The Green Bay Packers walked into the season with the youngest roster in the league. There was overwhelming optimism from fans of the Pack, but questions remained about how they would navigate through the season. The biggest question mark looming over the team was regarding Jordan Love and his ability to lead the lead and handle the pressure of being the starting quarterback.
While the season went better than most expected, there were still bumps along the way as Green Bay dealt with injuries on both sides of the ball. Pair that with a not-so-great start and a small four-game losing slump, and you have a nail-biting season on your hands. The season could have been much worse than it was; however, they were able to plot a course, which led them to be the seventh seed in the playoffs.
While their playoff hopes and dreams ended in disappointment, there is a sense of optimism and hope that the team’s future will be better and brighter.
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What Went Right for Green Bay
AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones were the best rushers for the Packers. They were better in the latter part of the season when Jones returned from his injury. They have not had a receiver with over 1,000 yards for the second straight season. With the emergence of Jayden Reed, look for that to change within the next two seasons. Love’s chemistry with Reed and other receivers will continue to make Green Bay an offensive threat for years to come.
Matt LaFleur was able to coach a team of young players and taught them how to win together and weather the storm of growing pains that was inevitable for any young team. This was considered a rebuilding year, and while making the playoffs was not what they expected, they were able to win six of their last eight games to squeak in.
What Went Wrong for Green Bay
The best way to describe the Packers at times is inconsistent. It could be seen on both sides of the ball. When the Packers were running good, they were good. Not so much when they took a little turn for the worse. Also, the injuries did not help either. Having a team be consistent when injuries sideline their best players is hard. The Packers, at times, failed to take advantage of situations in a game, which might have won them a few more and possibly led to a higher seed in the playoffs.
Another issue is that they were unable to stop the run. With their talent on defense, it is inexcusable to be bad at stopping the run. The Packers’ defense essentially let other teams accrue over 150 yards nine times. While some defensive stats might have looked good on paper, the eye test and the ticks in the loss column tell a different story.
Team Award Winners
MVP – Jordan Love
After sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for a few years, it was Love’s turn to show fans and everyone in the NFL that he had what it took to lead the Packers. He had 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. While his percentage for pass completions is at 64.2, there is no doubt with experience, those numbers will improve. When you compare him to other starting quarterbacks, he is not that far off from the top ones we think of, such as Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, and others. Green Bay has their quarterback; barring any injuries, he will be there for a long time.
Rookie of the Year – Jayden Reed
Drafted 50th overall in the 2023 draft, Reed has shown he has the potential to be a reliable target for Love. Reed led the team in receptions and receiving yards, and he is set to be a serious threat to defenses for the foreseeable future. Whether he is blocking or getting an opportunity to be on the receiving end of the ball, Reed was the best receiver when they needed him the most. He is a dynamic player with no ceiling in sight. Combined with other offensive weapons like Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, the offense for the Packers is set for the future.
Best Offseason Addition – Luke Musgrave & Tucker Kraft
The best additions for the Packers did not come via free agency but from the 2023 draft. While many of those drafted appear to be decent choices, Musgrave and Kraft both show potential at the tight end position. Musgrave had 34 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown. His stats might have been higher if he had not been injured. Kraft played because of the injury to Musgrave and had 31 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns. Kraft might be a slightly better blocker than Musgrave, but they give Love two targets to go to for the passing game.
Biggest Surprise – Devonte Wyatt
Last season was a struggle for Wyatt. He still has issues against the run but was dominant in his one-on-one matchups. Wyatt finished 2023 with 5.5 sacks, 48 pressures, and a pass rush win rate of 16.1%. This season, he had 36 tackles, which was 21 more than he had last season. He has potential. Hopefully, he is just a late bloomer. Wyatt has Karl Brooks and T.J. Slaton to compete with, but next season should be even better for him if he can improve his game against the run.
Biggest Disappointment – Anders Carlson
Carlson has not been the best kicker this season; however, remember he is a rookie. While that is certainly not an excuse, it might help to give some leniency on his kicking woes. He will be remembered (at least throughout the offseason) as the player who could have gotten the Packers into a position to take the San Fransico 49ers into overtime. The front office is bringing in competition at the kicker position, recently signing Jack Podlesny just this week.
It will be an interesting offseason to see if either of these kickers gets the nod to start or if there will be another player vying for the opportunity to kick for the Packers.
One Burning Question
Will the defense improve?
With Joe Barry gone, the defense has to improve. Right? Whoever they get for the defensive coordinator position has a bit of work to do. Not everything was terrible with Barry at the defensive helm, but he was a part of the inconsistency issues. Going forward, the Packers need a coordinator to set them up for success. They have the talent; the players must have their abilities appropriately used and schemes that will allow them to succeed. Green Bay needs an aggressive pedal-to-the-metal defense that will not back down from a fight.
If they can achieve that, and the offense improves as expected, then fans should be excited for a Packers team with a bright and limitless future.
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