Unfortunately, it just wasn’t to be for the Green Bay Packers this season. The Pack struggled to cope with the loss of Jordy Nelson on offense and that hindered both Aaron Rodgers and the running game as opposing defences found it easier to stack the box against the usually formidable Packers unit.
Defensively, the Packers were solid for the most part and that is why we believe Green Bay are well placed to win the Super Bowl in Houston next season. Okay, so it’s still far too early to give a concrete prediction but with Rodgers at the helm, why can’t the Packers win another ring next February? At the time of writing, Coral price Green Bay at 11/1 to go all the way and win the showpiece event in 2017. Here’s why the Packers WILL do just that.
The return of Jordy Nelson is huge. While Randall Cobb is a competent receiver, he doesn’t give Green Bay the ‘big play’ down the field that Nelson does. Cobb produced reasonable numbers in 2015 but seemed to flourish opposite Nelson. Unfortunately, he just wasn’t able to cut it as a number one wideout and Mike McCarthy’s men will prosper upon Nelson’s long-anticipated return.
Eddie Lacy WILL trim the fat during the offseason and a leaner Eddie Lacy means good news for the Packers. In 2014, Lacy was one of the top running backs in the NFL but piled the weight on prior to the beginning of the 2015 campaign. And after picking up an ankle injury early in the year, Lacy never really regained momentum as his weight issues plagued both his performances and his recovery time.
Defensively, the Packers are well set but another inside linebacker wouldn’t go amiss. Clay Matthews has lined up in various positions throughout the last few years but a little bit of help would go a long way, especially when bringing pressure. If the Packers are going to win the Super Bowl, they need to force more turnovers. After all, as the Denver Broncos showed this season, “defence wins championships”.
Of course, Green Bay will need some luck along the way but there’s absolutely no reason why they cannot win the Super Bowl in 2017. There’s still a long way to go until the season gets underway, however the signs are promising for the Packers – especially with the return of Nelson in the offseason. Although the Super Bowl has only just finished, you can keep up with all of the latest NFL news at Coral’s website ahead of the beginning of the new season in September.
So, will Green Bay win it all in 2017? Simply put, yes. The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, a proven star at quarterback, an efficient offense and an aggressive defence – three of the main traits needed to win the Super Bowl. It will be difficult but with Green Bay’s relatively kind schedule, the Packers could secure home advantage through the playoffs and from Lambeau Field, all roads may lead to Houston and a place in the Super Bowl.