Football is the ultimate team sport. For a team to be successful play after play, they need all 11 players on the field to do their part. It doesn't matter who you have at quarterback; if the offensive line can't protect them, they'll be running for their life. The same goes for a running back. You could have a Hall of Famer in the backfield, but if their line can't open running lanes, they could be going nowhere. It can also count vice versa; you can have an outstanding line, but if your QB is not playing well, you're in trouble. This is true as well on defense. You could have a lockdown secondary, but if there's no pass rush, and the QB has all day to get the ball out, you could be in trouble.
But what about the addition or subtraction of just one single player? Can that turn around a season?
If you ask Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, he'll tell you that "You're never just one player away." Which, for the most part, is true. You can't just insert one player and stamp your ticket to the Super Bowl. You need high performance from the rest of your roster as well to get there. But the presence of one player can certainly boost or reduce your odds. An unfortunate walk down memory lane takes us to New Year's Eve, 2020. The Packers were running on all cylinders in the midst of a five-game winning streak to wind out the season. But in practice on this day, left tackle David Bakhtiari suffered a torn ACL along with ligament damage that would shelf him for the rest of the season, and eventually, continued complications would bring his career in Green Bay to an end.
The Packers would continue without Bakhtiari to make it to the NFC Championship game, but would go on to lose against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To this day, many believe that if Bakhtiari were present at left tackle, Aaron Rodgers may have escaped being pressured all day and sacked five times, with the Packers eventually making it to the Super Bowl. Could the Packers have been one player away from the Super Bowl that season? We will never know.
The Micah Parsons Effect
During the first quarter of the season, it was obvious the effect the addition of Micah Parsons had on the Packers' defense. Not only did they add a relentless pass rusher to get after the quarterback, but they also added a player who would free up others.
For the last year, it's been an argument as to Rashan Gary's true impact on a game. Is he truly a premier pass rusher as advertised? Because the numbers don't quite show it. When you watch Rashan Gary closely on many passing plays during the 2024 season, you'll see him command double-teams and chips from multiple players along his course to the QB. There was no one else for teams to worry about when it came to the Packers' pass rush. In 17 games in 2024, Gary registered 7.5 sacks with 15 QB hits. It earned him his first career Pro Bowl entry, but it just wasn't what many expected of him. Not to mention 2024 wasn't even Gary's second-best statistical season.
Enter Micah Parsons, and that all changes. Now Parsons is commanding more double teams and chips, freeing up Gary and others to go make plays. So far in 2025, Rashan Gary has 4.5 sacks with 7 QB hits. Rashan Gary isn't the only benefactor of the Parsons effect; the secondary is also benefiting from QBs needing to get the ball out quickly to avoid the pass rush, making it easier for the defenders to stay on their assignments until the ball is out.
The Possible Christian Watson Effect
Christian Watson tore his ACL on January 5th of 2025. Yet again, another ACL injury to a key player for the Packers heading into the playoffs, much like David Bakhtiari's injury was. It's unknown whether Watson would've made a difference in the Wild Card defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles, but it is worth noting that the Packers were very stale through the air, and perhaps Watson's presence could've at least helped somewhat to make it a closer game.
Fast-forward again now to 2025, and the Packers' passing attack hasn't exactly been stale, but it's somewhat lacked that "big play" capability. Jordan Love's average depth of target through four games is 8.1 yards. That's not ideal for an offense with aspirations to finish the season in Santa Clara. This is where Christian Watson's presence could make a huge difference.
Ever since Watson was a rookie, we all have known what a big play threat he is. Even if he's not catching deep balls every week, when defenders see him take off downfield, he's taking a corner, and a safety with him. That frees up the rest of the field for the other pass catchers to get open further downfield as well. If they don't give him that attention, then Watson is capable of beating his defender for a huge play.
After the first round of the 2025 draft, many saw Matthew Golden as a Christian Watson replacement. Far from it. Together, both Golden and Watson could give defenses fits with their speed. This leaves Romeo Doubs, Tucker Kraft, and Dontayvion Wicks as benefactors as well, with more space to work in. Let's not forget to mention Watson's team-first attitude when it comes to blocking. Wide receiver screens and bubble passes haven't been as successful so far in 2025. But given Watson's blocking capabilities, this could all turn around when he is on the field.
Also, a stretched field in the passing attack could help open up the running game, which the Packers have sorely lacked so far this year.
The Difference Maker
I wouldn't say a team is ever the addition of just one player away from hoisting the Lombardi trophy. But there is truth in that a single player can help open up aspects of your offense and defense en route to being a more successful squad. And enhanced success as a team leads to the Lombardi.