Packers should rack up NFL Awards after impressive season
The Green Bay Packers officially locked up the top seed in the NFC, securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, and have one meaningless game remaining until the postseason begins. They’ve also (probably) locked up a number of the NFL’s most prestigious awards.
After only getting three players onto the Pro Bowl team this season, Green Bay will likely match that amount with individual awards alone, as Aaron Rodgers, Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst are all in line to win the biggest awards at their position.
Rodgers, coming off an MVP season, is in line to win the fourth MVP of his career and second in a row. In 15 games this season, Green Bay is 13-2 as Rodgers has completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 3977 yards, 38 total touchdowns and just four interceptions.
He’s the odds-on favorite to win the award and it’s not even close following the Packers’ victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He’ll probably only play a half or so against the Detroit Lions meaning the award should be locked up.
The Green Bay Packers should win some of the NFL’s most prestigious awards following an impressive season filled with diversity.
LaFleur is also the favorite to win the Coach of the Year award, although the margins for error are a lot slimmer. Green Bay has now won 13 games in all three years under LaFleur, earning a playoff bye in each of them and securing the top seed overall for the second straight season.
LaFleur loses some credibility with voters because he has Rodgers at quarterback. However, he’s largely responsible for helping to rejuvenate Rodgers’ career considering how the quarterback played for years before LaFleur arrived in Green Bay. The Packers’ head coach has also instilled a creative offense and listens to his players before making the final decision.
Brian Gutekunst took a lot of heat over the offseason for the way he ran the team and seemed to be the target of Rodgers’ ire. However, he’s made many great moves including the way his last few draft classes have panned out, the free agent additions of De’Vondre Campbell, Rasul Douglas and a number of others who have made major contributions this season.
Winning Executive of the Year would be a huge award for Gutekunst who took over after the famed Ted Thompson, implementing a more aggressive approach to team-building.
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It would amazing to see the Packers sweep three of the biggest NFL award. Although that’s not the ultimate goal, it would provide everybody involved with a bit of satisfaction.