Well...let me take a stab...
This is difficult for me, because the fan in me says that the Packers have made a bunch of headway defensively. Second year under Mike Pettine, with some veteran talent, and high draft capital, to a unit that got better as the season progressed last year. This has the makings to be the best defense Aaron Rodgers has had in years.
I've also always said that if Rodgers could be blessed with a top 10 defense the way that Tom Brady has been every single year he's won the Super Bowl, that Rodgers would do his thing and do his part to win more Super Bowls.
Aaron Rodgers + a top 10 defense = serious Super Bowl contention.
BUT...this offense is going to be quite different than what he's run for his NFL career. Logic would suggest that there will be a transition period. And I expect there to be, but a lot of times that transition period takes a full season.
I think a generational guy like Rodgers can speed that transition period up to less than a full season. Like many of alluded to, just how long will it take? 2 games? 4 games? half a season?
Additionally, the Packers don't have playmakers that have years of built up trust with Rodgers. But I don't think this offense will be as reliant upon trust to win your one on one matchups. If LaFleur proves to be great at scheming guys open and making Rodgers' job easi(er), things will start to flow. Rodgers obviously has the utmost trust in Davante. And seems to have good wavelength with Geronimo. And he's had a year to build up trust with MVS. Graham. etc. There aren't any rookie playmakers that Rodgers has to figure out.
One of the things working to the benefit of the Packers, in my opinion, is the schedule. Outside of the division, the toughest it gets is Kansas City on the road in late October. Then you've got the Chargers the week after, which with the uncertainties with Melvin Gordon and an aging Philip Rivers, they could be looking at a down year. Philly at home will be a challenge, but it will be at home in primetime on a short week. I think that favors the better of the two quarterbacks. Hopefully the offense is progressing at a decent rate by then.
The last 7 games of the season are as follows: Carolina (likely with a compromised Cam), San Francisco, New York Giants, Washington, and the three division opponents. This stretch of games as things appear right now really work to the benefit of the Packers, IMO. Plus, of those last three, we catch the Bears at home, the Vikings in primetime (Cousins will fold like a banquet chair), and the Lions (lol).
This prediction, like I alluded to earlier, is ultimately contingent on the trust that I have in Rodgers to deliver, along with having a defense that will be above average.
11-5 (slight struggles early, catching fire late)
TB1: Super Bowl champions
TB2: 7th
TB3: 14th
I would love to see us kick some Patriot *** in the Super Bowl, but something tells me it could be Kansas City's year. And that will come down to two really good offenses, but the difference will be that the Packers have the better defense, and the better quarterback.
