(Green Bay) It was not the usual recipe for building a team aspiring to great honors.
After an 8-9 season, the Packers traded quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a four-time league MVP, to the New York Jets. They also let several veterans go, while putting in place the youngest roster in the NFL.
The Packers still found a way to qualify for the playoffs. The team is the youngest group of players to win a playoff game since the merger of the AFL and NFL in 1970.
The Packers will want to extend their journey on Saturday in California, against the 49ers from San Francisco.
“Our goal is to win the Super Bowl,” said wide receiver Christian Watson, a 2022 second-round pick.
The Packers’ oldest player, David Bakhtiari at 32, only played one game before being added to the injured list.
The Packers’ average age per player is 25.58, making them the fourth youngest team in the playoffs, behind the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals (25.22), the 1970 Miami Dolphins (25.44) and the 1974 Buffalo Bills (25.56).
None of the other three teams won a playoff duel. The Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 in the first round to win their fourth straight game and show that experience was not essential to playoff success.
“Yeah, experience is huge in those situations, but I think we’re just confident in our team and what we have,” said quarterback Jordan Love. Now it’s just about executing, getting the most out of the plays we have, and I believe that’s what we’re doing. »
Of the Packers’ 11 starters Sunday, six were rookies or second-year players. Fifteen of the 16 completed passes were to these players. On offense, the only starters over 25 were running back Aaron Jones (29), left guard Elgton Jenkins (28) and right guard Jon Runyan Jr. (26).
The Packers are the first team since the 1970 merger to have four rookies with at least 30 catches: Jayden Reed (64), Dontayvion Wicks (39), Luke Musgrave (34) and Tucker Kraft (31).
Reed caught 64 balls for 793 yards and a total of 10 touchdowns (including two rushing touchdowns) in the regular season, leading his team in all three categories.
The team is more experienced on defense, even though five rookies were in the lineup against the Cowboys. Cornerback Carrington Valentine, outside linebacker Lukas Van Ness, linemen Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden and safety Anthony Johnson played more than 20 plays against Dallas.
“Whether you have a young team or a veteran team, it doesn’t really matter,” said head coach Matt LaFleur. All you’re trying to do is get better and every day, focus on what’s directly in front of you. I think that’s where we’ve directed our attention. »