Exploring the Packers' Underrated Offense
When Aaron Rodgers started for the Packers in 2008, he was surrounded by a plethora of talent. His offensive weapons included Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Ryan Grant, and an excellent defense. When he left Green Bay in 2023, he still had talent around him, but they were very young and inexperienced besides Aaron Jones. Rodgers wanted a change of scenery and left for the New York Jets. Ironically, he was taking multiple Packers players with him. Once Rodgers left, it was Love's time to prove himself.
Jordan Love, his first time starting the entire season, had only first, second, and third-year options to throw to, with the most experienced player being Aaron Jones. Love now had the pressure of replacing future hall-of-famer Aaron Rodgers and that the Packers could succeed with him under center. The team started strong, winning its first couple of games, but then hit a lull, and this is where the growing pains could be seen for this young squad. The turning point was the Packers' second matchup against the Lions, where it seemed this team could do no wrong and proved they could still compete. After that game, the team went on a 6-3 stretch to finish the season at 9-8 and made the playoffs as the seventh seed. Love accomplished something Rodgers could not do: make the playoffs in his first full season, starting with many inexperienced players around him. Jordan helped massacre the Dallas Cowboys in their own stadium and then helped the Pack achieve another incredible feat: the first seventh seed to ever win a playoff game. Like most Packers seasons, the season ended the next week with playoff heartbreak, but this team has given fans lots to be excited about for this upcoming season.
Love's primary options in 2023 included Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Malik Health, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Dontayvion Wicks, Aaron Jones, and the late emergence of Wide Receiver Bo Melton. Reed, Heath, Wicks, Kraft, and Musgrave were all drafted that year and have helped solidify this Packers draft class as one of the best in recent memory. The Packers now have star running back Josh Jacobs and drafted Marshawn Lloyd out of USC to back him up while AJ Dillon is out for the season with a neck injury. The Offensive Line, ranked 12th in the National Football League, continues to develop and improve with stars like Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Elgton Jenkins.
People have been starting to realize that the Packers offense is very underrated and that defenses should watch out in 2024 because the Packers can hurt you in many ways. Yes, teams like the Eagles and 49ers have great offenses, too, but the Packers are playing with house money, and homegrown talent gives them a larger Super Bowl window than their opponents. The Packers made sure to pay Love before the QB market exploded again and have locked in their hopefully third straight franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. The Packers now have six solid receivers, and it doesn't matter if they have a true wide receiver if each player can step up to the plate and perform whenever they are called upon. Lloyd should be able to grow and develop under Josh Jacobs for the next four years, and Kraft and Musgrave should continue to get better as time goes on. This young and hungry Packers team already has a playoff win, playoff experience, and moments where they have had to step up, and the league should be on watch.
