The Packers’ offseason mistakes finally caught up to them in their playoff loss

The Packers spent the season making all of us who were concerned about their offseason look silly … up until the NFC title game.

Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers spent the 2020 NFL season making all of us who criticized the Packers for not bringing in more offensive firepower look pretty dumb … until the biggest game of the season.

Green Bay’s offense led the league in offensive DVOA by a healthy margin and Aaron Rodgers will probably be named MVP next week after throwing a career-high 48 touchdowns, so it’s hard to look back on this season and claim that the receiver position was a real issue; but, in the 31-26 loss to the Buccaneers, it certainly was.

Rodgers had a good day and all, and Green Bay got big plays out of receivers not named Davante Adams, but the Bucs’ preference for man-to-man coverage in key situations was a direct indictment of the receiving corps. On third down, Tampa Bay could double Adams without really having to worry about being beat by one of the other guys. And those other guys did make a play, it was usually the result of an unreal throw by Rodgers.

The Packers were probably a receiver away from being the NFL’s best team, which is why the decision to use their first three draft picks on another quarterback, a running back and an H-back so odd. Unsurprisingly, those three picks played 128 snaps combined. Green Bay’s Super Bowl window was still open and the front office was already drafting for its next window.

And it’s not like receiver was the only need that went unaddressed in the offseason. The team so clearly needed an upgrade at cornerback behind Jaire Alexander but decided to run it back with Kevin King second on the depth chart. The Bucs, like many teams this season, appreciated that. They put a target on King’s back from the very first drive and never let up.

But instead of bringing in another receiver or cornerback, the Packers used their draft picks on backup players at other positions and signed only tackle Rick Wagner and linebacker Christian Kirksey in free agency. Green Bay did sign WR Devin Funchess but he opted out and probably wasn’t going to be a real difference-maker, anyway.

The good news is that Rodgers doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon, so the front office can right this wrong over the next few months. And with loaded receivers classes available in both the draft and free agency in 2021, the Packers don’t really have an excuse this time around.

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