Cory's Corner: Give It Up For Micah
This is why the Packers got him.
Micah Parsons was a one-man wrecking crew on Sunday in the desert as the Packers prevailed 27-23 for Green Bay’s first road win of the year.
“I don’t think it was my best pass rush game,” Parsons said. “I just think it’s the first time (opponents) allowed me to rush this year. I mean, if you look at the looks I’ve been getting, double tight ends, chips, full slides and then also just other guys stepping up.”
Parsons had a career-high three sacks, five quarterback hits and 10 pressures on Sunday. He would’ve had four sacks, if he wasn’t ticketed for a hip drop tackle.
A very good pass rusher is worth his weight in gold and Parsons is proving that the $188 million the Packers gave him has been well worth it. He’s sixth in the league with 5.5 sacks — and that includes two games where didn’t have any.
It sure is a good thing that Parsons is coming hard off the edge like a runaway freight train, because the back end of the defense has been a leaky faucet. I mean, Trey McBride is good, but the Packers made him look like Jerry Rice. The Cardinals tight end tallied 10 catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns as he gave new meaning to the term wide open.
Parsons bailed the defense out by making Jacoby Brissett constantly look over his shoulder and find out where No. 1 was lined up. Obviously, Brissett would’ve loved it if the Cardinals chipped, doubled, tripled or told Parsons a bedtime story to keep him from breathing down the neck of the 10-year journeyman quarterback.
But, it isn’t fair to always count on Parsons to be Superman. Ever since Parsons was traded to Green Bay on Aug. 28, he fit right into the team concept right away.
“For example, most elite pass rushers don’t want to drop into zone coverage,” said Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in early September. “In practice, I called a simulated pressure and he dropped and let R.G. (Rashan Gary) rush. He told me he was willing to do those things — and that’s so cool. He gets it. He knows everyone is going to base their protection on him. He’s willing to drop on a play and set it up for others.”
In an age of the ultimate me-first mentality and when can I get mine, that is so refreshing and it makes the trade and contract even more appealing. He will gladly take personal stats, but he had personal stats in Dallas. He wants something more here in Green Bay.
And he’s got the supporting cast to make Green Bay Titletown once again. The front seven has been playing extremely well, including stonewalling Brissett on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1 with 5:58 left on the Arizona 48. If the Cardinals converted that fourth down, they could’ve salted the game away and forced the Packers to hang their heads.
This unit is flying to the ball and they are hitting people hard. Parsons has been covering up the warts of the secondary for most of the season, let’s just hope he doesn’t have to do it all year long.
Micah Parsons looked like the best player in football on Sunday. Total takeover. pic.twitter.com/mnI7R7RJon
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) October 20, 2025
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (26)
LambeauPlain
October 21, 2025 at 07:16 am
AZ would likely had scored more than 23 pts without Micah.
Packers likely would have not scored 27 pts without Josh.
So far, Parsons is the MVP of the Defense & Jacobs is the MVP of the Offense. One of them will be the MVP of the Packers this season.
And Love may have something to do with the ballot if he continues to play well.
T7Steve
October 21, 2025 at 07:21 am
Cory's Corner"back".
Let Micah do this on Sunday night. If Rodgers wants to dump it off quickly, that will help keep the receivers in front of the DBs and hopefully they can tackle them for short gains or get the breakup. How about the elusive interception when he's throwing to Metcalf, Nixon? A little help from the safeties can produce some too. Make Aaron stand back there for 3 or more ticks and see what Micah and Gary will do.
Time for the Packers' O-line to get jelling with a couple weeks of practicing together (I hope).
NFLfan
October 21, 2025 at 08:16 am
Aaron doesn't want to get hit so he'll get it out fast, take chances and make different plays when Parsons is out. Parsons doesn't play the whole game. Steelers have a decent run game with Warren and Gainwell and will target GB's poor run D. Rodgers has successfully thrown to TEs Freirermuth, Washington & J. Smith as well as WRs Austin, Skoronek and Metcalf.
I remember Rodgers seeking out Parsons after a game against the Cowboys in 2022 to exchange jerseys-a sign of respect from Rodgers. Rodgers sent his signed, game-worn jersey to Micah in the mail. I'm certain they will acknowledge each other in this week's game.
T7Steve
October 21, 2025 at 08:26 am
Yes. TEs are the Packers' kryptonite. Seem to be everybody's though, and hopefully theirs too.
MLF will have to "Kraft" some good plays.
porupack
October 21, 2025 at 08:26 am
I have swung in favor of this Parsons for Clark+Fort Knox, except for one inconvenient truth thus far. Putting all money on a gamewrecker only makes sense if there isn't a gapping hole in your defense. One gapping hole neutralizes the gamewrecker....by allowing easy compensation. So mortgage the team on one while leaving a third of the football field exposed....is, well....hmm....little gained in the end.
porupack
October 21, 2025 at 08:31 am
Since Gute went almost "all in" on a mortgage for that final piece to SB glory....see about a credit card credit...and sell out at this point for a CB. Otherwise...the mortgage isn't worth it if the house is appraised undervalued and leaky come wintertime.
NFLfan
October 21, 2025 at 08:40 am
Agree-Gute over-relied on beefing up the Pass Rush while leaving the cornerback room under-supplied.FA Hobbs is not working out so far. How many DC's and QBs have figured that out? Maybe McKinney can play CB?-lol.
LeotisHarris
October 21, 2025 at 08:44 am
The NFL franchise in Dee-troit put a detour in Baker Mayfield's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last night by sacking him 4 times and generally making him run for his life. They did that with backups at every position in the secondary. Baker chucked it up 50 times, completed 22 for 228 yards and an int.
Yes, the Packers are less than stellar at the CB position. They are, however, good enough to get it done as the Lions were last night. Sunday night we'll face number 8, the smartest guy in his own mind, and if he didn't use up all his magic in the loss to the Bengals he may pick our secondary apart in a loss to the Packers.
NFLfan
October 21, 2025 at 08:58 am
That team operates as one cohesive organism and are a great example of 'next man up' & are the actual epitome of 'all gas, no brakes'. I wish MLF would take a better look @ what they do.
Bitternotsour
October 21, 2025 at 09:06 am
and yet, that "one cohesive organism" had its ass handed to them by Green Bay. Perhaps your Lions should have a better look @ what GB do? If interested they can simply look up at the team above them in the standings, no???
NFLfan
October 21, 2025 at 09:24 am
I will go on record right now and bet that the Lions, who are a much better team now, will take it to GB on Thanksgiving at home.
For the tenth time, I am a frustrated Packer fan but have the maturity to give credit to what the Lions are creating.
13TimeChamps
October 21, 2025 at 11:21 am
Anybody who can accept that the Lions are a very, very good football team doesn't make them a Detroit fan or that they're not a Packers fan. That's a childish way to look at it. Yes, they're basically a half game ahead of them in the standings in the middle of October. That win where Detroit "had their ass handed to them" was over a month ago. Will anyone even remember that in late Dec/early Jan?
Thankfully...hopefully, the Packers won't be resting on their laurels based on that first game of the season once Thanksgiving gets here.
Bitternotsour
October 21, 2025 at 05:46 pm
If you want to talk about Detroit and sing their praises have at it, just don't do it here. because, until proven differently they are always going to be the same old lions. full time pretenders.
"NFL fan" is a lions fan/troll, protestations not withstanding.
I'll remember that first game, because it set the tone. I'll remember it in January too because we'll still be playing then.
13TimeChamps
October 21, 2025 at 06:02 pm
Calm down little buddy. I'll post wherever I want. The fact that you're too immature to accept that there are other teams in the NFL, other than the Packers, that are also really talented, that's your problem. It just makes you look silly.
Most long time NFL fans realize that the first game of the year, which now has basically become a glorified 4th pre-season game, has little bearing on how the season plays out. It's unfortunate you don't understand that. But, by all means, you hang on to that memory.
jlc1
October 21, 2025 at 09:58 am
Yes but Mayfield really missed on a bunch of throws. Some were caught but most were way off. Love would have made most of those although he probably would have left the pockets that Mayfield stayed in.
Starrbrite
October 21, 2025 at 09:33 pm
jkc1 is exactly right. Mayfield looked like his former self, missing several throws—most were high, like farve when his octane was high.
It may have been a tight game had Baker played like he has been playing.
TXCHEESE
October 21, 2025 at 09:00 am
I was dumbfounded that AZ continued to try and block Parsons without help. Glad they did.
Unless the coaches see something in practice that we aren't in viewing the games, I think it's time to give Valentine a shot at the outside. Don't know if Hobbs was/is nursing an injury, but he was a step (or two) slow on many of those completions. I certainly don't thing Valentine could do any worse.
Watched the first half of the Pitt/Cincy game. Rodgers made some nice throws, but he also threw 2 picks that let Cincy back in the game.
Bitternotsour
October 21, 2025 at 09:09 am
Oh, so close to getting it. The coaches see things in practice and then choose who plays. They don't select guys who they don't believe should be playing. Weird, right?
NFLfan
October 21, 2025 at 09:26 am
You are naive.
13TimeChamps
October 21, 2025 at 10:50 am
For once I actually agree with you. Good call.
crayzpackfan
October 21, 2025 at 09:37 am
Is Hobbs getting it done? Yes or no?
TXCHEESE
October 21, 2025 at 09:50 am
I have a hard time believing that there is such a great difference between Hobbs and Valentine that with Hobbs clearly struggling on Sunday, giving Valentine a shot would have been a disaster. Just sayin.
Bitternotsour
October 21, 2025 at 05:49 pm
your belief is irrelevant - do you honestly think that LaFleur or Hafley would choose starters based on some other criteria other than their best chance at winning.
Why would you think that? It defies all logic.
NFLfan
October 21, 2025 at 09:10 am
Hobbs sustained a meniscus tear and underwent meniscus repair which prevented him from practicing in training camp. He was was put out there 1 month later on a new team and in a position he was unfamiliar with. I don't think that was enough time to heal, especially in a position that requires burst, twisting, & pressure on that joint.
Guess what? he has a knee injury. GB is playing injured players because they don't have proper depth on the OL & CB-room. ie., Tom & Hobbs are examples as was Love last year.
ricky
October 21, 2025 at 11:06 am
The last time I saw a defensive player take over a game like that was when Reggie White sacked John Elway in back-to-back plays back in October of 1993. Two sacks to seal a Packers win when the game was on the line. Great to see it again. Also, we have to remember the strip sack by CM3 in the Packers last SB, when Kevin Greene gave those immortal words: "It is time."
Starrbrite
October 21, 2025 at 09:51 pm
Nothing like witnessing the Broncos lose—especially to the Packers!!!