NFC North Preview — Green Bay Packers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day two for the NFC North Preview and the team is the Green Bay Packers. The Packers had an amazing regular season last year, pretty much running the table to a 15-1 record. The Packer offense was unstoppable and setting records left and right. Last season the Packers passed the ball the most of any team in the league. Aaron Rodgers collected his first League MVP trophy and the Packers led the league in scoring. Unfortunately for Packer fans it came to a VERY sudden stop when the New York Giants came into Lambeau Field and beat them 37-20 to end the Packer season.

For some compare and contrast, Sports Illustrated has predicted the Packers will have an 11-5 record, make the playoffs as a Wild Card team, win all 3 playoff games, play in the Superbowl and win, (It pains me to see the Packers in another Superbowl. I can’t listen to my father-in-law and brother-in-law brag about the Packers any more. I say that with love Dave and Matt).

Here’s what I think about the Packers. In last years draft the Packers spent 6 picks on defensive players and 3 of those times the team traded their draft position to move up. Charles Woodson was quoted in Sports Illustrated, “We’ve got to carry our weight.” He may have said that because the Packer offense was ranked third last year while the defense was quite the opposite ranked 32. Aaron Rodgers is an amazing quarterback who makes things look so easy, and completes passes with such accuracy one wonders how he was able to complete that pass. With Rodgers leading the team and throwing the ball to people like Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, the Packers will be tough to stop once again. Teams may try and stop this offense but Rodgers is too good at finding the open receiver. The Packers offense showed it last year and there would no reason to believe they can’t do it again. Plus the defenses of the Bears, Lions, and Vikings aren’t exactly the league best. I didn’t even mention how the Packers led the league with 31 interceptions last season. The Packers organization has shown through the draft they can improve the team for long term and bring in players who fit the Packer mold (insert joke here). Those 6 defensive players the Packers drafted will make an impact this season and help the Packers not give up the big plays like a season ago. The Packers schedule isn’t that tough and may struggle a bit with teams like San Francisco, New Orleans, Minnesota, New York Giants, and Houston.

I do believe the Packers are the best team in the NFC North, they will win the division, and they will make a deep playoff run. I am not prepared to put them in the Superbowl just yet, but this team has the pieces to be great again. The Packers will have a 13-3 record only losing to the Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and the New York Giants.