It can only mean good things when a defense matches something last accomplished by the defense of the 1996 Green Bay Packers.
On Sunday, the 2024 Packers produced three more takeaways, extending the team’s streak with multiple takeaways to six games to start the season.
According to Wes Hodkiewicz of the team’s official site, this is the first time a Packers defense has had multiple takeaways in six straight games to start a season since the 1996 team.
During Sunday’s 34-13 win, the Packers recovered three fumbles. Karl Brooks forced and recovered one, Evan Williams punched one out and Jaire Alexander recovered, and Kenny Clark recovered a botched handoff. All three came in the second half as the Packers slammed the door shut on a three-touchdown win over the Cardinals.
For the fifth time in six games, the Packers forced three turnovers.
The Packers now have 17 takeaways in their first six games under first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Last season, Joe Barry’s defense had only 18 total takeaways in 17 regular season games.
The team’s 17 takeaways are the most by a Packers defense in the first six games of a season since producing 19 in 2002. The 1996 defense had 25.
The Packers became just the ninth NFL team with 17 or more takeaways in the first six games of a season since 2010 and the first since the Chicago Bears in 2018.
Can the Packers keep up the takeaways? A pivotal stretch looms with games against C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans and Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions before the bye.
The 1996 Packers defense produced multiple takeaways in eight straight games to start the season.