And Jones' replacement, Gabe Wilkins, will be an improvement. In addition, the signing of Seth Joyner bolsters the linebacking unit. On offense, the retirement of tight end Keith Jackson hurts. But that could be more than offset by a healthy return of Robert Brooks and the emergence of receiver Derrick Mayes. Even if the Packers prove to be better than last year, there are other factors out of their control that will work against them.
Injuries play a major role in any team's success.
To go 19-0, the Packers would have to be virtually immune from even a handful of major injuries. There's also the problem of motivation. No matter how hard coaches try, there are some weeks when teams simply come out flat. It's almost a given that football teams can't maintain a high level of intensity every single week over a four-month span. But let's say the Packers opened the season 13-0 and wrapped up the homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.