The 2022 NFL off-season has been a nightmare for Green Bay Packers fans.
The team made roster moves before the start of the 2022 NFL season to get under the cap.
Those moves were dangerous, as they have lost some of the best players on the team.
However, Aaron Rodgers made sure that he got his bag in the whole deal.
Rodgers is 11-10 in the playoffs. Ws isn’t a QB stat. You’ve overachieved in a weak division and it shows in the playoffs. Take Devante out now, nobody fears the Packers. Rodgers got his bag he couldn’t care any less about success of the team.
— Eric Jr. (@EricOden_) March 23, 2022
Some Packers fans still think the team has a chance for the playoffs.
Being in the NFC North with the Vikings, Lions, and Bears might give the Packers hope.
But there are three reasons the Packers could still miss the playoffs in 2022.
3. Packers Will Have New Offensive Line And Receivers For 2022
The team lost offensive linemen Lucas Patrick and Billy Turner.
The team traded away their star receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
They also lost two more receivers in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown.
That leaves only Randall Cobb for Rodgers out of his core receiver group from 2022.
Adams was the biggest piece of Rodgers’ success in 2021.
He accounted for around 1/3 of Rodger’s stats during the season.
Losing Patrick and Turner also leave Rodgers without veteran linemen to protect him.
Having unfamiliar faces, especially at receiver, spells trouble for the Packers.
Rodgers is very picky on the players with whom he plays with.
Way better than what we had, if Aaron Rodgers trusted him and had nothing but good things to say about him I think that's a good sign lol Rodgers is very picky with his linemen..
— storm marshall (@StormEdwards90) March 18, 2022
If he doesn’t trust you, he’s not passing to you if you are a receiver and does not want you on the line if you’re a lineman.
Having Cobb gives him an outlet at receiver, but teams will shut him down fast when they see Rodgers’ plan.
2. Green Bay Let Some Key Defensive Players Go
One of the biggest names that the Packers had on defense was Za’Darius Smith.
The team released him on March 9th to get under the salary cap for the 2022 season.
Smith missed the 2021 season because of a back injury, which might have been the reason the Packers let him go.
However, in his two playing seasons with the Packers, he did well with the team.
He would total 76 tackles, 60 quarterback hits, and 26 sacks in 2019 and 2020 with Green Bay.
Those stats are better than comparable players in his position like Khalil Mack.
Without Smith, teams might have less pressure on their quarterback when facing the Packers.
1. The Vikings Look To Win The NFC North
The Vikings are the number one threat to the Packers missing the playoffs.
They picked up Za’Darius Smith, who will look to get revenge against his former team.
They also usually give the Packers a hard time in the regular season.
The team is 7-6-1 against the Packers since 2015.
Without excellent protection and familiar receivers, the Vikings can take advantage of those issues.
We know Smith will do that when he gets on the field against Rodgers.
The Vikings also have their steady quarterback Kirk Cousins back for another year.
He has Dalvin Cook to help take pressure off him with the running game.
The moves by both the Packers and Vikings in the off-season look to shift the balance of power in the NFC North.
Yeah this reminds me of the story last year that predicted the Pack to finish last in the division. The 2 lineman were subs for starters and you’re forgetting a couple receivers. The only thing the vikings ever win is the off-season.