2021 Green Bay Packers season


The 2021 season was the Green Bay Packers' 101st season in the National Football League, their 103rd overall and their third under head coach Matt LaFleur.
With a Week 15 win over the [2021 2021 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens], the Packers won the NFC North for the third consecutive year. With their victory over the [2021 2021 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings] in Week 17, they earned home field advantage, a first round bye, and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. They also became the first team in NFL history to finish three consecutive seasons with 13 or more wins. Aaron Rodgers was also named MVP for the fourth time and the second year in a row.
However, their season came to an abrupt end for the third time in a row, with a 13–10 upset loss to the underdog [2021 2021 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers] in the Divisional Round; this marked the Packers' fourth loss against the 49ers in the playoffs and in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs since Aaron Rodgers became the starting quarterback, with it also being their second home divisional loss in the Rodgers era.
While the Packers were able to clinch the top seed and clinching the NFC’s best record, the Packers special teams received scrutiny during the entire season as they were ranked 32nd in the NFL by the Football Outsiders DVOA, Packer Central, and Sports Illustrated writer Rick Gosselin. This special teams unit was one of the primary reasons why the Packers lost in the NFC Divisional Game to the 49ers. Following the loss to the 49ers, Maurice Drayton was fired as special teams coordinator. The Packers had their sixth stock sale during the season.

Player movements

Draft

RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
129Eric StokesCBGeorgia
262Josh MyersCOhio State
385Amari RodgersWRClemsonFrom Tennessee
4142Royce NewmanOGOle MissCompensatory pick
5173Tedarrell SlatonDTFlorida
5178Shemar Jean-CharlesCBAppalachian StateCompensatory pick
6214Cole Van LanenOGWisconsin
6220Isaiah McDuffieLBBoston CollegeCompensatory pick
7256Kylin HillRBMississippi State

'''Notes/Trades'''

Roster cuts

The roster was cut to 53 on August 31, 2021.
PositionPlayer2021 team
DEAbdullah AndersonGreen Bay Packers
WRReggie BegeltonCalgary Stampeders
QBKurt BenkertGreen Bay Packers
GBen BradenGreen Bay Packers
GJacob CapraBuffalo Bills
OTCoy CronkJacksonville Jaguars
CBStephen Denmark
CBKabion EntoGreen Bay Packers
CBRojesterman FarrisDenver Broncos
SInnis GainesGreen Bay Packers
OLBTipa GaleaiGreen Bay Packers
ILBDe'Jon HarrisWashington Football Team
WRDamon Hazelton
TEBronson KaufusiGreen Bay Packers
DECarlo KempDenver Broncos
KJJ MolsonGreen Bay Packers
DEWillington PrevilonTampa Bay Buccaneers
OLBDelontae ScottPittsburgh Steelers
PJ. K. ScottJacksonville Jaguars
WREquanimeous St. BrownGreen Bay Packers
RBPatrick TaylorGreen Bay Packers
SChristian Uphoff
OTCole Van LanenGreen Bay Packers
ILBRay WilbornGreen Bay Packers
RBDexter WilliamsNew York Giants
WRJuwann WinfreeGreen Bay Packers

Preseason

The Packers' preseason opponents and schedule were announced on May 12.
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1Houston TexansL 7–260–1Lambeau Field
2New York JetsL 14–230–2Lambeau Field
3at Buffalo BillsL 0–190–3Highmark Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

The first week was announced 11 hours ahead of the rest of the season on May 12.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at New Orleans Saints

The Packers start off their season with a 35-point loss to the New Orleans Saints. This took place in Jacksonville due to expected power outages to the Superdome.

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

This was the Packers' first regular season win against the Steelers since Week 17 in 1995, and their first win against them overall since Week 2 of the 2018 Preseason. This also gave Aaron Rodgers his first regular season win over the Steelers which in turn gave him a regular season win over every team but the Packers.

Week 8: at Arizona Cardinals

The Packers handed the previously undefeated Cardinals their first loss of the season following a game-ending interception by cornerback Rasul Douglas.

Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs

This was the Packers' first loss since Week 1 against the Saints, as star QB Aaron Rodgers missed this game due to contracting COVID-19.

Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Packers held off the Rams in their home in Lambeau Field. After the Rams would score to make it 20 - 17, the Packers would take a lead they would never surrender, scoring 16 unanswered points in the process to improve to 9 - 3.

Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns

Christmas Day game
Aaron Rodgers surpassed Brett Favre with his 443rd touchdown pass to Allen Lazard.

Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings

The game was the coldest of the NFL season, with a game-time temperature of 11 degrees Fahrenheit, and a wind chill of 1 degree Fahrenheit. With the win, Green Bay clinched the #1 seed in the NFC for the second straight year, and their 3rd straight 13-win season.

Postseason

As the result of clinching the NFC North division title and the best record in the NFC, the Packers hosted a playoff game in the Divisional round. Despite hoisting the number 1 seed in the NFC, the Packers lost to the 49ers in the divisional round due to several special teams blunders during the game. Prior to the postseason, the special teams unit was scrutinized during the 2021 season as they were ranked 32nd in DVOA by Football Outsiders.

Game summaries

NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (6) San Francisco 49ers

Despite leading 7–0 and 7–3 throughout most of the game, the Packers went on to lose 13–10 to the 49ers. During the game, the special teams received scrutiny after allowing a blocked field goal, a 32-yard kick return by JaMycal Hasty, a 45-yard return by Deebo Samuel, and blocked punt that would tie the game at 10–10 in the 4th quarter. Prior to the game, the special teams was scrutinized during the entire season as they were ranked 32nd in the NFL DVOA by Football Outsiders.

Statistics

Starters

Regular season

Offense
Pos.NameGS
QBAaron Rodgers
Jordan Love
16
1
RBAaron Jones
A. J. Dillon
15
2
WRDavante Adams
Randall Cobb
16
3
WR2Allen Lazard
Amari Rodgers
13
1
WR3Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Equanimeous St. Brown
7
2
TEMarcedes Lewis17
TE2Robert Tonyan
Dominique Dafney
Josiah Deguara
5
2
2
LTElgton Jenkins
Yosh Nijman
David Bakhtiari
8
8
1
LGLucas Patrick
Jon Runyan Jr.
1
16
CJosh Myers
Lucas Patrick
6
11
RGRoyce Newman
Lucas Patrick
16
1
RTBilly Turner
Dennis Kelly
13
4

Defense
Pos.NameGS
NTKenny Clark16
DEKingsley Keke
Tyler Lancaster
8
3
DEDean Lowry17
OLBRashan Gary
Jonathan Garvin
16
1
OLBPreston Smith16
ILBDe'Vondre Campbell16
ILBKrys Barnes
Oren Burks
13
3
CBJaire Alexander
Rasul Douglas
4
9
CBKevin King
Eric Stokes
Chandon Sullivan
Isaac Yiadom
6
14
10
1
SAdrian Amos17
SDarnell Savage17

Postseason

Offense
Pos.NameGS
QBAaron Rodgers1
RBAaron Jones1
WRDavante Adams1
WR2Allen Lazard1
WR3Equanimeous St. Brown1
TEMarcedes Lewis1
LTBilly Turner1
LGJon Runyan Jr.1
CJosh Myers1
RGLucas Patrick1
RTDennis Kelly1

Defense
Pos.NameGS
NTKenny Clark1
DETyler Lancaster1
DEDean Lowry1
OLBRashan Gary1
OLBPreston Smith1
ILBDe'Vondre Campbell1
ILBKrys Barnes1
CBRasul Douglas1
CBEric Stokes1
SAdrian Amos1
SDarnell Savage1