The Green Bay Packers missed the playoffs in 2018, marking the second consecutive season they failed to advance – the first time that’s happened since the mid-2000s. They finally fired longtime head coach Mike McCarthy, replacing him with a rookie coach who has no prior head-coaching experience. Green Bay let stalwart linebacker Clay Matthews III walk in free agency, the most significant among multiple high-profile defections from a defense that’s been completely rebuilt. Aaron Rodgers is coming off arguably his worst season since his debut as a starter, sparking concerns about his ability to perform at a truly elite level in the latter stages of his career.

Clearly, the Packers have many questions to answer before being considered a legitimate contender in the NFC. Not that they mind flying under the radar, of course. Rogers, in fact, seems to be relishing the rare opportunity for Green Bay to “surprise some people” in 2019.

“When you have a coaching change, you have to go through the struggles of learning and starting over almost,” he said during an interview on NFL Network, as noted by Brian Jones of 247 Sports. “But I think what Brian [Gutekunst] has done our roster and the guys that we have coming back, I think we have a chance to compete. We’re in a good spot too because nobody’s talking about us.” “Some of the most dangerous teams from our years were when everybody’s talking about every other team out there except for us and we can kinda come at our own pace and surprise some people in the beginning.”

The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints are clear favorites in the NFC. But if Rodgers, fully healthy, is rejuvenated playing in LaFleur’s ballyhooed offensive system and a young, talented defense quickly coalesces, there’s absolutely a chance the Packers could be nipping at their heels as the playoffs dawn.