The Green Bay Packers finished the 2022 NFL season 8-9 and missed the Playoffs. As a result, the team has made the decision to move on from four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers and hand the reigns of the offense over to 2020 first round draft pick Jordan Love. This decision, combined with the team’s lack of depth at wide receiver, tight end, and other positions on defense, have led many to believe they may miss the postseason again in 2023. However, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes that the Packers will be one of six teams that missed the postseason in 2022 that will make it in 2023.
The Green Bay Packers Will Make the Playoffs in 2023
At the beginning of his article, Benjamin points out that there is usually a great deal of variety among playoff teams from year to year. While many of the top teams are perennial playoff contenders, on average half of the 14 playoff teams fail to return the following year. This, of course, means that, on average, seven different teams make the playoffs. Benjamin projected six teams that missed the postseason in 2022 to make it in 2023: the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers.
Of the Packers, Benjamin writes:
“Green Bay is not without some major question marks, chief among them: how will Jordan Love handle the full-time QB1 role once Rodgers packs his bags for the Jets? Better yet, does the young gunslinger have adequate help out wide, where the Packers once again could stand to pursue several upgrades?
“Still, they went 8-9 and nearly went to the playoffs in 2022 despite Rodgers’ lack of chemistry with a makeshift supporting cast, and Love’s arm has underrated juice. They’ll likely have an extra draft pick or two from the inevitable Rodgers deal, which could net a starter. And their top young play-makers — Aaron Jones, Christian Watson, Jaire Alexander — are some of the most explosive at their respective positions.”
Make no mistake: Green Bay certainly has an uphill battle to get back to the postseason. We saw last season how losing on star player can affect the entire team. That being said, the front office attempted to replace All-World wide receiver Davante Adams with Sammy Watkins and three rookies. While those rookies have major ceilings, there was no chance they would match the production of Adams in their first year. Now, the Packers will look to replace Aaron Rodgers with Jordan Love. While Love has had minimal playing time in his first three seasons, he has spent those years learning from Rodgers. There is a BIG difference between the two scenarios.
Benjamin was right to point out the fact that Green Bay has other playmakers as well. He specifically mentioned running back Aaron Jones, wide receiver Christian Watson, and cornerback Jaire Alexander. He did not include their stout offensive line, Romeo Doubs, All-Pro kick returner Keisean Nixon, and AJ Dillon.
The point here is that Green Bay will finally get to see what their team is capable of without relying on the arm of Aaron Rodgers. Many feel like Rodgers’ own idea of how the offense should be run held head coach Matt LaFleur back. With him [eventually] being traded to the Jets, it will allow LaFleur to unleash the full playbook, and that is something to be excited about.
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