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The Green Bay Packers ended the season with a 44-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in in the NFC Championship Game. Here is a look at the season and what’s next: Season grade: B+ Season summary: The Packers proved they’re contenders once again. Two years after losing in the NFC title game in a heartbreaker at Seattle, they were back fighting for a berth in the Super Bowl. Yet the way they lost the NFC title game showed how much work they have to do in order to get over that final hurdle. What began as a season with Super Bowl expectations hit rock bottom at 4-6 before Aaron Rodgers made his "run-the-table" remark -- which the Packers did to the tune of eight straight wins, including a wild-card playoff victory over the New York Giants and a divisional playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys. But just like at the end of the 2014 season, the Packers came up a game short of their chance at greatness. It will go down as a remarkable comeback to get to 10-6, secure another division title and an eighth consecutive playoff appearance -- and coach Mike McCarthy deserves more credit than he gets for the Packers’ year-in and year-out status as a postseason team -- but it begs the question of will this team ever get back to another Super Bowl, let alone win another title?  This team isn’t without flaws. The lack of a consistent running game after Eddie Lacy's season-ending ankle injury made the Packers one-dimensional far too often. Yes, McCarthy and his staff did the best they could with converted receiver Ty Montgomery in the backfield, but it had its limitations.
Biggest draft need: Playmakers. General manager Ted Thompson’s meat-and-potatoes draft of 2016 has left McCarthy short on young playmakers, whether it’s at receiver, running back, tight end or cornerback. Thompson loves to draft linemen on both sides of the ball, but he’ll need to address the skill positions this offseason. Key offseason questions: Will there be any major changes? The Packers showed once again why having organizational stability can be so beneficial. The Packers like having the same coach, quarterback and general manager for more than a decade, and even if this team’s remarkable run of playoff appearances had come to an end this season, there’s little reason to think there would be any major organizational changes. Unless, of course, Thompson decides to retire. Team president Mark Murphy has said he has a succession plan in mind, but it’s unclear if that plan calls for Eliot Wolf, Russ Ball or perhaps someone from the outside to take over for Thompson. Wolf is a hot commodity, having interviewed for the 49ers' GM opening, and it could force Murphy’s hand if he wants Wolf to succeed Thompson. What to do with Lacy? Going into the season, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that this would be it for Lacy in Green Bay. If he had a big season, surely Thompson wouldn’t want to spend big money on a running back. He never has. And if Lacy had another down year, then Thompson would let him walk and try to find a more productive back. But Lacy’s injury might make it more likely he’ll be back. He was off to a strong start this season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, but teams may be scared off by his weight problems -- making him more affordable for the Packers to re-sign. How much longer can Rodgers keep this up? Rodgers played like an MVP the last half of the season, but at age 33, it’s worth wondering whether the window of opportunity to get to -- and win -- another Super Bowl with Rodgers is closing faster than anyone thinks. Rodgers played through hamstring and calf injuries this season and played some of his best football while doing it, but it also has been six years since the Packers’ one and only Super Bowl with Rodgers.
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