in the right direction, but it's a Hail Mary that's unlikely to really turn things around.
That's not to mention that this offensive line needs roughly three more Hail Mary's.
Indeed, the vibes are at an all-time low.
There have been a few positives worth mentioning during this 1-2 start. This is not to suggest that the Packers' fanbase should be content to whistle by the graveyard. The boo-birds were right to let this team know that there's a higher standard in Green Bay, the place known as "Title Town".
Still, it wouldn't hurt to focus on the positive, if only for a few hundred words.
Let's start with Lukas Van Ness, who seems to be (finally) figuring things out in his fourth NFL season.
1. Lukas Van Ness has seemingly started to figure it out
Van Ness has always been big, fast and strong. He checks in at 6-foot-5, 272 pounds and is nicknamed "Hercules" because he looks like a Greek god out there. Previously, his biggest contribution to the team has been being the guy that you have come off the bus first as an intimidation tactic.
The potential to be elite has always been there. That's why the Packers selected Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Perhaps he's starting to become that player.
In three games, PFF has credited Van Ness with 10 total pressures, three sacks, three hurries and four quarterback hits.
2. The safety play has been as advertised
The Packers came into this season knowing that the safety trio of Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard was going to be a strength.
Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon deployed a nickel coverage look with the three safeties in training camp and we've seen that lead to some really nice plays through the first three games.
These guys are everywhere. Williams leads the team in tackles with 29 to go along with two passes defended. Bullard has 18 tackles (three tackles for loss) and two passes defended. McKinney has a pass defended and an interception so far this season.
3. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are for real
Sep 24, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden (0) receives a pass during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.The Packers paid Christian Watson to be their WR1 moving forward and he's been every bit of that and more through three games. Watson has 17 receptions for 284 yards and four touchdowns and is, right now, amongst the best statistical wide receivers in the NFL.
Meanwhile, Matthew Golden has seemingly started to figure it out in year two, as was expected. He's caught 15 passes for 253 yards, and he got the first regular-season touchdown of his career on Thursday Night Football.
Both run solid routes and have great hands.
Watson and Golden are an extremely strong one-two punch for the Packers' passing attack.
