One thing I will say about this edition of the Packers is that they NEVER had two facets playing well at the same time. There were weeks the defense looked incredible and the offense would show flashes but they were almost never happening simultaneously. The only times I remember it happening were the 2nd half in Pittsburgh and tragically the Denver game until the moment Watson got hurt.
As for their defense being mediocre and competition stiffening, 🙄.
They were 5th in opponent yards per rush. 8th in scoring defense. 6th in opponent yards per game. They were bad in two things all year though: Opponents red zone touchdown % and turnovers. They were 25th and 26th there. Not good. But saying the unit was mediocre at best is just hyperbole and objectively not true. Anybody can cherry pick 2 or 3 of 15 games and write the story they want, but the facts just don't support it.
A maddening season, honestly. It'll be forgotten by time, but more than any other it was just decimated by too many significant injuries. I can't remember a season turning as quickly as this one did in Denver. Just too bad.