Green Bay Packers Ready for Takeoff: Sports Illustrated Applauds Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur, Forecasts Playoff Breakthrough

The Green Bay Packers are generating serious buzz ahead of the 2025 NFL season. In a recent deep-dive feature, Sports Illustrated offered glowing praise for quarterback Jordan Love and head coach Matt LaFleur, predicting that the Packers are on the brink of something special — a true postseason surge that could shake up the NFC playoff picture.

After a rollercoaster 2023 season that ended with a playoff berth and a gutsy performance against the Dallas Cowboys, expectations are skyrocketing in Green Bay. And for good reason.

According to SI, the Packers are “one of the most complete young teams in the NFL,” with a potent mix of youthful explosiveness and veteran discipline. Much of the credit, they argue, should go to the steady hand of Matt LaFleur and the emerging leadership of Jordan Love.

When Aaron Rodgers left for New York, there was widespread skepticism about whether Jordan Love could step into the shoes of a future Hall-of-Famer. But in just one full season as a starter, Love silenced critics and ignited hope in Titletown.

Sports Illustrated highlights Love’s strong finish to last season — including a stretch of games with elite efficiency and composure under pressure — as proof that the 25-year-old QB is ready to command the spotlight. His chemistry with young receivers like Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs has become a central storyline in Green Bay’s resurgence.

His mechanics have improved, his reads are quicker, and his deep-ball accuracy has caught the eye of scouts league-wide. With a full offseason to build upon last year’s momentum, Love looks like the kind of quarterback who can carry a team through January — and perhaps beyond.

Matt LaFleur has compiled an impressive win-loss record since taking over as head coach in 2019, yet he’s often been overlooked in discussions about the NFL’s top coaching minds. That may be about to change.

The Sports Illustrated piece underscores LaFleur’s adaptability and calm demeanor as vital to the Packers’ recent success. After reengineering the offense to suit Jordan Love’s strengths, LaFleur proved he could win without relying on a generational talent like Rodgers.

What’s more, LaFleur has fostered a culture of accountability and belief inside the locker room — something that’s evident in the way this young roster plays. No longer overshadowed by quarterback drama or aging stars, the Packers are building something organic, something lasting.

Green Bay’s success isn’t solely a product of its quarterback-coach duo. The team’s general manager, Brian Gutekunst, deserves credit for assembling a roster that’s both deep and youthful. Last season’s playoff run was powered largely by second- and third-year players — not grizzled veterans.

On defense, the emergence of edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, linebacker Quay Walker, and cornerback Jaire Alexander has helped transform the unit into a more aggressive, turnover-hungry group. On offense, the pass-catching corps is one of the youngest in the league, but also one of the most dynamic.

The offensive line — anchored by stalwarts like Elgton Jenkins and bolstered by promising prospects — gives Love the protection needed to dissect defenses. Add in a two-headed rushing attack featuring Josh Jacobs and rookie sensation MarShawn Lloyd, and Green Bay suddenly boasts a multi-faceted offense capable of adapting to any situation.

In the eyes of Sports Illustrated, the Packers aren’t just a team to watch — they’re a team to fear. The magazine forecasts a 2025 campaign where Green Bay not only returns to the postseason but does serious damage once they get there.