The Green Bay Packers’ trip to Arizona hit a major snag before the team even left the ground. On Saturday, mechanical troubles grounded their charter plane on the tarmac in Wisconsin, forcing players and coaches to wait it out for over five hours.
The Packers typically operate two flights during away games, one carrying players and coaches, another for team staff. The staff plane departed Green Bay at 1:15 p.m. CT without complications.
MORE: 49ers part ways with 2-time Super Bowl champion after injury update
But when the second flight developed mechanical issues, there was no quick fix. A backup aircraft had to be flown in from Detroit, pushing the departure window deeper into the evening.
“Wheels up: The #Packers plane is in the air. Finally,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported at 8:21 p.m. Saturday.
The delay meant the team wouldn’t touch down in Phoenix until 8:32 p.m. local time, nearly five hours behind schedule. With kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals set for 1:25 p.m. Mountain Time on Sunday, the late arrival added pressure to an already tight turnaround.
Travel complications can throw off team rhythms, but Green Bay showed no signs of rust.
Fresh off their bye week, the Packers picked up momentum immediately. They dismantled the Cincinnati Bengals 27-18 to improve to 3-1-1 on the season. Their only loss came in Week 3, a narrow 13-10 road defeat to the Cleveland Browns.
Now entering Week 7, the NFC North race is heating up. Green Bay holds a slim half-game lead over the Detroit Lions for divisional control, making Sunday’s matchup against Arizona crucial.
The Cardinals arrive desperate. They’ve dropped four straight games since starting the season 2-0, searching for answers as their early momentum fades. For the Packers, overcoming travel chaos to stay atop their division sends a statement.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
GAMEDAY: Vanderbilt football makes history with Week 8 win over LSU
NFL: NFL announcer schedule & pairings for Week 7 of 2025 season
MLB: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani sets MLB, team records in NLCS Game 4
NCAAF: 3 teams with most to prove in Week 8 of the 2025 college football season
SPORTS MEDIA: Who is Kylan Darnell? What to know about SEC Nation special guest
VIRAL: NHL reporter Anna Dua laughs off viral faceplant in front of Rangers
