The Green Bay Packers broke the NFL world Thursday after making a blockbuster trade for All-Pro sack master Micah Parsons. This was an excellent move for the Packers, who have rarely made moves like this. While there are discussions that Green Bay is now the NFC favorite, the trade doesn’t move the needle as much as fans expect in the NFC, and the Los Angeles Rams shouldn’t be too worried.
The trade has done surprisingly little to change my perspective on the Packers. Since the Packers won the 2011 Super Bowl, we’ve heard talk about them being a perennial contender. Fourteen years after returning the Lombardi Trophy home, they haven’t returned to the big game despite elite play at the game’s most important position.
To understand my skepticism of Green Bay, you must understand who the team is. For the better part of the last decade, the Packers have fielded quality rosters good enough to make the playoffs. The problem is, after encountering stronger teams, they have been exposed every time. No wonder this team has been 0-4 in the NFC Championship since their Super Bowl-winning campaign.
Much of that has to do with empty calories. GB typically beats the teams they should, while simply getting outclassed when the competition improves. Last season, the Packers finished 0-6 against teams that finished at least five games over .500, and 11-1 against everyone else. The top two teams in the NFC North finished with 29 combined wins, and both swept the Pack.
In those losses to quality squads, GB only lost by a combined 34 points, or an average of 5.7 points per game. Well, at least they were competitive, but it also doesn’t help when in both games against the Vikings, for example, they trailed 28-0 in the first meeting, and then 27-10 in the second. Making things appear close at the end doesn’t matter much when you’ve stunk it up for the rest of it.
Now, take into account Matt LaFleur, or as I like to call him, Mike McCarthy 2.0. LaFleur, undoubtedly one of the league’s best offensive minds, is a good head coach, but not a great one. He is coming off his worst season as a coach, though not by record.
The Packers’ coach was overly temperamental in key games, and his teams consistently made the same boneheaded mistakes throughout the season. However, he deserves credit for helping Malik Willis look like a competent NFL quarterback.
Again, LaFleur is a good coach, yet there’s a reason GB has gone 3-5 in the playoffs under his watch. When the lights shine brightest, he doesn’t have it, and I doubt the Packers ever will with him in charge, regardless of the talent on the roster.
Keep in mind that since winning the 2011 Super Bowl, the defense never had a closer like Parsons. In fact, they’ve never had a player like this since Reggie White roamed the field. Even then, adding Parsons only does so much for Green Bay, as they likely still have the third-best roster in the division. Have people forgotten about the Lions?! Yes, I even gave Minnesota the nod over them—only by a hair.
So while yes, the Packers are a team to worry about, the NFC shouldn’t lose too much sleep over their addition of Parsons. The Rams might not have the defensive talent Green Bay does, but their experience in big games will ultimately matter more compared to the Pack, which once again has the youngest roster in the league.
Come back to me in January, and then let’s just see how scary those Packers are.
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