A Packers Quarter Season Review

After it’s hot start the teams recent performances have certainly given fans a reason to be concerned, but at the very least they can be comfortable knowing that they have “the guy” at the most important position in sports.

The Biggest Concern

The offensive line through four games has been one of the worst Green Bay fans have seen in years. Free agent Aaron Banks has barely been on the field, and not particularly impressive when he has been. Elgton Jenkins shift to center has been underwhelming, and Rasheed Walker has cost himself money with every passing week. Most importantly perhaps is star right tackle Zach Tom missing the last three games.

Should fans be concerned for the season or has the lack of continuity and injuries simply made things harder to start the season? Until Tom comes back I would lean the latter. A large part of good line play comes from continuity. With injuries the Packers had to field a different line combination in each of their first four games.

The good news is that despite this issue the offense is still averaging 26 points per game. That’s with Love under pressure on near 40 percent of his drop backs. If Tom and Banks can get healthy, and the line has a chance to coalesce, this still could be the best offense in football.

The Youngest Team in the League Needs to Grow Up

We get it. The Packers roster is young. It’s been a part of their story since Jordan Love replaced Aaron Rodgers. It also doesn’t matter anymore. This team has the talent to win a Super Bowl, but they won’t if they keep insisting on making everything harder.

Only two teams in the league have committed more penalties than Green Bay through the first quarter of the season. For a team that’s been together for three seasons now and a coaching staff longer than that, these kind of mental errors are just unacceptable.

No one expects the team to not make the occasional mistake, but the margin for victory in the NFL has never been more razor thin, and the rate at which Green Bay is going currently needs to change.

Packers Got Exactly Who They Hoped For With Parsons

Look, obviously the defense played an awful game Sunday night. But Parsons has been everything Green Bay could have hoped for, and he’s doing this after essentially coming in cold to start the season. The Packers defense has been dominant for three of it’s four games. Dak Prescott (who has become underrated at this point) having the game of his life has not changed my overall view of how good this defense can be.

If Devonte Wyatt can get healthy, I expect his defense to come out post bye and resume making life hell for opposing quarterbacks. Players like Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness have both made strides this season, but Parsons is the player that makes it all work.

Predictions for the Second Quarter

The Packers come out of their bye to the following schedule:

• Bengals
• @ Cardinals
• @ Steelers
• Panthers

The Packers will likely be favored in each of these games, and I expect them to win each of them. The matchup with Rodgers and the Steelers is obviously the headliner, but Green Bay has the kind of players that should make life very difficult for the kind of style Rodgers plays these days.

These four games lead up to the biggest game of Green Bays season, a rematch with the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles.

Green Bay should be heading into that game sitting at 6-1-1. Anything worse would be a disappointment.

The bye week coming early should help this team get back on track. The team could potentially see Devonte Wyatt, Zach Tom, Christian Watson, Marshawn Lloyd and Aaron Banks returning to play. If that’s the case Green Bay has no excuses to not go out and get a win streak going.