The 2022 NFL season is right around the corner, and football fans in the United States and further afield are tingling with excitement for what lies in store. The Buffalo Bills are the clear favorites for Super Bowl glory this campaign, while Tom Brady’s dramatic U-turn has seen thousands of punters head to online sports betting site BetOnline and back the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but everyone seems to have forgotten about the Green Bay Packers. Can the Cheeseheads cause an upset and walk away with their fifth Super Bowl title and they’re first since 2010?
The Green Bay Packers were, at times, unstoppable last season. After a terrible performance in the opening day fixture against New Orleans Saints that saw them lose 3-38 on the road, the Packers put together a run of seven straight wins and ultimately ended with an impressive 13-4 record. However, their regular season form did not carry over into the playoffs, and they lost 10-13 to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional wildcard fixture. Can Matt LaFleur guide the Packers to their fourth consecutive 13-win season and, more importantly, help his team navigate their way to their first Super Bowl in more than a decade?
A Different Type of Green Bay Packers Offense
You think of an elite-level passing game when the Green Bay Packers spring to mind. Having Aaron Rodgers pulling the strings from the pocket tends to do this. Rodgers is a four-time MVP who, despite entering the golden years of his long and illustrious career, is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game today.
Rodgers will undoubtedly earn his monster-sized salary this year because his passing options are far more limited than in previous seasons. Losing Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders is a significant blow. Adams had 124 receptions for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and those sorts of figures are difficult to replace.
The Packers still have some talented wide receivers and tight ends, but they will likely focus more on their running game this campaign. That said, rookie Romeo Doubs, a fourth-round draft pick, has been pulling up trees in the preseason, and it looks like he could become a superstar. Rodgers is usually highly critical of youngsters, but he has sung Doubs’ praises.
Expect to see plenty of carries for A.J. Dillon, who is entering his third season with the Packers. Dillon had 187 carries during the 2021 regular season and made 803 yards. Nobody would be surprised to see Dillon rush for 1,000 yards this campaign. Fellow running back Aaron Jones will also likely see more of the ball in 2022 as the Packers’ offense probably switches to a more run-based game.
Defenses Win Games
The offensive players receive the largest salaries and gain all the plaudits, but defenses win you games of football. The Green Bay Packers defense looks to have very few, if any, weaknesses among its ranks.
Kenny Clark, a multi-time Pro Bowler, leads a stellar defensive line. Clark will help luminaries such as Dean Lowry, Jarran Reed, T.J. Slaton, and Devonte Wyatt shine during the upcoming campaign, making matters extremely difficult for their opponents’ offensive lines.
The Packers’ inside linebacker options have often been seen as a weakness, but that is rectified. They acquired Quay Walker in the 2022 NFL Draft, while De’Vondre Campbell looked back to his brilliant best in 2021. He signed a new five-year $50 million deal after being named at the 2021 First Team All-Pro, the first Packers’ inside linebacker to do so since Ray Nitschke back in the 1960s.
All eyes are on the Buffalo Bills this season, which works in the Green Bay Packer’s favor. Sure, they go into 13 of their regular season fixtures as favorites with most bookmakers, but the attention on the Bills should help the Packers fly under the radar to some degree; they could be genuine Super Bowl contenders.