Why the Packers Are a Dark Horse Playoff Contender
Packers Talk
Green Bay, Wisconsin (PSF) - The Green Bay Packers are coming off of a 2023 season where they finished a disappointing 8-9 and missed the playoffs after closing the season with yet another poor showing from the offense in week 18 at home against the Lions. The offense struggled mightily for most of the season, although they seemed to find their groove when second round rookie Christian Watson had a hot streak where he scored eight receiving touchdowns in a span of four weeks. However, the defense that was expected to be among the best in the NFL severely underperformed as well. They finished 17th in total defense and 16th in points per game allowed. Those mediocre performances fell far short of the elite expectations that came with seven first round picks in the starting 11. Granted, they did face some injury troubles with starting second-year cornerback Eric Stokes and star edge rusher Rashan Gary both tearing their ACL’s in week nine in Detroit. But nonetheless, the Packers’ disappointing record reflected the disappointment in both the offense and the defense, as well as arguably Aaron Rodgers’ statistically worst season of his career, throwing just 26 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, below 4000 yards with 3,695, and a 91.1 passer rating.
Heading into the offseason, the Green Bay Packers faced many questions, especially about the future of their 15 year, 4x MVP, franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After weeks of deep thinking by Rodgers which included a darkness retreat, Rodgers decided that it was time to move on. He went on to announce his decision on the Pat Mcafee Show on March 15 that he wanted to be traded to the New York Jets. Several more weeks went by while the Packers and Jets negotiated the trade terms. On April 26, Rodgers along with the 2023 15th overall draft pick, a 2023 fifth round pick were officially traded to the Jets in exchange for the 2023 13th overall draft pick, a 2023 second round pick, 2023 sixth round pick, and a conditional 2024 second round pick that becomes a first if Rodgers plays 65% of his snaps.
So after trading their long-time quarterback and turning to their 2020 first round pick Jordan Love and having a relatively quiet free agency, how can the Packers possibly make a positive turnaround into a playoff team? Well, the upcoming 2024 NFL season admittedly ushers in a lot of unknowns. However, those unknowns provide an opportunity for significant improvement. First, the Packers will get back Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes. The Packers have also gone all-in on pass rush by drafting edge rusher Lukas Van Ness at 13th overall. This will give the Packers a potential eight first rounders for starters on defense. Although they made the controversial decision to retain Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry, he will have a whole offseason to make changes and create an effective scheme for the Packers’ defensive personnel with unlimited potential. The Packers also did a solid job of drafting offensive weapons for Jordan Love by drafting two tight ends and a wide receiver on day two of the NFL Draft: Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, and Jayden Reed. The promising second year receiver Romeo Doubs, who also missed significant time due to injury last season, has also come back stronger than ever, at least according to the Packers reporters raving about him after watching him in offseason workouts. Jordan Love also showed promise in his only significant playing time when he took over for Aaron Rodgers against the Eagles. If he can be solid in his first year as a starter and prove the front office right for drafting him, the Packers will not only be playoff contenders this year but for years to come.
Another big reason why the Packers should be right in the middle of the playoff mix is the fact that they play in the NFC. The NFC is by far the weaker conference, at least in terms of quarterback talent. Most of the top quarterbacks in the league play in the AFC, such as Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and now Aaron Rodgers. On top of this, the Packers’ top divisional competition from last season is looking likely to take a step back. The 2022 NFC North division winner, the Minnesota Vikings, who finished the season 13-4, have several notable subtractions from their roster such as Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Za’Darius Smith, Eric Kendricks, and Dalvin Tomlinson. These names were some of the biggest on the roster. Losing those guys along with their incredibly lucky streak of winning 13 games despite a -3 point differential, all signal a regression in 2023 for the Vikings. This makes the path to the playoffs wide open for the Packers since hardly any teams in the NFC can be considered a “lock” to make it.
The Green Bay Packers are entering into a “wait and see” type of season. Will Jordan Love pan out? Will the defense improve and play up to its potential? Will Jordan Love’s pass catchers pan out? Will the second year receivers show strides of improvement? Or are the Packers headed into a full blown rebuild? As Packer nation anxiously awaits for September to begin finding out the answer to those questions, cheeseheads can rest assured knowing that they have conference competition, talent, and potential all on their side as the 2023 Packers look to bounce back.
