The Green Bay Packers are heading into the bye week with an 8-2 record under first-year head coach Matt LaFleur. The Packers have been playing super bowl-level football this year, except for a game against the Chargers where they didn’t show up, and an interception on the one-yard line against the Eagles, the team has been out-performing preseason expectations, in which CBS sports had them finishing 10-6 and barely sneaking in a wild card spot in the playoffs. This team is a division-winning team and is in the running for home-field advantage come playoff time.
In this past offseason, the Packers did something they normally don’t do, spend money in free-agency, especially on the defensive side. They brought in edge-rushers Preston Smith and Za’darius Smith, who combine to form a formidable duo this season, racking up 18.5 sacks between them. They also brought in former Chicago Bears safety, Adrian Amos, who has made his presence felt on defense with five pass deflections and one interception. The Packers defense this year came out of the gates firing on all cylinders but has cooled down since. But they have still been good enough allowing just over twenty points a game.
Aaron Rodgers is playing at an MVP level again and seems to have great chemistry with the first-year head coach and play-caller, Matt LaFleur. Aaron Jones is also playing on an MVP level. He has eleven rushing touchdowns to go along with three receiving touchdowns, for a total of fourteen, which is tied for the NFL lead with Carolina Panthers running back, Christian McCaffery. To complement them, the Packers have Pro-Bowl receiver Davante Adams, explosive running back Jammal Williams, big tight end Jimmy Graham, and speedsters Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
They have superstars on offense and a young defense that plays hard all the time. The Packers are a team to watch out for come playoff time and they shouldn’t be taken lightly.