2019 Record - 13-3-0
Head Coach - Matt Lafleur
New Players in 2020 - Rick Wagner (OL), Christian Kirksey (LB), Jamal Davis (DL), Treyvon Hester (DL), Gerald Willis (DL)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - Devin Funchess (WR)
OFFENSE - Aaron Rodgers is back for his 13th season as the Packers' starting quarterback after passing for 4,002 yards last year with 26 touchdowns and only four interceptions. First round draft pick Jordan Love (Utah State) will be the back up.
The running tandem of Aaron Jones (1,084 yards, 4.6 ypc average and 16 touchdowns along with 49 receptions for 474 yards and three TD) and Jamaal Williams (460, 4.3 ypc and one TD and also 39 receptions and five TD) will have rookie A.J. Dillon (Boston College) as well this season.
The wide receiving corps is led by Davante Adams, who had 85 receptions for 997 yards and five touchdowns last season. The Packers took a hit when free agent Devin Funchess decided to opt out for this season. In the mix for this year are Marquez Valdez-Scantling (25, 452, two TD), Allen Lazard (35, 477, three TD), Reggie Begelton and Equanimeous St. Brown. The tight ends include Mercedes Lewis (15, 156, one TD), Jace Sternberger and rookie Josiah Deguara (Cincinnati).
DEFENSE - Up front for the Packers are tackle Kenny Clark (six QB sacks) and ends Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster. Free agents Treyvon Hester and Jamal Davis will be in the mix as well. The linebackers are led by Za'Darius Smith (13 1/2 sacks) and Preston Smith (12 sacks) on the edge. Oren Burks and Christian Kirksey man the inside spots. Rashan Gary (two sacks), Curtis Bolton, Ty Summers and Jonathan Garvin add depth to this unit.
The safeties are Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage, who each had two interceptions last season while Jaire Alexander (two picks) and Kevin King (five INT) are the cornerbacks.
Green Bay finished in the top ten in scoring defense (19.6) last season while allowing 353 yards per game, which was 18th in the NFL. The run defense gave up 120 yards per game (23rd) and the pass defense allowed 233 yards a game, which ranked 14th. The Packers were a plus-12 in turnovers (3rd in NFL) and intercepted 17 passes and accumulated 41 sacks.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - The Packers finished 13-3 a year ago under first year Head Coach Matt Lafleur and won a squeaker in the divisional round of the playoffs over Seattle before getting blown out by San Francisco in the NFC Championship game.
If the team wants to take the next step and get to the Super Bowl, they will need a lot of the magic from a year ago. Green Bay was excellent at forcing turnovers and they also had eight one-score victories which meant they had a lot of things go their way. The Packers averaged 23.5 points per game (15th in NFL) last year and ranked 18th in total offense, putting up 346 yard per game (122 rushing and 234 passing).
There were some eyebrows raised when the team decided to move up in the draft to get quarterback Jordan Love. Starting QB Aaron Rodgers is entering his 16th season overall in Titletown, but there are concerns with the injuries he has sustained in recent years and of course his age is another factor. But Rodgers put up some good numbers with not a ton of weapons in 2019 and the team had success. No question he is still the man in Green Bay, but their eyes are on the future as well.
The defense was adequate and stymied opponents when it came to scoring and also wreaked havoc with the turnovers, especially at big moments in games. If they can get that type of production again in 2020, it would definitely enhance their chances of another NFC North division title.
The Packers are still viable in the NFC and proved it last year, but in order for them to continue that, things will have to work out just right once again and that is hard to do in successive seasons in the NFL. They will be challenged in the division by Chicago and Minnesota for sure and the Detroit Lions are never an easy opponent. Controlling their divisional games is the key this season. A playoff return seems certain barring injuries and bad breaks.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Minnesota
Week Two - vs. Detroit
Week Three - at New Orleans
Week Four - vs. Atlanta
Week Five - BYE
Week Six - at Tampa Bay
Week Seven - at Houston
Week Eight - vs. Minnesota
Week Nine - at San Francisco
Week Ten - vs. Jacksonville
Week Eleven - at Indianapolis
Week Twelve - vs. Chicago
Week Thirteen - vs. Philadelphia
Week Fourteen - at Detroit
Week Fifteen - vs. Carolina
Week Sixteen - vs. Tennessee
Week Seventeen - at Chicago
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