2014 Week 1 NFC Power Rankings
Green Bay Packers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
3. Green Bay Packers (2013 record: 8-7-1) Last season finish: Lost in NFC Wildcard Round
Week 1 Matchup: at Seattle Seahawks 9/4 8:30 PM EST
When you take an in-depth look at the NFC conference and contenders to dethrone Seattle, really there are only a few that come to mind. One was listed above and the other resides in Wisconsin.
With Aaron Rodgers healthy and under center, the Packers are a legit contender to beat anyone. Somehow through the quarterback carousel of approximately eight weeks, the offense managed to finish sixth and seventh, respectively, in passing and rushing yards in the NFL.
The Packers did lose a few veterans to free agency such as James Jones and Evan Dietrich-Smith, but they shouldn’t be significant hurdles for the offense. The free agent signing of Julius Peppers will add spice to a defense that was simply bland and awful last year down the stretch.
A lot of the defense’s struggles can be attributed to the loss of Aaron Rodgers. His ability gives the offense consistency which allowed the defense to rest. Too often last year down the stretch they spent gaping amounts of time on the field. But it all rest on the shoulders of #12 and he welcomes it.