The Green Bay Packers navigated their way back to the playoffs just a year after bidding farewell to their Hall of Fame quarterback. Despite trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets in the off-season, Green Bay carved out a better record with a first-year starting quarterback this season.
It’s essential to note that, while he’s not a rookie, Jordan Love entered the season with lofty expectations. As anticipated, the offense had fits and starts throughout the season, but they persevered. The Packers finished with a winning record and returned to the playoffs while uncovering one of the most important questions on the team.
They now know Jordan Love is the real deal.
Although they faced substantial setbacks early, Green Bay’s offense hit its stride in the second half of the season. The absence of David Bakhtiari for all but one game and Aaron Jones’ missing 11 games didn’t deter them. Rookies and second-year players primarily manned the skill positions, and Love struggled to get even five games with a fully healthy receiving corps. The Packers ended up being a top-10 offense without a 1,000-yard receiver or 1,000-yard rusher.
Green Bay stayed competitive as Jaire Alexander missed half the season, and De’Vondre Campbell faced time on the sidelines. The defense seamlessly integrated rookies like Carrington Valentine, Karl Brooks, Lukas Van Ness, and Anthony Johnson, who emerged as solid contributors.
Similar to two years ago, the Packers persevered despite a struggling special teams unit. Rich Bisaccia is the highest-paid special teams coordinator in the league, but he didn’t produce the desired results. Green Bay was leading the league in special teams penalties in mid-December.
The Packers secured a postseason berth without a player earning a Pro Bowl nod, a contrast to other teams with the same number of Pro Bowlers. The Carolina Panthers, the worst team in the league this season, shared this distinction. The Washington Commanders, holding the second-overall pick in the upcoming draft, also had zero Pro Bowlers, as did the New England Patriots, who possess the third-overall pick.
Green Bay was a winning football team this year despite facing significant roster turnover. Eight starters from the previous year departed in free agency, and the team operated with limited cap space due to Rodgers’ dead money. However, the Packers demonstrated they were adept at talent development – over 10 draft picks successfully made the roster.
The Packers are the youngest team in the NFL to make the postseason since 1978. And they did so while suffering injuries in all three phases of the game. Surprisingly, the offense, the unit least expected to produce results, emerged as the standout and by far the best unit on the team.
Given all the Packers faced this year, it’s fair to argue that Matt LaFleur should be a top candidate for Coach of the Year. The team underwent significant changes since the previous season, yet they improved their performance. By the notion that his success solely relied on Rodgers, LaFleur led one of the youngest teams in NFL history to a winning record and a playoff berth.
Other head coaches present strong cases for Coach of the Year consideration. Kevin Stefanski stands out, guiding a Cleveland Browns team ravaged by injuries to the playoffs with four different starting quarterbacks – unprecedented in NFL history. Rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans led the Houston Texans to a division title with a rookie quarterback, defying expectations for a team that had the over/under for wins in 2023 at 5.5. Dan Campbell steered the Detroit Lions to their first-ever NFC North title, marking their first divisional championship in 30 years.
LaFleur has a strong case for Coach of the Year, but winning it will be challenging. Given Green Bay’s performance in the regular season, especially amid significant changes, he’s likely a top-five candidate.
