Green Bay proves naysayers wrong

For a second straight year, the Green Bay Packers posted a 13-3 record during the regular season.

This time, that mark was good enough for the top record in the NFC, which gave the Packers the No. 1 seed and the lone conference bye week. The team will get a week to rest up before gearing up for a divisional round playoff game. The only postseason game the Packers won’t play at Lambeau Field will be if the team reaches the Super Bowl.

Last season, Green Bay’s 13-3 record was good enough for the No. 2 seed, which gave the team a bye into the divisional round. The Packers took care of the Seattle Seahawks, setting up a rematch with the San Francisco 49ers, who dismantled the Packers during the regular season. The rematch was a similar story, with the Packers’ defense being run over and eventually leading to a season-ending loss on the road.

Green Bay then turned its focus to the offseason and what it could do to improve the team.

Many people thought that meant drafting or signing some pass-catchers on offense or adding some playmakers on defense. Green Bay’s front office had other plans, almost completely avoiding both of those areas during the offseason.

The Packers instead drafted a quarterback, running back and tight end/fullback hybrid with its first three picks in an NFL Draft that was widely considered the best in years when talking about wide receiver talent, and then didn’t make a big free agent splash like they had an offseason before.

“We felt (the receiver class) was really strong at the top,” said Brian Gutekunst, general manager, after the draft. “I don’t know, as we went through the middle and the end, that we felt it was as strong as maybe others did.”

Of the decision to draft Jordan Love with Aaron Rodgers still under contract with the green and gold, Gutekunst said, “We have one of the best quarterbacks to ever lace them up. We’re shooting for championships as long as (Rodgers is) here, and we expect him to be here for quite a while.”

The move puzzled football fans then and hasn’t provided much clarity, given the play this season of Rodgers, who is likely to win his third MVP.

Given the roster changes and the fact that the Packers won several one-score contests a season ago, many expected the Packers to take a step back this season, with some not projecting the team into the postseason at all.

The team was gearing up for its second year under coach Matt LaFleur, but the coronavirus pandemic took away the league’s normal practice schedule and — like much of the rest of our lives — turned things virtual.

With many people counting them out, all the Packers did was play to the same record it did last year, earn a better seed and look more impressive as a team doing so.

“I think we got a resilient bunch of guys that love each other and love competing,” said LaFleur of the team after the win over the Bears on Jan. 3. “Just a lot of selfless guys. You talk about guys just embracing roles. That’s not always easy to do.”

The team’s willingness to buy in to what LaFleur has been preaching since he stepped in the door is a big reason for the team’s improvement, especially seeing as it’s primarily the same group of players who were in the building a year ago.

Running back AJ Dillon, linebacker Kamal Martin and offensive lineman Jon Runyan are the only draft picks who carved out noticeable roles in their first years. Love, the first-round pick, was not active for a single game. Josiah Deguara, the tight end/fullback hybrid, was off to a strong start but tore his ACL in the fourth game.

Free agent addition linebacker Christian Kirksey struggled to start the season but came on strong down the stretch, much like the rest of the Packers’ defense. Offensive lineman Rick Wagner helped fortify a strong unit, helping the group overcome several injuries during the season. The other big free agent addition, receiver Devin Funchess, opted out of the season for coronavirus reasons.

Rodgers was solid in his first year in the LaFleur offense, but turned into the league’s MVP in year two. He and receiver Davante Adams formed an unbelievable connection this season, which took the team’s passing game to another level.

That wouldn’t have been possible without improved play from pass-catchers like Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Robert Tonyan and steady play from the running back room — Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and Dillon. Each of those players made big plays throughout the season to help the Pack accomplish what they have.

The Packers’ defense looked to be the team’s one deficiency throughout the season despite the wins piling up. But the unit appeared to get things rolling at just the right time and are now playing their best football as the postseason nears.

Improved play out of safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are a big reason for that, with pass rushers Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary providing some much-needed pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The defense’s efforts against the run and in tackling ball carriers has also improved, with undrafted linebacker Krys Barnes playing a big role in both aspects.

It’s been a good story for the Packers to this point of the season, but the team isn’t anywhere close to satisfied yet. The goal from the start has been a Super Bowl, and next week the Packers will continue in their quest to win it all.

Morgan Rode is the sports editor for NEW Media. Readers can contact him at sports@newmedia-wi.com.