The Green Bay Packers’ 2024 season came to an end with a 22-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the wildcard round. It was a solid year overall, but there’s plenty to work on in every phase of the game.
The Packers’ offense finished as a top-ten unit in rushing, EPA/play, EPA/pass, and EPA/rush. Josh Jacobs served as the heartbeat of Green Bay’s offense and proved to be a home run signing by Brian Gutekunst.
It wasn’t all smooth for LaFleur’s offense this season. His play calling often lacked creativity and balance. Jordan Love frequently ran the same five-step dropbacks with downfield routes, no play action, no RPOs, and minimal variety. The intermediate game was nearly nonexistent, with plays usually limited to screens or deep shots.
Despite being one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks with under center play action last year, Love rarely operated under center. Even when he was supposedly healthy, Green Bay still stuck mostly to shotgun.
Green Bay’s receivers struggled against man coverage all season. Losing Christian Watson only made things worse. As the Packers enter Year 3 of the Jordan Love era, they still lack a clear No. 1 option. That has to change.
Baker Mayfield has Mike Evans. Jayden Daniels has Terry McLaurin. Jalen Hurts has A.J. Brown. C.J. Stroud has Nico Collins. Matthew Stafford has Puka Nacua. Jordan Love needs a number one option. Diversity in the receiving corps is nice, but the Packers need a true go-to playmaker.
LaFleur has plenty of self-scouting to do this offseason, but Packers fans have more reasons for optimism than pessimism. While Love’s three postseason interceptions are a tough final memory, he’s shown resilience and will learn from the experience. Just remember: Growth takes time.
Jeff Hafley’s first season as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator was a success. The Packers rose from 10th to 6th in points per game, 20th to 5th in yards per play, 27th to 7th in DVOA, and 24th to 4th in EPA/play. They also moved from 17th to 5th in yards per game and from 23rd to 4th in takeaways.
Moreover, the defense improved from 22nd to 3rd in yards per carry, 25th to 9th in passer rating allowed, and 22nd to 5th in tackles for loss.
The numbers show Green Bay has a good defense, but the tape reveals they can still improve. The Packers ranked 26th in pass rush win rate, per ESPN. Furthermore, covering the middle of the field remains a weakness. The second year in a new system is when defenses often start to click, and fans should be confident that Hafley will have the defense ready to take the next step.
The safety room, with Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, and Javon Bullard, had a great year, and Year 2 promises even more growth. Edgerrin Cooper is the best linebacker Green Bay has had in over a decade.
The Packers finished the season with the 32nd-graded special teams unit, per PFF, despite Rich Bisaccia being the highest-paid ST coach in the NFL. They ended 15th in DVOA, mostly due to average play in the final stretch of the season.
Bisaccia hasn’t justified the investment Green Bay made, and they should consider moving in a different direction. On Monday, Keisean Nixon said he no longer wants to handle return duties, so the Packers will need a new solution. Daniel Whelan proved to be a weapon in the punting game, and Brandon McManus provided stability in the kicking game.
The Packers finished 0-6 against the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles. Green Bay consistently got in its own way against strong teams, which cost them in crunch time. The 2024 season showed they were a good team, but not a great one. They now have the offseason to make the jump and become more competitive.
Green Bay will need to address cornerback, pass rusher, receiver, and interior offensive line. According to Over the Cap, the Packers are expected to have over $50 million in cap space, though that figure could decrease due to extensions. Regardless, Brian Gutekunst will have the flexibility to be aggressive in free agency. With the right additions, including the draft, the Packers can be much closer to a Super Bowl run.
Overall, I feel the positives outweigh the negatives. Packers fans have more reasons to feel confident about the franchise’s future. The Green and Gold now face a long offseason filled with question marks, and they must address everything that needs attention.
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