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The Green Bay Packers had a disappointing 2017, going 7-9 on the year. However, there was the ready-made excuse of quarterback Aaron Rodgers missing a large chunk of the year with an injury.
In 2018 the Packers went 6-9-1. This time, they didn't have the Rodgers excuse. Yes, he was hurt, but he played.
There's always the argument that Green Bay doesn't build around its quarterback all that well. That said, it worked well enough for the Packers in the past. They've won with that formula before, so what was so different in 2018? More importantly, can they figure it out and get back to their winning ways?
Did they do enough to improve? What will the Green Bay Packers' record be in 2019?
There are quite a few things to consider when predicting a team's success (or lack thereof) in any given season.
First:
Schedule
The Packers play their NFC North Division opponents twice each: the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions.
The Bears have an elite defense and won 12 games last year — they'll be a tough matchup. Minnesota has a stellar defense but a few more inconsistencies. However, they could easily revert to their 2017 selves and create problems for the NFL. Detroit has a lot of problems but could have an exciting offense that wins some games.
The Packers also play the NFC East and AFC West. The NFC East has two teams that look very beatable in 2019: the Washington Redskins and New York Giants. The Oakland Raiders should lose to Green Bay too.
Roster
As mentioned before, the Green Bay Packers aren't known for building a studded roster around quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There are a lot of positives here, though.
Jimmy Graham could have a bounce-back year in his second season with the Packers. If he's in form he's one of the best tight ends in football.
The receiver corps isn't great after its No. 1 player, but Davante Adams is one of the best in the NFL. Aaron Jones looked great last season and could give Rodgers a strong running game to relieve pressure.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Packers aren't monsters. However, they have some talent and a lot of young players that could take the next step forward in 2019. Blake Martinez is a stud linebacker. Both the defensive line and secondary have players with potential to break out this year.
Culture
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The Green Bay Packers have a new head coach, Matt LaFleur. It's tough to tell how everyone will mesh because it's all so new.
That being said, a change was desperately needed and Green Bay took a chance. Although this could swing things in either direction, this gives the Packers a shot in the arm. You have to be happy with the move if you're a fan of the team, and you should feel good about the direction of the team.
As long as Aaron Rodgers is on the team, anything is possible. The quarterback seems happy with the new system and culture. That is a shining endorsement which tells Packer fans to give this a chance.
Overall
This Green Bay Packers team should be a lot of fun. With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback you know they're going to challenge any team in the NFL. In the same breath, Rodgers and Davante Adams is one of the best hookups in the league; it should create some highlight plays.
The team around the quarterback isn't superb, but it has a lot of potential. Mike Daniels is gone from the defensive line, but that shows how confident the Packers are in the rest of their guys. The secondary has a good mixture of veterans and young talent, and Adrian Amos is a great addition at safety.
Seeing the Packers finish 4-2 or better in the NFC North is definitely plausible.
With Aaron Rodgers under center, the Green Bay Packers are usually winners. Therefore, two straight losing seasons is extremely surprising. It's hard to imagine the QB letting that streak run to three seasons.
Rodgers looks like his old MVP self.
I predict that the Green Bay Packers will reach the playoffs. A double-digit win season is in the cards. I want to give them 11 wins, but we'll go 10-6.
