The Green Bay Packers could just fold it in right now. After all, it sure feels like the season is over after a tough 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 15.

It feels that way because the Packers' best player, pass-rusher Micah Parsons, is likely gone for the rest of this season and a chunk of next season with a torn ACL. That hasn't been confirmed at the time of this writing, but it seems to be more than likely that Parsons will be gone for the next nine to 12 months, at least.

That's a huge blow to this team, and it effectively slams the Packers' Super Bowl window shut in 2025. Does one player a Super Bowl run make or break? With the way this defense is set up, unfortunately, that answer is yes.

Parsons was the piece that made it all click on defense. It made the injury to Devonte Wyatt seem survivable. It made the failings of Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness as pass-rushers seem manageable. It made subpar cornerback play from Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine seem like something the Pack could play through.

And now all that is gone, and likely so is the ability to consider this Green Bay defense among the NFL's elite.

So fold it in, right? Shut down Lambeau for the rest of 2025 and refund fans tickets for games against the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.

Wrong. That's not how life works in the NFL.

Players get injured every weekend. Teams still show up to work the next day and start game planning for their next opponent. They get back to the grind. They put the past in the past and strive for the future.

Good teams do that, at least. Are the Packers a good team, or will they let the loss of Parsons doom the rest of this season?

“I told the guys, ‘Nobody is going to feel sorry for us,’” head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game, per ESPN. “Everybody’s going to have to elevate their play.”

The truth of the matter is that this loss to Denver was the Packers' first loss in over a month. Yes, it hurt, and there are some long-term implications to consider, but the Packers are still 9-4-1, and they still control their own destiny... especially in the NFC North.

Did their Super Bowl chances realistically take a huge hit? 

Yes, unfortunately. 

This team can still win the NFC North by beating the Bears and Vikings over the next three weeks, though.

Forget the Super Bowl for a minute. That's always the main goal in Title Town, but winning the division is still a massive goal for this team, and it's still more than possible. 

Keep in mind, the Packers are 4-0 against the NFC North this season. They've got a chance to go 5-0 by sweeping the Bears next weekend at Soldier Field, and though the loss of Parsons may have dashed their bigger-picture dreams, it sure would feel good to knock the Bears back down a peg or two, wouldn't it?

Let's take a step back, breathe and see that there is still winning football left to be played this season. 

 This is still a team with a franchise quarterback in Jordan Love, who has been in the MVP conversation this year. Yes, he struggled in the second half against the Broncos, but he's still one of the top quarterbacks in the NFC, if not in all of the NFL.

This is still a team with an All-Pro running back in Josh Jacobs who can do this: 

Or this:

This is still a team with a great play-caller in LaFleur. 

This is still a team with an explosive offense that can win a boat race when it needs to.

So, with all that in mind, perhaps the Packers need to get off to the races and let defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley do what he needs to do to scheme up some stops.

Nobody cares if this team is banged up.

Nobody is coming to save them, either.

Parsons is not walking back through that door in 2025. Neither is Tucker Kraft, nor Elgton Jenkins, nor Wyatt.

There will still be 53 players "carrying the G" next weekend in downtown Chicago, though, and the NFC North is once again on the line.

Do something. Do anything. Just don't give up. 

Who are the 2025 Green Bay Packers?

Let's find out.