Just in case anyone was questioning the credentials of Aaron Rodgers as an MVP, look no further than last season. A two-time winner, Rodgers had the Green Bay Packers sitting at 4-1 heading into a key divisional matchup with the Vikings. I think we all know what happened next. Rodgers was knocked out of that game with a broken collarbone and the season was lost. The Packers went 3-7 the rest of the way, ending their streak of eight straight playoff appearances with a 7-9 mark. If you think Rodgers is worth three victories, the Pack are the over pick.
Green Bay Packers Futures Odds at BookMaker.eu
Green Bay Packers Over 10 Wins +114
Green Bay Packers Under 10 Wins -137
2018 Green Bay Packers Offense Preview
The loss of Rodgers exposed many things with the Packers. One is the need for a reliable backup after Brett Hundley struggled as the starter. Rodgers will be without one of his favorite targets in Jordy Nelson, who was released in the offseason. But gifted receivers Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are ready to pick up the slack. The draft netted three pass-catching prospects and the Pack also acquired Jimmy Graham to be Rodgers’s go-to guy from his tight end spot.
The running game figures to be improved with second-year players Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams showing promise last season, and that will make things easier for Rodgers. Williams led the team with 556 yards and Jones averaged 5.5 yards on his 81 carries along with six runs of 20 or more yards. The line has been a concern for several years with various players dealing with injuries. When healthy David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga are two of the best bookend tackles in football. The Packers also have a new coordinator in Joe Philbin, who served in the same capacity for from 2008 to 2011.
2018 Green Bay Packers Defense Preview
Without Rodgers matching opponents on the scoreboard, the Packers defense was exposed for the bad group that it was. So McCarthy made a switch on this side of the football too, brining in Mike Pettine to take over as coordinator. During previous stints as DC with the Jets and Bills, Pettine’s teams never finished out of the top-10 in total defense. It will take more than a new coach and schemes to get the Packers to be one of the better groups, but they leaned that way in the draft with several high-profile secondary players chosen.
The Packers ranked 23rd in pass defense last season and they used their top two picks on corners Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson to bolster the back end. Tramon Williams and Davon House, a pair of former starters, were also brought back. The group will be much better if the guys up front can create a pass rush. Muhammad Wilkerson was brought in to team with Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark to form an imposing bunch. The health of Clay Mathews and Nick Perry is important to the overall improvement of the unit.
2018 Green Bay Schedule Analysis
With their first two games and four of their first six at Lambeau Field, a fast start to the season is imperative to the overall success of the club. A Week 2 matchup with Minnesota looks to be the most difficult of the bunch, and Rodgers is licking his chops for a crack at the Vikings. It’s possible the Packers could go undefeated through that stretch.
The bye comes in Week 7 and the Packers have a daunting schedule after that with three separate two-game road trips. After the bye, the Packers visit the Rams and Patriots, have a home tilt with Miami then go back on the road to Seattle and Minnesota. The season ends with road trips to Chicago and the Jets followed by a home tilt with Detroit to finish it off. All in all, the schedule looks favorable for a double-digit win season.
The Final Verdict
Having Rodgers back for a full season should result in a minimum of 10 wins, and squeezing out one more somewhere along the line makes the over a winner. The loss of Rodgers and the fall the team took last season may have been exactly what the Packers needed to move forward.
Deficiencies on defense were exposed and the club worked to address them. Pettine is a good hire and he will put his personnel in better positions to be successful. There shouldn’t be any significant changes on offense with Philbin, who was the team’s OC just a few years ago, and Rodgers is close to being a coach on the field. We’re not sure the backup QB situation has been resolved, but as long as the Packers don’t need it, they should go over the total.
NFL Odds: Green Bay Packers Over 10 Wins
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