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Five reasons why the Green Bay Packers are still contenders

By Tanner Nestle

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 07: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 07: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers throws a pass while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 16: Davante Adams #17 of the Green Bay Packers runs past Xavier Rhodes #29 of the Minnesota Vikings to score a touchdown during the second quarter of a game at Lambeau Field on September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 16: Davante Adams #17 of the Green Bay Packers runs past Xavier Rhodes #29 of the Minnesota Vikings to score a touchdown during the second quarter of a game at Lambeau Field on September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

The Green Bay Packers are still a team that can contend for a championship this season.

People are quitting on the Packers left and right. Even I’m guilty of thinking to myself that maybe Mike McCarthy needs to be asked to step away from the team this year. Those that aren’t Packers fans can’t write them off fast enough.

Of course, the usual suspects are other NFC North fans who have struggled to survive in Green Bay’s shadow for years. But it seems like even more fans can’t wait for the Packers’ reign over the NFC North to be over with too.

Aaron Rodgers is putting up great numbers, but he has looked far from his usual, sharp self. We’ve seen this before from Rodgers. Talks of the scheme not working and Rodgers not trusting play calls or his receivers have led to a lot of uncomfortable questions being asked of this team. We’re seeing it again this year.

Against Detroit, Rodgers lost two fumbles in the first half that could have easily changed the game. Even with Mason Crosby‘s five missed kicks, the Packers lost by only one score. Had Rodgers not given away two possessions earlier in the game, the Packers could have won.

But why did he lose those fumbles? Was he truly just unaware? I find that hard to believe. Did the Detroit defense make a great play? I wouldn’t say so considering they weren’t making plays at any other point in the game.

I think Rodgers was just trying to play hero ball. We’ve seen it in the past. He holds onto the ball for too and it costs him. We assume it’s because he doesn’t trust his receivers. However, he’s overcome those rough patches in the past.

That’s the biggest reason this Packers team is getting written off. Rodgers doesn’t look right. We saw what this team was without Rodgers last year and that’s what people are assuming is going on this year. Rodgers doesn’t look right, so the Packers must be toast.

I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion so quickly.

The Packers have seen better days, but they’re far from the point of being washed over by the Mitchell Trubisky-led Chicago Bears.

Or a Minnesota Vikings team that suddenly can’t lean on its defense anymore. Or a Detroit Lions team that was gifted a 24-point halftime lead with countless turnovers and mishaps and still managed to barely sweat out a victory at home. Not yet.

The Green Bay Packers are still contenders in this league. Here’s why.

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