Week 5 has all but come and gone, with only one game left to play, some of you might have been singing the blues with the Packers idle at home on a bye.

And you know what, it's the best thing that could've happened given how things have shaken out.

The Packers came out of the gate piping hot, just like I expect my fries every time I hit the drive-thru at Culver's, but two straight road trips to Cleveland and then Dallas cooled off the Cheese quickly. Now the Packers have a chance to get back right with a reeling Cincinnati Bengals team sans QB Joe Burrow and 17th Overall Pick Shemar Stewart at DE. 

I know some fans might already be looking ahead to the Cardinals in Week 7, but a trip to the Dog Pound should be a glaring reminder that there are no easy wins in this league. Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Andres Iosivas will absolutely test this secondary with their combined field-stretching abilities, and we still haven't even brought up Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki. Chase Brown needs one cut to be gone and Samaje Perine will have the defense flipping a coin on whether he's going to take the handoff, block, or run a route.

But enough about the opposition. The Packers have a unique opportunity not only to return to playing good, championship-worthy football but also to grow as a team.

I know many of you are frustrated with Matt LaFleur's playcalling and game management (but firing him is extreme). The playcalling? Ehhh, sorry guys, I don't think that's going away, not without some changes in the coaching staff, which won't be happening anytime soon (more on that later). I can't remember who said it in the PackersVerse, because I'd love to give them credit, unfortunately, they were talking to someone else, and I just happened to be "in the room". But Matt LaFleur has a script, like every coach does, and he's gonna stick to it to a tee. When he calls those bone-headed plays that we're all ready to throw the salsa bowl at the TV, he probably planned to run that play 10 minutes ago. On the same token, when he calls a game-breaking big play, that was also in the proverbial "batting order" of plays he has queued up. I want to watch more of Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan to see if they also have this same "flaw", but I think this habit is LaFleur's own deviation from their very similar coaching philosophies. It's probably here to stay.

Game management? Welp, the one person who should have helped LaFleur make strides in this area is Rich Bisaccia; after all, he's had 15+ seasons as an Assistant Head Coach (always a bridesmaid, never a bride, eh, Rich?). Unfortunately, Rich has his own problems, such as avoiding three straight games with a blocked field goal attempt. The person who could fix that all in a jiffy? He's up in the box. Jeff Hafley has only been a head coach for three years, but perhaps during coaches' meetings, he's put a bug in LaFleur's ear on how he can improve? I'm probably hoping for too much here, but as Elwood used to say, "the Lord works in mysterious ways...."

The Bengals are sporting the league's third-worst defense. Jordan Morgan has frustrated us all at times, especially against Cleveland, but he held his ground in Dallas. Aaron Banks and his $77 million be damned, leave the kid out there! This back-and-forth between tackle and guard is probably hindering his development, which would explain his inconsistent play. If Zach Tom could benefit from a little more time off, stick Anthony Belton out there too, and let Darrian Kinnard jump in when necessary. The cupboard is bare after Kinnard, and I'd much rather have Tom and Banks (still lukewarm on him) at 100% for the postseason than dealing with nagging injuries against the league's best. Should we lose either for a significant time, they'll likely land on IR, which allows Brian Gutekunst to go on a Practice Squad Poaching Spree (probably targeting Kadeem Telfort from the Dolphins). There's no telling if Rasheed Walker will land an extension at the end of the year, but he's going to have some leverage if there are valid question marks on the longevity of Morgan and Belton.

I know there have been circulating reports of the Packers trading for Saints' DT Nathan Shepherd (and after watching some tape, I ain't mad at that at all), but if Devonte Wyatt also needs to sit for another week, Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden have an excellent opportunity to strut their stuff as a unit. I was underwhelmed with their showing in Dallas, as Javonte Williams kept the Cowboys in the game with back-breaking runs. However, if they want to give Gutekunst pause before he spends some money in free agency or selects a defensive tackle on Day 2 in 2026, it might be now or never. When the postseason comes, it will be about the "Jimmys and the Joes" and there may be a situation where the Packers NEED a play from either of them to secure a win and move on to the next round or bring the Lombardi home. I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but Christian Wilkins will not be hearing from the Packers unless he's willing to play for peanuts and earn another deal down the road. The defensive line the Packers have on the roster now is most likely all they've got to work with down the stretch.

Speaking of Brooks and Wooden, this secondary might need a couple of plays from them this week. The Packers have to shed the label that this secondary is only as good as Micah Parsons and this Green Bay pass rush. This is the best WR group the Packers will see all year since Dallas was short Ceedee Lamb in Week 4. I'm not sure if Nate Brooks is physically hurt or if it's just a matter of his confidence, but we'll find out soon enough. A Stephon Gilmore signing might move the Packers up from the youngest team in the NFL, but it could be a welcome addition. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is also seeking a new team, he offers versatility between corner (nickel) and safety. Browns CB Greg Newsome II and Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen will be far more expensive. Still, they could put the coverage unit into the upper-echelon tier. I know Carrington Valentine didn't look any better against George Pickens, if not worse, but the Bengals offer a bounce-back opportunity for him as well if the game gets out of reach early. I know Jake Browning scares nobody, but just about any QB in the NFL can find a streaking receiver downfield if the coverage is busted. 

I know many of you may find yourselves disappointed with the Pack at 2-1-1. But with a week off and a home game against an opponent trying to sort out its own mess, there are some growth opportunities for key players (and hopefully the coaching staff) that could be had this upcoming Sunday. If the Bengals take the Packers to the brink, expectations for this season will be seriously called into question by insiders and outsiders alike. But if what we witness is the same offense that scored 40 a week ago on the road and a defense with a renewed sense of aggression and execution, the words "Super Bowl bound" might still be appropriate. Like you, I'll be watching the practice reports to see who will have an extended opportunity to make their mark on Sunday's contest.

The Packers host the Bengals at Lambeau Field at 3:25 CST/4:25 EST. Let's hope they "get back right" next weekend.

#GPG