Which Teams Can Dethrone the Packers?

Added on Dec 06, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

For those keeping track, the Green Bay Packers are really good. The undefeated defending champions have won 18 consecutive games going back to December of 2010 and seem poised to run that streak to 22, if not more. Regardless of whether or not they run the regular season table, they are the clear-cut favorites to once again hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy two months from now. That doesn’t mean they will. Here’s a short list of teams capable of crashing Green Bay’s Super Bowl bus.

New Orleans Saints (9-3) – Don’t look now, but the 2009 champs are rounding into shape at the right time. Winners of four straight, they should finish as no worse than the number three seed in the NFC. They also have the luxury of having played the Packers in Week 1, losing 42-34 at Lambeau. Drew Brees is having another record-setting season and a renewed running game led by rookie Mark Ingram has helped balance the offense. The defense is merely average, but if any defensive coordinator can devise a gameplan to slow down Aaron Rodgers, it’s Gregg Williams. Bottom line: never count out Drew Brees, who is playing just as well as Rodgers.

San Francisco 49ers (10-2) – Here’s the problem with the Niners: they haven’t beaten a great team. Their two losses have come against Dallas and Baltimore. Narrow victories over the Bengals and Lions, and an improbable comeback in Philadelphia looked impressive a month ago, but not so much today. They do boast the league’s best scoring defense and top ranked rush defense, although a suspect pass defense would be exploited by both Rodgers and Brees. Bottom line: they are the product of a horrible division and lack the offensive skill to hang with the big boys.

Dallas Cowboys (7-5) – They knocked off the 49ers and took the Patriots to the wire, but were blown out by the Eagles and taken to overtime by Washington and Arizona, losing to the latter. A perfect game would be needed against Green Bay, meaning no breakdowns in the secondary and no mental errors from Tony Romo. Bottom line: they lack the discipline to spring an upset.

New England Patriots (9-3) – A Pats-Packers Super Bowl looks epic on paper. But a deplorable pass defense that allowed Dan Orlovsky to toss for 353 yards might yield 600 to Rodgers. Brady is certainly capable of carving up a vulnerable Packers secondary, but he might have to score 50 to win. Bottom line: getting into a shootout with Rodgers isn’t a recipe for winning.

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) – A Super Bowl XLV rematch is enticing. The defense might be playing better than it did in 2010. The emergence of wide receiver Antonio Brown has given Ben Roethlisberger a legitimate target alongside Mike Wallace. They beat the Patriots, but were swept by Baltimore and dumped by Houston. On the bright side, they have yet to allow a 300-yard passer and completely flummoxed Tom Brady. Bottom line: a veteran defense and a big name quarterback is Green Bay’s worst enemy.

Houston Texans (9-3) – The addition of coordinator Wade Phillips has transformed an atrocious defense into a dominant one. The backfield duo of Arian Foster and Ben Tate can control the clock. Injuries at quarterback and wide receiver have limited the offense, and Drew Brees torched the defense for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Bottom line: unless rookie T.J. Yates is the second coming of Tom Brady, the outlook is bleak.

Baltimore Ravens (9-3) – A stout defense and wins over Pittsburgh, Houston, San Francisco and the Jets makes them dangerous. However, Joe Flacco is the definition of a game manager. His 13 touchdown passes is fewest among the playoff bound quarterbacks who have started the majority of the season. Bottom line: they could be the 2007 Giants or they could be one and done.

Denver Broncos (7-5) – By now we have all learned to never count out Tim Tebow.