The Joe Burrow Effect is real. For the third time in his six seasons as the face of the franchise, the Bengals have made an in-season trade. Prior to 2020, the Bengals had not made an in-season trade since 1972.
Trading for Joe Flacco is sending a message, even after three losses all by at least 13 points. In a wide-open AFC North and AFC, the Bengals believe they can still contend. Not only that, but this move buys time for Joe Burrow to return.
There is hope, even as the Green Bay Packers loom on Sunday at Lambeau Field. The Packers have a really good team. Not only that, but they should come out with a high sense of urgency, considering they haven’t won since Week 2.
Whenever the Bengals and Packers get together, something crazy happens. Five missed field goals in the fourth quarter and overtime in 2021. The hottest game on record at Lambeau Field in 2017. A 16-point comeback win by the Bengals over the Packers in 2013 at then-Paul Brown Stadium. Antwan Odom sacked Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay five times in 2009. Brett Favre had the ball stolen from him by a fan in 2005.
The Bengals and Packers have met 14 times, with each team winning seven of those meetings.
Let’s take a deeper look at the Packers ahead of Sunday’s game at the Holy Grail of NFL stadiums.
Quarterback: No. 10: Jordan Love — 6-4, 219 lbs. 6th Season Utah State
Jordan Love is one of the most interesting quarterbacks in the NFL. Since becoming the full-time Packers starting quarterback in 2023, he has led the Packers to two straight playoff appearances. But there’s still an inconsistent feel surrounding him when it comes to winning games against elite teams.
Regardless, Love showed in the second half of the 2023 season that he is worthy of being the Packers’ franchise quarterback. Green Bay rewarded him with a massive contract extension prior to the 2024 season, which Love responded to by being one of just two quarterbacks in the NFL with 25+ touchdown passes and a 95.0+ passer rating in each of the last two seasons.
So far this season, Love has 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns to just one interception. He’s coming off a 337-yard, three-touchdown performance at Dallas two weeks ago, a game that ended in a 40-40 tie.
Four Players to Watch on the Packers
1. No. 8: Running Back, Josh Jacobs — 5-10, 223 lbs. Alabama
Jacobs was a perfect free agent signing for the Packers in March of 2024. Through his first six seasons, Jacobs was No. 2 in the NFL in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, rushing first downs, and yards from scrimmage. He’s one of four players in NFL history with 6,800+ rushing yards, 60+ rushing touchdowns, 225+ receptions, and 1,750+ receiving yards in his first six NFL seasons. The other three? Emmitt Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Maurice Jones-Drew. In addition, Jacobs is the only player with 1,100+ yards from scrimmage and six+ scrimmage touchdowns in each of the last six seasons.
He has 266 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries through the Packers’ first four games this season, which has him on pace for his fifth 1,000-yard season in the first seven seasons of his career.
2. No. 85: Tight End, Tucker Kraft — 6-5, 259 lbs. South Dakota State
Kraft is one of the NFL’s most underrated tight ends. He’s one of just four tight ends since 2000 to have 80+ receptions, 1,000+ receiving yards, nine+ receiving touchdowns, and an average of 13 yards per catch in his first two NFL seasons, joining Mark Andrews, Hunter Henry, and Rob Gronkowski.
He’s coming off a 2024 season where he had 50 receptions with 707 yards and seven touchdowns, one of only two tight ends with 50+ receptions, 700+ receiving yards, and seven+ touchdowns in 2024. So far this season, Kraft has 16 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
3. No. 1: Linebacker, Micah Parsons — 6-3, 250 lbs. Penn State
It doesn’t matter if he’s still battling back issues. Anytime Micah Parsons is on the field, he deserves everyone’s attention. He’s an incredibly athletic linebacker, able to line up anywhere on the field and rush the passer.
The Bengals didn’t have a plan for him the first time they played against him in 2022, when he was with the Dallas Cowboys. Playing with a backup quarterback, even with someone as experienced as Joe Flacco, it will be paramount to keep Parsons as far away from him as possible on Sunday.
Through four games, Parsons has 2.5 sacks and eight total tackles.
4. No. 52: Defensive Lineman, Rashan Gary — 6-5, 277 lbs. Michigan
Parsons will get most of the attention on the Packers’ defense, but Gary is just as important to watch on this unit. He already has 4.5 sacks through four games, a continuation of what’s been a really good last five seasons for the former No. 1 player in his college recruiting class.
Gary has 37 sacks since the start of the 2021 season, showcasing his ability to rush the passer and make it difficult for opposing offensive lines.
Head Coach: Matt LaFleur (7th season, 69-34-1) — 45 years old
LaFleur does not get nearly the credit he deserves among the best NFL head coaches. He led the Packers to 13 wins in each of his first three seasons, and he led the Packers in the transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love as well as he could have. Not only did the Packers go to the Playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but they did so with the two youngest rosters over the last 45 NFL seasons.
In his first 16 seasons as an NFL coach, LaFleur has been on coaching staffs of teams that ranked in the top 10 in total yards 10 times, scoring three times, and the fewest giveaways four times. He’s also coached two MVP quarterbacks, Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, and 2017 Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley.
LaFleur began his NFL coaching career with the Houston Texans in 2008 as an offensive assistant, and he was an offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams (2017) and Tennessee Titans (2018).
Offensive Coordinator: Adam Stenavich (4th season) — 42 years old
Stenavich has been with the Packers since 2019, having started as their offensive line coach for three seasons as well as their run game coordinator in 2021.
Prior to Green Bay, Stenavich was an offensive line coach with the San Francisco 49ers for two seasons. He was a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten as a left tackle at Michigan.
Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Hafley (2nd season) — 46 years old
Hafley’s extensive defensive pedigree is a big reason for the Packers’ turnaround defensively. Green Bay ranked in the top 10 in total defense, run defense, scoring defense, yards allowed per play, takeaways, and sacks. This is the first time since 1996 that the Packers ranked in the top 10 in all six of those categories. The Packers also had 31 takeaways in 2024, after just 18 in 2023.
Prior to Green Bay, Hafley was Boston College’s head coach for four seasons and led the Eagles to two bowl games. He was the Ohio State Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator in 2019, when the Buckeyes ranked No. 1 in the country in yards per play, total defense, passing defense, and sacks.
In the NFL, Hafley was a defensive backs coach with the 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Special Teams Coordinator: Rich Bisaccia (4th season) — 65 years old
Bengals’ fans will remember Bisaccia as the interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders when the Bengals faced them in the Playoffs in 2021 to break the curse.
Bisaccia is a special teams veteran, having been a special teams coordinator in the NFL since 2002. His first season in the NFL was as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ special teams coordinator in 2002, when they won Super Bowl XXXVII. He’s also been a special teams coordinator with the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Raiders. Bisaccia has also been a special teams coordinator at the college level with Ole Miss, Clemson, and South Carolina.
Keys to the Game
1. Don’t give up the middle of the field
How many times this season has there been a play where an opposing pass catcher is wide open in the middle of the field? That can’t happen against the Packers, especially with a tight end like Tucker Kraft and other pass catchers Jordan Love has at his disposal.
2. Have a plan for Micah Parsons
Again, he may be battling back issues. But if he’s on the field, he must be accounted for. There’s no further explanation needed. Flacco doesn’t have Joe Burrow’s mobility, so protecting him from Parsons is a must.
3. Special teams
The Packers have been shaky on special teams through four games this season. They’ve had a blocked kick in each of their last two games that have loomed large in the outcomes of both games. Even though the Bengals’ offense hasn’t been great this season, their special teams have been solid. Making a play or two on special teams could determine the outcome of the game.
4. Be complimentary in the running game
Stopping Josh Jacobs and finding a way to run the ball. If the Bengals can do those things, they will be in this game for four quarters and, maybe, with a chance to win it.
Score Prediction: Packers 31 – Bengals 24
Knowing Joe Flacco is starting this game, with the receivers the Bengals have, the Bengals’ offense should have functionality on Sunday. The Packers are the more well-rounded team, which is why I think they will prevail on Sunday. However, when these two teams get together, anything can happen.
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