CBS Sports Predicts the Playoffs for the Green Bay Packers

Despite many being down about the Green Bay Packers offseason, over at CBS Sports they are predicting another very good season in Titletown.

Although this is a Green Bay Packers team that finished last season 13-3, went undefeated in the NFC North, and made it to the NFC Championship Game, after the offseason there aren’t many around the NFL who seem too excited about them in 2020.

Despite their success in 2019, as always there are holes to fill on a roster. In Green Bay’s case, those biggest needs included receiver, defensive tackle, right tackle, and linebacker. And while they would add to all four of those positions between free agency and the draft, it’s fair to wonder if they actually improved.

Devin Funchess had his best NFL season back in 2017 but has struggled with drops and missed just about all of last season with an injury. Rick Wagner missed four games in 2019 and simply didn’t play that well, while if Christian Kirksey can find his old form, he will be a great addition. But after playing in just nine games the past two seasons combine, we don’t know that he will.

Lastly is the defensive front where they added Gerald Willis off waivers and Treyvon Hester via free agency. Two players who have the potential to help in the run as rotational players, but once again we ask, will they?

So I can certainly understand the uncertainty that many have looking ahead to this new season. And this offseason is a big reason why media members like Bill Barnwell at ESPN have the Green Bay Packers near the bottom of his offseason rankings.

Sure this is a team that will likely regress in the win-loss column just given the fact that they won 13 games and many by one score, which from a statistical standpoint, isn’t likely to happen again.

However, people seem to be forgetting that there is also a lot of talent on this team. Yes, the Packers drafted Jordan Love, but Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers. Several fantasy football experts are projecting a big year for Davante Adams and after a breakout season in 2019, Aaron Jones is the catalyst for this offense and should have plenty of opportunities again.

On top of that, they still have Corey Linsley, Elgton Jenkins, and David Bakhtiari on the offensive line and in Year 2 of the Matt LaFleur offense with A.J. Dillon and Josiah Deguara added to the mix, seeing a jump in production is something that is expected.

Meanwhile on defense, although the run game was an issue for much of the season, they still allowed the ninth fewest points per game and were one of the top teams in forcing turnovers. Not to mention that they have plenty of impact players including Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Jaire Alexander, Kenny Clark, Kevin King, Darnell Savage, Rashan Gary, and Adrian Amos. That is a lot of talent that Mike Pettine has to work with.

So I’ve said all of that to say this; yes, there are concerns at a few positions, but that is the case for just about every NFL team. And I’m not here to suggest that they should be considered the Super Bowl favorites by any means, but overall this is still a very good team and I think there are some who are forgetting that.

However, one person in the national media who hasn’t forgotten that is Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports. Dajani recently put together his record projection for the Green Bay Packers and overall, it turned out the same way that mine did, with an 11-5 record. Including another successful run in the NFC North with a 5-1 record.

Through the first eight games, Dajani has the Packers at 4-4 and this is really going to be a difficult stretch for them to start the season. Especially weeks six through nine when they have to face Tampa Bay on the road, Houston on the road, Minnesota off a bye at Lambeau, and then back on the road for San Francisco on Thursday Night.

In addition to that tough stretch, four of their first six games come on the road as well. If through their first eight games the Green Bay Packers do in fact sit at 4-4, I’m sure many will be upset, but truthfully they shouldn’t be.

If the first half of the season is about hanging on, the second half is where Green Bay makes its hay. And that is exactly what they do in this prediction. With easier opponents on the schedule and four of their final six games at Lambeau Field, Dajani has the Packers making a run and finishing the season 7-1 over their final eight games.

As I’ve pointed out, this is a team with a lot of talent, and 11-5 is certainly within reach for them this season. However, without any major offseason additions like we saw in 2019, if the Green Bay Packers are going to get past a 49ers team and hopefully bring the Lombardi Trophy back home, they’ll need several of their young players to continue their development and for some to play bigger roles.

This group includes Rashan Gary, Jace Sternberger, Josh Jackson, Oren Burks, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and others. But once again, this is the case for just about every team. The good NFL teams see their draft picks develop and free agency is used to supplement. It’s not the other way around.

With a lot of negativity and frustration surrounding the Green Bay Packers’ offseason, it can be forgotten that this is a team coming off an excellent 2019 season who is also returning a majority of their key players and has a head coach now in his second season.

Sure maybe free agency and the draft didn’t go as most hoped, but as Dajani predicts, Green Bay can and should be successful in 2020. Then as we’ve seen in the past, just make the playoffs and anything can happen from there.