The Green Bay Packers have been known as an offensive team for many years. When Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, that is usually warranted. However, the reason the Packers are still Super Bowl contenders after the loss of Davante Adams is because of both Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s loaded defense. The team has starpower on every level of the defense. They have finished in the top 10 of total defense each of the last two seasons. There is a real chance that this Packers defense this season could be better than that of the franchise’s 2010 Super Bowl defense led by Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, Nick Collins, and A.J. Hawk.
In the interior, the Packers have multi-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle in Kenny Clark leading the charge. They drafted Georgia National Champion Devonte Wyatt in the first round of the NFL Draft and signed veteran Jarran Reed (career-high in sacks is 10.5). Veteran Dean Lowry is coming off of a career year and is entering his seventh season as a Packer. They have experience and talent on the interior, which is a fantastic combination. On the edges, the Packers have a solid duo of Rashan Gary (Defensive Player of the Year Candidate) and Preston Smith (both recorded 9+ sacks in 2021). In the middle, First-Team All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell was the only player in the league last season to record 140+ tackles, 5+ tackles for loss, 5+ passes defensed, 2+ sacks, and 2+ forced fumbles. He is, at worst, one of the best inside linebackers in the league. The team also added another Georgia National Champion in Quay Walker, who will start alongside Campbell this season. In the defensive backfield, All-Pro corner Jaire Alexander, mid-season acquisition Rasul Douglas (led Packers with five interceptions last season), and talented second-year defender Eric Stokes form the best cornerback trio in the league. Safeties Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are also incredibly formidable.
The Packers are finally back to having an elite defense with Aaron Rodgers playing quarterback. That hasn’t happened in over a decade. They have an elite pass-rush and an elite defensive back group. Defense still wins championships in this day and age. The Packers appear to have a championship defense with a first-ballot Hall of Famer at quarterback. That is the recipe for a Super Bowl. Look for Green Bay to be playing in Arizona in February if they stay healthy.
