Green Bay Packers: Defense is finally on the mend

The Green Bay Packers opted to embrace free agency and signed a trio of defensive performers that figure to make a huge impact. So what’s next?

It’s not a franchise associated with losing, but the fact is that the Green Bay Packers have finished below .500 each of the past two seasons — a first for this storied club since the 1990 and 1991 campaigns. It’s made all the more disappointing considering the team from “Titletown” has reached the playoffs eight consecutive years from 2009-16 and won Super Bowl XLV in 2010.

In both 2014 and 2016, the Packers did reach the NFC title game, but came up short on both occasions. In 2017, due in large part to the absence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers for more than half the season, Green Bay slipped to 7-9.

This past year, the prolific signal caller was back at the controls, but didn’t look like his old self at times, especially after suffering a knee injury in the first game of the season against the Chicago Bears.

When it was all said and done, head coach Mike McCarthy would be gone after 12 games. The club struggled to win on the road all season and didn’t manage that feat until Week 16 at MetLife Stadium against the Jets. But the club laid a resounding egg at home the following Sunday in an embarrassing 31-0 loss to the Detroit Lions and the Pack was back in third place with a disappointing 6-9-1 mark.

Now it’s up to new head coach Matt LaFleur to get this team back on track. The offensive-minded sideline leader has plenty of work to do on his side of the football. But it’s Green Bay’s defense that’s been in need of help for quite a while. And general manager Brian Gutekunst was full of surprises during the early stages of free agency with a trio of substantial additions.