3 Reasons why Green Bay Plays in Super Bowl LI
I have said it once, and I’ll probably say it again, I think the Green Bay Packers have a team that is primed and ready to make a push for the Lombardi Trophy.
Let’s get on thing straight first – I am no way a Packers fan. Covering the Packers was something I chose because the team has a rich history and I am a sucker for history.
In fact, growing up in the 90s, I hated the Packers and wanted nothing to do with them. My hatred for them was only because some wiener kid in my neighborhood always wore a Brett Favre jersey – so really not a legitimate reason to hate a team.
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I digress. Let’s get back to why I feel that the Green Bay Packers can be the team of destiny in 2016 with these three reasons:
Reason No. 1: Good Heavens, that Offense
People will argue that super teams don’t exist in the NFL like they do in the NBA. I would say that could be proven to be false in 2016 with Green Bay’s offense – but that does come with some conditions.
The only condition really is if the team can stay healthy. 2014 was one of the best years of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy’s careers. Rodgers destroyed everyone he faced and was awarded the MVP while Nelson and Cobb had career bests for yards and Lacy looked like he was going to become the next Marshall Faulk.
It doesn’t seem unlikely that the offense can get back to that production. The only thing separating the Green Bay offense and high-level production is health. Add a healthy Jared Cook to that mix and you have dynamite on the field.
Reason No. 2: The Secondary
The Packers defense must like “The Lord of the Rings” because like Gandalf once said: “you shall not pass!” The Packers secondary finished 2015 with a great passing defense that ranked 6th.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Morgan Burnett, Sam Shields, Damarious Randall, Micah Hyde, Chris Banjo and Quinten Rollins have all proven themselves on the field. Amazingly enough, this group of players is relatively young and could remain solid for years.
Rollins and Randall both had great rookie campaigns last season and I am most excited to see how those two will develop in the upcoming year. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers finished 2016 with a top three secondary.
Reason No. 3: Strength of Schedule
When you have the easiest schedule based on last year’s results, expectations should be high heading into the season. With the Packers star power added to that mix, it could get really ugly for the teams on the schedule. The Packers will play all the teams from the AFC South and NFC North this year and those were the two worst divisions last season.
The toughest competition for the Packers will come within the division as Minnesota and Chicago have improved. Outside of that, Indianapolis and Seattle will also be difficult games for the Packers.
With so many unknowns about how the season will shake out for the Packers – like injuries that could happen – let’s peg them as having a 12-4 record. The four games lost being the Colts, Seahawks and splitting games with Minnesota and Chicago.
Well there, you have it. There are my reasons that I feel in my heart of hearts that the Packers will be playing in February for the Super Bowl. I didn’t even mention how Clay Matthews is going to return to All-Pro form by switching to the outside or how Julius Peppers is an ageless freak that can do it all.
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