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3 reasons Packers are ready to capture another Super Bowl

By Brian Sampson

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers jogs across the field at halftime against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers jogs across the field at halftime against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 23: Za’Darius Smith #55 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after making a play in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 23, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

2. Pass-rush potential

Green Bay hasn’t pressured the quarterback like they hoped to begin the season, but the potential is certainly there. Their pressure rate of 17.6 percent ranks 28th in the NFL, not nearly where they thought they’d be at this juncture of the season.

The good news is there is plenty of hope they can turn it around. Preston Smith is having a down season and isn’t having nearly the same type of impact he had in 2019. The Packers are dropping him in coverage more and relying on Za’Darius Smith and Rashan Gary to get after the quarterback. Gary has taken huge strides and seems to get better every week. Z. Smith had a dominant game against the Falcons before the bye and could be primed to take over the rest of the season.

Getting Kenny Clark back, who has been out since Week 1, will be huge. He’s a dangerous presence in the middle of the defense who commands attention from two offensive linemen at once. That should open up the pass-rush for others and allow Green Bay to disrupt opposing offenses.

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