Packers’ defense must rise to the occasion for 2022 NFL Season
The Green Bay Packers have invested major resources into their defense and it’s time they hold up their end of the bargain for the entire 2022 NFL season.
The dominant playoff performance against the San Francisco 49ers offense is, perhaps, a prime example of recency bias. Green Bay’s D dominated that game–they didn’t allow an offensive touchdown, held the 49ers to 212 yards of total offense and sacked Jimmy Garoppolo four times. However, it’s led people to forget the major slide they experienced over the second half of the NFL season.
After giving up only 18 points per game over the first 10 weeks of the season (including 38 points in the season-opener against the New Orleans Saints), the defense took a nosedive over the last seven games of the season.
The Green Bay Packers have invested heavily into their defense ahead of the 2022 NFL season and that unit must rise to the occasion.
They couldn’t stop anybody and put the offense in the predictable situation of forcing them to outscore their opponent if they wanted to win the game. From Week 11 on, the Packers’ defense allowed fewer than 18 points just once in the regular season and allowed an average of 27.3 points per game. That included giving up 30 points to the Chicago Bears and 37 to the Detroit Lions.
Thankfully, the Packers were able to re-sign some major players in De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas without losing any key players this offseason. Their current starters were all high draft picks, big free agent signings or both.
Dean Lowry and Kenny Clark are on big contracts upfront and will be joined by the 28th overall pick in this year’s draft, Devonte Wyatt and free agent signing Jarran Reed. Campbell will be joined in the middle by the 22nd overall selection Quay Walker while Preston Smith and former first-round pick Rashan Gary rush from the outside. In the secondary, former first-round pick Jaire Alexander will be healthy once again and he’s joined by 2021 first-rounder Eric Stokes and Douglas with 2019 first-rounder Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos (a big free agent signing) providing the last line of defense at safety.
Overall, seven of their projected defensive starters are first-round picks while the other four are on big contracts.
The Packers are counting on a more balanced team to get the job done this season instead of Aaron Rodgers working his magic every single game. The defense proved last year they were up to the challenge. At times.
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With Davante Adams gone and the Packers’ offense looking like they took a step back in explosiveness, the inconsistent defense isn’t going to cut it this season. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry needs to find a way to get his unit ready week in and week out if this team wants to be a true Super Bowl contender.