The Green Bay Packers got some bad news a day before their season finale against the Bears in Chicago: All Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari was lost for the season with a torn ACL. He will not be available for the playoffs this season.

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But ironically, the last two times the Packers won the Super Bowl they also had to overcome injuries along their offensive line. And this year’s club has the depth and talent to overcome the loss of their best offensive lineman.

In 1996, left tackle was also an issue for the Packers. Veteran Ken Ruettgers started the season at the position but was injured and eventually had to retire. The Packers tried journeymen Gary Brown at the position and Brown started five games with mixed results.

Rookie first-round pick John Michels was next up and he started nine games for the Packers. Like most rookies, Michels had some good games and some struggles. But for a team that had high hopes of winning a Super Bowl, relying on an inconsistent rookie was not ideal.

So, the Packers called on nine-year veteran Bruce Wilkerson. The former University of Tennessee star had experience starting for the Raiders and later played for the expansion Jaguars. The Packers signed him to add experienced depth at the position and the time for that was now.

Wilkerson started the season finale at left tackle against the Vikings at Lambeau Field. The Packers scored 38 points while gaining 440 total yards in the game and Wilkerson played well. He remained the starter at left tackle throughout the Packers two playoff wins over San Francisco and Carolina and in Green Bay’s 35-21 win over New England in Super Bowl XXXI.

In 2010, the Packers again overcame injuries to a key starter on the offensive line to win a championship. They started the season with 10-year veteran Mark Tauscher at right tackle. But after four games, Tauscher suffered a shoulder injury and was later placed on the injured reserve. The Packers turned to rookie first-round pick Bryan Bulaga for the rest of the season.

Bulaga started all 12 remaining regular season games and each of the Packers four postseason contests. In fact, Bulaga was the youngest player to start a Super Bowl when he took the field for the Packers against the Steelers in Super Bowl LXV.

Bulaga had a great first year in the league. In addition to winning the Super Bowl, he was named to the NFL’s All-Rookie Team. By the end of the season, there was little doubt who the Packers new right tackle was going to be and Bulaga held the position for 10 seasons except when he missed time due to injury.

The 2020 Packers have a lot more injuries to deal with along the offensive line. They lost starting right guard Lane Taylor for the season in the Week 1 victory in Minnesota. Lucas Patrick stepped up and filled in admirably. Center Corey Linsley missed three games late in the season due to injury. It cost Linsley Pro Bowl honors, but the Packers got solid center play from Elgton Jenkins who shifted from left guard to center and played well at that position. Jenkins has also played both tackle positions for the Packers this season because of the injuries that struck the offensive line.

GM Brian Gutekunst has prized offensive linemen who can play multiple positions and it has paid off handsomely for the Packers this season. Jenkins can play anywhere along the offensive line. Patrick can play either guard position or center. Billy Turner has played both tackle positions and guard for the Pack. Free agent signee Rick Wagner has filled in at both tackles and played blocking tight end in one game when Marcedes Lewis was hurt. Rookie guard Jon Runyan, Jr. stepped up and played well when he had to fill in because of in-game injuries.

The Packers offensive line has stuck together throughout the season. The strong play of all the linemen is a big reason quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked only 20 times all season and that the Packers led the league in points scored.

The Packers have the depth and versatility to overcome the injury to Bakhtiari and get the job done in the postseason.

The last two times the Packers won the Super Bowl, they had to overcome offensive line injuries to win a championship. Will 2020 be the third time the team manages to accomplish that feat? The potential is there. Now the team needs to rise to the challenge.

You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

Positive thoughts Gil, let's hope history repeats itself this year and we capture another SB. I'm feeling pretty good about the OL right now , here's hoping they and the rest of the team can avoid further injuries for the playoff run.

That was then, this is now. The Buks will (again) make Rodgers life difficult. Both them and Carolina had a way to mess up Aaron’s plan at the line. A good run game and quick throws is the answer.

Anything less than another Lombardi in Titletown this year will mean it's a failure. 13-3 or Rodgers being MVP are great, but meaningless unless they bring home the hardware. I'd never say this before a season began, but at this point, yes, that is the reality IMO.

Anything less than another Lombardi in Titletown this year will mean it's a failure. 13-3 or Rodgers being MVP are great, but meaningless unless they bring home the hardware. I'd never say this before a season began, but at this point, yes, that is the reality IMO.

Wilkerson was the unsung hero of that championship team in '96. But I've never thought of the 2010 team as having OL problems to overcome. Tauscher got hurt early in the year, and they had an NFL-ready first-round draft pick ready to take his place. The situation this year is more like '96, but they are better prepared than they were then. Most people thought the Packers overpaid for Billy Turner last year, but right now it is looking like money well spent--in a big way.

The playoffs are a new tournament - Remember when the Pack was 13-3 with Favre under center didnt beat the Giants in Lambeau? Remember the Giants beat the previously unbeaten 18-0 Patriots to win the SBowl. Now so far today the 10-6 Rams beat the 12-4 Seahawks - and other teams that have qualified below 500 have won their first playoff game so Washington has a chance - I dont think so but you always have a chance. I am happy that the Pack are playing at home but to just jump to Ricky's conclusion that is would be a big disappointment is false and Stroh is correct. When we looked at the hard schedule at the start of the season the fact that we are 13-3 exceeded my and most prognosticators expectations. Today I expect at least to get a Division Championship game at Lambeau. And I will not be happy if we lose as long as we play well - but these games can change on a few bounces or on another team playing lights out or a bad call - remember New Orleans 2 years ago. I think that we are set up to get our points and as long as the weather doesnt go completely crazy we will have an advantage over many warm weather teams which will mean everybody except the Bears and the Washington team. But it is nice to be here and watch these other teams beat on each other. For example if it is the Rams Cupp and Donald are both under the weather.

Look no further than the picture. The return of Corey Linsley is crucial for the stretch run IMO.

Rams or Bears - Rams or Bears - I would rather see the Rams. I think that the Rams are a tougher match up -especially their D - but it is also hard to beat any team 3 times in a season. I just want to see us/ Lafluer beat McVay

Good research Gil! The parallels are interesting. Both the Rams and the Bears bring strong front sevens to the party, so our O-line will have to be stout going forward. The only serious blemish the O-line had all year was Tampa Bay and as long as they don't repeat that in the playoffs, the Packers will have an opportunity.

Linsley did make 1st team all pro, didn't he? That beats going to the Pro Bowl.