It’s the start of a new era in Green Bay behind Jordan Love. And while there might be some excitement surrounding a young, fresh team, the Packers might have to take a step backward before moving forward.
Now that training camp and the preseason are in the rearview, here’s the Packers’ ceiling and floor heading into Week 1.
Ceiling: 8-9
If history has taught us anything, great quarterbacks play for the Packers. With that in mind, Love should be an immediate star in the NFL. Joking aside, if Love produces from the jump and the Packers’ embarrassment of riches at QB continues, they have a realistic shot at putting some wins together despite having a predominantly young and inexperienced offense.
The Packers defense underachieved a bit in 2022. Giving up 21.8 points per game, the Packers finished among the middle of the pack in the NFL. However, it’s a sneaky-talented unit that could make a jump this season, especially if first-round pick edge-rusher Lukas Van Ness and the rest of their rookie class can contribute.
Eight wins might be a tall ask this season, but it isn’t totally out of the question if everything goes right for the Packers. After all, Green Bay has the ninth-easiest schedule in the NFL.
Floor: 5-11
The Packers have lots of potential on offense, with Love leading a young supporting cast, including budding wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, along with rookies Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave at tight end. However, believing all those pieces will click immediately would be fool’s gold. Furthermore, Love won’t have veterans like Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis to lean on, even if it was time for the Packers to move on.
It’s much the same story on the defensive end of the ball. The Packers have talent but remain an unproven entity that, like the offense, will go through its fair share of growing pains. The Packers will go how Love goes, but without a serviceable defense, they have virtually no shot at competing in the NFC North.
Last season, the Packers won four of their eight games by one score or fewer, including two in overtime. Without Aaron Rodgers and a slew of vets, a significant fall in the win/loss column is possible.