3 Reasons Why the Green Bay Packers will Win the Super Bowl this Year
By Paul Bretl
Yesterday we took a look at four concerns that Green Bay Packers fans should have entering the playoffs. Today, however, we will take a more optimistic look at what lies ahead.
As good as the Green Bay Packers are, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that this is the year they can win the Super Bowl–I don’t need to sell you on that idea. But what I tried to do was highlight three specific reasons that will carry a lot of weight in determining Green Bay’s playoff success and ultimately why this year will be different.
The Green Bay Packers are getting healthy
Finishing the season 13-4 and securing the NFC’s top seed is already quite the accomplishment. But when you take into consideration all of the injuries that the Green Bay Packers have had to overcome this season, it’s a feat that becomes even more impressive.
As we all know, the Packers began the season without David Bakhtiari and didn’t get him back until Week 18. Along the way, whether it be for one game or more, Green Bay has also been without Za’Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander, Elgton Jenkins, Whitney Mercilus, Robert Tonyan, Billy Turner, Josh Myers, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Rashan Gary, Randall Cobb, and Aaron Jones. I imagine I’m missing a few players as well, but you get the idea.
In addition to having to navigate that many injuries, several occurred to some of Green Bay’s best players, leaving massive holes on this roster to fill–which credit to the many of the backup and role players, they were able to do.
But now, with the playoffs here, the stars have begun to align, and the Packers appear to be getting several of these players back. Bakhtiari and Myers both played Week 18, while Turner, Alexander, Smith, Cobb, and Mercilus are all back at practice with the opportunity to play in the playoffs.
Bakhtiari, Smith, and Alexander are all former first or second-team All-Pros. Myers has shown a lot of promise and a high ceiling at center, while Turner has provided stability at right tackle for two seasons, and if it were up to Aaron Rodgers, he would have been named a Pro Bowler. Cobb has been uber-reliable on third downs and in the red zone, while Mercilus was quite effective as a situational pass-rusher.
Again, for the most part, these aren’t just depth or role players returning, there are several legitimate game-changers that will hopefully be joining the Green Bay Packers for their playoff run.