Where the Packers are in the NFC

[Pugger]

Much like DAL power rankings prior to Sunday, where I sensed it was all smoke and mirrors based upon the chumps they played. Same with NE. Those ****ers. Cake walk division and schedule. It won't help them come playoff time, except for the fact they can rest starters endlessly with the weak sisters they play.

I do firmly consider GB the front runner, hands down in the NFC. Figure, we have yet to put a complete game together... our Offense is still not even close to a fixed gel... there is so much more that we have yet to see on O. The D is coming around nicely. When this whole thing comes together, look out.

Yes, it will be interesting to see how great NE's defense is once they play a good offense. The only reason IMO that they beat the Bills was because Buffalo's QB sat out the game with a concussion.

 

[Dantés]

Yes, it will be interesting to see how great NE's defense is once they play a good offense. The only reason IMO that they beat the Bills was because Buffalo's QB sat out the game with a concussion.

I highly doubt that. Allen threw 3 interceptions and took 4 sacks while he was in. If anything, the move to Barkley actually helped the offense. His INT rate was lower, his sack rate was lower, his YPA was 2.4 yards higher, his completion % was higher. The only thing Allen was doing better was adding a little bit of rushing value (26 yards). He had one first down and one touchdown via the rush. The TD was a one yard score that they could have gotten with Gore or even with another QB.

 

[rmontro]

What I'd like to see from the Packers now is the ability to win a game in which they don't win the turnover margin. They were +1 against Chicago, +2 against Minnesota, +3 against Denver, -2 against Philly, and +3 against Dallas.

I'd rather that they just don't lose the turnover battle. I want to see the defense continue to force takeaways, and I certainly don't want to see the Packers turn the ball over.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I do firmly consider GB the front runner, hands down in the NFC.

The Packers have a lot of room for improvement but it seems you're being too optimistic calling them the hands down front runner in the NFC at this point.

 

[PackAttack12]

My biggest takeaway about the NFC right now is that it was wide open. There isn't really a dominant team, as it would be perceived that Kansas City and New England are, even though they have significant flaws themselves. There are a bunch of really good teams, but no one that is going to necessarily blow the rest of the conference out of the water.

Right now, the Packers are as good as anyone in the NFC. And they have quite a favorable schedule (as a whole) for the rest of the season. The fact that they've been able to get through the first 5 games at 4-1 is quite remarkable, with a significant chance to be 5-0. When I predicted 11-5, I did it based on the assumption that the Packers would be no better than 3-2 or possibly even 2-3 through 5 games.

Not trying to get too big headed, but the Packers have a legitimate chance at a 12 win season, possibly more. But there has to continue to be more improvement week after week to get there.

 

[PackAttack12]

The Packers have a lot of room for improvement but it seems you're being too optimistic calling them the hands down front runner in the NFC at this point.

Agreed. There's some really good teams out there. The Saints have been highly impressive without Brees, the Eagles are a couple of plays from 5-0 and are really good, the Seahawks and 49ers are in a near dead heat for the West, with the Rams nipping at their heals, and then you've got the North with every team above .500...

Definitely too soon to make any assumptions about the supremacy of the Packers. The NFC is a blood bath right now that's littered with a bunch of solid teams. Only a handful really don't have a shot at the playoffs at this point.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Agreed. There's some really good teams out there. The Saints have been highly impressive without Brees, the Eagles are a couple of plays from 5-0 and are really good, the Seahawks and 49ers are in a near dead heat for the West, with the Rams nipping at their heals, and then you've got the North with every team above .500...

Definitely too soon to make any assumptions about the supremacy of the Packers. The NFC is a blood bath right now that's littered with a bunch of solid teams. Only a handful really don't have a shot at the playoffs at this point.

Don't get me wrong, the Packers are one of the best teams in the NFC in my opinion. But there are several other teams at least on the same level at this point in the season. That might change over the next 12 weeks for better or worse though.

 

[Sanguine camper]

The Packers will face elite qb's against KC, Chargers, Detroit, and good ones against Oakland and SF. So far, the defense has depended on turnovers to stop teams. The 26th rated run defense and 22nd overall has to play much better if they want to beat teams with good qb's.
On the offense, opposing teams only have Adams and Jones to worry about. Adams will see lots of double teams when he gets back. The pass rush will continue to force turnovers against middling qb's but an 11 or 12 win season won't happen unless the Packers can find some d linemen who can play the run or another weapon on offense.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

The Packers will face elite qb's against KC, Chargers, Detroit, and good ones against Oakland and SF. So far, the defense has depended on turnovers to stop teams. The 26th rated run defense and 22nd overall has to play much better if they want to beat teams with good qb's.
On the offense, opposing teams only have Adams and Jones to worry about. Adams will see lots of double teams when he gets back. The pass rush will continue to force turnovers against middling qb's but an 11 or 12 win season won't happen unless the Packers can find some d linemen who can play the run or another weapon on offense.

There's no doubt the defense has to improve against the run (although they performed better against the Cowboys in that area) and prevent big plays more often. The unit seems to be significantly improved over past seasons though.

BTW I don't consider Rivers or Stafford as being elite.

 

[XPack]

AFC is far simpler.

Pats
Chiefs
Bills, Raiders, Colts, Texans
Everyone else.

 

[gbgary]

i'd say we're somewhere in the top 8. the O is still too much in flux. the D is giving up yards at a high rate but they're resilient and opportunistic. i'm upgrading my season record prediction to 9-7. 10-6 is actually realistic

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[OldSchool101]

My biggest takeaway about the NFC right now is that it was wide open. There isn't really a dominant team, as it would be perceived that Kansas City and New England are, even though they have significant flaws themselves. There are a bunch of really good teams, but no one that is going to necessarily blow the rest of the conference out of the water.

Right now, the Packers are as good as anyone in the NFC. And they have quite a favorable schedule (as a whole) for the rest of the season. The fact that they've been able to get through the first 5 games at 4-1 is quite remarkable, with a significant chance to be 5-0. When I predicted 11-5, I did it based on the assumption that the Packers would be no better than 3-2 or possibly even 2-3 through 5 games.

Not trying to get too big headed, but the Packers have a legitimate chance at a 12 win season, possibly more. But there has to continue to be more improvement week after week to get there.

I think we all may have underestimated how the D would improve to varying degrees.
Also we too quickly forget how crafty Aaron Rodgers is. Those shuffle passes, those runs up the seem for a first down etc.. The way he manages a game etc.. I mean we’re all getting down on him (myself included) about snapping it 7 sec early on one play. Every other play around it there was perfect clock utilization. He got up and snapped the ball so fast the official was still in the huddle!
I know we all complain, but we are just absolutely spoiled with a sound QB. Rodgers is just 1 more solid WR and about another 5 weeks of working in this new system away from this Offense opening up the throttle and punishing teams. The D is good enough to make a playoff run, even with a position weaknesses at Will LB or WR.
If we can stay relatively healthy and get Raven Green back or get Oren up to speed our D can make us very robust overall.

As of now we’re leaning an 11-5 type team, but heading towards a 13-3 type ceiling if we can put it all together by mid-season.

The thing that impresses me is that we are not porpoising. When teams go from winning big to losing big that concerns me. Consistency is the key.
We are 1 WR and 1 LB away from a 13-3 type team IMO.
It just may not be in the cards to bolster those positions right away, but I feel like we are 1 or the other short of being a deep playoff contender. I’d double down on 1 of the 2 options if there’s a unique fit and push now. I feel like its 4th and inches at the 50 yard line for the season.

 

[PackAttack12]

I think we all may have underestimated how the D would improve to varying degrees.
Also we too quickly forget how crafty Aaron Rodgers is. Those shuffle passes, those runs up the seem for a first down etc.. The way he manages a game etc.. I mean we’re all getting down on him (myself included) about snapping it 7 sec early on one play. Every other play around it there was perfect clock utilization. He got up and snapped the ball so fast the official was still in the huddle!
I know we all complain, but we are just absolutely spoiled with a sound QB. Rodgers is just 1 more solid WR and about another 5 weeks of working in this new system away from this Offense opening up the throttle and punishing teams. The D is good enough to make a playoff run, even with a position weaknesses at Will LB or WR.
If we can stay relatively healthy and get Raven Green back or get Oren up to speed our D can make us very robust overall.

As of now we’re leaning an 11-5 type team, but heading towards a 13-3 type ceiling if we can put it all together by mid-season.

The thing that impresses me is that we are not porpoising. When teams go from winning big to losing big that concerns me. Consistency is the key.
We are 1 WR and 1 LB away from a 13-3 type team IMO.
It just may not be in the cards to bolster those positions right away, but I feel like we are 1 or the other short of being a deep playoff contender. I’d double down on 1 of the 2 options if there’s a unique fit and push now. I feel like its 4th and inches at the 50 yard line for the season.

Nice post.

Some have been tough on Rodgers through the first 5 games. And on certain plays, I have as well. But as you astutely pointed out, the way he’s able to manage a game has absolutely facilitated in being able to win games, despite the offense not putting up huge numbers. And it’s all of the little things.

Whether it’s what he did against Dallas, which was facilitate the game plan and put up 238 with zero TD passes, or whether it’s throwing for 375 and 4 TDs, he always leaves his imprint on the game.

 

[ctfxcwatcher]

I would actually put the Saints above us. The fact that they are playing this well without Brees is pretty impressive. I think they can stop the run too. I can see a Packers-Saints NFC championship game in the future. Hopefully it will be at our place.

 

[Mavster]

There's no doubt the defense has to improve against the run (although they performed better against the Cowboys in that area) and prevent big plays more often. The unit seems to be significantly improved over past seasons though.

BTW I don't consider Rivers or Stafford as being elite.

The Packer defense is bottom 5 in both 20+ and 40+ yard plays allowed. Definite room for improvement.

I don't consider Jimmy G to even be good. He hasn't really done much to prove otherwise

 

[Packer Fan in SD]

I watch every 49’ers game (wife grew up a fan) and he is pretty good. They are a very different team with him.

 

[gbgary]

The Packer defense is bottom 5 in both 20+ and 40+ yard plays allowed. Definite room for improvement.

I don't consider Jimmy G to even be good. He hasn't really done much to prove otherwise

he's good. to give some perspective...this season he has a higher rating, higher td%, higher completion %, higher net yards per attempt, better sack % and sacked far fewer times, than rodgers...but rodgers leads him in other categories (yards, qbr, int %, att, cmp).
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2019/passing.htm

 

[Pugger]

AFC is far simpler.

Pats
Chiefs
Bills, Raiders, Colts, Texans
Everyone else.

It will be interesting to see how NE fares once they play a team with a competent QB. Had the Bills QB played a few weeks ago I wonder how that game would have ended. Besides Buffalo NE has played the Dolphins, Jets, the 'Skins and the Gmen - not exactly murderer's row.

 

[Mavster]

he's good. to give some perspective...this season he has a higher rating, higher td%, higher completion %, higher net yards per attempt, better sack % and sacked far fewer times, than rodgers...but rodgers leads him in other categories (yards, qbr, int %, att, cmp).
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2019/passing.htm

Kind of hard to compare the two when Jimmy G hasn’t faced a single team with a winning record. And even despite that fact he’s still managed to throw an interception in all but one game.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

The Packer defense is bottom 5 in both 20+ and 40+ yard plays allowed. Definite room for improvement.

FWIW eight teams have allowed more 20+ yards plays than the Packers.

 

[rmontro]

he's good. to give some perspective...this season he has a higher rating, higher td%, higher completion %, higher net yards per attempt, better sack % and sacked far fewer times, than rodgers...but rodgers leads him in other categories (yards, qbr, int %, att, cmp).

Skip Bayless on/
For the record, the most important stat is the QBR, and the top spot in that category is held by one Rayne Dakota Prescott.
/Skip Bayless off

 

[RepStar15]

The Saints are the best team in the NFC. 49ers (could be second). Packers are third.

The Saints and the Packers are both better than the Patriots. 49ers (could be). Don't let their garage time TDs confuse you, the Patriots have the worst offense of the top 10 teams (maybe besides the bills). Their defense in incredible! But at the same time do not their defensive stats fool you. They have only faced Miami (Ryan Fitzpatrick), the Steelers (Big Ben injured), Jets (Luke Faulk), Giants (Dan Jones without Saquon, Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram), and the Bills (Josh Allen, then Matt Barkley for the 2nd half).

 

[XPack]

BTW I don't consider Rivers or Stafford as being elite.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...ur-detroit-lions-matthew-stafford/3934281002/

Was reading this and immediately thought of your comment!

“Matthew Stafford, I think he’s an elite quarterback,” “He’s a natural thrower. He’s extremely accurate and I’ve always – I haven’t really gone against him too many times on teams that I’ve been on but we all watch the same tape and he is just, I’ve always thought he is an elite quarterback.”

Personally I'd agree with you more than MLF in this.

 

[Mavster]

FWIW eight teams have allowed more 20+ yards plays than the Packers.

ESPN must be off then. What site do you use?

 

[PackAttack12]

Has anyone seen the 49ers play enough to have an educated opinion on them? I haven't seen them play once, and I admittedly have no idea what they are right now.