The Bengals travel this week to Green Bay to take on the 2-1-1 Packers.
The Packers had a bye in Week 5 after tying the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 4. Green Bay has the fifth-highest overall PFF grade, posting an 80.4 grade as a team.
Packers Offense
QB Jordan Love ranks in the top 10 in passing yards per game, throwing for 250.0 yards per contest. Despite having a bye, he is also in the top 10 in passing touchdowns with eight. Love has thrown 11 interceptions each of the last two seasons, but he's been intercepted just once so far this year.
Love has pushed the ball downfield as well, with an average depth of target of 8.1 yards per attempt, ranking 17th among quarterbacks with at least 20 dropbacks. The former first-round pick has excelled throwing intermediate routes, completing 16-of-21 passes between 10-19 yards for five touchdowns and zero interceptions. His 81.0% adjusted completion percentage (completion percentage when accounting for drops) on intermediate passes ranks as the third highest in the NFL among quarterbacks who have thrown at least five such passes.
Three of Love's touchdowns have come off play action, per PFF. The run game plays a role in that. RB Josh Jacobs currently ranks 11th in the NFL with 66.5 yards per game, but he's averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt. For his career, the former Raider has averaged 4.2 yards per carry. While his yards per carry doesn't jump off the stat sheet, PFF sees more, as Jacobs has a 76.4 rush grade, the 14th-highest among all backs.
The Packers selected WR Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The rookie from Texas is currently tied with Jacobs for fourth on the team in targets with 14 and is third on the team with 11 receptions. TE Tucker Kraft paces Green Bay in both categories and is tied with Raiders TE Brock Bowers for the seventh-most receiving yards at the position (225). The Packers leading receiver last season, Jayden Reed, is on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Green Bay's offensive line has struggled a bit early on this season in pass protection, allowing Love to be pressured on 40.7% of his dropbacks. The Packers have posted a 51.7 PFF pass-block grade so far this season, ranking 26th in the league.
However, two starters, right tackle Zach Tom and left guard Aaron Banks, returned to practice Monday. Tom has played just 31 snaps this season, while Banks has played 73.
Packers Defense
The Packers made a splash on the defensive side of the ball just before the season started, trading for star edge rusher Micah Parsons. The former Cowboy has registered at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons, one of just two players to do that, joining Hall of Famer Reggie White. The three-time Associated Press All-Pro selection has the second-highest PFF defensive grade among all edge rushers so far this season, trailing only Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson, and has the fifth-most pressures generated with 25.
As an overall unit, the Packers have posted the fourth-highest PFF defensive grade in the NFL (79.0). They've allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game (283.3) and the 11th-fewest points per game (21.0). They are coming off an overtime tie with the Cowboys where they allowed 40 points.
Green Bay has been especially impressive against the run, allowing 77.5 rushing yards per game, the second fewest in the NFL. The unit has allowed 3.6 yards per carry as well, the fifth fewest. Its best interior defender, DT Devonte Wyatt, injured his knee in Dallas in Week 4 and is currently considered week-to-week.
Despite allowing 319 yards to Dak Prescott in Week 4, the Packers have given up the 11th-fewest passing yards per game this season (205.8). The defensive unit has not been as opportunistic as it was last season though: Green Bay has forced two turnovers through four games after forcing 31 last season.
The Bengals travel to Lambeau Field for the first time in eight years. Green Bay is 2-0 at home so far this season, scoring 27.0 points per game and allowing 15.5 points per game.
View the best photos from Bengals-Packers matchups of years past
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) catches a tipped ball as Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes (21) defends during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (85) runs after a catch with Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rouse (37) and Jarrett Bush (24) defending during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis.
Bengals cornerbacks Lemar Parrish (left) and Ken Riley (right) make a tackle on Sunday, Oct 3, 1971 at Lambeau Field.
QBs Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers talk postgame, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer looks to hand off the ball as Green Bay Packers' Cullen Jenkins (77) comes from behind during the first half of a preseason NFL football game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Cincinnati Bengals placekicker Evan McPherson (2) reacts after a a game-winning field goal attempt that ultimately ended up missing during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Cincinnati. The Packers defeated the Bengals 25-22 in overtime.
Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (88) catches a pass against Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer in action against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom (98) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. The Bengals won 31-24.
DE Trey Hendrickson celebrates a play against the Packers, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals' Ken Anderson (14) picks up first down yardage with a quarterback draw during final quarter of game against Packers at Green Bay, Oct. 3, 1971.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is sacked by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson (93) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Cincinnati.
GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 20: Wide receiver Quan Crosby #12 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the football against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Bengals defeated the Packers 31-24.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon escapes two Green Bay defenders during the Week 3 game against the Packers during the 2017 season.
Bengals running back Jess Phillips rushes up field for a first down against the Green Bay Packers in 1971.
WR Ja'Marr Chase runs after the catch against the Packers, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (42) scores a touchdown on a 2-yard run against Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly (97) and nose tackle Ryan Pickett (79) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals' Quan Cosby (12) gets past Green Bay Packers punter Jeremy Kapinos (7) for a 60-yard punt return during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis.
The Cincinnati Bengals line up against the Green Bay Packers in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Cincinnati.
GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 20: Running back Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the football against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Bengals defeated the Packers 31-24.
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