GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Here's a look at the Super Bowl prospects of the Green Bay Packers, who finished the regular season 10-6 before losing in the NFC Championship Game:
Packers Super Bowl barometer: On the cusp of a Super Bowl appearance.
Assessing the foundation: There are two ways to look at how the Packers are structured. The first is that they have the quarterback in Aaron Rodgers to make them an instant contender. The other is that they're wasting Rodgers' best years. Since the Packers won Super Bowl XLV, Rodgers has won two NFL MVP awards and should have been under strong consideration for another this past season. Yet they haven't been able to get past the conference title game even with him playing some of his best football. So how close are they? Rodgers said after Sunday's loss to the Falcons that they're in "reload" -- but not rebuild -- mode. It's on general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy to make sure they get to -- and win -- at least one more Super Bowl during the Rodgers era.
Even the younger players on the Packers' roster realize that.
"When you have a guy like Aaron Rodgers on your team, you've got to take advantage of it," safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix said. "You have one of the best quarterbacks in the game, making amazing throws, winning ballgames for us -- you have to take advantage of this window. So any guy that comes into this team and comes with this team, man, I just tell 'em, take advantage of your opportunity. You have a great quarterback like A-Rod, you don't find that in this league. We can win 10 games with him by itself, and I'm just glad to be a part of this unit with him."
Judging the quarterback: Rodgers doesn't believe he's running out of time. He turned 33 last month and is under contract for three more seasons. He has said in the past that he would want to do at least one more contract after this one that could possibly take him to age 40.
"I still feel pretty young," Rodgers said after Sunday's loss. "I think I have a number of years left in me [where] I can play at a high level. We've just got to make sure we're going all-in every year to win. And I think we can take a big step this offseason."
There's no reason to doubt Rodgers. The only thing to worry about is his health. He has had a few nagging muscle injuries to his legs in recent seasons but has shown an ability to play -- and play well -- through those situations.
Realistic ways the Packers can improve their chances to contend for a Super Bowl:
Strengthen the running game: In Brett Favre's later years with the Packers, he had a strong running game -- first with Ahman Green and then Ryan Grant. It took some of the pressure off the quarterback and also made the offense multidimensional.
Reload at cornerback: This might be one of those offseasons where Thompson has to go heavy at one position. It wouldn't be out of the question for him to sign and/or draft three corners who could contribute immediately next season.
Give McCarthy more veterans: He has proven what he can do with players like Charles Woodson, Julius Peppers and Jared Cook. It's not like Thompson needs to go crazy in free agency, but he shouldn't take the year off from participating in the open market.