End of division, chances to participate in the play-offs, number

Jordan Love’s evolution has Packers fans dreaming of a Super Bowl run this season. Green Bay has the talent to make a deep postseason run, but they’ll need career years from multiple players to bring another title to Lambeau Field.

If coach Matt LaFleur’s team is to succeed in the playoffs, it will need to earn a No. 1 seed with an exemplary regular season. Beating the Lions and winning the NFC North would make things a lot easier for the Packers. Does Green Bay have what it takes to close the gap on Detroit and win the division?

The Packers finished three games behind the Lions in the division last season, but they have the talent on their roster to win the NFC North crown this season. The best argument Green Bay could make for a win is that Love is a better quarterback than Jared Goff.

Goff deserves all the credit in the world for resurrecting his career in Detroit. He fits the run-and-play scheme Detroit relies on every week. But he doesn’t have the talent to shoulder the Lions’ offense when Plan A isn’t working.

The Packers also want to emphasize the ground game, so they paid Josh Jacobs a bonus in free agency. The difference between the two sides is that Love has the talent to play offense and the mobility to make plays outside of LaFleur’s playbook when things break down. That extra tackle could give Green Bay more regular-season wins than Detroit in 2024.

Needless to say, Green Bay has a sure-fire shot at the postseason, as they have the firepower to win the division. Even if the Packers don’t get past the Lions, they’re a strong bet to earn a Wild Card spot to join Detroit in the playoffs.

Fans shouldn’t ignore the team’s pass rush as a major reason they have a solid formula for success. Rashan Gary has a chance to break out and become one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL. Preston Smith may be a little old at the other edge position, but he’s still great at getting downfield and attacking the quarterback on obvious passes.

Kenny Clark’s ability to collapse the pocket from the inside also puts a ton of pressure on opposing offenses. He can be a dominant force against any center or guard who isn’t a true star. His ability to occupy opposing blockers helps his offensive teammates work one-on-one to often bring down playmakers.

The bookmakers have set Green Bay’s win total at 9.5 before the regular season begins. Experienced bettors should bet over. If this team stays in good shape, 11 wins seems like a reasonable number to win.

Green Bay simply has too much offensive firepower to keep the team’s win total in the single digits. Love and Jacob could have great years up front. The passing group doesn’t have as much star power, but it has a chance to exceed expectations as a unit.

Christian Watson has struggled with inconsistency, but he flashes star potential every week when he’s alone on defense. This could be the year Luke Musgrave takes a big step forward at tight end. He caught 34 passes in 11 games last year, but he has the talent to double that this season if he can shake off his injuries. Love could really benefit from a safety blanket that can generate yards after the catch, and Musgrave can do it at a healthy rate from his tight end position.

Green Bay’s strategy this year will be to build an early lead with an explosive offense, then use their ferocious pass rush to pull out wins by racking up sacks and forcing turnovers. That formula should be enough to propel the Packers to 11 or more wins in 2024.

It’s a season or two too early for Love to lead this team to legitimate Super Bowl contention. An NFC title game appearance isn’t out of the question, but the lack of a true star at No. 1 wide receiver will cause Green Bay to fall one game short of that lofty mark this season.

That prediction may disappoint some Packers fans, but it’s a short-sighted view. The franchise is in good hands with a young, run-of-the-mill quarterback in Jordan Love. He may never blossom into the next incarnation of Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, but he’s a star in his own right. He just needs more reps under real pressure to reach his full potential at the NFL’s most important position.

The Packers will develop into a team that no one wants to face in this year’s playoffs. They don’t have the depth to compete for a title in 2024, but they are well on their way to entering a multi-year window to compete for the Super Bowl. Growing a few more homegrown stars should be the team’s goal this year before they can really make a playoff push next year.