The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 10. Today, the Green Bay Packers.
Last year’s record: 12-4
Head coach: Mike McCarthy
Core players: Aaron Rogers, Clay Mathews, Eddie Lacy, Julius Peppers, Randall Cobb, Josh Sitton
2015 is about… Putting that NFC title game behind them. Holy smoke, did you see that thing? The Packers were up 19–7 on the Seattle Seahawks with little more than two minutes left on the clock, and coughed it up in agonizing fashion — had they simply corralled Seattle’s onside kick late, they would’ve advanced.
Yeah, they’re a pre-season Super Bowl favourite and they’re just four and a half years removed from their last league title, so it’s not like they’ll have to shake the feeling that was their one and only chance, but man that still has to sting.
They lost… Jordy Nelson (WR) is out for the entire 2015 season after the star wide receiver tore his ACL during the Packers’ second pre-season game. Nelson had 98 catches for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. His production will be difficult to replace.
The team also lost cornerback Tramon Williams in free agency. While the Packers apparently offered him between $4 and $5 million per year, according to ESPN, Williams fled to the Cleve, signing with the Browns for three years and $21 million. Meanwhile, cornerback Davon House took his talents south to Jacksonville, so the secondary will look quite a bit different in 2015.
Also gone is Brandon Bostick, the tight end who fumbled the onside kick in the NFC Championship game. If you’re already a Packers fan, look away.
Yeah, but they got… Not much—at least not in terms of name free-agent acquisitions. Due to the already impressive roster, they focused mainly on securing the majority of their own free agents and adding through the draft. As far as the draftees go, the team used its first two 2015 picks on secondary additions — No. 30 on safety Damarious Randall and No. 62 on defensive back Quinten Rollins — to help rebuild the depth lost with Williams and House.
Growing from within: The other reason the Packers were willing to let Williams go? Word out of training camp is they believe that Casey Hayward (CB) is ready to step up from a part-time role to a full-time job as an outside corner.
What’s more, second-year receiver Davante Adams is poised for a breakout. He is expected to replace Nelson in the starting lineup and should see a dramatic increase in snaps. His 446 yards were lost amidst the insane rookie-receiver totals put up by the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans and Kelvin Benjamin, but he was a solid contributor last season. He also had a seven-catch, 117-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Cowboys in the playoffs, which just hints at his long-term potential.
Why this team? They’re really good. They’re well-coached. They’ve got the league’s best player (according to many) in Aaron Rodgers. They’ve made the playoffs seven years of the last eight seasons, and won the Super Bowl as recently in 2010. If you want to watch wins, it’s an easy call.
Why not? After watching the last few minutes of last year’s NFC Championship Game, all of that might mean nothing to you. Plus, those Rodgers Allstate commercials (ever hear of a little thing called the Discount Doublecheck?!) can get really annoying after awhile, especially when watched back to back (to back).
Perfect for fans of… Fake stock certificates. The Packers are a publicly owned, not-for-profit team and occasionally sell “shares” in the team when money is needed for stadium repairs and the like, but the shares are worthless. That said, they look great in a green-and-gold frame.
How much hope? 9/10. They finished 12-4 last year, should’ve won the NFC title game, and barely changed a thing. This is a strong team with loads of continuity, despite the Nelson injury. The playoffs are a given — the title is at least a decent bet, in as much as any pre-season title bet can be decent.
Will you be mocked for front-running? Oh hell yes. Especially if you buy a cheesehead. Please don’t buy a cheesehead.
A Meme To Remember: The Packers got off to a relatively slow 1-2 start last year, and people lost their heads. Aaron Rodgers spelled out what he wanted Packers fans to do, and people lost their heads again — only, in a kind of delight this time.
