Losing Aaron Rodgers for 7 weeks didn’t stop the Packers from staying in the playoff hunt until he returned. Now that he’s fully recovered, the Packers may be the best challengers to the NFC West powerhouses.
The Packers have made the playoffs in 5 straight seasons under Mike McCarthy, but few of his roads to the playoffs were more stunning than in 2013. The losses of Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb, Clay Matthews and Jermichael Finley to injuries should have spelled the end for the Packers, instead they rallied around the running of Offensive Rookie of the Year Eddie Lacy and a timely return by Rodgers to win their 3rd straight division title.
Aaron Rodgers is perhaps the best QB in the NFC, but for years had no running game to take the pressure off. But now that Eddie Lacy has established himself as one of the best backs in the league, the Packers may be even more potent than the team that was still 3rd in the NFL in total offense without Rodgers for almost half of the season.
Rookie receivers Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers, Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis will all vie for a chance to catch balls from Rodgers but will have to fight Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb for a chance.
The defense, which will see the return of Clay Matthews and newly added pass rush specialist Julius Peppers – who should be eager to play his former team, the Bears during their two rivalry games.
The Packers will report to training camp in De Pere, Wisconsin on July 26.
