The Green Bay Packers are off to a perfect 4-0 start as they enter the bye week. During this unusual year, the players are not allowed to leave Green Bay because of the Covid-19 protocols designed to keep the virus from spreading throughout the league. So, in this crazy year, even the bye week is different.

Here are five observations about the Packers 4-0 start to the 2020 NFL season as they head into the bye week:

1. Aaron Rodgers Is Elite Again

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is off to an outstanding start. Through four games, he is among a handful of players in the running for league MVP. That would be his third.

Rodgers said it best earlier this week on the Pat McAfee show: “I sometimes laugh when people talk about down years for me because a lot of times down years for me are career years for most quarterbacks.”

Through four games, Rodgers has not had a quarterback rating lower than 107.6. He has thrown for 13 touchdowns and no interceptions and the team has scored 30 or more points in all four games.

Most importantly, Rodgers seems extremely comfortable in the offense and has accomplished these impressive numbers without Davante Adams, Allen Lazard and Equanimeous St. Brown for various games and with an offensive line that has been hit my multiple injuries as well.

Still, Rodgers has been Aaron Freakin’ Rodgers again, using the hard count to draw opponents offsides, finding open receivers and managing the offense in virtuoso fashion.

If Rodgers keeps this up, the Packers must be considered true Super Bowl contenders.

2. Matt LaFleur Has Stepped Up His Game in Year Two

Matt LaFleur has done a great job in many areas so far this season. First, he deserves credit for keeping this team unified and together through some very tough obstacles. Covid-19 canceled OTAs, rookie camp and all four preseason games. Still, the team remained unified and prepared. He was also able to keep the team together and demonstrate his leadership after the tragic death of George Floyd and the concerns many players had in its aftermath.

On the field, LaFleur installed more of his offense this season and did so in a way where he and Rodgers remained on the same page and unified. The offense has been outstanding through the first four games.

Also outstanding was LaFleur’s game planning. Regardless of what the defense tried to take away or what injuries took away, he found a way to keep the team’s offense clicking. Each week, a different Packers player stepped up and had a great game whether it was Davante Adams in the season opener, Aaron Jones against Detroit, Allen Lazard in New Orleans or Robert Tonyan against the Falcons.

3. Some Young Players Have Stepped Up and Surprised

The Packers have had several young players step up and get the job done this season due to injuries. Most people questioned who would play at ILB opposite Christian Kirksey but few people predicted it would be undrafted rookie Krys Barnes. The former UCLA star is currently second on the team in tackles and has graded out very well against the run in the team’s first four contests.

Kingsley Keke has stepped up his game in his second season as has Rashan Gary before he got hurt. Both these players have helped the defense improve in 2020 while second-year man Ty Summers has filled in admirably while Kirksey has been out of the lineup due to an injury.

On offense, Jon Runyan has stepped up and played well when called upon despite a lack of preseason action and Josiah Deguara looked promising before an injury ended his season.

4. Injuries Have Been a Huge Issue

Because of the lack of offseason conditioning and practices due to Covid-19, injuries have been a bigger issue league wide and the Packers are no exception.

The Pack has already lost starting guard Lane Taylor and rookie tight end Josiah Deguara to season-ending injuries.

Meanwhile, three of the Pack’s top four wide receivers have missed time (Davante Adams, Allen Lazard and Equanimeous St. Brown) but the offense hasn’t missed a beat. Their best blocking tight end, Marcedes Lewis has also missed a game because of injuries.

In addition to Taylor, Billy Turner, Corey Linsley and Rick Wagner have all missed time due to injuries but the offensive line has found a way to keep playing well.

On defense, the Pack has been without their leading tackler for a game and a half (Kirksey) and their best defensive lineman, Kenny Clark, has only played in one game but the defense has still found ways to get the job done.

The secondary has seen injuries to Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Raven Greene and Will Redmond but continues to play well.

This is all a testament to the team’s depth and coaching.

5. Some Players Who Have Been Quietly Playing Well

While Aaron Rodgers, Jaire Alexander, Davante Adams, Za’Darius Smith and Aaron Jones get a lot of the attention, several Packers players have stepped up and had strong starts to the season without getting much fanfare.

Let’s start with Tyler Lancaster who has stepped up his game in the absence of Clark and played the run very well. The former Northwestern star has made some good tackles and has shown good hustle on several occasions.

Corey Linsley has been one of the league’s better centers but like most offensive linemen, you only hear about him when he commits penalties or gives up a sack. Linsley is playing for a contract and if you watch the film, has been one of the best centers in the league thus far with a consistent performance in both run blocking and pass blocking.

Left tackle David Bakhtiari continues to be one of the league’s elite at that position and deserves Pro Bowl consideration.

Rick Wagner has done a good job filling in when called upon and has been especially effective in pass protection although again, offensive linemen rarely get notice for their good work.

On defense, Barnes and Keke have surprised people with their strong play while Raven Greene played well in his first extended action of the season against Atlanta.

Overall, the Packers must be extremely pleased with their play through four games. There is still room for improvement but right now, this team looks like one of the league’s top contenders through the bye week.