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There is not any such factor as the right NFL workforce, not until you are the 1972 Miami Dolphins. And seeing as that undefeated feat with a Tremendous Bowl victory hasn’t been achieved since, it stands to purpose even a dominant workforce just like the 2020 Inexperienced Bay Packers may use a tweak right here and there as they attempt to punch their ticket to Tampa, Florida. To take action, Aaron Rodgers will now should undergo the workforce based mostly in that very metropolis, with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on the way in which to Lambeau Discipline for the NFC title recreation. That will not be a simple out, to say the least, and assuming the Packers do discover a option to greatest Brady and Co. — a match with one of many two most prolific offenses within the AFC will await them in Tremendous Bowl LV.
Rodgers is working at an MVP-caliber degree and can doubtless take house the honour when it is all mentioned and accomplished, however the Packers have to high quality tune just a few issues earlier than the Buccaneers arrive. It will not be a simple go for Tampa Bay both, thoughts you, as a result of they’ve their very own knobs to show, however this text is about how the Packers can win the Tremendous Bowl; it is not concerning the Buccaneers, the Buffalo Payments or the defending champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
And, with that, let’s talk about how The Cheese can keep away from being Swiss.
1. Return Coverage
Inexperienced Bay is a well-oiled machine in some ways, however actually not on particular groups.
To place it plainly, the membership has one of many worst return models in skilled soccer, however it’s masked by Rodgers’ skill to maintain lengthy offensive drives and rating factors no matter the place the ball is positioned earlier than his first snap. And whereas nothing signifies that’ll change within the NFC title recreation and probably the Tremendous Bowl, each NFL workforce may gain advantage from a dynamic return or two from particular groups, and the Packers aren’t any completely different. The workforce signed veteran receiver Tavon Austin with the hopes of rectifying this concern on punts, however that hasn’t labored. Austin has made a questionable choice a time or two — one among them being in an in depth battle with the Rams within the divisional spherical — whereas a mixture of Darrius Shepherd, Tyler Ervin and Malik Taylor have yielded poor outcomes on kickoffs.
As an entire, the Packers are second-worst in yards per kick return (18.9) and third-worst in yards per punt return (4.8), having not delivered a return longer than 34 yards and 19 yards, respectively, whereas having zero touchdowns from any of their returners in 2020 or of their first playoff recreation. So once more, whereas Rodgers and the offense proceed to masks this abysmal return manufacturing, in the end somebody goes to should be greater than forgettable within the return recreation.
2. The Uncommon Suspects
Everyone knows what Rodgers can do, so let’s not waste any time there.
What the Packers should proceed to do is maintain opposing defenses guessing, and the easiest way to attain that mission is to ask secondary and tertiary targets to step up in an enormous approach and with little discover. They did an important job of this towards the Rams, seeing Allen Lazard end with a team-high 96 receiving yards and a landing, which might’ve been extra if not for a key drop earlier within the recreation. He’d make up for it within the fourth quarter when, to my level, it was Lazard that Rodgers seemed to for the game-sealing landing toss and never all-world expertise Davante Adams — the latter being the more than likely goal and, as such, who the Rams had been anticipating to get the first look. There will be little question Adams will get his pictures and produce when he does, however a wholesome mixture of Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and tight finish Robert Tonyan is the right recipe for an aerial assault that may be as unpredictable as it’s deadly.
Combine in some routes to Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams out of the backfield and it will be all a protection can do to cease Rodgers from dissecting their scheme with surgical precision, all the time ready to launch the Adams nuke when the second requires it. The stage does not get any greater than what’s to return within the subsequent recreation and probably the one thereafter. Rodgers and Adams will probably be prepared, however the Packers want to ensure the opposite weapons are as properly.
3. Wall off the tip zone
One of many key causes for the success in Inexperienced Bay is its protection.
They will not get almost as a lot credit score as Rodgers, Adams and the offense, however it is a defensive unit that is been getting the job accomplished frequently. That does not imply they can not enhance although, as a result of whereas they had been top-10 in yards allowed per recreation (334.0), takeaway margin (+7) and interceptions (11), they might undoubtedly love to do higher at preserving opposing groups out of the tip zone. The Packers protection is greater than respectable with solely 23.1 factors allowed per recreation throughout the common season (thirteenth), however that may not minimize the mustard when dealing with Tom Brady and subsequently one of many incoming AFC offenses — each the Buffalo BIlls and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs being able to detonate the scoreboard. It is the one protruding defensive class that would use refinement, as a result of whereas the unit was very sturdy down the common season stretch, they had been enjoying groups just like the Eagles, Lions, Panthers, Titans and Bears within the month of December.
Once they performed the Buccaneers, they allowed 38 factors in a shedding effort, a touch at what’s on the way in which to Lambeau Discipline. The weather will probably be on their facet, together with the hometown followers and the dominance of Rodgers, however Brady is not any stranger to enjoying within the chilly or to strain, so if the Packers actually wish to solidify themselves as one of the best within the NFC and in the end the NFL as an entire — they’re going to have to determine how one can clamp down on one of the best offenses soccer has to supply.
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