By Robert Marvi

Copyright newsweek

The Green Bay Packers, after a strong start to the NFL season, need to get back on track. They lost in Week 3 to the Cleveland Browns, 13-10, after holding a 10-0 lead with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter, and they then tied the Dallas Cowboys 40-40 in overtime the following week, giving them a 2-1-1 record.

Coming off their bye week, the Packers will host the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday. It will be an opportunity for them to get back on track, especially on the defensive side of the football, where they definitely faltered against Dallas two weeks ago.

Star pass rusher Micah Parsons, whom they traded for in late August prior to Week 1, reminded his teammates that defense has to be their calling card every single week of the season.

“I told the guys today – be phenomenal or be forgotten,” Parsons said, per weston hodkiewicz on X.

“No one talks about good defenses. We’ve seen a lot of good defenses. 11, 12 weeks of the year, they’re pretty good. But those other weeks, what did they look like? You think about those great defenses – the Ravens, Denver, Chicago still get brought up because of what they did consistent for 17 weeks. We gotta be great.”

Micah Parsons on Packers’ defense coming out of the bye: “I told the guys today – be phenomenal or be forgotten. “No one talks about good defenses. We’ve seen a lot of good defenses. 11, 12 weeks of the year, they’re pretty good. But those other weeks, what did they look like?…— weston hodkiewicz (@WesHod) October 9, 2025

Read more: Steelers Could Lose Two Key Stars for Week 6

Green Bay’s defense, with Parsons on board, looked dominant in the first three weeks of this season, and many were ready to proclaim the team as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. But its Week 4 performance versus the Cowboys should give people a bit of pause, at least for now.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: Javonte Williams #33 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball against the Green Bay Packers in the game at AT&T Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

In that game, it let Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott complete 31 of 40 pass attempts and throw for 319 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Even without star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys were able to have their way offensively and remain step by step with the Packers.

While the Bengals are without star QB Joe Burrow and have lost three games in a row with Jake Browning starting under center, they can still be explosive offensively. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is off to a fast start this season with 32 catches, 374 yards and three touchdowns, and WR2 Tee Higgins had 13 receptions, 158 yards and two touchdowns.

Read more: Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence Receives Brutal Criticism Following Week 5 Win

The Packers need to make sure they defeat Cincinnati this weekend because they will head out on the road afterward to play the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. They will then host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10 on Nov. 10.

For more on the Packers and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.