GREEN BAY PACKERS
2020 Record - 13-3-0
Head Coach - Matt LaFleur
Key Additions - Randall Cobb (WR)
OFFENSE - With quarterback Aaron Rodgers back for another year, Green Bay has the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player. Rodgers passed for 4,299 yards last season with 48 TD passes and just five interceptions. He also scored three rushing touchdowns. Second year man Jordan Love is the backup quarterback.
Aaron Jones leads the running attack for the Packers once again after going for 1,104 yards (5.5 YPC average) and nine touchdowns in the 2020 season. Jones also caught 47 passes for 355 yards and two more scores. AJ Dillon (242, 5.3, two TD) will likely get more carries with Jamaal Williams leaving in free agency this year. The wide receivers are led by Davante Adams, who hauled in 115 receptions for 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (33, 690, six TD) and Allen Lazard (33, 451, three TD) are the other primary targets in the passing game. Devin Fuchness is in camp this year to add depth as well as Randall Cobb, who had 38 receptions for 441 yards and three touchdowns in Houston last season. Robert Tonyan (52, 586, eleven TD) is the tight end and 15-year veteran Mercedes Lewis is another option at tight end.
DEFENSE - Kenny Clark (Nose Tackle) and ends Dean Lowry and Kingsley Keke man the front line for the Packers while linebackers Za'Darius Smith (team high 12 1/2 QB sacks), Kamal Martin, Krys Barnes, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary (five sacks) round out the front seven.
The defensive backs include Jaire Alexander and Kevin King at the corners along with safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage, who had four interceptions a year ago. Adding depth in the secondary will be Chandon Sullivan, rookie Eric Stokes (Georgia), Vernon Scott and Will Redmond.
Green Bay's defense ranked ninth overall last season, allowing 334 yards per game while giving up 23.1 points per game. The run defense allowed 113 yards while the pass defense gave up 221 yards per game while intercepting eleven passes. The Packers registered 41 sacks, which was tenth in the NFL.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - As long as QB Aaron Rodgers is standing upright, the Packers are always in any game they play. The off-season drama between Rodgers and team management was a distraction, but as training camp opened, Rodgers was there and the differences appear to be settled in what could be his final season in Green Bay.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur would like to see the team take the next step and get to the Super Bowl this season after falling in the NFC Championship Game for the second straight time last January. The Packers offense should hum along just fine (barring any major injuries to key players) once again this year after leading the NFL in scoring in 2020, averaging 31.8 points per game. Green Bay was fifth overall on offense (389 YPG) while ranking in the league's top ten in both rushing (132 YPG) and passing (257 YPG) last year.
It it once again Super Bowl or bust for the Green Bay Packers, who should cruise to a third consecutive NFC North division title with perhaps a 12-5 record. What they do in the playoffs will depend on Rodgers and the defense coming up big when it matters most, which is something they have failed to do the last two years in the post-season.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at New Orleans
Week 2 - vs. Detroit
Week 3 - at San Francisco
Week 4 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 5 - at Cincinnati
Week 6 - at Chicago
Week 7 - vs. Washington
Week 8 - at Arizona
Week 9 - at Kansas City
Week 10 - vs. Seattle
Week 11 - at Minnesota
Week 12 - vs. L.A. Rams
Week 13 - BYE
Week 14 - vs. Chicago
Week 15 - at Baltimore
Week 16 - vs. Cleveland
Week 17 - vs. Minnesota
Week 18 - at Detroit
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