The Green Bay Packers entered Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season looking like early Super Bowl contenders. Their defense was dominating opponents, the offense was efficient, and analysts across the league were calling them the most complete team on paper.
But that narrative came crashing down on Sunday, when they suffered a heartbreaking 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns, thanks to a game-winning 55-yard field goal by rookie kicker Andre Szmyt.
For three quarters, the Packers looked every bit the powerhouse they were expected to be. They held the Browns scoreless and appeared poised to cruise to a 3-0 record. But everything unraveled in the final quarter.
Cleveland scored 13 unanswered points, including the game-tying touchdown following a Jordan Love interception, and then capitalized on a critical Packers mistake in the closing seconds.
Parsons’ costly penalty sparks late-game collapse
It wasn’t a great day at the office for pass rusher Micah Parsons, who suffered through a frustrating afternoon. On one play early in the third quarter, Parsons was looking to put pressure on Joe Flacco.
Instead, he was on there receiving end of a huge black from running back Quinshon Judkins, who put his shoulder into the Packers star, who fell over soon after.
Things didn’t get better for Parsons from there, as he jumped offside on the very first play of what proved to be the deciding drive for Cleveland.
That neutral zone infraction handed the Browns a free five yards and helped push them past midfield, crucial ground for setting up Szmyt’s long-range game-winner. Even worse, it was Parsons’ second such penalty of the game, both occurring at critical junctures.
After the loss, Parsons didn’t shy away from accountability. Speaking to reporters in the locker room, he openly admitted his mistakes and called them “unacceptable.” He told beat writer Ryan Wood, “Two offsides is unacceptable for myself. Just things we shouldn’t be doing, I shouldn’t be doing-it’s unacceptable. I fully apologize for my actions.”
Though the video clip of Parsons’ costly penalty quickly went viral, showing him getting faked out and humiliated by a hard count, it wasn’t the only issue plaguing Green Bay.
The Packers’ offense was largely ineffective throughout the game, managing just 230 total yards. Love’s interception in the fourth quarter allowed the Browns to tie the game at 10, and a blocked 43-yard field goal earlier in the quarter robbed Green Bay of a chance to extend their lead.
The Packers’ defense, despite its strong showing early on, couldn’t hold firm when it mattered most. And while Parsons’ penalty stood out, it was part of a broader meltdown in the final 15 minutes, a collapse that saw Green Bay give away a game they had dominated.
Now sitting at 2-1, the Packers face a key challenge: responding to adversity. Mistakes like Parsons’ may be forgivable in Week 3, but if Green Bay hopes to make a serious postseason run, these errors need to disappear and fast.
Their next game could be a tone-setter. The only question is whether this loss becomes a wake-up call or the start of a downward trend.
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