Major Changes Packers Must Make After 3-5 Start to 2022 NFL Season
The Green Bay Packers have been a mess during their four-game losing streak.
They are nowhere close to the NFC North title entering Week 9 and face an uphill climb just to be in the postseason.
However, the Packers have displayed some clear flaws that can be fixed throughout the second half of the season to make them relevant in the NFC playoff picture.
Aaron Rodgers and Co. have to show those improvements immediately, as they take on the Detroit Lions in Week 9. A win on Sunday might not be a huge achievement, but it could at least send the Packers in the right direction ahead of matchups with the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Green Bay offense is going to have to find success without any new players. The team was silent on trade deadline day while others went out and made improvements. There is still one big name the Packers could chase, but that comes with a massive risk.
Involve Running Backs Closer to The End Zone
Green Bay's rushing statistics are unfathomable when you know who it is has available at running back.
Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon have three rushing touchdowns through eight games, and the Packers are tied with three other teams in last place in rushing scores.
Jones and Dillon have been active parts of the offense, but they have low red-zone statistics.
Green Bay does not have the wide receiver group to focus on the passing game in the red zone. The Aaron Rodgers-led offense ranks 30th in percentage of drives ending in a score. Only Pittsburgh and Washington have worse totals.
The Packers must make a point to run the ball and run it often once they cross the 50-yard line against the Lions to gain some momentum in that part of the field.
Detroit resides in the bottom 10 in total defense, passing defense and rushing defense and it has allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns.
Beating up on a weaker divisional rival may not seem like much, but the result could mark a step in the right direction for the Packers.
To beat Detroit and other opponents, Jones and Dillon need to see a hefty amount of red-zone touches.
Improve Rushing Defense
Green Bay's biggest defensive flaw is its containment of opposing running backs.
The Packers have allowed the third-most rushing yards in the NFL behind the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears.
Green Bay needs to fix its problems defending the run soon because it could get run over by Dallas' duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry of the Titans and the Eagles' Jalen Hurts-Miles Sanders combination in the coming weeks.
Detroit could even gash the Packers defense for big gains through D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.
Green Bay has conceded over 150 rushing yards in four games and held one opponent under 100 ground yards all season.
Plenty of the defensive numbers are not good enough to match the Packers' high standards, but the rushing totals look like those of a team tanking for the No. 1 overall pick.
Aaron Rodgers isn't able to score 30-plus points each week with his current offense, so the defense needs to be tighter in order to keep Green Bay competitive and on the upswing for the playoff push.
Sign Odell Beckham Jr.
Extreme times call for extreme actions.
The Packers stood by while two of their divisional rivals made upgrades to their passing attacks on Tuesday.
The Chicago Bears added Chase Claypool, and the Minnesota Vikings brought in T.J. Hockenson in a cross-division trade with the Lions.
Green Bay is still with its current options for now, but that collection of wide receivers has not been good enough to fill Davante Adams' shoes.
The one drastic move left for the Packers is to sign Odell Beckham Jr. for the stretch run of the regular season.
The three-time Pro Bowler, who turns 30 on Saturday, is a free agent and still recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in the Super Bowl. He would not be ready right away, but he could make a difference in December when the Packers are fighting for a playoff spot.
No Green Bay receiver has more than 340 receiving yards through Week 8. Romeo Doubs has showed promise and Allen Lazard is reliable, but that's about it when it comes to the WR group.
Green Bay needs more explosive plays out of its offense, and luring Beckham for a few games could be the move that saves the season.