The Packers are going into Week 14 looking like a true contender in the NFC, but they're almost certainly headed for a Wildcard berth as their 9-3 record currently puts them in third place in a stacked NFC North. New additions have been key to Green Bay's success.
RB Josh Jacobs appears to be the engine that drives the Packers' offense, ranking sixth in the NFL with 1,247 yards from scrimmage while adding nine total TDs.
On the other side of the ball, DC Jeff Hafley has drastically improved the defense, with a unit that ranks tenth in points allowed (20.0/game) and fifth in takeaways (23).
Finally, S Xavier McKinney is tied for the league lead with seven INTs while adding one fumble recovery, which matches Green Bay's team INT total for the entire 2023 season.
Quick thoughts on Oregon DT Derrick Harmon #55: -Positional flexibility -Pass rush tool bag -Powerful hands -Gap integrity vs the run -Strong lockout -Needs 1st step consistency
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— Daniel Harms (@inharmsway19.bsky.social) November 19, 2024 at 8:38 PM
However, Green Bay's defense has struggled to consistently generate pressure. Hafley has blitzed at the sixth lowest rate in the league, yet his top performers on the defensive line rank 41st (Rashan Gary, EDGE) and 38th (Kenny Clark, DI) for total pressures at their positions via PFF. Oregon's Derrick Harmon, who leads all D1 with 47 total pressures and an 18.1% pass-rush win rate (min 100), could
add some serious juice to the Packers' four-man rush. Harmon could also add long-term stability at DL3T as Clark approaches his age-30 season and Devonte Wyatt's fifth-year option comes up in 2025.
- James Siebers, Packers Analyst (@jsieb.bsky.social)