GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 7: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers embrace after their victory over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 7, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Packers will be Super Bowl contenders in 2024 if… Jordan Love takes the next step in his development and Jeff Hafley makes the defense play its best football delayed in the season. Love was great delayed in the 2023 season, but he needs to be more consistent through 17 regular-season games and protect the ball a little better. Both of those goals are achievable for Love in his second year as a starter. It all comes down to the quarterback, and all it took was a couple of bad throws in the second half against the 49ers in January to derail the upset. Can Love get the Packers going early and play near perfect in the biggest games? On the defensive side, there’s a transition period in a recent scheme with a recent quarterback, but Hafley’s defense is loaded with talent. Even if there’s no immediate improvement, the Packers defense needs to play at a high level in December and January. If Hafley pushes the right buttons, talented players (see: Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Xavier McKinney) step up and youthful players (Edgerrin Cooper, Javon Bullard) provide immediate value, there’s no reason the Packers can’t play defense when it’s needed most. It’s basic, but so much of winning — especially in the postseason — comes down to the play of the quarterback and your ability to limit the opposing quarterback. The Packers have the ingredients to do both.
