The Cowboys vs. Packers matchup is already generating major buzz, especially with Micah Parsons set to face his former team. Fans are eager to see how Parsons’ speed, power, and defensive instincts will impact Green Bay’s game plan, and whether Dallas can handle the pressure he brings. Will Parsons dominate, or can the Packers find a way to contain one of the league’s most explosive defenders? NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky has a strong opinion on this upcoming game.
When Dan Orlovsky was asked, “Do the Cowboys have a chance against their former star pass rusher?” He replied “No” before predicting the game to be ugly. He also added, “I think this is going to get ugly as a football game. This Packers pass rush is everything that we thought the Giants were going to be this offseason. You’re dead if you get into passing situations, and it’s not only because of Micah, like it’s almost a super team.”
He further said that, like the Warriors or Celtics from a few years ago, this defense has “weaponized” Micah Parsons, Rashawn Gary, and Lucas Van Ness. Even when Van Ness is off the ball, he draws attention, so naturally, the offense is paying attention to him. With five guys on the line of scrimmage, the defense is trying to create one-on-one matchups. “Everyone gets one-on-one, but they only need one player to win, and that’s usually Rashawn Gary,” he added.
Orlovsky explained that they also trigger the linebackers, like Cooper, to create even more one-on-one situations. In almost every obvious passing situation, one of those three – Micah, Gary, or Van Ness – will get a pass rush. He added that sometimes it looks like a five-man rush, which would suggest man coverage, but instead they’ll drop some players or spin coverage. So rather than rushing five against man, they play cover two with four rushing, which speeds up the quarterback and makes it harder to read the play. Finally, the analyst pointed out the stats showing how effective this strategy is. Micah Parsons leads the NFL with 14 pressures, Gary has nine, Lucas Van Ness has seven, and Gary leads the league with 4.5 sacks. Overall, this defensive line is one of the toughest to face in passing situations.
Packers’ Defense Stands Tall with Micah Parsons at the Helm
The Packers’ defense has been one of the NFL’s standout units in the 2025 season. Through the first three weeks, they have allowed an average of just 14.7 points per game, ranking first in the league. This defensive dominance has been a key factor in the Packers’ success, which has helped them maintain a strong record and give them a significant edge in the NFC North.
The team has also been exceptional in limiting total yardage, allowing only 232.3 yards per game (third in the NFL), including 168 passing yards per game (seventh) and just 64.3 rushing yards per game (third), demonstrating a balanced ability to defend both the run and the pass.
Apart from this, the Packers’ several players have been central to this defensive success. Micah Parsons, of course, has made an immediate impact, leading the league in games with eight or more quarterback pressures. Rashan Gary continues to be a dominant presence on the edge by consistently generating pressure and contributing to the team’s sack totals. In the secondary, safety Xavier McKinney has been a ball-hawking defender.
Together, these key players have formed a defensive core that is difficult for opposing offenses to penetrate. Advanced metrics further highlight the Packers’ defensive efficiency.
It says that their EPA (Expected Points Added) per play stands at -0.13 (third in the NFL), while their overall success rate of defensive stops is 35.83 percent (also third). They have allowed only 567 passing yards (third in the league) and 193 rushing yards (fourth), with a sack rate of 7.52 percent (fourth) and an interception rate of 1.5 percent (fourth). These numbers demonstrate not only the unit’s ability to limit yardage but also its consistent capacity to disrupt both passing and running plays.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has employed innovative strategies to maximize pressure on opposing quarterbacks. One such approach is the “Penny package,” which positions three defensive ends and adjusts linebacker placements to create favorable one-on-one matchups. These tactical adjustments have made it extremely difficult for offenses to sustain drives, as seen in the Packers’ recent matchup against the Browns, where the defense effectively neutralized their offensive threats.
Overall, the Green Bay Packers’ defense has been a cornerstone of their success in the 2025 season. Combining elite league rankings, standout individual performances, and advanced metrics that highlight dominance across all facets of the game, the unit has established itself as one of the NFL’s toughest defenses. With key players, the Packers’ defense is poised to continue its strong performance throughout the remainder of the season.