The Green Bay Packers enjoyed a dynamic surge at the end of the regular season last year and that allowed Matt LaFleur's team to go from below .500 to a winning record and a spot in the NFC playoffs.
The Packers improved dramatically as the season came to a close, and they made the most of their opportunity by beating the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears to earn a 9-8 regular-season record.
Still, once the Packers were in the playoffs, it was not expected that their stay would last very long. They were the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs and that mean they had to go to Dallas to take on the second-seeded Cowboys. The Packers were big underdogs in the game as the NFC East champion Cowboys were expecting to make a run at representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love had enjoyed a solid season in his first at the Packers' starter at the position, and the team gained quite a bit of faith in him as the season progressed. Love completed 372 of 579 passes for 4,159 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Despite those impressive numbers, few expected him to perform well in a matchup with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, but he he was more than up to the task.
Love played the best game of his career, as he completed 16 of 21 passes for 272 yard with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Packers rolled to a 48-32 triumph on the road, and a late Dallas rally was the only reason the final margin was as close as 16 points.
Love nearly led the Packers to another upset the following week in the divisional playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 194 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interception. The 49ers slipped past the Packers 24-21 to end the Green Bay season.
Optimism surrounding the Packers heading into 2024, but there are areas of need
As a result of the strong finish, the Packers have something to build off as they prepare for the new season. Since they compete in the NFC North against another powerful team like the Detroit Lions, it will be a challenge to make a run at the division title.
Additionally, the Packers are a team that has some significant areas of need. One of them is at the backup quarterback position. As Green Bay heads into training camp, little-known Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt are listed at No. 2 and 3 on the depth chart.
The other area LaFleur's team could use some help is in the secondary. Adding a solid cover cornerback would help the defense out quite a bit. The Packers ranked 17th in yards allowed and opponents are likely to attack the Green Bay pass defense quite a bit.
Packers should target Trey Lance and James Bradberry
The 49ers traded up to draft Trey Lance in 2021, but he did not live up to expectations and he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys before the start of the 2023 season. While he did not see any regular-season action, the Cowboys are hoping he can become a solid backup for Prescott.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said he has seen significant progress from Lance in the offseason. “I'm going say he's close to being master of the system,” McCarthy said. “He has really high understanding, he’s communicating very well and he looks more and more comfortable. He just needs as many reps as he can.”
However, if the Packers make a decent offer for him, the Cowboys may be willing to trade him. Insiders have reported some improvement in Lance's game in the offseason, and that could entice the Packers to make a move for him.
While Lance may not be good enough to become legitimate QB1 in the NFL, he could become a decent backup. He is likely far better than either of the backups the Packers have on hand.
The other potential target is cornerback James Bradberry of the Philadelphia Eagles. The 30-year-old Bradberry may not be at his physical peak any longer, but he is a smart and savvy cover man who can provide an upgrade in a vulnerable area for the Packers.
Bradberry had 54 tackles last year with 13 passes defensed and 1 interception. He had 44 tackles, 17 passes defensed and 3 interceptions in the 2022 season with the Eagles.
The former Pro Bowler also played four seasons with the Carolina Panthers and two more with the New York Giants.
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