The Green Bay Packers went through nearly the entire offseason with plenty of question marks surrounding the team. The biggest one among them was if quarterback Aaron Rodgers was going to be under center for the team.
Rodgers eventually reported to camp and it was more of the same for the Packers as it has been throughout his career. He once again put up MVP numbers, as he is the odds on favorite to take home the hardware for the fourth time in his career and second consecutive season.
Rodgers was the leader for a Packers team that won 13 games for the third consecutive season. It has been quite a start to the head coach career of Matt LaFleur, who has found plenty of success in the regular season but not nearly as much as he would hope to have in the postseason.
The Packers have lost in the NFC Championship game in his first two seasons as head coach. They are hoping to snap that streak and breakthrough with a Super Bowl this season. Will they be able to get it done?
Here are four reasons that the Packers will win Super Bowl 56.
4. Two-Headed Rushing Attack
For teams to succeed in the postseason, you need to have a successful running game. Whether it is to get short yardage in crunch time or bleed the clock as you try to ice a game, the run game is a necessity.
While some teams struggle to get one productive running back, the Green Bay Packers are lucky to have two. Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon are one of the best one-two punches in the NFL and they will help the Packers navigate the postseason.
Jones is an explosive dual-threat that can make an impact spread out as a receiver as much as he can carrying the ball. Dillon is a powerful bruiser that saw his role expand in his second season and he has made the most of his chances.
Usually, when a starter comes out of the game, a defense can breathe a little easier. That is not the case against Green Bay, who replaces Jones with a big back looking to punish opponents between the tackles in Dillon.
3. Improved Pass Defense
One of the biggest issues that the Green Bay Packers faced last season was their pass defense. They were unable to generate enough of a pass rush to consistently bother opposing quarterbacks and their secondary didn’t have players to hold up in coverage.
This season, those problems are not as prevalent. Green Bay was 10th in passing yards allowed and totaled 39 sacks on the season. The team could also get Za’Darius Smith back in the lineup after he appeared in only the season opener for 18 snaps before getting injured.
Last season, the lasting image for many Packers fans was the back of Kevin King, as he was burned for touchdowns by Mike Evans and Scott Miller. If the Packers meet up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers again, that isn’t as likely to happen as they have shored things up with Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes.
2. Home Field Advantage
This is the second consecutive season that the Green Bay Packers finished as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That means the road in the postseason will go through Lambeau Field, giving the Packers a distinct advantage.
Playing in the frozen tundra is not an easy thing to do. Picking up a victory over the Packers in those conditions is even tougher. In late January, the temperatures will likely be below freezing, which some teams do not have much experience playing in.
Knowing they will not have to travel until a possible trip to the Super Bowl is something that will help keep the Packers at ease as well. Going through their regular schedules and being at home is a big advantage and Green Bay earned it with their performance in the regular season, going 13-4.
1. They Have Aaron Rodgers
The best thing that the Green Bay Packers have going for them is that they have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. As long as he is healthy and on the field, the Packers will have a chance to win the game.
He should have some extra motivation this season as the Packers have fallen just short in two consecutive years. If Green Bay matches up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady again, you can be sure that Rodgers will have revenge on his mind.
Other than a potential matchup with the Buccaneers, the Packers will have the distinct advantage at the quarterback position with any other team they could face in the postseason. They will also have the experience edge as Rodgers has more playoff wins than Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, Jalen Hurts and Jimmy Garoppolo combined.
