State of the Packers Address
Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on winning this year’s Super Bowl. They lost Tyreek Hill, a huge offensive weapon, but they added some nice pieces around MVP Patrick Mahomes to give him options as well as Travis Kelce, who isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. A high-powered offense and a defense that is good enough to get stops every once in a while and the occasional turnover propelled the Chiefs to victory.
As for the Packers, after 3 straight wins of 13 wins in the regular season, the Packers stumbled to an 8-9 season. A 3-1 start was followed by 5 straight losses and 7 of 8 overall before winning 4 straight games late in the season. However, in a game they had to win to make the playoffs, they stumbled at home to the Detroit Lions, ending their season. Here is a recap of some of the highs and lows of their season.
Win of the Year:
There are some good ones to choose from, but I went with their 41-17 win over the Vikings in Week 17. The Packers jumped out to a 41-3 lead against the team who won the division. The Vikings were getting some very close wins all season long, and they were very fortunate to get some of those wins too. The Packers came out swinging in this game and showed some swagger in the process. Jaire Alexander and the defense did a great job on Justin Jefferson with Alexander doing the Griddy, Jefferson’s signature celebration dance, early in the game. It was a beautiful sight to see, especially with a lot of trash the Vikings’ fans were talking all year long. Naturally, the Vikings would go on to lose to the Giants in their opening playoff game.
Honorable Mention:
I could have easily mentioned this as the top win, their 31-28 overtime victory over the Cowboys in Week 10. Mike McCarthy made his return to Lambeau Field, and the Packers were reeling with a 5-game losing streak. The Packers held their own for a half, but the Cowboys would score 14 points in the 3rd quarter and entered the 4th with a 14-point lead in a situation where they never lost such a game in their franchise history. It was a breakout game for Christian Watson, who caught 3 TD passes, including 2 in the 4th quarter to tie the game. After the Cowboys failed on 4th down in overtime, the Packers drove down for the winning field goal. It was a gratifying win in what was a rough season at this point.
Most Disappointing Loss of the Year:
They all are disappointing, but it is hard to argue with their last game of the season. The Packers were 8-8 after 4 straight wins where they fought and beat the odds after being written off. A win would complete a great comeback story, but they fell to the Detroit Lions 20-16 at home to end their season with a whimper. Matt LaFleur was badly outcoached in this game in which the Lions had no chance of making the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers threw an interception to end their chances. Will it be his final pass in a Packer uniform like Brett Favre? Only time will tell.
(Dis)Honorable Mention:
It’s the game that started their 5-game losing streak. The Packers finally had their game in London after all of these years. Facing the Giants, they got off to a 20-10 halftime lead. They wouldn’t score again the rest of the game until the Giants intentionally took a safety with 11 seconds left. Rodgers had a final chance at a Hail Mary, but he injured his thumb, which affected his throwing for much of the season after that.
So to recap the season, Christian Watson had a rough start to the season, but he emerged quite nicely with a number of huge catches. Romeo Doubs had some bright spots but got injured for much of the season. Allen Lazard is probably going elsewhere next season. The Packers will need to add a receiver or two. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon will likely be back to create a great combination at running back. Jones needs to hold onto the football and not fumble in big games. I like him a lot, but that’s the reality.
We are waiting on a decision by Aaron Rodgers. I believe he has at least a few great years left in him. Whether or not it is in a Packer uniform is up in the air right now. If he does get traded, it will be tough to deal with, but hopefully we will get a lot of great draft picks in return. If Rodgers does return, Jordan Love will likely be traded.
If it is Rodgers returning, the front office needs to be aggressive and add another receiver or two in either a trade or picking them off waivers. We need as many playmakers as we can get. Both of these teams who just played in the Super Bowl have front offices who make bold moves to acquire talent. The Packers need to take notes. In fact, they can look a hundred or so miles south. The Milwaukee Bucks make some bold moves to find players to build around their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. They won the championship a few seasons ago and are one of the favorites to do so again this year. Nowadays, you cannot just sit on your hands and hope for the best. You constantly have to go out there and look for ways to improve your team, period.
I like Matt LaFleur a lot, but is he the right head coach for the team? Next year might tell us a lot. If Rodgers leaves and Love is the starter, it might buy him another year, unless they really go into the tank and have a nightmare of a season. If Rodgers returns, another season of missing the playoffs might seal his fate. Those 13-win seasons in his first 3 seasons bought him some extra time, but now he really needs to step up his game and convince us that he is the right head coach for the team moving forward.
It has now been 12 years since the Packers got a new Vince Lombardi Trophy. We desperately want another one and very soon. In order to do that, the front office needs to adapt to the times and do whatever it takes to bring another trophy to Titletown. They have shown that they can get creative with creating salary cap room. They need to do that and then use that extra money to sign a significant free agent or two. The Packers are not too far away, assuming Rodgers comes back. They just need to make it happen and give us fans some kind of hope that we can compete next season for a championship.
I do know in this age of parity and free agency, it doesn’t take a whole lot for a team to move from a mediocre record to contending for a Super Bowl. If the Packers make the right moves here and there, they can be right in the conversation next season, especially if Rodgers decides to come back for another season. Let us hope for the best and remain optimistic. Take care Packer fans!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackerFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
