Green Bay Packers Last Season’s Performance

The 2022 season couldn’t be seen as anything other than a disappointment for the Packers, as it ended their three-season streak of 13-win seasons while also marking their first time in that span they hadn’t won the NFC North.

Green Bay was competing for a spot in the playoffs until the end. However, its loss to Detroit in the regular-season finale eliminated it from postseason contention. The Packers finished the season third in the NFC North with an 8-9 record, resulting in their first losing season since 2018.

However, despite the failures, Green Bay also became the winningest franchise in NFL history with win No. 17817 after its win over Chicago, surpassing the Bears, who held the record since 1921.

Green Bay Packers Key Additions

The Packers had a pretty quiet offseason, making most of their offseason additions in the 2023 Draft rather than free agency.

Green Bay did sign safeties in free agency in Tarvarius Moore and Jonathan Owens, though Owens was the more significant of the two, finishing last season with 125 total tackles and one sack.

Despite the uneventful offseason, the Packers had a number of picks in the 2023 draft. Though they took linebacker Lukas Van Ness in the first round, the Packers spent their next three picks on tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft and wide receiver Jayden Reed, who should all see the field in 2023.

Green Bay Packers Key Subtractions

Green Bay had many more offseason losses than additions, though none is more notable than Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets. Rodgers was the starter for 15 of his 18 seasons he spent with the Packers, leading them to a Super Bowl title in 2010, and Green Bay will now move onto quarterback Jordan Love.

Aside from Rodgers, the Packers also moved on from three of their top five receiving options, with wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb and tight end Robert Tonyan all exiting. Green Bay also elected not to re-sign tight end Mercedes Lewis, while safety Adrian Amos, defensive tackle Jarran Reed and defensive end Dean Lowry were the defensive losses.

Green Bay Packers Head Coach Analysis

Matt LaFleur had one of the best starts in his first three years as Green Bay’s head coach, leading it to 13-win seasons in each of his first three years and earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC twice.

However, those finishes never quite translated fully to the postseason, as the Packers have yet to reach the Super Bowl under LaFleur. They took a step backin LaFleur’s fourth season, not reaching the playoffs.

With Rodgers gone, the 2023 season could be the first chance for LaFleur to showcase his full offense without the former Packer making changes in the huddle or calling his own plays. It may be interesting to see how different the offense will be.

Green Bay Packers Injured Players at the Beginning of the Season

The Packers had their fair share of injuries in 2022, with linebacker Rashan Gary and cornerback Eric Stokes the most notable of the season.

Both Gary and Stokes begin the season on the physically unable to perform list with expected returns in Week 2, while rookie wide receivers Grant DuBose and Dontayvion Wicks are injured as well. DuBose is on the non-football injury list and Wicks is questionable for Week 1 with a concussion.

Green Bay Packers Offense

With many of the veterans on offense moved onto other teams, the Packers’ offense will look a lot younger this season. Running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are the key returning veterans in skill positions.

Jones finished 10th in the NFL with 1,121 rushing yard. With the Packers’ young receiving core and a new starting quarterback in Love, he should be relied upon in the run game and have another strong season.

Wide receiver Christian Watson had a great rookie campaign, finishing second on the team with 611 receiving yards and seven touchdowns despite missing three games. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs should make a jump in his second season after recording 425 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games.

Green Bay Packers Defense

The defense was one of the Packers’ main issues last season, finishing 117th in both total yards and points allowed with teams averaging 336.5 yards and 21.8 points against them.

The Packers’ secondary was one of the better units in 2022, finishing sixth in the NFL allowing 1917 passing yards while their 117 interceptions was fifth. Their rushing defense was a different story, placing in the bottom 10 in yards allowed.

Green Bay has seven former first-round picks on its defense, with Van Ness making it eigh. With the offense going through changes and likely to struggle early, that defensive talent will have to step up.

Green Bay Packers Special Teams

The Packers are making a change at kicker for the first time in years, They moved on from Mason Crosby after he spent 16 years with the team. Instead, Green Bay drafted Anders Carlson, who is likely to be the team’s starter come Week 1.

Green Bay also made a change at punter ahead of last season, signing Pat O’Donnell, who averaged 44.5 punt yards in 2022.

Cornerback Keisean Nixon took the majority of the Packers’ kick and punt returns last season after they tried with wide receiver Amari Rodgers. After Nixon had success, returning one kickoff for a touchdown, he is likely to take most of the return duties in 2023.

h3>Green Bay Packers Prediction for the 2023 Season

The Packers are going through a lot of changes. Therefore success may be fleeting in the 2023 season, which explains NFL picks having them finish last in the NFC North.

Green Bay’s offense is going through a rebuild, and it may take some time to see the results of that process. If the Packers’ defense can’t show some improvement to help aid in that process, it may be a long season for Green Bay fans.

Green Bay Packers Final Thoughts

The Packers will look like a different team in 2023 with a new quarterback and a lot of young players in key skill positions, This could lead them to lean on the run game.

However, despite the so-called rebuild, some NFL expert predictions still believe that Green Bay can finish the season with a winning record with the easier schedule it has.

The Lions are betting favorites to win the division, but many aren’t quite as sold on reigning NFC North champions Minnesota or Chicago, which leaves more opportunity for a postseason run, though it comes down to the play of Love and how reliable the defense is.

Green Bay Packers FAQs