The Green Bay Packers defense in 2016 almost cost them the NFC Divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys and only Aaron Rodgers magic touch saved their season. Not even Rodgers had enough firepower to help the Packers survive a 44-point onslaught at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game. Most Packers fans will agree that Green Bay only made the playoffs because of Aaron Rodgers and in spite of a defense coached by Dom Capers that gave up 269 passing yards a game, second worst to only the New Orleans Saints.
Interestingly, both the Saints and Packers decided to keep their defensive coordinators despite their rough seasons in 2016.
When it comes to the Green Bay Packers, they just believe in trusting their players and coaches and not giving up on them. That is why Dom Capers still has a job.
Mike McCarthy explains not firing Dom Capers
If the reason the Green Bay Packers lost in 2016 was because of their defense, many fans wondered why Mike Mccarthy was sticking with Dom Capers. The Packers lost to Seattle in the NFC Championship game in 2014. They lost in overtime to the Arizona Cardinals to fall out of the playoffs in 2015. They lost in an embarrassing game to the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. According to McCarthy, he said that there were reasons for the results of those games and it wasn’t just down on Capers.
Mike McCarthy even said that this was similar to sticking with kicker Mason Crosby after a terrible 2012 season.
Because he stuck with Crosby, the kicker was able to turn things around and become one of the top kickers in the NFL. McCarthy seems to have the same hopes for Dom Capers and the Packers defense, especially after an offseason and draft where Green Bay gave Capers some big weapons to work with.
Dom Capers' stats with the Packers
Dom Capers, 66, has been coaching defenses since 1975 and has also served as a head coach for two different teams – the expansion Carolina Panthers and expansion Houston Texans. Capers returned to the position of defensive coordinator in 2007 with the Miami Dolphins but was fired after one season.
He joined the Green Bay Packers in 2009.
Things started off good with Dom Capers, who helped the Green Bay Packers improve their NFL ranking from 21st in the NFL to second in his very first season. He then finished fifth in total defense in 2010, despite a rash of injuries. In his third season, the Packers won the Super Bowl with a fifth-ranked defense. That success is likely why there is so much loyalty from Mike McCarthy. However, the defense has ranked as the worst in the NFL in 2011, 25th in 2013, and 31st in 2016. This year, the Packers have loaded up on defense and if Dom Capers can’t pull the defense back up again, it might be time to move on.
