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2017 NFL power rankings: Patriots lead the way

By Russell S. Baxter

Feb 2, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; A general overall view of NRG Stadium with graphics featuring New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) prior to Super Bowl LI. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; A general overall view of NRG Stadium with graphics featuring New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) prior to Super Bowl LI. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
4

Green Bay Packers 10-6

Last week: 1st, NFC North
Last rank: 4th

Looking Back: From a 4-6 start to one game within the Super Bowl, the Packers found themselves shorthanded at running back and in the secondary for the majority of the season. A big second-half from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and some improvisation on the part of head coach Mike McCarthy saw Green Bay reach the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year.

Looking Forward: Rodgers comes off another sensational year (NFL-best 40 touchdown passes) and there’s no reason to believe that he’s not capable of many more. But he can’t do it alone and that seemed to be the case for most of 2016 due to injuries in the backfield, hence a lack of balance on offense. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for four-year running back Eddie Lacy, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March. His last two seasons have been disappointing compared to his initial pair of campaigns in which he topped the 1,100-yard mark each year and ran for a combined 20 scores.

Offseason needs: Will general manager Ted Thompson finally opt to make free agency a bigger part of Green Bay’s offseason? First things first. And that means re-signing several key performers such as 2016 team sack leader Nick Perry, valuable defensive back Micah Hyde, guard T.J. Lang and possibly tight end Jared Cook. Will outside linebacker Julius Peppers return for another season? This is a team that has come within one game of the Super Bowl in two of these past three years but at times it also looks like a club hanging on by a thread.

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