Sunday Debate: Green Bay Packers Win NFC in 2016

Brendan Pignataro and Mark Morales-Smith will be debating a different topic each Sunday. This week will feature a debate on on NFC Championship contenders. Will the Packers or Seahawks take the conference?

Last week we determined that the Pittsburgh Steelers were the clear cut choice to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. In this week’s debate, I will make the case for the Green Bay Packers to return to the championship game in a rematch of Super Bowl XLV (2010). Opposing my prediction is Mark, who will crash and burn with his selection of the Seattle Seahawks. This guy is like the Washington Generals of debating football.

Related Story: Sunday Debate: Seattle Seahawks Win NFC in 2016

One of the major reasons for my prediction is the vast improvement Green Bay will make on offense this season. They went from sixth in total offense in 2014 to 23^rd in 2015.  Even with this downfall, the Packers made it to the second round, and narrowly missed the Conference Championship game in an overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Despite injuries, the two-time MVP and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers showed how good he really is.

However, to win it all, Rodgers needs his top guys back. The receiving corps for Green Bay took a huge hit last year when Jordy Nelson went down. In addition, Eddie Lacy opted against keeping himself in football shape and was a disaster last year. The good news for Packers fans is Nelson is right on schedule to be back and 100 percent for this season, and Lacy has physically transformed to a different looking guy in the offseason. This duo combined for 1,946 receiving yards in 2014. That type of production was sorely missed last year in the passing game. Lacy getting in shape will help both the passing and rushing attack.

The Packers found another much-needed vertical threat in Jared Cook. I don’t believe he is a top 10 tight end, but this will prove to be an underrated signing. Cook has averaged 613 yards over the last five seasons. He did this with awful Tennessee and St. Louis offenses. That average is more yards than any Packer tight end has gained since Jermichael Finley in 2012. Pairing him with Richard Rodgers gives Green Bay their best tight end group in years. Green Bay doesn’t usually spend money on free agents, so they obviously see Cook’s value to this offense.

The rest of the offense is very good as well. Getting back Nelson will allow Randall Cobb to become an excellent number two receiver again. James Starks showed he is a valuable asset last season with 993 rushing and receiving yards, but is better suited as a backup. Lastly, the offensive line rarely gets any credit. Pro Football Focus has had them ranked in the top seven in the NFL in both of the last two seasons. Their interior guard play is amongst the best with T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton. They also added good depth to the line with second round offensive tackle Jason Spriggs, who could start at some point this year.

Next, the Packers have a maturing defense that should start getting the recognition it deserves. Last season when the offense had it’s personnel issues, the defense was able to stay in the top half of the league in terms of yards allowed.  I was very impressed with their secondary last year, particularly rookie cornerback Damarious Randall (highlights below, including a devastating hit on Charcandrick West). Losing Casey Hayward to the Chargers won’t hurt much when they have Randall, Quinten Rollins and the very underrated veteran Sam Shields still on the roster.

B.J. Raji is taking a surprise hiatus from the NFL, which could have hurt the Packers rush defense immensely. However, luckily for the Packers, this years draft was stacked with defensive tackles, and they got a good one with Kenny Clark. He may be a rotational guy to start, but has the chance to become an every down player this season. Clark playing alongside the disruptive Mike Daniels will be a treat to watch.

Lastly, I believe the Packers have a great shot at the number one spot and home field advantage at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has the easiest strength of schedule in all of the NFL with an opposing winning percentage of 0.457. Rodgers and company will tear apart this schedule. The NFC North is one of the weaker divisions in the league. I love Viking’s head coach Mike Zimmer, but I have trouble trusting Teddy Bridgewater to be consistent enough. The Lions and Bears were both under .500 last year, and haven’t improved enough in the offseason to become a threat.

On the contrary, Mark’s choice of the Seahawks has a very difficult schedule. They face the fifth toughest schedule with opponents at 0.543 winning percentage.  They could again finish second in the NFC West as the Cardinals are getting even better. They will have budding superstar Tyrann Mathieu back from injury, and also made an incredible trade with the New England Patriots for Chandler Jones.

The Seahawks defense lost a couple of vital starters in Brandon Mebane and Bruce Irvin, which I believe won’t be offset by their offseason acquisitions. More importantly, I can’t believe how little the significance of Marshawn Lynch’s retirement is being downplayed. Thomas Rawls had a good year, and I like rookie C.J. Prosise, but they are not Beast Mode. In 2013 and 2014, when the Seahwaks made the Super Bowl, Lynch was absolutely vital to their success with his average of 101 yards per game during the playoffs. No one, I repeat no one, can replace this…

Seattle can be a wild card team again, but I don’t see them defeating the likes of the Panthers, Cardinals or Packers.

must read: Sunday Debate: Pittsburgh Steelers Win AFC in 2016

Please check out Mark’s opposing article, and feel free to join in on the debate in the comments!