When the Green Bay Packers hosted the Carolina Panthers a year ago, they entered the game coming off a 35-point offensive showing on the road in Pittsburgh, only to manage just 13 points in a surprising home loss. As they prepare for another matchup against the same Ejiro Evero-led defense on Thursday night, Jordan Love and Green Bay’s offense must avoid falling into the same pitfalls that cost them the victory in 2025.
While Carolina’s defense ranks 20th in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per play overall, they excel in one critical area: limiting explosive passing plays. They rank third in the league by allowing only 2.8% of opposing passes to result in 20-plus yard gains. This defensive philosophy emphasizes keeping everything in front of them, which proved problematic for Love last season.
After posting a 134.1 passer rating against the Steelers the previous week, Love’s performance dropped significantly to 80.1 against the Panthers, where he threw one interception and failed to connect for any touchdown passes. The frustration of being unable to generate explosive plays led him to force throws downfield, resulting in costly mistakes.
This season presents an even greater challenge for Green Bay, as their offense ranks second in the league with 7% of their passing attempts resulting in explosive plays. Facing a defense specifically designed to neutralize big plays creates a difficult matchup for how the Packers prefer to operate offensively.
The team has struggled to establish any consistent running game through their first seven games. Combined with inconsistent offensive line play, dropped passes, and various execution errors, they lack the ability to sustain long drives through methodical, short-yardage gains.
For Thursday night’s contest, the Packers may need to rely on alternative strategies, potentially emphasizing their ground game despite Josh Jacobs averaging just 4.2 yards per carry this season. However, Carolina ranks 26th in explosive run rate, meaning that even occasional chunk plays on the ground could prove valuable. Jacobs averaged 5.1 yards per carry against them last season.
Another key factor could be tight end Tucker Kraft, who suffered a torn ACL in this same matchup last year. His ability to generate yards after the catch made him a vital component of the offense in 2025, and his return could provide a new dimension to attack Carolina’s disciplined defense.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has extensive experience facing Evero’s defensive schemes, having worked with him at previous stops and even considered him for the Packers defensive coordinator position before ultimately hiring Joe Barry. LaFleur understands the challenges ahead.
“I think it’s a very tough defense to go against because they’re going to try to keep a lid on you and they’re going to make you earn it,” LaFleur explained. “So you’ve gotta be consistent with, not just one person, all eleven have gotta be consistent throughout. You’ve gotta stay patient.”
Thursday’s game presents a crucial test for Love and the Packers to demonstrate their ability to move the ball methodically and score points without relying on explosive plays. Success in this approach could validate their offensive growth, while failure might result in another decisive defeat.
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