- According to odds at BetOnline, the Green Bay Packers are not expected to qualify for the 2023-24 NFL Playoffs.
- Last season, the Packers failed to reach the playoffs for only the third time since 2009.
- Aaron Rodgers has been QB1 on the Packers’ depth chart for the last 15 seasons. On April 24, Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets for a slew of draft picks.
A new era of Packers football has arrived in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Since 2008, Aaron Rodgers has been the starting quarterback for the Packers.
Rodgers took over the QB1 role after Brett Favre’s time expired in Green Bay. Similar to Favre, Rodgers wanted out of Wisconsin after it was abundantly clear that the organization wanted to go in a younger direction.
The Packers selected Rodgers with the 24th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. And then 15 years later, they picked Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. There are several parallels, including Rodgers and Favre both playing for the Jets
However, fortunately for the Jets, Rodgers is in a better position to have success than Favre did when he signed in New York. BetOnline has seen plenty of betting action on the Jets winning the Super Bowl since the trade.
Currently, the Jets are tied with the Cowboys for the seventh-best odds. At +1400, they have better odds than the Dolphins, Ravens, and Chargers. Meanwhile, in Green Bay, the Packers are not even expected to reach the playoffs.
Jordan Love: “Since I’ve been here, I’ve improved drastically.” pic.twitter.com/tNIQhAzFS6
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 10, 2023
Oddsmakers Do Not Foresee Packers Having Success In 2023
Unfortunately, for Love and the Packers, they have long odds of winning the Super Bowl in Las Vegas this February. The Packers are +5000 to win Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas.
In fact, the Packers do not even have favorable odds of making the NFL Playoffs. This Packers team should just focus on being competitive in the regular season. After finishing 8-9, and third in the NFC North, it might get worse before it gets better in Green Bay.
The Packers are +160 to make the playoffs. In other words, the Packers have an implied probability of 38.46% of going to the playoffs this season. If you want to bet on the Packers missing the postseason, you will have to lay -200 odds.
Love spent the last two years learning behind one of the best to have ever played the game. While Rodgers wasn’t thrilled with the draft pick, Love had to pick up two or three things from the future Hall of Famer.
The 24-year-old can’t necessarily be judged by losses this season. He does not have the best roster around him to have success in his first year as the starter. With Rodgers under center, the Packers were 14th with 21.4 points per game.
In two seasons, Love passed for 606 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He connected on 60.2% of 83 passing attempts.
Learning Experience For Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs
This season is all about getting Love, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs on the same page. Watson and Doubs have the potential to develop into a formidable combo. They have already shown a glimpse of what they are capable of in their rookie seasons.
Watson and Doubs are both coming off their first years in the NFL. Rodgers was able to get the rookies involved in the offense quickly, especially Watson. The North Dakota State product was coming from FCS football to the NFL, but acquainted himself with the pro game nicely.
Just the beginning of the Jordan Love era in Green Bay.
(Via @NFL) | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/tdLOUJTTNE
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) May 2, 2023
Watson collected 41 receptions, 611 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns in his first season. He eclipsed 100 yards in three games, including the season finale against the Lions.
We are sure that Watson wanted to continue building on their chemistry from last season with Rodgers. Nevertheless, Watson has an opportunity to grow his career together with Love in Green Bay.
Doubs wasn’t better than Watson on paper, but there were times he looked like a very good second option. The Nevada standout recorded 42 receptions, 425 yards, and 3 touchdowns as a rookie.
In addition to drafting tight end Tucker Kraft in the third round, the Packers have a young core that needs time to develop. Love, Watson, Doubs, and Kraft are all 24 years of age or younger. In two or three years, the Packers will need to turn this rebuilding process into wins.
Heavy Workload for Aaron Jones
The Packers will have to depend on Aaron Jones to lead the Packers’ offense. The 28-year-old has to be a leader and, at times, carry the team offensively. Expect to see Love handing the ball off, and utilizing Jones in the passing game on short routes often.
Aaron Jones said he wanted to throw with Jordan Love in California this offseason to get their timing down.
“He has everybody’s full trust.” pic.twitter.com/XDoDuN1TGF
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 10, 2023
Jones is a quality pass catcher, which is always a plus for a young quarterback. Dumping the ball off to Jones as a safety valve is never a bad decision. Last year, Jones ran for a career-high 1,121 yards. Additionally, he had a career-high 59 receptions as a receiver.
Aside from Jones, Love’s primary weapons are going to be young. However, he does get to work with an experienced offensive line. For a young quarterback, a stout offensive line can be the difference between stunted growth and a promising future.
Left tackle, David Bakhtiari, hopes to be on the field for more than 11 games this season. Bakhtiari restructured his contract and will be back on the field next to left guard, Elgton Jenkins, who became one of the highest-paid guards in the NFL after extending his contract in December.
On Sunday, September 10, the Packers open the 2023 NFL regular season at Soldier Field with a Week 1 rivalry tilt against Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears.
