Green Bay Packers: 2014-2015 Season Preview

Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez – Getty Images

The Green Bay Packers’ 2013 NFL Season couldn’t have ended with a bigger bang. Their star quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, returned in week 17 to eventually go on to defeat division rival, the Chicago Bears, on a final heave from Rodgers on a long fourth down to receiver Randall Cobb for the game winning touchdown in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

This secured the Packers a playoff spot against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs where they would eventually go on to lose. The 2013 season was far from disappointing for the Packers as they made the playoffs and were crowned NFC North champions once more, but a plague of injuries worried the fan base and team throughout the entire season. Will the plague of injuries return and cost the Packers a playoff spot and the NFC North crown?

This Packers team starts and finishes with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Plain and simple. Rodgers is easily a top three quarterback in the NFL and is the reason the Packers ever have a chance of seeing a playoff berth. When Rodgers went out last season with a broken collarbone in a week nine everyone had assumed that the Packers’ season was doomed to fail, being eliminated from the playoff contention. Due to a weak division last season, the Packers stood a chance and won important games with backups, forcing key turnovers late in the games. It had been speculated that Rodgers might not return at all this season but with a record of 7-7-1 heading into the last week of the season, Rodgers was determined to come back and give the Packers a ray of hope. Rodgers is a star, there is no denying it. Without him, the playoffs would be incredibly hard to reach for the franchise.

Green Bay’s offense has been dealt plenty of blows in regards to injury the past few seasons. But they have somehow always managed to come through when it matters most. In recent days, star receiver for the Packers, Jordy Nelson, signed to a four-year, $39 million dollar contract to stay in Green Bay. Last season the surprisingly finished sixth in passing yards per game with 266. This comes as surprise due to the fact that Rodgers had missed half of the season, but it shows backup Matt Flynn can get the ball down the field to receivers Nelson, electrifying speedster Randall Cobb, and tight end Andrew Quarless if Rodgers were to go out with injury once more.

The Packers finished seventh in rushing last season with 133 rush yards per game. This made the Packers a top seven offense and it gave them their first 1,000 yard rusher in years. Rookie Eddie Lacy surprised the NFL with his downhill running and pass catching out of the backfield ability, which earned him with the 2013 Rookie of the Year award, deservingly so. Lacy missed only one game last season and with second year players showing up more and more each season, it is almost certain that he will once again show up for the Packers in 2014. If this offense can stay healthy, they should make some noise and stick in the playoff hunt once more.

The Packers haven’t always been known for a top-tier defense, having big names come and go. Last season the Packers finished 24th in pass yards allowed per game and 25th in rushing yards allowed per game with 125. The Packers addressed both of these issues this past offseason by acquiring big defensive end talent in Julius Pepper and drafting rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix out of Alabama. These two players won’t immediately make this defense top 15 in the NFL but by working them through the system and with training camp under way, there is a good chance that Peppers and Clinton-Dix will do just fine.

Other than the new additions, this defense must stay healthy, rotating players in and out throughout the season could be a downfall for them from week one to week 17. Clay Matthews leads the way at the linebacker position and is a pure monster on the field. With new additions Clinton-Dix and Peppers their numbers are expected to go up defensively.

Healthy is the Packers word of the season. If the Packers can achieve keeping at least half of their star players healthy for all 16 games, they can make another legitimate run for the NFC North title. This team didn’t lose any key players this past offseason but made some great movies by adding some veteran and rookie talent to help a struggling defense.

The first half of the Packers schedule includes tough matchups against the Seattle Seahawks, Bears, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints. The Packers have a week 9 bye and the second half of their schedule is just as tough as their first including matchups against the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and the Atlanta Falcons.

If the Packers can keep healthy and prevent the other team from putting points on the board, they can make another run for the playoffs. This team looks like the same team from last season with some added talent that could be boom or bust.

This team will finish with a record of 9-7 – a division record of 4-2 – and a possible Wild Card spot. The reign of the Green Bay Packers as champions in the NFC North will come to an end by placing second in their division.