Green Bay Packers Keys to Success: #1 Defense Leads The Way

For years, the Green Bay Packers have been solely reliant on Aaron Rodgers to succeed. In 2019, if they’re going to win, they’ll need the defense to lead the way.

The Green Bay Packers are known as a team that is led by their offense. Aaron Rodgers has been one of the best quarterbacks in football since he took over as a starter in 2008.

However, their downfall for the majority of the last decade has been their defense. As a result, former defensive coordinator Dom Capers fell out of favor quickly with the fan base.

Poor defense is something that can be masked in the regular season, but usually gets exposed in playoff games. In fact, the Packers have given up more than 40 points in three playoff games since 2009.

But as we look ahead to the 2019 season, it is an odd spot for the Packers. The offense, for the first time since 2006 is in a new system and there are likely to be growing pains that come with it. For that reason, among others, if the Green Bay Packers are going to be a playoff team in 2019, the defense must be the unit that leads the way.

The early schedule for Green Bay looks advantageous from a location standpoint. Three of their first four games are at Lambeau Field, including four of their first six as well. A fast start is paramount to this year’s team because there will not be comfy home games later in the season.

Looking at the first six games, the Packers face six of the most vicious defenses in all of football. Last season the Chicago Bears ranked third in total defense while the Minnesota Vikings were ranked fourth. Denver was ranked 22nd, but their defense boasts names like Chris Harris, Von Miller, and Bradley Chubb.

Philadelphia has a vicious front four that can get after the quarterback in several different ways. The Dallas Cowboys finished fifth, and the Detroit Lions finished 10th.

The Packers play five of the top-10 defenses from 2018 in terms of total defensive performance. Obviously injuries and other circumstances change just how good a unit is, but for now it’s to be expected that all of those defenses should be formidable once again in 2019.

In addition, it’s to be expected that growing pains should take place on the offensive side of the ball. Green Bay’s offense is unlikely to be a well-oiled machine until late in the season, if at all. Instead of winning games 28-24, they’re likely to have to win games 21-17.

In terms of pure talent, there is more of that on the Green Bay Packers’ defense than there is on offense. Offensively, Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and David Bakhtiari are the only players that would be considered field tilters.

Although Aaron Jones and Bryan Bulaga are good players and Corey Linsley is a good interior offensive lineman, they don’t carry the same weight as the three players mentioned above.

More from Green Bay Packers

On defense, the Packers have potential stars in Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, Blake Martinez, and Kevin King. They also have good players like Dean Lowry, Adrian Amos, and Montravius Adams as well.

And both rookies they drafted in the first round are supremely talented. Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage have tantalizing potential to bring this defense to a new level.

The disparity is not hard to see. There are more talented players on the defensive side of the ball. Also, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has players in the second year of his system. There will be more familiarity and less room for growing pains within the defense.

While the offense tries to find its way early in the season, it’ll be up to the defense to keep games in control for Rodgers and the offense to try and win late. And if they get to the playoffs, the defense will have to hold up their end of the bargain once again. Far too often has the defense been victimized in the playoffs.

Coincidentally or not, the one time the Packers defense finished in the top-10 was 2010. They happened to win the Super Bowl that season as well.

However, I don’t foresee the Green Bay defense finishing in the top-three of the league in 2019. There would have to be a lot of things that go right in order for that to happen and it just seems unrealistic. They could, however, rank from 7-10 which is a more realistic landing spot. That’s what they’ll need in order to return to the playoffs.

The ceiling for the Green Bay Packers’ offense is likely just outside of the top-10. That means in order to get back to the playoffs, it’ll be up to the unit that has failed this team more often than not for the last 10 years.

The defense must lead the way.

Home/Green Bay Packers