The Green Bay Packers are not being talked about as a team that will be relevant in the 2023 NFL Playoff picture. According to two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, it is “100% disrespect,” but he also says the team prefers it that way.
When one looks at the state of the NFC North, though, it is hard to see a scenario that does not see the Packers being a team that is in the hunt for the division crown. The Vikings have taken multiple steps backwards in terms of talent on both sides of the ball. Furthermore, they won the division last season with a negative point differential.
Detroit may be good, but they had the same record as Green Bay last season and, let’s face it: Lions will always Lion. The Chicago Bears were the worst team in the NFL last year. Regardless of how much money they spent in free agency, it is difficult to see them adding 10 wins to last year’s total.
One NFL Analyst Says Jordan Love Is the Reason the Green Bay Packers Could Make a Playoff Push
The Packers, of course, missed the playoffs on the the final day of the regular season after Aaron Rodgers was unable to lead the offense to victory, as was the case oftentimes last season. Indeed, his hero-ball play led to multiple interceptions that cost Green Bay a spot in the NFC Playoffs.
Rodgers’ failure to make a connection with his young wide receivers in Green Bay was a hard lesson learned, a mistake that he is trying not to repeat in New York. It is Love’s ability to connect with his players, though, that has Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggesting that Green Bay could return to the NFL Playoffs in 2023 sans Rodgers:
This offseason, the Green Bay Packers officially turned the page from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love at quarterback. While the transition won’t guarantee Green Bay a return trip to the postseason, fans should be excited to finally get an extended glimpse at the franchise’s future.
Rodgers, after all, is 39 years old and coming off one of the worst seasons in his career. Love might not be an immediate upgrade under center, but the early buzz has been positive.
“I think he definitely has all the intangibles,” running back AJ Dillon told SiriusXM Radio (h/t ProFootballTalk’s Josh Alper). “He’s earned the trust of the locker room. Guys respect him. Guys wanna play for him.”
Green Bay has done an admirable job of surrounding Love with promising young talent too, adding the likes of tight end Luke Musgrave, tight end Tucker Kraft and wideout Jayden Reed to go with Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dillon and Aaron Jones.
If the offense clicks quickly—something it failed to do with Rodgers in 2022—the Packers could be surprisingly relevant in the NFC playoff race.
Love is certainly working hard on establishing those connections. He has been present for all offseason workouts and has even coordinated independent training sessions out in California with several of his teammates. Most recently, running back Aaron Jones shared photos and videos on Instagram of Love, himself, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and several other Packers players working out together despite training camp being days away (at the time).
That is something fans never saw Rodgers do, especially in the latter days of his time in Green Bay. If Love and his offense are clicking early and often, the Packers could rule the NFC North once again.
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