Expectations for the Green Bay Packers outside of the organization are pretty low for the 2023 season. Many people have already written the team off as they believe the inexperience on the roster is going to be too much to overcome during the season.
While some analysts believe that the Packers could surprise some people, there are just as many, if not more, who believe they will struggle. They are near the bottom of a majority of power rankings that have been done, but some season-long projections leave a glimmer of hope.
Over at USA Today, Nate Davis has released his annual record projections. He is projecting the Packers to have an underwhelming performance this season, but not nearly as bad as some cynics believe.
“Coming off an 8-9 season with departed legend Aaron Rodgers, all eyes are on new QB1 Jordan Love, who has one unremarkable start in four NFL seasons. He’ll face the unavoidable pressure of extending a three-decade heritage of quarterbacking excellence behind Rodgers and his predecessor, Brett Favre. Both had strong maiden seasons as the starter, though neither took the Pack to the playoffs. Remains to be seen how much leeway Love gets at a time when young passers don’t tend to get a lot of slack. It would help if Green Bay proves it’s a much better running and defensive team than was displayed in 2022. Might not help that Love and Co. will only play at Lambeau Field three times prior to November.”
Not that it impacts the projections much, but Love has only been in the NFL for three seasons, not four. The fact remains, however, that Love is lacking in experience as he has 10 appearances, including that one start, and only 83 career passes to this point.
Alas, being surrounded by skill position players as inexperienced as Love will lead to some ups and downs as well. There isn’t a single wide receiver on the depth chart with more than one season of NFL experience and his top two tight ends could both be rookies.
Playing so many games on the road to start the season certainly isn’t ideal, but that could also be a blessing in disguise. Not being in front of the home fans for what will assuredly be a bumpy road, in the beginning, may be better for Love and company. Also, there is a huge home-field advantage at Lambeau Field as the season changes from the fall to the winter.
While they won’t admit it right now, as the Packers are presenting a confident front, going 7-10 in the first season with Love at the helm is something most within the organization would sign up for. After all, Rodgers won only six games in his first season as the starter and things turned out just fine for him.
