With 2015-16 NFL Season just around the corner, it’s time we start to review from time to time some of the NFL teams for this upcoming season, and here we will preview the 2015 Packers of Green Bay. The team that last season had a difficult defeat, in the as they were beat by the Seahawks of Seattle in the Conference Title game for the NFC Conference, so we know this 2015 the will be out for revenge.
The early odds have the Packers at +600 to win the 50th Super Bowl that will be held in Santa Clara, California. The Packers have not changed much so they will stay with their formula of winning, and will not permit another error as they had last year in 2014, giving up a lead at half time of some 16 points in the playoff game.
We start with a basic overview as the Packers in 2014 had 12 wins and 4 losses and won the NFC North Title in 2014, but then they failed to get the Lombardi Trophy after beating many opponents last year. Their offense led the NFL in 2014 as the averages some 30.5 points each game while ranking 6th at 387.1 average yards gained per game.
But they now know from their loss to Seattle for the conference title, that they must improve the defense this season to prevent future leads from disappearing as happened in 2014 against Seattle. Last season the ranked in the middle at 15th for defense allowing total yards in their games.
In the offseason unfortunately their defense lost more players than they gained for this 2015 offseason. Two key defensive players in A. Hawk and T. Williams went to other teams to play, but on the upside the Packers are happy for the return of tackle B. Raji who was out all of 2015 with a bicep injury.
Their offense is healthy including QB Rodgers the League’s MVP, whom last season from Week 17 forward he was with a calf injury and was not at a 100% for those playoff games. But he did manage in 2014 to pass for 38 TD’s and 4,382 yards with only 5 intercepts. Likely this 2015 he will have another 4,000 plus yard season. Their offense is still all present, and anxious as ever to begin the season. That and QB Rodgers favorite receivers downfield are still on the roster, with the great WR’s in J. Nelson and R. Cobb who will again the lead the Green Bay aerial attack. The 2 combined for 25 TD’s and some 2,808 yards of receptions.
The key player for the Packers is RB E. Lacey, thanks to the solid offensive line of Green Bay, as he had his 2nd consecutive year of 1,000 plus yards rushing and 9 TD’s, in his 2 years as a pro out of Alabama. He also managed to increase his yards per carry from 4.2 in 2013 to 4.7 in 2014. Not only does the running of Lacy keep pressure off QB Rodgers, but he also is a viable target as his total for receiving was 428 yards with an average of 10.3 yards each catch, and had 4 catches for TD’s.
Naturally the Key game this season will be on the 20th of September 2015 when they have a regular scheduled game against arch rivals Seattle Seahawks. The best outcome for the Packers would be to become Super Bowl 50 Champions for the NFL 2015-16 Season. While the worst outcome, would be for QB Rodgers to get injured, and his backup not being able to stand the pressure he encounters.
For those that Bet on NFL at a Sportsbook, you need to know that the media predicts that the Packers will go to the Super Bowl 50 game this year, but lost to the Colts of Indianapolis!