Could the 2015 Packers Offense be the Best Ever?

The Packers had the best offense in the league last season, this year they could have the best in league history.

The Packers had the best offense in the league last season, this year they could have the best in league history.

The 2014 offense for the Green Bay Packers in the regular season put up the 19th most points ever scored in a season in the NFL with 486 points. 

To accomplish scoring those 486 points the offense had to be efficient, like crazy efficient. So crazy that I have to assume they were offered their own commercial trying to sell an Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Packers 2014 Offensive Stats and NFL Ranks
Stat Name Stat Value NFL Rank
Time of possession 30:32 15th
Total Plays 1001 24th
Total Drives 169 32nd
Percentage of Drives Scored on 46.7% 1st
Total points 486 1st
1st Downs 356 7th
Turnovers 13 1st
Turnover Percentage 7.1% 1st
Passing yards per attempt 8.3 2nd
Passing yards per completion 12.7 2nd
Yards per play 6.2 1st

The Packers scored more points than any team in the NFL last year (486) despite having the fewest number of offensive drives in the NFL. Let that sink in for a second. They had the fewest chances to score, but still scored more than anyone else.

Despite having the fewest drives in the NFL the Packers still managed to have the 15th highest time of possession and have the 7th most 1st downs. They accomplished this by having the fewest turnovers in the league and having the lowest turnover percentage. Coupled with having the most yards per play at 6.2 yards per play and the second most passing yards per attempt and passing yards per completion in the NFL. 

The Packers scored touchdowns on 40 percent of their first half drives and scored on 46.7 percent of their total drives for the season, both were best in the NFL. In the first half of games last season the Packers scored 310 points, that is as many or more points scored than nine other teams in the NFL scored all season. To put that another way, if you treat the first half in games as the first eight games of the season and the second half in games as the last eight games of the season, the Packers could have gotten shutout and not scored a single point for the final eight games of the season and still scored as many or more points as nine other teams.

Top 5 Scoring Teams in NFL History
Rank Year Team Points
1 2013 Denver 606
2 2007 New England 589
3 2011 Green Bay 560
4 2012 New England 557
5 1998 Minnesota 556

To catch the 2013 Broncos the 2014 Packers would have needed to average 7.5 more points per game than they scored, which is quite significant. Despite being an elite offense last year, the problem for the Packers is that they were too good in the first half of games. In 6 of the 16 games last season the Packers had to ease off the gas in the second half. Including pulling Aaron Rodgers for significant time in the second half of games in one fourth of the games last year due to uncompetitiveness. When Matt Flynn did come in to those blowout games he only passed 25 percent of the time for 52 yards. They essentially shut it down to just get through the game.

The Packers scored 310 points in the first half of games in 2014, that's 64 percent of their total points. The Broncos scored 271 points in the first half of games in their record setting year of 2013, that's 45 percent of their total points. A big part of the reason that the Broncos were able to score all of those points (besides, you know, being really good) was that games were semi-competitive in the second half and that gave them the opportunity to pile on in the forth quarter to makes sure teams were daggered. If you simply take the 310 points the Packers scored in the first half of games and extrapolated that for an entire game, you obviously end up with 620 points for the season. Which is two touchdowns and extra points clear of the all-time record set by Denver in 2013.

This season the Packers will have a more reliable and a potential big play number three receiver in Adams instead of relying on Boykin and waiting for Adams to develop like they did last year. They will also have a clearer understanding of what they have at tight end and have strong competition at the number four receiver spot with Janis and Montgomery, among others. Every major player (and then some) on the dominant offense from last season is returning. 

I'm not saying the Packers are going to approach the 600 point level like they did in 2011, mostly because (like last year) the defense should be much better than it was in 2011. We will likely end up continuing to see some more blowout games that do not require the Packers to tack on points in the fourth quarter. However the potential to set the scoring record is there, the ability to get even better than the efficiency from last year is there as well with more aggressive red zone play calling and better play in the second half of games. There is also chances for some of the low scoring and disappointing games against teams like Tampa, Buffalo, Detroit, and-to a lesser extent-Seattle that could all be improved upon as well. Many factors will go into whether this is possible, but the opportunity is there.

Plus if they have another chance to hang 100 on the Bears, they need to take it this time.

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Comments (44)

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NickPerry's picture

July 02, 2015 at 06:29 am

If this offense can just stay healthy, I just can't see anyone stopping them. The 2011 offense had Nelson and Jennings with a older Donald Driver. They did have J-Mike but Alex Green was the running back so I'd take Adams and Lacy over Finley and Green every time. Throw in Janis, Montgomery, Rodgers II, Abby, AND the O-Line, this team will put up unbelievable numbers. This team is special and will be for a few years, this is where Rodgers cements his legacy.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

July 02, 2015 at 08:24 am

I'm pumped up after reading this. Ha!

"This is where Rodgers cements his legacy."

The season needs to hurry...

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Tundraboy's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:02 am

Ditto

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NickPerry's picture

July 03, 2015 at 09:15 am

Totally agree, this season CAN'T start fast enough!!!

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Chad Lundberg's picture

July 02, 2015 at 07:21 am

I felt very much the same: http://www.packernation.com/bestteamyet

This team will be almost as strong as the 2011's ability to throw the ball, however they will be much stronger almost everywhere else.

If this team had one more dominant defensive player, we could be talking about one of the all time greatest teams to ever play. Here's to seeing someone stepping up and filling that role!

GO PACKERS!

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NickPerry's picture

July 02, 2015 at 07:30 am

Just read your piece Chad, loved it. On your comment about one more defensive piece, I believe if Raji can play 75% as well as 2010, Guion is able to move to DE and produce and I think he can, Hayward stays healthy because he can play outside, and one of those youngsters at ILB aren't a liability, this could be a team people talk about for years to come.

That's not TO much to ask for is it?

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Tundraboy's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:05 am

No. I see D stepping up this year. Just need health.

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NickPerry's picture

July 04, 2015 at 07:13 am

Double Post...Sorry

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NickPerry's picture

July 03, 2015 at 09:20 am

Yup, and I think the new program McCarthy put in last year, really focusing on things like the nutrition and hydration of the players really helped. They kicked Seattle's butt that entire game save the last few minutes. I still believe if Slocum plays the fake FG and gives them the 3 points, we're talking about repeating this year in the SB.

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Chad Lundberg's picture

July 06, 2015 at 12:06 am

Thank you Nick Perry. Greatly appreciate the feedback.

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croatpackfan's picture

July 02, 2015 at 07:44 am

"...if they have another chance to hang 100 on the Bears, they need to take it this time..."

I agree with you. This is the opportunity to kill them for long time in future. That is the opportunity to make them count 2 certain loses every season from this one...

And, yes, I think Packers need to solve red zone effectiveness . When they resolve this part of the game, it will be record season for sure...

Also, do not forget that Broncos has not a huge problems with their schedule in 2013. But I expect Packers 2015 to be better despite harder schedule...

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

July 02, 2015 at 07:51 am

"They had the fewest chances to score"

Hopefully we can have a defense that is at least average for most of the season.

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RCPackerFan's picture

July 02, 2015 at 08:01 am

This could be the most balanced offense we have had. Last year was, but I think this years could be better. With Adams, Linsley and Rodgers gaining more experience, they should be much improved.

What I like about this years offense is they have a lot more depth then they have had in the years past.

WR is deeper then I can ever remember. Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Abbrederis, Janis, Montgomery all have a good shot at making the 53. Montgomery gives the offense another versatile weapon like what Cobb has been for them.
TE's - Rodgers should be inproved, Quarless is decent and Backman we will see.
OL - Our starting 5 are as good as anyones. And we have 2 very good backups that I feel confident that can come in and play anytime.
RB's - Lacy should be considered a top 5-10 RB in the league. He has changed out offense and made it balanced. And Starks is a great compliment to Lacy. I look forward to seeing the battle for the 3rd spot between Neal and Crockett. I think Neal wins it with Crockett going on the PS.

I think this could be one of the best offenses we have seen in Green Bay. Everyone just needs to stay healthy.

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Tundraboy's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:08 am

OK. I'm sold. Can we start the season already.

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TarynsEyes's picture

July 02, 2015 at 08:18 am

Those top 5 point scoring teams all have something in common?!?
Super Bowls won....none.

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Bearmeat's picture

July 02, 2015 at 08:42 am

The 2013 Horsies and 2011 Pack had one trick pony defenses. Turn it over. Or give up a TD.

The 07 Cheaters and 98 Vikes lost in a fluke game. Just like the 14 Pack. These things happen in a single elimination tourney. The best team in the NFL throughout the year only wins it all 2/3 of the time.

There is nothing wrong with running a track meet on grass. It's a valid way to win a football game. As long as the other team can't score just as easily as you can. Which is why it's vital for GB to keep a top 15 defense and improve their special teams this year.

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MikeReuter's picture

July 02, 2015 at 09:01 am

I noticed that too, but those five teams had an average record of 14.2 wins and 1.8 losses in the regular season... I'll take that any day.

The NFL playoffs leave a lot of games up to chance since it is one-and-done. I think that 2/5 made it to the Super Bowl and 4/5 made it to their conference championship games speaks more than none of them winning the Super Bowl.

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TarynsEyes's picture

July 02, 2015 at 09:22 am

"The NFL playoffs leave a lot of games up to chance since it is one-and-done."

Exactly....As much as having the best all time scoring offense might be a sense of accomplishment,unless being one of the participants in the SB is obtained along with it,it will rank up there with another Division Championship and watching others play.It becomes nothing more than trivia game knowledge and a once in a while part of fan retort.... "yeah well we did this,we didn't win,but we did this!" :)

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BELIEVER's picture

July 02, 2015 at 12:23 pm

whatever

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Bearmeat's picture

July 02, 2015 at 08:38 am

Barring injury, I do think this offense will be able to score on anyone, at any time. It's going to be a juggernaut.

That said, I do NOT think GB will get to 600 points unless something goes terribly awry with the defense. Unlike Tommy Terrific and Peyton's Forehead, MM will MAKE ARod come out of the game if/when GB gets up by 21 or more in the 2nd half.

If MM were as classless as Belichick, GB would have set the points record LAST year, with ARod throwing north of 50 TDs and Eddie gaining north of 1,500 yards with 15 TDs himself. And the team would have been worse for it.

Thankfully, winning and being a gentleman is equal in our coach's DNA.

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senor embalador's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:32 am

I disagree with this.

I think it helps a team if their opponent is afraid of getting a 50-burger hung on them.

I remember watching that '07 Pats team. Throughout the season, their opponents consistently adjusted their game plans, stepping out of their comfort zones, before the game was even kicked off. They strayed away from what worked for them in hopes of avoiding the very real possibility of getting straight-up embarrassed.

Pulling key players to keep them healthy? I'm cool with that.
Pulling key players to keep the score "respectable"? Screw that noise.

If you can drop 60, drop 60.

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TKWorldWide's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:49 am

How could you tell that NE's opponents "adjusted their game plans...before the game was even kicked off"?

How are you privy to that kind of info?
Did you steal signals?
Are we looking at Spygate II?

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senor embalador's picture

July 02, 2015 at 11:22 am

Game 1 - Jets only 19 rushing attempts (one by qb)
Game 2 - Chargers only 20 total rushing attempts (LT only gets 18 carries)
Game 4 - Bengals only 15 rushing attempts (one a wr end around)
Game 5 - Derek Anderson of the Browns with 43! passing attempts
Game 6 - Cowboys only 15 rushing attempts

I'm tired of looking.

You are 100% correct, though. I have no proof that teams played scared against the Pats. Just my opinion based on what I saw.

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NickPerry's picture

July 03, 2015 at 09:31 am

Interesting for sure, I just wonder how many of those games the teams were forced to pass the ball more due to the score. Look at the Packers vs Bears last year. The first meeting Forte was running wild when the score was close. As soon as the Packers started to score and went ahead the Bears started throwing more. In the second meeting at Lambeau the Packers were up by 28 in a blink, whatever "Game Plan" you had is out the window.

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Handsback's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:06 am

I agree with Bearmeat in that Green Bay coaches are not going to have the throttle full down once the game is out of hand. Those records are fine, but the ones that count have the words "World Champs" engraved on a trophy.

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Bearmeat's picture

July 02, 2015 at 11:04 am

Exactly. Why show your playbook any more? Why embarrass a team? Even if it's in the Super Bowl, it's odds-on that you'll have to face nearly those same players and coaches again within 2 years. And they will remember that beat down. It'll make them hate you more and want revenge.

Everyone KNEW GB could hang a 50 burger on all but maybe 3 teams in the NFL last year. And they could hang 35 on them. Trust me, they were afraid. But they also respected the sportsmanship of the team.

The Bears were hot garbage last year, for example. GB could have scored 75 in that game at Lambeau. But why would they do that? A win is a win - and that outcome just would have made 2 games this year MUCH harder.

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senor embalador's picture

July 02, 2015 at 02:01 pm

"And they could hang 35 on them. "
Slow down.
Last three meetings with Seattle, Packers haven't scored more than 22.
There is no way they could or can or will hang 35 on Seattle.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

July 02, 2015 at 04:31 pm

"There is no way they could or can or will hang 35 on Seattle."

You're crazy. Give me a healthy Rodgers and that game is an easy beatdown.

And this is not making excuses.

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Tundraboy's picture

July 02, 2015 at 05:37 pm

That's right.

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4thand1's picture

July 02, 2015 at 08:39 pm

You also said there's no way they would beat N.E. last season.

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Tundraboy's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:12 am

Defense. No SB unless we improve that. Packer way

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Bearmeat's picture

July 02, 2015 at 11:50 am

With all due respect Tundra, our defense was good enough to win it all last year. With a healthy ARod (or a few less crazy bounces in THAT game) we do just that.

This was the best team in the NFL last year and it's only gotten better this year. Assuming health, GB will be the best team in the NFL this year. That doesn't mean we'll win it all of course...

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Tundraboy's picture

July 02, 2015 at 12:43 pm

Speaking more to this season, next 16 games. Last year year end was good enough but I think we must improve to win it all this time. All good.

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PortlandMark's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:26 am

McCarthy doesn't run up the score and he shouldn't just to get a record. Matt Flynn was in by the 3rd quarter in several games last year. Hopefully they will continue to lead the league in percentage of drives they score on and find a way to score on the road some more. One more score in Buffalo, Seattle or Detroit and the season would've likely ended with a Super Bowl appearance.
Also, when looking at points scored you should deduct the defensive scores and kick returns as the offense didn't score those points. I believe the '11 team had 6 pick 6s.

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aaronqb's picture

July 02, 2015 at 10:44 am

I could care less about a record-setting offense. The focus should be on winning football games and preparing to win in the post-season. Setting records is only a distraction.

I do expect the offense to be very good. I also expect substantially better play from the special teams and hope the defense can play like they did in the last part of 2014.

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Tundraboy's picture

July 02, 2015 at 11:08 am

Agree but I think D will be better than last year end.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 02, 2015 at 01:48 pm

I agree aaronqb. I hope, and expect that, the offense will be excellent. But I don't care about setting any records. If we win the Super Bowl, I wouldn't care if Rodgers threw 50 interceptions, or any other combination of statistics. Just have good health and win it.

[Okay, I confess that I would like to see Aaron Rodgers at the helm for the whole year to get some of the naysayers off his back, and I'd like to see Peppers holding the trophy and having earned it by playing well this year. I'd like to watch a couple of my other favorite players holding the trophy, too.]

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DrealynWilliams's picture

July 02, 2015 at 04:35 pm

" I confess that I would like to see Aaron Rodgers at the helm for the whole year to get some of the naysayers off his back,"

I couldn't care less about them. There's no one who could make me believe Rodgers isn't the best QB or hasn't been the best QB these last handful of years (excluding the 9 game season)

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Otto's picture

July 03, 2015 at 01:25 am

Agreed. None of those record setting offenses hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

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NickPerry's picture

July 03, 2015 at 06:58 pm

AND Staying Healthy!!! Rodgers, Lacy, Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Matthews, Peppers or whomever you want to plugin won't get injured if the the second string is getting valuable playing time if the score is 55-13.

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SteveCheez's picture

July 02, 2015 at 06:20 pm

Sounds to me like what we need is a crappy defence so we have to score more.

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4thand1's picture

July 02, 2015 at 08:44 pm

With the salary cap era, teams will always have holes and needs to fill. The cap will take a big bite out of Seattle the next few years. The Packers have a lot of play makers and stars, enough to win it all. Staying healthy is the key. A 100% Rodgers would have brought home another Lombardi last year.

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porupack's picture

July 02, 2015 at 11:49 pm

This talk of best Offense ever is getting way too giddy for me. Teams don't pick up from where they left off last year (yes, I am aware Offense returns all 2015 starters). New season, new package. Division opponents had yet another decent off-season to scheme against GB, and NFC-N plays some great defenses in the west. Some games last year were won with a little fortuitous circumstance that could have gone to a 'L'. Same this year. Hope players don't hear this nonsense, and just focus on one game (i.e., the next game). We may be surprised how difficult it is to repeat a trip to playoffs, and should take none for granted. Having said that, the return of the veteran OLine intact and ARodgers at QB is a huge advantage to start the season.

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Otto's picture

July 03, 2015 at 01:35 am

I didn't see any of the Denver offense, but I did catch some of the '07 NE games. Specifically, I remember a game against a completely over matched Titans team. I remember NE throwing long TDs in the second half of the 4th qtr. I don't remember the final score but, NE scored 60+ and I think they won by 40. Completely, classless (as if that needs to be explained when talking about NE).
I don't see an old school coach like McCarthy leaving his valuable players in that late just to run up a score for a record.

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