The Packers have been stuck on unlucky number 13 for their first three years under Matt LaFleur. Although they won that many regular-season NFL games each in 2019, 2020 and 2021, they didn't follow up by the ultimate playoff success of getting to and winning the Super Bowl.
There's good reason for their fortunes to change in early 2023. Slapping triskaidekaphobia in the face, Sporting News is picking Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay to win Super Bowl 57.
The Packers won the first two Super Bowls and another much later with Brett Favre. It's now been 12 long seasons since they last took home the trophy named for their great, late leader Vince Lombardi. It's only fitting that with No. 12, they will add their fifth Super Bowl victory. It also will mark Rodgers' long-awaited second ring and add a 14th NFL championship overall to the Packers' fabled history.
Green Bay has been among the favorites for three years running, so it's not a big surprise. After they saw fellow NFC powerhouses the 49ers, Buccaneers and Rams all get to the Super Bowl the past three seasons, the Packers are worthy of the next turn.
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But why now and not anytime then? Simple. Much of the blame has been put on Rodgers "failing his team" in the playoffs. But in the end, how did the Bucs and Rams get the last two rings? Defense.
Tom Brady had a huge first season in Tampa Bay with passing numbers that challenged Rodgers for MVP. The story in Super Bowl 55, however, is how the Bucs' defense stymied Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Matthew Stafford, the NFL co-leader in interceptions with 17 in 2021 while Rodgers thew only 4, wasn't the biggest reason L.A. succeeded Tampa Bay. Super Bowl 56 vs. Joe Burrow's Bengals was really decided by Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and the Rams' defense.
Going back to the 2010 season when the Packers were a No. 6 seed NFC wild card, they got to Super Bowl 45 with elite defensive playmakers such as Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews Jr. When beating the Steelers in that game, an early pick six of Ben Roethlisberger set the tone.
The Packers have had the championship offense with Rodgers for a while now, enhanced by LaFleur's RPO influence. But the defense (and the special teams) needed to catch up to make Green Bay a complete contender.
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Much of the offseason focus has been on the Packers choosing to trade Rodgers' go-to wide receiver Davante Adams vs. giving him a huge new contract. It was a tough decision but the right one so Green Bay could keep other key pieces. Rodgers then stayed in the headlines as a hipster turned hippie, going from a happy passer with Adams to a hopeful one with a new-look receiving corps.
Rodgers' off-field ways may make some feel uneasy, but when's on the field, he keeps making quarterbacking look easy, even at age 38. Without him, the Packers aren't anyone's Super Bowl pick.
The receiving corps has renewed promise with rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. The 1-2 running game punch of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon gives Rodgers terrific support. The offensive line was a concern, but there's confidence that tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins are back to full bookend strength.
The defense, however, hasn't been this good in the LaFleur era. There's strength up the middle with Kenny Clark and De'Vondre Campbell in the front seven, where veteran Jarran Reed and rookie Quay Walker will boost them. Rising star Rashan Gary and Preston Smith bring it well on the edge rush. Cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Adrian Amos are studs in the secondary and should get more takeaway help from Eric Stokes and Darnell Savage.
Did we mention special teams? After the Packers had a disastrous playoff outing in that capacity vs. the 49ers, they didn't mess around, hiring Rich Bisaccia to clean things up for LaFleur. Like Joe Barry for the defense, the Packers hope they will get greater big plays and fewer big mistakes from the third phase.
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There's every expectation Green Bay should enter the NFC tournament with another high seed from dominating the North again. The 49ers, Buccaneers and Rams have just enough question marks to think the conference's wide-open top-heaviness is made for a Packers breakthrough.
The narrative with Rodgers has been a bit wild and wacky, to the point some think he is a weaker QB despite ruling as MVP of late. He can rewrite that story quickly with one more Super Bowl run. There have been many seasons in which Rodgers carried the Packers. They are finally positioned to return the favor to come through with a team to lift Rodgers — and the Lombardi.
Speaking of Lombardi, that surname will be key to the Packers' opponents in Super Bowl 57. Vince's grandson Joe is charged again with operating a Chargers offense led by elite young passer Justin Herbert.
Herbert has a loaded team around him with Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and a top-flight line, anchored by former Packers center Corey Linsley. The Chargers also loaded up their defense in fine fashion, with former Bear Khaiil Mack to help Joey Bosa on the edge rush and former Patriot J.C. Jackson to flank Derwin James on the back end.
Just like the Packers with the 49ers, Buccaneers and Rams, the Chargers have dangerous AFC competition with the Bills, Chiefs, Bengals and Ravens. They also must navigate past the Chiefs, Broncos and Raiders just to win the West.
Last season in Super Bowl 56, it was a battle of Sean McVay vs. his former offensive assistant Zac Taylor. Just like LaFleur and Taylor, Chargers coach Brandon Staley also benefited from being around youthful energy of the Rams coach.
The Packers, the NFC stalwart facing the Chargers, the latest AFC upstart? Sounds like an amazing Super Bowl 57 with Rodgers and Herbert leaving nothing lacking on the marquee or on the field.
Putting it all together, there's one word that describes why Green Bay is SN's pick: Overdue. Rodgers and the Packers are prime for Super Bowl returns and at long last, it all comes together again.
