Packers Rely on Defensive Surprises as Team Confronts Challenges

WHO:

packers.com - Packers writers said safety Xavier McKinney has been a proactive communicator with new defensive coordinators throughout his career, including at Alabama and with the New York Giants.

packers.com - Packers writers said linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper have shared snaps.

packers.com - Packers writers said defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a former teammate of Micah Parsons in Dallas, joined Green Bay’s practice squad at age 25.

packers.com - Packers writers said Christian Watson and Matthew Golden had end-zone attempts tipped or nearly completed, disputing that every such play should be called a drop.

packers.com - Packers writers said Davante Adams was out and the Packers had four games before facing his team.

packers.com - Packers safety Xavier McKinney said he wanted to try rushing the quarterback from a three-point stance and “put that on tape one time.”

packers.com - McKinney said he values an open line of communication with defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and teammates, adding that he shares ideas with Gannon and that safety Evan Williams does the same.

packers.com - Williams said Gannon’s call positioned him to intercept Dak Prescott; Williams read Prescott’s signal and recognized CeeDee Lamb as a likely hot route in the red zone.

packers.com - Packers writer said defensive back Keisean Nixon’s speed and physicality make him worthy of star recognition.

packers.com - Packers writer said defensive back Keisean Nixon deserves star recognition, describing him as fast and willing to play physically.

packers.com - Green Bay rookie Blake Miller is Detroit’s starting right tackle; rookie Derrick Moore recorded three quarterback hits over two weeks, and rookie Keith Abney intercepted a pass in his first NFL start.

packers.com - Packers punter Daniel Whelan ranked fifth in the league in gross yards per punt and first in net yards per punt; his 45-yard net average followed a franchise-record 43.9-yard average the previous season.

packers.com - Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon developed his approach to defensive disguise while working as a defensive quality control coach in Atlanta under coordinator Mike Zimmer in 2007; Falcons defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas also mentored him.

packers.com - Green Bay’s defensive contributors discussed include safety Xavier McKinney, safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard, and passing game coordinator Bobby Babich. Gannon said McKinney has “some really good ideas.”

packers.com - Packers All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave were unavailable after season-ending injuries; Parsons tore his ACL, as did Cooper and Hargrave, who suffered Achilles tears.

dallascowboys.com - Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer and quarterback Dak Prescott discussed the offense’s recent struggles; receiver Ryan Flournoy called for the Cowboys to use running back Javonte Williams more.

WHAT:

packers.com - Packers writers described Green Bay’s defensive backs as tackling effectively, helping finish plays and limit explosive runs.

packers.com - Packers writers said the Packers had lost Jayden Reed, Chris Brooks and Skyy Moore, affecting the team’s ability to use two-running-back concepts.

packers.com - Packers writers said Green Bay had a longer winning streak than all but three NFL teams.

packers.com - Packers writers said Packers fans could face a more difficult division race if their team lost at Detroit.

packers.com - Green Bay’s defense has needed to compensate for the absence of Micah Parsons, Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Hargrave.

packers.com - Green Bay’s run defense has allowed 3.4 yards per carry against opponents other than Bijan Robinson; the Packers rank 14th overall at 3.99 yards per carry.

packers.com - Detroit quarterback Jared Goff had not thrown an interception at the time of the article.

dallascowboys.com - Dallas wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens combined for 28 catches, 282 yards and one touchdown over the Cowboys’ losses to Tampa Bay and Green Bay, averaging 10.8 yards per catch.

dallascowboys.com - Ryan Flournoy said the Cowboys were having “the right conversations, the tough conversations” and called for the offense to give Javonte Williams more carries.

dallascowboys.com - Javonte Williams had 11 carries against Green Bay, his fewest of the season; he had not reached 20 carries in any game and was on pace for roughly 900 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns.

dallascowboys.com - Dallas averaged 34 points per game over a three-game stretch; the Cowboys went 1–2 during that stretch while allowing an average of 28 points per game.

packers.com - Detroit’s defense had allowed just over 400 yards and just under 30 points per game, while recording 20 sacks through five games; four players had at least three sacks.

packers.com - Packers writer said Green Bay had converted nine of 10 third downs against Dallas, including conversions on two third-and-27 situations and one third-and-22.

packers.com - Green Bay defeated Dallas 23–13. McKinney rushed through the B-gap untouched to hit Prescott on the game’s first third down; Williams intercepted Prescott on a pass intended for CeeDee Lamb.

packers.com - The Packers had nine interceptions through the first six weeks of the 2026 season, leading the NFL and exceeding their total of two interceptions in 17 games the previous season. McKinney had three interceptions, tied for the league lead; he credited defensive disguise for one against Chicago.

dallascowboys.com - Dallas fell to 2–4 after consecutive losses to Tampa Bay and Green Bay, scoring 16 and 13 points. Prescott had quarterback ratings of 69.1 and 65.2, two touchdown passes and four interceptions across those games.

dallascowboys.com - Tampa Bay blitzed on 48% of snaps and Green Bay on 35%. Against Green Bay, Dallas ran the ball only three times after Javonte Williams’ rushing touchdown, passing on 37 of the next 38 plays.

packers.com - Packers writers said Green Bay had won two of its previous three games at Detroit’s Ford Field. Green Bay’s run defense allowed 3.4 yards per carry against opponents other than Bijan Robinson; its overall average was 3.99, ranking 14th.

packers.com - Green Bay had the NFL’s third-best four-man pass-rush win percentage. Lukas Van Ness recorded 13 Next Gen Stats pressures over three games, including five pressures and a sack against Dallas.

WHERE:

packers.com - The Packers’ 23–13 win over Dallas took place at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Green Bay’s next game was described as a road matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

dallascowboys.com - The Cowboys’ upcoming opponent was the Philadelphia Eagles.

WHY:

packers.com - Packers writers said Josh Jacobs could help turn two-yard runs into five- or six-yard gains, and gain a yard or two when no hole is available.

packers.com - Green Bay writers said defending Jahmyr Gibbs requires coordinated effort: defensive linemen must penetrate to force him to reroute, defenders must tackle under control, and the team must gang-tackle.

packers.com - Gannon uses pre-snap disguise to make it harder for offenses to identify the defense’s rushers, coverage and post-snap plan. He said, “You have to affect the quarterback pre-snap.”

dallascowboys.com - Schottenheimer said Dallas’ two losses involved playing from behind and being forced to pass frequently. Prescott said he needed to “simplify the plan.”

HOW:

packers.com - Packers writers said receiver motion can reveal defenders’ inside-versus-outside leverage through shifts in their feet or stance, even if their positions do not change.

packers.com - Packers writers said Green Bay’s prior wins at Ford Field came through efficient offense and limiting defensive “gashes,” forcing Detroit to sustain longer drives.

packers.com - Packers writer said Detroit’s offense depends on yards after contact and yards after the catch, including from Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Williams.

packers.com - Packers writer said receiver motion can reveal defensive leverage and whether safeties may shift from two-deep coverage to single-high, or vice versa.

dallascowboys.com - Dak Prescott said running the ball helps open play-action, creating one-on-one opportunities for George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.

packers.com - Gannon said his “players, not plays” approach tailors the scheme to the roster. Green Bay’s safeties shared ideas with Gannon and Babich, while disguised alignments helped create interception opportunities.

dallascowboys.com - Flournoy said Dallas needed to trust each other and feed Williams more; Schottenheimer said the Cowboys needed better blitz pickups and could use two tight ends to block.

Green Bay beat Dallas 23 to 13 at Lambeau Field, with its defense delivering another standout performance despite missing three key players to season-ending injuries. The Packers recorded nine interceptions through the first six weeks, the most in the NFL, after managing just two last season. Safety Evan Williams intercepted Dak Prescott on a pass intended for CeeDee Lamb, while Xavier McKinney hit Prescott on a third-down rush and said he wants to try rushing from a three-point stance. Green Bay has also allowed just 3.4 yards per carry against opponents other than Bijan Robinson. Dallas, now 2–4, has lost two straight, scoring 16 and 13 points; Prescott threw four interceptions across those games. Cowboys receiver Ryan Flournoy urged the team to give running back Javonte Williams more carries. Green Bay’s next game is against Detroit at Ford Field, where it has won two of its last three.