Packers Have Been Scary Good at Home in October

By Eric Goska

Jordan Love (10) prepares to hand off to Josh Jacobs (8) in the first quarter of Thursday's game.
(photos by Nicole Goska)

Home cooking in October has put success on the menu since Matt LaFleur came to Green Bay. And though it might be tempting to credit the legions of tailgaters with cooking up the recipe, this winning originates on the football field.

Thursday night, the Packers outlasted the Panthers 27-19 at Lambeau Field. The triumph is the twelfth (an even dozen) registered at the venerable stadium by the current head coach in the month that boasts Halloween.

The win didn’t come easily. Coleman Owen fumbled away the opening kickoff which Carolina turned into a 3-0 lead. Jordan Love threw a fourth-quarter interception that squelched a promising drive that prevented Green Bay from adding to its 27-13 lead. A penalty (ineligible man downfield) on Anthony Belton, a bad snap by center John Williams and an intentional grounding call on Love led to a punt that gave Carolina, down 27-19, excellent field position at its own 45 with four minutes, 35 seconds remaining.

And the running game? Take away an 18-yard end around by Savion Williams and Josh Jacob, MarShawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong, Jr. combined for just 48 yards on 25 carries (1.9 average).

Some ingredients that go into a W are not the most appetizing.

But Green Bay persevered. Six quarterback sacks, a timely interception by Brenton Cox. Jr.—courtesy of his own deflection—and two second-half, fourth-down stops kept the Packers afloat.

Perhaps no player better epitomized the home team’s determination than Christian Watson. Green Bay’s leading receiver (8 catches, 113 yards) got dinged on a 53-yard reception in the second quarter, was examined at a local hospital, and returned to catch two passes in the fourth quarter.

Tucker Kraft caught 6 passes
for 53 yards and a TD.

As always, victories, no matter how ugly, are welcome regardless of calendar. But some, like leaves, seem to pile up at certain times of the year.

LaFleur, who arrived in Titletown in 2019, won his first six October home games. After dropping one in both 2022 (Jets) and 2023 (Vikings), he has led his team to another six straight.

That record of 12-2 (.857) is the best in the NFL over that span. The Steelers, at 11-5 (.688), are second.

Aaron Rodgers and Love threw every pass for Green Bay in those 14 games. They tossed 34 touchdowns to the opposition’s 13. They combined for a passer rating of 107.0 compared to 81.8 for the visitors.

The Green and Gold outgained the competition 5,216 yards to 4,292. They averaged nearly a yard more per play (5.8 to 4.9) than their opponents.

Even away from home, the Packers aren’t half bad. Their record on the road in October is 11-7 (includes a game with the Giants in London in 2022 in which Green Bay was designated the home team) giving LaFleur an overall mark of 23-9 (.719) for the month.

Of course, division races are not decided in the first half of autumn. But by going 4-1 since being embarrassed by the Falcons, Green Bay might be playing meaningful games in December, the only month in which LaFleur has won at a higher rate (21-7; .750).

Octoberfeast at Home
Teams with the best regular-season home records in October since 2019. Games played internationally, where one team is designated the home team, have not been counted.

Team             Record         Pct.        Overall Record (Pct.)
Packers               12-2             .857          81-43-1 (.652)
Steelers               11-5             .688          73-50-1 (.593)
Cowboys             10-5             .667          67-56-1 (.544)
Ravens                10-5             .667          80-44 (.645)
Bills                      9-5              .643          88-34 (.721)