Which Green Bay Packers need to bounce back the most in 2018?

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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 21: Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after a defensive stop against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 21, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

If the Green Bay Packers want to get back to the postseason, they will need key guys on both sides of the ball to have bounce-back seasons in 2018.

The easy cop-out for why the Green Bay Packers missed the playoffs after eight consecutive appearances is because Aaron Rodgers got hurt. It certainly was the most compounding factor, but other teams around the league saw success despite key starters being lost to injury.

The Kansas City Chiefs lost their star safety Eric Berry in Week 1, but still managed to begin the season 5-0 and make the playoffs. The Minnesota Vikings were down to their third-string quarterback for most of the year and yet it still didn’t stop them from sweeping the Packers on their way to reaching the NFC Championship.

And finally, the Super Bowl LII champion Philadelphia Eagles won it all with backup Nick Foles after MVP-candidate Carson Wentz tore his ACL in week 14.

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The Packers were ill-prepared for life without Rodgers as we now know following the Brett Hundley experience.

Nonetheless, it didn’t help that key members of the team did nothing to elevate their game to remain in contention. Jordy Nelson turned into a ghost and a young and banged-up backfield couldn’t carry the offensive load. The defense underachieved under Dom Capers bringing the onset of a major overhaul for 2018.

Green Bay has the unquestionable hope that the rest of Rodgers’ career will be healthy, however, he can’t do it all by himself. The defense has to play better and underlying weapons on the offense will have to make themselves aware.

If the Packers want to be considered as legit contenders in 2018, these players will need to bounce back better than ever.

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