The 2014 season was the Green Bay Packers' 94th in the National Football League (NFL), their 96th overall and their ninth under head coach Mike McCarthy. The team tied with four other teams for a league-best 12 wins and 4 losses, while also adding a fourth consecutive NFC North division title. The club went undefeated at home for the first time since 2011. They also led the league in scoring, with 486 points, then the second-most in franchise history (currently third most). It marked the first time since the 2009 season that the team had a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher.
In the playoffs, the Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round, but then, in the NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks, a rematch of the NFL season opener, despite holding a 16–0 lead at halftime, and a 19–7 lead in the dwindling minutes of the fourth quarter, the Packers would collapse, and would go on to lose the game 28–22 in overtime, ending their season. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the league's Most Valuable Player.
The Packers made the playoffs for the sixth straight season, tying the record set between 1993 and 1998.
Offseason
Free agents Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2014 team QB Matt Flynn UFA April 15 Green Bay Packers QB Seneca Wallace UFA RB Kahlil Bell UFA RB James Starks UFA March 17 Green Bay Packers FB John Kuhn UFA April 3 Green Bay Packers WR James Jones UFA March 17 Oakland Raiders TE Jermichael Finley UFA TE Andrew Quarless UFA March 13 Green Bay Packers C Evan Dietrich-Smith UFA March 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT Marshall Newhouse UFA March 21 Cincinnati Bengals DE Johnny Jolly UFA DE C. J. Wilson UFA March 28 Oakland Raiders NT Ryan Pickett UFA September 28* Houston Texans NT B. J. Raji UFA March 14 Green Bay Packers ILB Robert Francois UFA ILB Jamari Lattimore RFA April 30 Green Bay Packers OLB Mike Neal UFA March 12 Green Bay Packers CB Sam Shields UFA March 8 Green Bay Packers FS Chris Banjo ERFA February 26 Green Bay Packers FS M. D. Jennings RFA March 12 Chicago Bears
Additions + Position Player Former team Date Aaron Adams Green Bay Packers* January 7 Antonio Dennard Green Bay Packers* January 7 Garth Gerhart Green Bay Packers* January 7 Alex Gillett Green Bay Packers* January 7 Orwin Smith Green Bay Packers* January 7 Jeremy Vujnovich Green Bay Packers* January 7 Chase Thomas Atlanta Falcons* January 7 Ina Liaina Miami Dolphins* January 28 Raymond Webber February 13 Michael Hill Tampa Bay Buccaneers February 26 Julius Peppers Chicago Bears March 15 Letroy Guion Minnesota Vikings March 17 Korey Jones Arizona Cardinals* July 23 Gerrard Sheppard Baltimore Ravens* July 30
Subtractions + Position Player 2014 team Release date G Greg Van Roten Seattle Seahawks February 12 WR Sederrik Cunningham April 11 RB Orwin Smith April 28 OLB Chase Thomas San Francisco 49ers May 12 CB James Nixon May 14 TE Raymond Webber Miami Dolphins May 19 ILB Victor Aiyewa San Diego Chargers May 19 RB Johnathan Franklin Retired June 20 ILB Shaun Lewis July 23
Draft
Notes The Packers were awarded two compensatory selections after losing free agents Greg Jennings and Erik Walden. Wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and defensive end Khyri Thornton sustained injuries prior the start of the season and were placed on injured reserve.
Undrafted free agent additions 2014 Green Bay Packers Undrafted Free Agents Position Player College Date ILB Jake Doughty Utah State May 12 OLB Jayrone Elliott Toledo May 12 DE Carlos Gray North Carolina State May 12 OLB Adrian Hubbard Alabama May 12 G Jordan McCray Central Florida May 12 RB Rajion Neal Tennessee May 12 NT Mike Pennel Colorado State-Pueblo May 12 TE Justin Perillo Maine May 12 RB LaDarius Perkins Mississippi State May 12 QB Chase Rettig Boston College May 12 ILB Joe Thomas South Carolina State May 12 CB Ryan White Auburn May 12 OT John Fullington Washington State May 14 S Tanner Miller Iowa May 16 S Charles Clay Hawaii May 19 TE Colt Lyerla Oregon May 19 DE Luther Robinson Miami May 19 ILB Shaun Lewis Oklahoma State June 10
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Preseason roster cuts Position Player Date released Notes CB Antonio Dennard August 24 S Charles Clay August 24 WR Chris Harper August 24 ILB Korey Jones August 24 FB Ina Liaina August 24 QB Chase Rettig August 24 WR Gerrard Sheppard August 24 TE Colt Lyerla August 26 Injury settlement S Chris Banjo August 30 Practice squad WR Kevin Dorsey August 30 Practice squad ILB Jake Doughty August 30 OT John Fullington August 30 C Garth Gerhart August 30 Practice squad WR Alex Gillett August 30 DE Carlos Gray August 30 RB Michael Hill August 30 Practice squad OLB Adrian Hubbard August 30 Practice squad G Jordan McCray August 30 S Tanner Miller August 30 RB Rajion Neal August 30 Injury settlement TE Justin Perillo August 30 Practice squad RB LaDarius Perkins August 30 DE Luther Robinson August 30 Practice squad CB Jumal Rolle August 30 Practice squad ILB Joe Thomas August 30 Injury settlement OG Andrew Tiller August 30 Injury settlement OT Jeremy Vujnovich August 30 Practice squad WR Myles White August 30 Practice squad CB Ryan White August 30
Injured Reserve Position Player Date Notes TE Colt Lyerla August 21 waived/injured WR Jared Abbrederis August 26 OT Don Barclay August 26 RB Rajion Neal August 26 waived/injured NT B. J. Raji August 26 ILB Joe Thomas August 26 waived/injured OG Andrew Tiller August 26 waived/injured OT Aaron Adams August 30 waived/injured OLB Nate Palmer August 30 TE Jake Stoneburner August 30 waived/injured DE Khyri Thornton August 30
Trades Position Player Date traded 2014 team Compensation DE Jerel Worthy August 13 New England Patriots undisclosed draft pick*
Starters
Regular season
Offense + NameNameName Aaron Rodgers 16 Eddie Lacy 16 John Kuhn 2 Jordy Nelson 16 Randall Cobb 16 Davante Adams 9 Jarrett Boykin 3 Andrew Quarless 12 Richard Rodgers 5 Davante Adams 1 David Bakhtiari 16 Josh Sitton 16 Corey Linsley 16 T. J. Lang 16 Bryan Bulaga 15 Derek Sherrod 1
Defense POSNameGSNameGSNameGSNameGSNT Letroy Guion 16 DE Mike Daniels 16 DE Josh Boyd 4 Datone Jones 3 Mike Neal 1 OLB Clay Matthews III 11 Nick Perry 4 Mike Neal 2 OLB Julius Peppers 16 ILB A. J. Hawk 13 ILB Sam Barrington 7 Jamari Lattimore 5 Clay Matthews III 5 Brad Jones 1CB Tramon Williams 16 Davon House 4 CB Sam Shields 14 Micah Hyde 5 Casey Hayward 1 SS Morgan Burnett 15 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 1 FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 9 Micah Hyde 7
Postseason
Offense POSNameGSQB Aaron Rodgers 2RB Eddie Lacy 2FB John Kuhn 2WR Jordy Nelson 2WR Randall Cobb 2WR Davante Adams 2LT David Bakhtiari 2LG Josh Sitton 2C Corey Linsley 2RG T. J. Lang 2RT Bryan Bulaga 2
Defense POSNameGSNameGSNT Letroy Guion 2 DE Mike Daniels 2 DE Josh Boyd 1 OLB Clay Matthews III 2 OLB Julius Peppers 2 ILB A. J. Hawk 1 Nick Perry 1ILB Sam Barrington 2 CB Tramon Williams 2 CB Sam Shields 2 Micah Hyde 1SS Morgan Burnett 2 FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 2
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.com recap 1 August 9 at Tennessee Titans L 16–20 0–1 LP Field Recap 2 August 16 at St. Louis Rams W 21–7 1–1 Edward Jones Dome Recap 3 August 22 Oakland Raiders W 31–21 2–1 Lambeau Field Recap 4 August 28 Kansas City Chiefs W 34–14 3–1 Lambeau Field Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 4 at Seattle Seahawks L 16–36 0–1 CenturyLink Field Recap 2 September 14 New York Jets W 31–24 1–1 Lambeau Field Recap 3 September 21 at Detroit Lions L 7–19 1–2 Ford Field Recap 4 September 28 at Chicago Bears W 38–17 2–2 Soldier Field Recap 5 Minnesota Vikings W 42–10 3–2 Lambeau Field Recap 6 October 12 at Miami Dolphins W 27–24 4–2 Sun Life Stadium Recap 7 October 19 Carolina Panthers W 38–17 5–2 Lambeau Field Recap 8 at New Orleans Saints L 23–44 5–3 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 9 Bye 10 November 9 Chicago Bears W 55–14 6–3 Lambeau Field Recap 11 November 16 Philadelphia Eagles W 53–20 7–3 Lambeau Field Recap 12 November 23 at Minnesota Vikings W 24–21 8–3 TCF Bank Stadium Recap 13 November 30 New England Patriots W 26–21 9–3 Lambeau Field Recap 14 Atlanta Falcons W 43–37 10–3 Lambeau Field Recap 15 December 14 at Buffalo Bills L 13–21 10–4 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–3 11–4 Raymond James Stadium Recap 17 December 28 Detroit Lions W 30–20 12–4 Lambeau Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Playoff round Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap Wild Card First-round bye Divisional January 11, 2015 Dallas Cowboys (3) W 26–21 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap Conference January 18, 2015 at Seattle Seahawks (1) L 22–28 1–1 CenturyLink Field Recap
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks
The Packers 2014 regular season started in the NFL Kickoff game against the defending Super Bowl XLVIII Champion Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. This marks the first competitive contest between the two teams since the Fail Mary Game. The Seahawks defense proved too strong for the Packers, as Green Bay fell to 0–1.
Week 2: vs. New York Jets
After being down 21–3 midway through the second quarter, the Packers rallied back to a five-point halftime deficit. An 80-yard TD by Jordy Nelson in the third quarter gave the Packers a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Late in the 4th quarter, the Jets had one last chance to tie the game. On 4th down, Jets quarterback Geno Smith seemed to have thrown a game-tying touchdown pass, but an official announced that the Jets had called for a timeout just before the ball was snapped. A confused Jets head coach, Rex Ryan, argued with the officials that he didn't call for a timeout. A look at the video replay showed that Jets offensive coordinator, Mary Mornhinwig, started running to Ryan, calling for a timeout. Even though the rules said that only the head coach could call for a timeout in that situation, the official simply heard a voice shouting for a timeout, and unable to look back to see who it was, since it was just before the ball was snapped, the official assumed that Ryan called for the timeout. While the Jets were able to convert the 4th down after the timeout, they were unable to move the ball any further, and turned the ball over on downs, at which point the Packers ran out the final 3:31 of the clock to get their first victory of the season.
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
For the third straight season, the Packers started off with a 1–2 record. The Lions' defense dominated the game as the Packers failed to score any points in the second, third, or fourth quarter. The Packers crossed midfield on only three drives, and they had only one such drive in the second half. The Packers' 7 points represented the lowest total that the team scored in a game that Rodgers finished. Rodgers' 162 passing yards was his lowest since the 2008 season.
Week 4: at Chicago Bears
During the week prior to the Packers' crucial game against the rival 2–1 Bears, Aaron Rodgers addressed the concerns of many Packers fans, who felt that the season was already slipping away just three weeks in with a 1–2 record. In a radio interview, Rodgers said to the fans, "R-E-L-A-X. Relax." Rodgers was true to his word, completing 22 of 28 passes for 302 yards, 4 touchdown passes, 0 interceptions, and a passer rating of 151.2, making it the second game of his career where he had a passer rating of over 150. Two of his touchdown passes were to Randall Cobb as the Packers took advantage of two Jay Cutler interceptions, scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half in a 38–17 win, which was also the Packers' 700th regular season win in the NFL. This was only the second game in NFL history to not have a punt.
Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings