Just imagine the scene on February 13 in Los Angeles. In his native California, Aaron Rodgers propels the Green Bay Packers to Super Bowl 56 victory, putting a glorious exclamation mark on a months-long cold war between the star quarterback and the organization. Then, once the thousands of confetti have been collected from the ground, the divorce will be pronounced.
This is an image that is both joyful and sad. Pleasant, because Rodgers, after 13 brilliant seasons as a starter in Green Bay, would finally enjoy a second coronation. For a quarterback of his ilk, this is nonsense. Sad, because after so much time devoted to the team that drafted him in 2005, we prefer to imagine an eternal marriage, bathed in joy and joy.
That’s good in children’s stories. The reality of the sport is often less pure and the relationship between Rodgers and the Packers seems irreconcilable. At least right now.
The quarterback criticizes his team for not having involved him enough in decisions about staff movements over the years. He also clearly did not appreciate that his eventual successor, Jordan Love, was drafted without him knowing about it in 2020.
The idea here is not to determine if the star player is right in his quest, but rather to mention that the only weapon more dangerous than Rodgers is Rodgers on the ultimate mission.
On a mission to give Green Bay a Super Bowl (he has absolutely nothing against this market). On a mission to make a painful thumb of the nose at the general manager he despises, Brian Gutekunst. On a mission to cement his legacy.
A complete team
Go for Rodgers’ immense talent and the fact that he will, more than ever, be supremely motivated to blow everything up in his path. But to come forward to predict a Packers Super Bowl victory, there has to be more.
Precisely, the Packers seem built to fight against the best. The carrier duo of Aaron Jones and beefy AJ Dillon sounds like a perfect combo. Don’t lose sight of rookie Kylin Hill, who can contribute in all phases of the game with a creative attacking spirit like Matt LaFleur.
The defense may not be the most dominant, but has shown good progress over the past two years. Last year, she finished ninth in yards allowed.
It was the first breakthrough in the top 10 since 2010. Incidentally, the Packers won their last Super Bowl in 2010 with Rodgers, when he was supported by the best defense he has seen in Green. Bay to date.
To beat superbly equipped contenders like the Buccaneers in the final of the national conference, it will be necessary to find precisely this balance often lost.
Three suitors
In the American conference, three suitors could also win everything in the eyes of your humble columnist.
How to ignore the incredible work of the Chiefs during the off-season to reshape their offensive line? They haven’t lost any weapons offensively, while the losses on the defense aren’t alarming.
The Bills should still be there, especially if quarterback Josh Allen maintains his exceptional level of play from last season. The young quarterback hunters they drafted this year will also have to win quickly.
The third candidates? None other than the Browns! Their tertiary sector is no longer a joke. Their ground game is unmatched in power. The receivers are formidable. The offensive line is in the top 5 of the circuit. Their defensive line imposes it.
Okay, let’s be crazy! The Browns in the ultimate game, it’s no longer far-fetched. Let’s still be realistic with the victory at the Packers.
A Super Bowl between two such historic franchises, where do we sign?
An extended calendar
After years of debate between the NFL and the Players’ Association, it’s finally the entry into force of a 17-game regular-season schedule starting Thursday night.
For years, players have refused to comply with this league demand due to the increased risk of injury. During the last negotiations for the collective agreement, the owners managed to push this clause down the throats of the players, wishing to generate additional income.
The NFL has operated on a 16-game schedule since 1978. The extra game will pit teams from the American Conference against others from the National Conference.
As has been the case since last year, there will again be 14 teams that will secure their playoff tickets.
As in the past, each team will have a week off during the calendar. The season will therefore extend over 18 weeks. There had been talk of an additional week of leave during the negotiations, but this option was not retained.
Teams’ weeks off will take place between week 6 and week 14.
The playoffs will begin on January 15 and 16. The conference finals take place on January 30, while the Super Bowl premieres a week later than usual on February 13 in Los Angeles.
COVID again …
If the coming season seems on the way to getting closer to normality with well-stocked stadiums, players may continue to experience their share of inconvenience with the presence of COVID.
The virus is still circulating despite the high vaccination rate in the vast majority of teams. This season, the NFL has decided to be uncompromising against vaccine-resistant players.
If a team experiences a COVID outbreak among players who have not received the vaccine, there will be no possibility of postponing a game and the team in question will instead be credited with a loss on their record.
Otherwise, players from both teams would not be paid for the missed match. A beautiful tense climate in perspective!
Vaccinated players who test positive will have an easier time. As soon as they present two proofs of negative tests within 24 hours, they will be able to find their team. Unvaccinated players will have to isolate themselves, like last year, for a minimum period of 10 days.
In recent weeks, the NFL has also sent warnings to 120 players and imposed fines of $ 14,500 on 25 others for refusing to wear the mask or contact tracing device.
Things are playing hard even before the start of hostilities …
.
