Packers Crush Patriots, Emerge as Super Bowl Contenders

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Pushing The Odds with Matt Perrault

Patriots’ Defensive Struggles Fuel Confidence in Packers as Super Bowl Contenders

I expected the Patriots to get blown out. They entered the game banged up, with questions across the offensive line, weapons that are not NFL caliber and a defense lacking a pass rush because Gabe Jack was hurt. He played despite being questionable, but Jordan Love still had enough time to survey the field and do whatever he wanted.

That was especially concerning because Green Bay’s offensive line has not been great this year. However, the Packers have multiple weapons, and giving Love time allowed him to take advantage of a struggling Patriots secondary.

Carlton Davis has not been good and has been hurt for most of the year. Green Bay also repeatedly attacked Gonzalez, raising questions about his performance and commitment. The comments from Hollis and Vrabel appeared to be directed at Gonzalez, who struggled to cover Matthew Golden and anyone else he faced. The Packers consistently targeted him, and he allowed more than 100 receiving yards to two different receivers in the same game.

Before this game, Gonzalez had been the linchpin of the Patriots’ secondary. The rest of the pass defense had struggled over the previous five or six weeks, while he had played well. Once his performance declined, New England’s defense was shredded.

On the other side, Jonathan Gannon has Green Bay’s defense playing lights-out football. That combination made the Patriots’ matchup especially difficult and strengthened the case that the Packers are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

The NFC is not strong, and the AFC is not much better. The NFL currently features many mediocre teams, which makes Green Bay’s odds appealing. At 30-to-1, the Packers offered value because of Jordan Love, who is entering the prime of his career, and Matt LaFleur, who remains a very good offensive coach.

The primary concern is Green Bay’s running game. Jacobs was hurt in the first quarter, limiting what the Packers could do on the ground. Caleb Johnson looked good against the Patriots, although that does not necessarily make him a long-term answer.

The Packers are also getting Parsons back in a couple of weeks. They have already generated pressure without him, ranking eighth in pressure rate over the past five games. Adding Parsons should make that pass rush even more dangerous, while the secondary is already playing very well.

If the offensive line can reach even the bottom end of league-average play, Green Bay could have a suffocating defense and an offense led by Love with several weapons. The missing piece is a reliable running game.

A major trade for Jonathan Taylor may not be necessary despite the rumors, but the Packers could pursue another running back who provides more explosiveness. The Tennessee Titans have said they do not want to trade Tony Pollard, but an offer such as a fifth-round pick could potentially change that position.