2017 Record - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Mike McCarthy
2017 Offensive Ranking - 26th (306 ypg, 20.0 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 22nd (349 ypg, 24.0 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is looking to return from an injury riddled 2017 season in which he played only six games, passing for 1,675 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Brett Hundley (1,836 passing yards with nine TD and twelve interceptions and 270 rushing yards with two TD) and DeShone Kizer (2,894 passing yards with eleven TD and 22 INT along with 419 rushing yards and five TD with Cleveland) will compete for the backup spot.
Aaron Jones (448 rushing yards, 5.5 ypc average and four TD), Ty Montgomery (273 yards, three TD) and Jamaal Williams (556 yards, four TD) will look to be the running backs.
The wide receiving corps will be without Jordy Nelson (now with Oakland) this season, but still has Randall Cobb and Devante Adams in the mix. Adams snared a team high 74 receptions for 885 yards and ten touchdowns last season while Cobb had 66 receptions for 653 yards and four touchdowns.
Geronimo Allison (23, 253), rookie J'mon Moore (Missouri) and DeAngelo Yancey are also available. The tight end will be Jimmy Graham, who comes over from Seattle and had 57 catches for 520 yards and ten scores.
DEFENSE - Linebackers Nick Perry (seven QB sacks) and Clay Matthews (7 1/2 sacks) lead the way along with defensive linemen Mike Daniels (five sacks), Muhammad Wilkerson and Kenny Clark, who had four sacks.
In the secondary is safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (three interceptions) and cornerback Tramon Williams (two picks with Arizona) along with Kevin King and Josh Jones. Rookies Jaire Alexander (Louisville) and Josh Jackson (Iowa) are cornerbacks looking to make an impact this season along with third round pick (linebacker) Oren Burks from Vanderbilt.
The Packers picked off eleven passes and had 37 QB sacks last season.
OUTLOOK - If Aaron Rodgers can stay in one piece this year, the Packers can definitely contend for the NFC North crown, where the Minnesota Vikings are the defending champions.
Having an All-Pro caliber tight end in Jimmy Graham will definitely help the pass offense as he is a solid red zone target. The running game needs to get back in gear and may go with a three-pronged attack unless one of the backs takes charge as the season gets going.
The defense allowed 24 points per game last year and finished 22nd overall, allowing 349 yards per game, including 237 passing yards allowed per game. Getting a more consistent pass rush would work wonders as well as take pressure off the secondary.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has come under scrutiny in recent years as the Packers are looking to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2010 season.
There is talent on the roster and as long as Rodgers does his thing and is protected well (Packer quarterbacks were sacked 51 times in 2017) this team can score points with the best of them.
A bounce back 10-6 season looks to be ahead for the Packers, which could be enough to get them back into the post-season. How far they can go from there is on Rodgers and the defense.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1- vs. Chicago
Week 2 - vs. Minnesota
Week 3 - at Washington
Week 4- vs. Buffalo
Week 5 - at Detroit
Week 6 - vs. San Francisco
Week 7 - Bye
Week 8 - at LA Rams
Week 9 - at New England
Week 10 - vs. Miami
Week 11 - at Seattle
Week 12 - at Minnesota
Week 13 - vs. Arizona
Week 14 - vs. Atlanta
Week 15 - at Chicago
Week 16 - at NY Jets
Week 17 - vs. Detroit
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