3 Keys to Green Bay Packers Finding Success In Playoffs
By Matt LeVene
Green Bay Packers Key to Success No. 2: Pivotal stops on Defense
As we enter the Divisional round of games, the eight best teams in football remain, all in rigorous pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy. If the Packers want to advance past this round and beyond, their defensive unit must do its job and get Rodgers and Co. back on the field.
An expectation of completely shutting down teams, and huge blowout wins are out the window. The key for these playoffs is to make the pivotal, momentum-shifting stops that are ever so important. You know the plays I am talking about—the 3rd and short from midfield, the 4th and 1 on the goal line, and so on. These intense situations essentially make or break the game, and I would much prefer they make the game for the Pack. Led by De’Vondre Cambell, Joe Barry’s unit has shown throughout the year that they can be as good as anyone in these situations.
Similar to the offensive line, this unit too is getting healthy as we enter the playoffs. Some key pieces, like Jaire Alexander and Za’darius Smith, will (hopefully) be back in the lineup, creating matchup nightmares for opposing offenses.
Many times playoff games come down to a final series where an offense needs a score to win. The Green Bay Packers defense has faltered in these all too familiar scenarios in the past, and the narrative must be flipped to win Super Bowl 56.
The ferocious pass-rushing force of the Smith Bros, Rashan Gary, and Kenny Clark need to be nightmare fuel for opposing quarterbacks. On the back end, Adrian Amos and the gifted group of young defensive backs will have to be ball-hawking, turnover generating machines.
I expect big things from this defensive unit in the playoffs.