The Green Bay Packers are preparing for another playoff appearance as the calendar turns to 2025. This will be their fifth postseason trip in six seasons under head coach Matt LaFleur. But, despite an 11-5 record, there are still some things this team needs to work on as they head into the playoffs. Here are three short-term New Year’s resolutions for the Green Bay Packers as they close out the 2024 regular season and prepare to head on the road to start the playoffs:
New Year’s Resolutions for the Green Bay Packers to Start 2025, Number Three: Clean Up the Mental Mistakes
Mental mistakes have been costly for the Packers in 2024. They will have to minimize them if they hope to beat elite opponents in the playoffs.
Avoidable penalties have plagued the Packers throughout the season. Yes, this is the NFL’s youngest team, but they still need to stop lining up offsides, or taking illegal formation penalties, or just committing penalties at the worst possible moment.
In Week 17 against the Vikings, the Packers committed seven penalties. The costliest was a questionable call for lining up offsides on a long field goal attempt. That call gave Minnesota a second chance to make the field goal just before halftime. The second kick was good, and the Vikings got three extra points out of the penalty. Minnesota won the game by two points.
The Packers gave the Vikings two first downs by penalty in this game. Another penalty negated a Packers touchdown and two more wiped out potential first downs for the Packers.
The Packers also continue to drop too many passes in most games. That hurts the offense and prevents them from keeping drives alive.
You can get away with mental mistakes against inferior opponents, but in the playoffs, these self-inflicted wounds can be the difference between advancing or ending the season prematurely.
Number Two: Beat the Bears and Prepare for the Playoffs
The Green Bay Packers always want to beat the Chicago Bears. Yes, this game may have a minimal impact on the Packers playoff seeding, but when you’ve owned the Bears like the Packers have in recent years, you don’t want to stop beating your oldest traditional rivals.
The Packers have won 11 straight against Chicago dating back to 2018. They have also won 16 of the last 17 meetings between these two teams.
The Bears have lost 10 straight games and are 4-12. Finishing the season with a win and extending their mastery over the Bears has to be on this list.
A win also keeps the Packers hopes of finishing as the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs alive even if a Cowboys upset win over Washington remains unlikely.
New Year’s Resolutions for the Green Bay Packers to Start 2025, Number One: Get Healthy
The Packers top priority to start the new year has to be to get and stay healthy for the playoffs. Many key players have missed time due to injuries this season and getting as many of them ready for the playoffs as possible will be paramount.
Jaire Alexander has only played seven games this season. He was limited to 10 snaps in his last game, the first win over the Bears. Alexander has practiced frequently, but apparently, swelling in his injured knee has prevented his return. Getting the team’s top cover corner ready for the playoffs would be a huge boost for the Packers.
Other injured players the team wants ready to play include rookie safety Evan Williams, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, and wide receiver Christian Watson.
Williams improves the secondary and gives defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley more options as to what types of defenses he can call. Having Williams and Alexander available also gives Hafley more options to disguise his coverages.
Wyatt provides inside pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Packers truly missed Wyatt when he left due to a possible concussion against the Vikings.
Watson gives the Packers their best deep threat. He stretches the field and helps other receivers get open because defense have to pay attention to Watson. He is also the team’s best threat against man coverage.
Getting these players as healthy as possible for the playoffs and avoiding additional injuries should be the Packers biggest priority heading into the postseason.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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