Talented, but not consistent. Good, but not great.
It is not too difficult to summarise the Green Bay Packers’ 2024 season.
Talented, but not consistent. Good, but not great.
The issues that have plagued this young Green Bay Packers team throughout the 2024 season reared their ugly head in a 22-10 Wild Card loss to the capable Philadelphia Eagles.
A rough start in Philadelphia
Drops, fumbles, interceptions, slow starts, and poor special teams play all surfaced as the Packers stumbled out of the gate.
The Packers needed to put together a solid performance across all four quarters to stand any chance of beating the Eagles, but they failed to do so.
The Eagles capitalised on early fortune as Keisean Nixon fumbled the opening kickoff after a hard helmet-to-helmet hit from former Packer Oren Burks, which jarred the ball loose.
Despite a clear recovery by Green Bay, the officials awarded possession to the Eagles, who took full advantage of the short field to take an early lead.
Offensive struggles
The Packers offence struggled once again against an extremely competent Eagles defence.
Despite a few impressive runs from Josh Jacobs, the run game never gained momentum, and the wide receivers failed to find separation.
Jordan Love seemed to be trapped in his own head, struggling with accuracy and throwing three interceptions, after a long stretch of games protecting the ball very well.
Injuries compounded the offence’s woes.
Elgton Jenkins, the Packers’ best offensive lineman, exited early, followed by key receivers Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed.
Defensive efforts keep game close
Though the offence faltered, the defence kept the Packers competitive, limiting the Eagles’ explosive potential.
However, there is only so much a defence can do against such a talented team.
Even the reliable Brandon McManus missed a field goal, a sign it was not the Packers’ day.
What next for Green Bay?
Year two of the Jordan Love era was a mixed bag.
Love missed two games and exited two others due to injury, finding consistency only towards the end of the season.
He demonstrated his upside and arm talent, but the Packers will need more consistency from a quarterback they have invested in heavily.
The young, talented wide receiver room has shown promise, but recurring drops and injuries have hindered their progress.
An investment in a bona fide wide receiver one could provide much-needed stability.
The offensive line has been solid, offering good protection for Love, but top teams like the Lions and Eagles have highlighted the importance of an elite offensive line.
Strengthening this unit in the offseason would be prudent.
Defensively, first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley improved the unit, generating more takeaways than in previous seasons.
However, the pass rush has yet to deliver on its significant investment, and with Jaire Alexander’s ongoing injury struggles, the Packers should consider adding a lockdown cornerback to beef up the secondary.
Problems on special teams
Rich Bisaccia, the NFL’s highest-paid special teams coach, has not yet delivered the results expected.
While the addition of Brandon McManus has brought some stability, the unit remains among the league’s worst.
If Bisaccia stays on, 2025 must see significant improvement.
Looking ahead
With rose-tinted glasses on, it is clear the Packers are not far from being a contender.
This young team now has two full seasons together and has shown improvement.
The time has come for them to take the next step.
