The Green Bay Packers have faced a rare stretch of luck against opposing quarterbacks this season, but that ease is about to end. After opening with three backup quarterbacks, one returning from an ACL injury, and another who ranks among the NFL’s least effective starters, the Packers now prepare to face Dak Prescott and a demanding slate of elite passers.
Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback for 11 seasons, has thrown for over 37,000 yards and 252 touchdowns, with a lifetime passer rating of 98.3. Currently fifth in the league in passing yards per game with 275.2, Prescott completes 67.2% of his passes and holds a 97.2 passer rating. He has thrown nine touchdowns against just three interceptions this season. Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney described Prescott as a quarterback who “can do a lot of different things,” adding that if he’s allowed comfort in the pocket, “it’s going to be a long day for you.” Prescott is adept at reading defenses, manipulating coverages, and diagnosing what the Packers’ defense is attempting.
Green Bay has been fortunate in facing quarterbacks such as Minnesota’s Carson Wentz, who has played for six teams in this decade, and Geno Smith of the New York Jets, who at 36 has yet to find a lasting home as a franchise quarterback. Backup quarterbacks won just 26% of their starts between 2000 and 2021, according to the Mile High Report, and the Packers have capitalized on this, ranking fifth in the league in passing yards allowed per game at 181.0.
The upcoming stretch will test Green Bay’s defense significantly. The Packers (3-2) will face MVP winners Josh Allen of Buffalo and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, as well as Drake Maye of New England, the 2025 MVP runner-up, plus Detroit’s Jared Goff and Carolina’s Bryce Young, both currently having strong seasons. Safety Evan Williams said the Packers see this as a chance to “prove we are who we think we are,” confident of matching up against quarterbacks with the highest and lowest passer ratings in the league.
The Packers’ offense mirrors Dallas in some ways. Jordan Love is a traditional pocket passer like Prescott, both dangerous when given time. Dallas features one of the NFL’s best wide receiver duos in Cee Dee Lamb and George Pickens, who together have 66 catches for 862 yards and five touchdowns. Green Bay’s Christian Watson and Matthew Golden have combined for 50 catches, 871 yards, and eight touchdowns.
Both teams struggle on the ground. Green Bay ranks last in rushing at 60.2 yards per game, on pace to set a Super Bowl-era low. Dallas is only slightly better, 30th in rushing at 81.6 yards per game. Packers coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged the challenge Prescott presents, saying, “He’s a baller. They are extremely high powered, they can score a lot of points, they can put a lot of yards on you.”
The stretch of elite quarterbacks begins Sunday night against Dallas, but continues with difficult matchups. In Week 7, Green Bay visits Detroit, where Jared Goff is second in the NFL in scoring offense. Goff has thrown for 297 yards per game with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions and holds a 111.3 passer rating. Week 8 brings Carolina’s Bryce Young, who leads the NFL with 317 yards per game and a 100.0 passer rating, guiding an offense third in yards and fourth in points.
New England awaits in Week 9, with second-year quarterback Drake Maye improving after a rocky start. Maye has seven touchdowns and one interception in his last two games following six interceptions and one touchdown through his first three. The Rams, led by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, arrive in Week 11 boasting the league’s top total and passing offense. Stafford ranks second in passing yards per game at 314.4.
Buffalo’s Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, visits Green Bay in Week 13. Allen leads the league in rushing touchdowns with eight and ranks 24th in rushing yards, while also throwing for 249.8 yards per game and seven touchdowns with a 99.8 passer rating.
Last season, Prescott threw three touchdowns and posted a 124.9 passer rating in a 40-40 tie with the Packers. Green Bay’s defensive backs are eager for this opportunity. Williams said, “You gotta attack these opportunities. If you’re hesitant in any facet, that’s when you get exploited as a defense. When you’re unsure or questionable about what you’re going to do, that’s when explosives start to show up and things can go downhill in a hurry.”
The Packers now turn their attention fully to Prescott and the Cowboys, aware that the coming weeks will test their defense against some of the NFL’s most accomplished quarterbacks.
According to Yahoo Sports.
