So, the Eagles sent the Packers packing. And it wasn’t fun while it lasted… Last season, they had that underdog magic. Quite literally! Remember? In the 2023 Wild Card round, the Packers became the first 7-seed to upset a 2-seed, dismantling the Cowboys 48–32. Not just that, it was a historic moment for Jordan Love, too, as he led the lines to end the playoff drought without Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers that stretched back to 1982 and 2003. So, after that hell of a season, how have you gone and done this to the fans?

2024: the dream turned into a nightmare.

This time around, the 7-seeded Packers crashed out with a frustrating loss, leaving Jordan Love admitting the obvious: “We didn’t play well enough.” That might be the understatement of the year. The real story? Yeah, let’s hear it first from the Packers fan and ESPN reporter Michelle Smallmon herself. Spoiler: She is frustrated…

The 22-10 Wild Card loss is not sticking with Smallmon as she didn’t hold back in her season assessment: “It was a frustrating season. Quite simply, this season for the Green Bay Packers wasn’t good enough.” It’s hard to argue with her. After all, they’ve regressed, plagued by injuries and self-inflicted mistakes. “They couldn’t stand up to elite talent,” Smallmon noted, pointing to winless records against the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles this season. And dare I say, losing to Philly twice in the season was ‘the circle’ they wanted to complete.

But this one was a microcosm of their struggles. Love threw three interceptions, including one on the opening drive, and the team fumbled away its momentum—literally. As Smallmon put it, “Before they could beat the Eagles, they had to beat themselves.”

Green Bay’s defense did its job, holding the Eagles to 10 first-half points. Josh Jacobs contributed on the ground, but the offensive miscues were too much to overcome. “You have so many mistakes—overthrows, INTs, dropped balls—against a team like that, you have no chance,” Smallmon summarized.

Adding to the frustration, Love’s performance made unwanted history. According to ESPN’s Jen Lada, Love became the first Packers quarterback to throw three playoff interceptions without a single touchdown. Ouch. That’s a tough pill for fans to swallow, especially with Love’s four-year, $220 million extension still fresh ink.

But let’s not put it all on Love. The Packers were riddled with injuries—Christian Watson, Jaire Alexander, and even Love himself missed time. But a lot of teams do go through that… The bottom line? Green Bay couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.

For now, Packers fans are left with a bitter taste. This team has shown flashes of brilliance, but until they can clean up the mistakes and beat top-tier teams, those flashes will remain just that—flashes.

What’s Next for Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love?

The Packers have potential—no one’s doubting that. But potential doesn’t win you playoff games, does it? Jordan Love admitted as much himself: “There’s always gonna be things to get better at.” The real question is whether he can make the jump from promising to elite before the clock runs out. So, where does Green Bay go from here?

Matt LaFleur, ever the optimist, sees a silver lining. “This is a tough lesson along the way. Hopefully, we can use this as fuel to get better,” he shared after Sunday’s loss. He added: “I’m hoping our guys use that for fuel this offseason to dig a little bit deeper and come back a little bit better, each individually, because collectively, that’ll make a huge difference.” Sounds nice in theory, but with the Lions and Vikings on the rise, there’s no easy path back to the top of the NFC North. The Packers will need more than hope to stay in the fight.

This season wasn’t just a loss; it was a pattern. The Packers handled the weaker squads—your AFC South teams, your NFC West matchups. But when it came to NFC heavyweights like the Lions, Vikings, and Eagles? They folded. Sunday’s 22-10 loss to the Eagles was the final stamp on a season that screamed inconsistency.

The turnovers (four, if you’re counting) and missed opportunities painted the picture: Green Bay just wasn’t ready for primetime. “We’ve got to find ways to execute and win those big-time games,” Love said postgame. The Packers finished 11-7 but went 0-6 against the NFC’s elite. You do the math.

Looking ahead, the Packers have the tools to turn this around. They’ve got cap space, draft picks, and the chance to add some much-needed firepower. Adding Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney last offseason was a good start, but it’s going to take more. They need a defense that doesn’t crack under pressure and an offense that can keep up with the NFL’s best.

LaFleur also made a point about securing home-field advantage. “Getting these home-field games… makes a huge difference,” he said. Sure, but to do that, they’ll need to win the division. That means dethroning Detroit and outlasting Minnesota—no small task. The offseason will be critical, not just for building a better roster but for setting the tone for 2025.