The Green Bay Packers have set a Super Bowl or bust standard as the expectation. The NFL regular season comes to an end this Sunday with the Packers facing a stinky Chicago Bears team. The likeliest scenario being that the Green Bay Packers end Sunday with the 7th seed in the playoffs. While I hope for the best, it’s likely this team may still be a year away.
How We Got Here
It seems like both yesterday and a million years ago that the 2024 season kicked off. Packer Nation entered into this year with that same belief in a defense that would step up while the offense found it’s way. Bolstered by a great ending to the 2023 campaign, vibes were high at 1265 Lombardi Avenue that the youth movement would yield a Super Bowl birth.
Defense
Jeff Hafley’s new 4-3 scheme got the Packers defense off to an amazing start. The secondary, anchored by Xavier McKinney and Jaire Alexander, was locked in while locking wide receivers down. However, as the season progressed, the lack of pass rush and injuries have led to a 180, wherein the run defense is now sitting center stage.
Take a look at my article from a couple weeks back breaking down the switch from a top tier secondary to a stout run stopping defensive wall.
Wild Twist, Packers Run Defense Better Than Pass Defense
Offense
The Achilles’ heel this year comes down to consistency. The Packers offensive efforts have been thwarted by sloppy fundamentals and inconsistent production. There are certainly moments where you can see complimentary football from this phase, but in the end Matt LaFleur and company have failed to show dominance against winning teams this year.
There’s quite a bit to be excited about, especially with the new found running game with Josh Jacobs in the mix. Take a look at this beast of a running back’s stats so far in 2024 via Espn.com
Jordan Love has had an up and down season due to injury. When he’s on his game, he is just as capable as any QB in the league. That being said, some of the familiar decision making has led to turnovers this season. There’s also certainly been an issue with receivers having a case of the dropsies this year.
I also would point to a large number of pre snap penalties by the offensive line as an issue during the season. While this has certainly been cleaned up in recent weeks, it has plagued them throughout the 2024 campaign.
The Super Bowl Road Ahead
Here’s the current playoff seeding scenarios coming into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
While I certainly hope the Packers can maintain the 6th seed and have an easier path to the Super Bowl, the fact that I am hoping for that in the first place says a lot. I believe in this squad 100%, but the objective reality this season is that while showing plenty of fight, they just have not been able to close a game against elite opposition.
I would love to be wrong and will gladly sprinkle my words on some humble pie. I just don’t see the same comparisons others have to the 2010 Packers squad that ran the table.
I have to agree with Glen here haha
Final Thoughts For Week 18
Matt LaFleur has confirmed that the starters will see the field this Sunday against a Bears team currently riding a 10 game losing streak.
Here’s a look at the latest injury report at the time of this article being written:
I will be curious to see how long those starters stay on the field with the likely scenario of the Packers heading to Philadelphia for Wild Card weekend.
I certainly don’t want to be another Eeyore or Debbie Downer, and I will 100% continue to root for the Packers to beat the odds and win the whole thing. It just feels like the team is still a year out from their Super Bowl dreams.
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