Reviewing the Packers 2023 Offense
Coming into the 2023 season with the league’s youngest offense, outside expectations for Green Bay were understandably low. But the Packers over-achieved and came within one drive of upsetting the San Francisco 49ers and reaching the NFC Conference Championship game.
It started off a bit rocky, but the Packers finish to their 2023 season was filled with promising moments for the future. There were plenty of ups and downs through the months of September and October before things steadied out in November. Reviewing the Packers 2023 offense, Green Bay had a tale of two seasons.
The Early Struggles
Growing pains are a thing for young teams. They very much were for Green Bay, as they had to break in almost an entirely new supporting cast of offensive weapons and a quarterback in Jordan Love. While Love was taken in the heralded 2020 NFL Draft class, the 2023 season marked the turning of a new page: this was finally his team. Early flashes, including in games against teams like the Bears and Saints, showed Love had intangibles that can’t be taught.
His pocket awareness and propensity to get through his reads quickly was evident, even early on. But Love also had games against teams like Denver and Las Vegas where he played frantic at times, and forced throws. Between the Broncos and Raiders games, Love threw four interceptions to just two touchdowns. The week before Green Bay played and lost to Las Vegas, Love took five sacks in a blowout loss to the Detroit Lions.
Things looked to be spiraling quickly for Green Bay after seven games. The team sat at 2-5 and it was evident the front office was starting to look toward the future. Part of that was affirmed by them trading Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills. Many fans and pundits were quick to write off the team, and Love, too. But something changed, once November rolled around.
A Second Half Surge
That something had a lot to do with Aaron Jones. Green Bay’s workhorse running back missed time early in the season. But once Jones returned to action, the offense was more efficient. Love’s play was heavily impacted by Jones, and his ability to keep opposing defenses honest. In weeks 1-8, Jones’ workload was light. Not once did he exceed double-digit carries. Green Bay’s record through eight weeks was 2-5. Love had thrown 11 touchdowns to eight interceptions in that span (per ESPN stats).
Once November rolled around, Jones’ health improved. Per ESPN stats, he received double-digit carries in all but seven regular season games going forward. From weeks 9-18, Green Bay’s offense surged. Love threw 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions (per pro-football-reference). While Jones was absent for a few of those games, the offense got into a rhythm and was able to find its identity.
Matt Lafleur’s offense is largely dependent on play action, which means without a formidable run game, the passing game struggles. That much was evident during both halves of the Packers’ season. A more consistent passing attack meant that players like Dontayvion Wicks and Jayden Reed were able to come into their own and establish themselves as rising stars for Green Bay. Reed finished as Green Bay’s leading receiver. Wicks scored four touchdowns and provided a spark for the team on numerous occasions.
Not only did Reed and Wicks emerge as trustworthy weapons for Love, but the Packers rookie tight ends also found their groove. Tucker Kraft took a backseat to Luke Musgrave during the early part of the season, but both had shining moments and proved they could be fixtures for the offense for years to come. Between the young tight ends and receivers, Green Bay’s offense looks to be in good hands going forward.
Main Photo Credit: Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
