The Green Bay Packers are 2-2-1 after five weeks of the NFL season. Some argue that they should be 4-1 following a very questionable call of roughing the passer during the Minnesota Vikings game Week 2. They also had longtime kicker Mason Crosby missing four field goals and an extra point against the Detroit Lions in Week 5.
Every Green Bay fan knows that Rodgers and the Packers somehow always find their way back into the playoffs near the end of the season. With the Packers traveling to New England in Week 8 then to Los Angeles to face the Rams in Week 9, they have some work to do.
Offense
Quarterback
Last season before Rodgers was ruled out for the season he led the Packers to a 4-2 record. The two-time MVP had 16 touchdown passes, six interceptions and over 1,600 yards. So far this season, Rodgers has 10 touchdowns, one interception and almost 1,600 yards. He came out in the off-season and announced that his goal is to win MVP again. So the last thing you’ll see from Rodgers is a lackluster job. He is completing 63% of his passes and his passer rating sits at 100.1.
Receivers
Wide receiver Devante Adams leads the league in touchdowns by a receiver since 2016. After signing a huge 4-year $58 million contract extension, and the release of top recover Jordy Nelson, Adams has become a top target for Rodgers. He knows how to get yards after the catch, and make those difficult catches which draws him into Rodgers, since he loves to throw those tight space passes. Adams had receiving 885 yards last season. So far this season he has 425, putting him on pace to get the most yards of his career.
Randall Cobb is averaging 11.4 yards per reception. Although he only has 194 yards so far this season, Cobb comes in the clutch most of the time for Rodgers and the Packers. He has missed Week 4 and 5 but plans to return Week 6 against the 49ers. He’s able to extend his arm and get the first down or make defenders miss for those extra yards. He can catch hard balls and hold onto them- only fumbled twice in his career.
Geronimo Allison is a hidden gem for the Packers. He played almost every game last season but didn’t start. He’s made a huge jump from back-up to a top three target. He missed Week 5 with a concussion, but will no doubt come out strong. He is an amazing corner, post and go route runner, he has a 65.5% catch completion when running those routes, as well as averaging 15.2 yards per catch.
Running backs
Aaron Jones was suspended for the first two games of the season but still averages 6.1 yards per attempt. He is an uprising star in the Packer world. He doesn’t get as many carries as Jamaal Williams. Jones had four touchdowns last season as a rookie, as has yet to record a fumble. Williams also had four touchdowns as a rookie, but he only averages 3.7 yards per attempt. No matter which running back is starting, they both are able to take the pressure off of Rodgers.
Defense
Green Bay parted with old defensive coordinator Dom Capers and hired 2014 Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine. The difference has shown. The Packers have 16 recorded sacks so far this season, only two sacks behind the Bears. Safety Haha Clinton-Dix has three interceptions so far this season, which leads the league. As a team they have four, last season they had a total of 11 on the year. New draft picks, second year players and new additions have helped the Packers tremendously. Pettine took the Packers defense from 26 to sixth ranked so far this season.
Kicker
Mason Crobsy is coming off of an embarrassing game at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions. He missed four out of five field goals and an extra point. Crosby has never missed more than two kicks in his 12-year career at Green Bay. Before Week 5, Crosby was 10/11. The Packers all-time leading scorer has made 80% of his field goals and 97.9% of his extra points. He has five seasons where he hit 100% of his extra points. Although he had a horrible game, he will bounce back and there is more than likely nothing to worry about.
Even though the Packers sit at 2-2-1, they are second in the NFC North currently. They have a tough schedule coming up and need to find new ways to make stops and throw more touchdowns. If both sides of the ball play at their top ability, the Green Bay Packers won’t have much to worry about.
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