The 2025 NFL season produced a mind-boggling defensive statistic that put the 2025 Packers in rare company, rivaling some of the greatest defenses in NFL history. That may sound crazy, but in terms of first-quarter scoring, the 2025 Packers defense featuring Micah Parsons posted a stat that rivaled – and even surpassed – legendary NFL defenses. A few are listed in this image, with more listed below.
Through nine games, the Green Bay Packers defense allowed a total of just six first-quarter points—and most remarkably, they conceded zero first-quarter touchdowns through those first nine games.
This obscure, yet amazing stat, highlights an unprecedented level of defensive consistency in the modern era and compelled me to create a historical comparison against legendary units like the 1985 Bears, 1972 Dolphins, and the Steel Curtain-era Steelers.
How did the 2025 Packers’ first-quarter dominance stand up against some of the most famous and vaunted defenses in NFL history?
- 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers (The Gold Standard): The 1978 Steelers finished their 14-2 regular season having allowed only six total first-quarter points for the entire year, with zero touchdowns—the ultimate benchmark for first-quarter shutout football.
- 1969 Minnesota Vikings: Like the 1978 Steelers, the ’69 Vikings also finished their regular season allowing only six total first-quarter points with zero touchdowns. The 1969 Vikings performed the feat before the 1978 Steelers. These two teams posted the best first-quarter defensive stats in what I call the modern era, starting with Bert Bell’s time as commissioner.
- 1962 Green Bay Packers: Vince Lombardi’s legendary 1962 team was even better through nine games, having allowed only three total first-quarter points. The 2025 Packers defense has a slight disadvantage in this specific comparison.
- 1998 Denver Broncos: The last comparable team was the Super Bowl-winning ’98 Broncos, who allowed 13 first-quarter points through nine games, having already given up one touchdown in Week 2.
- 1985 Chicago Bears: The famed 15-1 ’85 Bears defense gave up 14 points in their Week 1 first quarter alone, immediately putting the 2025 Packers’ pace far ahead.
- 1972 Miami Dolphins: The undefeated ’72 Dolphins allowed 23 first-quarter points through nine games, proving that even the perfect season team allowed more early scoring than the 2025 Packers.
- 2000 Baltimore Ravens Defense: Despite a historically great defense, the 2000 Ravens defense gave up 17 points in Week 2, which is already more than the 2025 Packers have given up through Week 9.
I recorded a podcast episode comparing the 2025 Packers defense with great NFL defenses of the past, including the 1962 Packers and the teams listed above. You can listen to the episode in the player below. Teams such as the 1963 Bears and 1976 Steelers were also included.
As the 2025 NFL season moved into Week 10, the Packers held a 5-3-1 record. The 2025 Green Bay Packers defense gave up a touchdown to the New York Giants in Week 10. The 2025 Packers slipped off the pace as one of the all-time best defenses in terms of first-quarter scoring by giving up that score. However, their success in the first nine games was nothing short of insane, especially in the high-scoring modern NFL.
Both the 2000 Ravens and the 1977 Falcons stood at 5-4 after 9 games. The Ravens won the Super Bowl. The Falcons missed the playoffs. Where will the 2025 Packers end up?
