MetLife Stadium went quiet in the final seconds, but the air didn’t feel victorious — it felt relieved.
The Green Bay Packers had just escaped with a 23-20 win over the New York Jets, but “escape” is the word that stuck.

For a team trying to prove it belongs among the NFC’s elite, this wasn’t a statement — it was survival.

Jordan Love smiled afterward, but his eyes betrayed the exhaustion. “A win’s a win,” he said, voice flat, as if trying to convince himself.

Head coach Matt LaFleur’s words carried the same duality. “We found a way,” he said. “But it shouldn’t have come to that.”

What unfolded in East Rutherford was both ugly and instructive — a snapshot of where the 2025 Packers stand: talented enough to dominate, inconsistent enough to almost implode.

Let’s grade the performance, position by position, and see what Green Bay’s escape from New York truly revealed.

Quarterbacks — Grade: B

Jordan Love’s night was a paradox — poised, erratic, and clutch all at once.

He finished with 255 yards, two touchdowns, and one brutal red-zone interception that nearly flipped the game. For every laser to Christian Watson, there was a hesitation throw that stalled a drive.

But what separates this version of Love from his 2023 self is emotional recovery. After the pick, he returned with rhythm — hitting tight windows, resetting his feet, leading a 10-play, 74-yard drive capped by a dart to Jayden Reed.

LaFleur’s play-calling finally trusted him in the no-huddle, and Love responded with confidence. Still, his footwork under pressure remains inconsistent, especially against disguised zone looks.

Verdict: Growing pains mixed with growing authority. He’s no longer a question mark, but not yet a constant.
Grade: B

Running Backs — Grade: B-

For the first time in weeks, the Packers leaned on tempo more than ground control. Josh Jacobs ran hard — 19 carries, 82 yards, one touchdown — but the Jets’ defensive front made him earn every inch.

His physicality late in the fourth quarter helped chew clock, yet the burst that once defined his Raider days feels muted. Jacobs is reliable, not revolutionary.

Rookie MarShawn Lloyd flashed in limited reps — one 15-yard scamper on an inside-zone counter turned heads — but fumbled during the second quarter, killing momentum.

Patrick Taylor provided steady pass protection, a small but critical contribution against New York’s blitz packages.

Verdict: Tough yards, tougher sledding. The commitment to balance remains admirable, but explosive plays are missing.
Grade: B-

Wide Receivers — Grade: B+

The chemistry between Jordan Love and his young core continues to evolve in streaks rather than sustained surges.

Christian Watson finally looked healthy — seven catches, 94 yards, and a touchdown — showing flashes of the vertical terror the Packers drafted him to be. His leaping third-down grab over Sauce Gardner in the third quarter was arguably the play of the game.

Jayden Reed, steady as ever, added six receptions and a red-zone score off a whip route that froze the safety. He remains Love’s most trustworthy timing target.

Romeo Doubs had a quiet night statistically (three catches, 38 yards) but drew coverage that freed Watson repeatedly. Rookie Dontayvion Wicks continues to tease breakout potential, winning routes but failing to finish plays.

Verdict: Progress wrapped in potential. The group feels a year away from elite, but they’re getting closer.
Grade: B+

Tight Ends — Grade: C+

This was a grind.

Luke Musgrave dropped a would-be touchdown in the first quarter and struggled with inline blocking against Quinnen Williams’ stunts. Tucker Kraft, however, injected energy — two key third-down conversions and a bruising block that sprung Jacobs’ score.

The duo remains promising but raw; they alternate brilliance with blown assignments. LaFleur’s offense demands timing perfection from tight ends, and neither has mastered that rhythm yet.

Verdict: Young and volatile. The pieces are there — cohesion isn’t.
Grade: C+

Offensive Line — Grade: C

If “escape” describes this game, the offensive line was both the cause and the reason it was possible.

Left tackle Rasheed Walker gave up two sacks, both to Bryce Huff’s relentless speed. The right side fared slightly better — Zach Tom continues to show technical refinement — but interior pass protection leaked.

Center Josh Myers misread a delayed blitz that led to Love’s interception, and Elgton Jenkins, normally reliable, battled through a shoulder tweak that limited his punch.

Run blocking stabilized late, thanks to heavy sets and quick motion, but early downs were rough.

Verdict: Resilient, not reliable. The Jets’ front exposed their communication flaws.
Grade: C

Defensive Line — Grade: B+

Welcome back, pass rush.

After two quiet weeks, Rashan Gary erupted — two sacks, four pressures, and a fourth-quarter strip that sealed the game. His power-speed blend remains elite when he’s fully engaged.

Kenny Clark dominated the interior, collapsing pockets and forcing Zach Wilson into hurried throws. Devonte Wyatt added a tackle for loss and continues to develop into a true disruptor.

The rotation, including Karl Brooks and T.J. Slaton, controlled line scrimmage despite occasional run-fit lapses.

Verdict: Physical, nasty, and clutch when it mattered.