The Green Bay Packers rolled to a 45-27 victory over the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots, surging up the power rankings ahead of Week 10 following an eventful trade deadline across the league, Yahoo Sports reported.
Despite a very ugly start to the 2026 season, Green Bay holds a 6-3 record and is trending upward, having won back-to-back games and five of its last six contests.
Green Bay sits at a 6-3 record and trends upward after a dominant showing at Gillette Stadium. Quarterback Jordan Love threw for strong numbers while the rushing attack topped 100 yards as a team.
Defensively, the Packers recorded four sacks and forced four turnovers, limiting penalties to just three for 14 yards. Christian Watson recorded 171 yards and a touchdown, while Matthew Golden added 164 yards and a score. Xavier McKinney recorded two interceptions in the effort, while Evan Williams also notched a pick.
“Here’s why I love what I do (honestly): I spent all offseason studying the run game, heavier personnel packages and the increased usage of 21 personnel,” wrote Sports Illustrated Conor Orr, who placed Green Bay fifth in his weekly rankings.
Elsewhere around the league, major roster moves changed team compositions. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Jessie Bates, Jordan Davis, and Davon Godchaux, climbing to third in the pecking order after a 33-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
In that game, Joe Fagnano threw for 60 yards and two interceptions in his first career start, marking the first time in Ravens history the team has lost three consecutive games by 20 or more points. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings brought back veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins following a 23-6 Monday night defeat against the Buffalo Bills, who also added Titans defensive standout Amani Hooker.
In other notable Week 9 action, the Denver Broncos topped the Carolina Panthers 26-21 behind Bo Nix, securing their 16th regular-season victory in one-score games to set an NFL record. The Detroit Lions defeated the Miami Dolphins 19-9.
National outlets reflected Green Bay’s ascent in their latest evaluations. USA Today slotted the team seventh, NFL.com placed them eighth, and The Athletic and Fox Sports both ranked them ninth.
CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports positioned the Packers tenth, while ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Pro Football Talk placed them eleventh. Jordan Love is now entering MVP conversations, while the team’s marked improvement has placed McKinney and Williams into the national conversation.
The upcoming slate features divisional matchups as teams adjust to their new rosters following the trade deadline. Green Bay previously led the league in penalties for most of the season before their disciplined performance against New England.
