State of the Packers with the 2022 playoffs on the horizon
The Green Bay Packers have one regular-season game remaining before they kick off their postseason preparations. Let’s take a minute to check in on the current state of their team.
Although their season finalé against the Detroit Lions may be meaningless in record, there are still a number of key takeaways Green Bay can leave the game with. The biggest one is health. David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers are set to return. It will be Bakhtiari’s season debut and the first time he’s played in over a year. It will be critical for him to get the reps and to leave the game healthy.
Speaking of leaving the game healthy, the Packers hope they don’t suffer any additional injuries in this meaningless game. They’ve battled more than their fair share this season and it’s imperative they leave Sunday’s game with more health than they entered.
That will be a tricky proposition depending on how much time Matt LaFleur plans on playing his starters. He’s already said that based on a study they conducted with the Los Angeles Rams, it’s better to play your starters at least some of the game than to rest them for the entire contest. We’ll see if that plays off.
With the playoffs set to kick-off, let’s take a quick temperature check on the state of the Green Bay Packers as they begin their path toward a Super Bowl.
As for the health of Packers who aren’t in this game, there’s a good chance Green Bay could be getting at least a couple of other guys back.
Star cornerback Jaire Alexander had been practicing for weeks before he landed on the COVID-19 list this week. He was cleared on Friday, but apparently, it wasn’t enough time to get ready for the game. He’s likely to return for the Divisional Round of the playoffs. There’s also a chance guys like Randall Cobb, Billy Turner, and Za’Darius Smith could return as well.
As for potential playoff opponents, it will be interesting to see who Green Bay plays in the divisional round. The NFC is stacked full of very good teams who will give the Packers trouble in their matchup.
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams win on Sunday, the Packers would avoid them until the NFC Championship game if one of them makes it that far. That leaves the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles as other potential candidates. The Cowboys are likely locked into the fourth seed which means there’s a good chance Green Bay could have a reunion against Mike McCarthy.
If the Packers want to advance to the Super Bowl and finally get over the NFC Championship hump, they must clean up their act in the red zone on both sides of the ball. The defense ranks 31st in red-zone defense while the offense ranks a measly 19th after setting the league on fire in that category just a season ago. They can’t waste points against the best of the best, even if they’ve been getting away with it so far this year.
Next. Cavalry is on its way for Packers. dark
Overall, the Packers are in a great spot entering the playoffs. They have the top seed and only bye in the NFC while they are getting some of their best players back just in time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy one last regular-season contest before the real games begin.