10 Reasons the Green Bay Packers Will NOT Make the Playoffs in 2011

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers!

They made the playoffs as a number six seed and won three games on the road to get to the Super Bowl.

They deserved to win the championship this year.

Aaron Rodgers is one of the most visible players on the Packers.  It was great to see him win a championship ring, and the Most Valuable Player award, which he deserved.

Green Bay's defense was underrated all season, and they played great at the end of the season.

As strong as Green Bay played, here are 10 reasons they will not make the playoffs next year.

Reason 1: Aaron Rodgers' Head

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LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 10: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers lays on the ground after a hard hit against the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter at FedExField on October 10, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Redskins won the game in overtime

Rodgers had two concussions this year. Here we see him on the turf against the Washington Redskins, a game Green Bay lost in overtime.

Rodgers doesn't play well after getting hit in the head. That's not a criticism of his toughness, he is worthy of his MVP award in the Super Bowl, and in all three playoff games as well.

However, when he gets hit in the head, it changes the way he throws the ball. Look at the second half of the NFC Championship game. After getting hit by the Chicago Bears, the second half possessions were five punts and an interception.

Reason 2: Jordy Nelson Is Not a Cheese-Head Wes Welker

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Jordy Nelson #87 of the Green Bay Packers goes up for a pass against Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Jordy Nelson caught nine passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Rodgers threw to him 15 times.

Nelson is becoming a legend in Green Bay. He's the cheese-head version of Wes Welker.

Except that he's not. He's an excellent wide receiver, but he's not an elite wide receiver.

And because he had such a great Super Bowl, the coaches are going to target him more. They will think he can sustain this level of excellence.

He can't.

He will average five catches a game next year, and he will drop the ball at least five times a game.

And his drops will cost the Packers at least two victories.

Reason 3: Charles Woodson

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball against Charles Woodson #21 of the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 31-25. (

Charles Woodson is a great cornerback. He could start on any team in the NFL.

However, he is 34, and he's been in the NFL for 13 years. He is not the same player he was 13 years ago, and the beating he has taken counts for something.

He does not need surgery to repair his broken clavicle and plans to play again next year. How aggressively will he approach running backs weighing 40 pounds more than him?

He will play, because he's an icon in Green Bay, and the NFL, but he will not be as effective.

Look for two interceptions, which is how many he had this year.

Reason 4: The Running Game

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Running back Brandon Jackson #32 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by Brian Urlacher #54 of the Chicago Bears in the second half in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo b

The Packers rushed for 50 yards in the title game. The Packers ran 55 offensive plays, 39 of them were passes.

Brandon Jackson led the team in rushing this year. He went for 703 yards. In the four playoff games, he rushed for 28 yards.

The second leading regular season rusher was Rodgers, who scored more touchdowns rushing than Jackson and had a higher average per carry.

NFL teams will adjust to the passing game.

Green Bay needs a real running back; they don't have one.

Reason 5: Chicago Bears Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Offensive coordinator Mike Martz of the Chicago Bears reacts in the second half against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan

The Bears are going to win the NFC Central next year because of Mike Martz. The wild card is not going to come from the NFC Central, therefore the Packers will not make the playoffs.

Martz is a great offensive coach. He was a coach with the St. Louis Rams, and in his seven seasons there he went to two Super Bowls.

He has a record of 55-5 with a lead at any time in the fourth quarter, which is the best of all time.

Look for the Bears to dump Jay Cutler and ride an offensive storm to dominate the NFC Central.

Reason 6: The New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is congratulated by Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants after their game at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Green Bay won the wild card by winning the last game of the season at home against the Bears.

Their record was 10-6, and there were two other NFC teams who went 10-6 and did not make the playoffs: Tampa Bay and the New York Giants.

The Giants lost to Green Bay and the Philadelphia Eagles (twice). However, Eli Manning passed for over 4,000 yards and Ahmad Bradshaw ran for over 1,200.

Next year, they could get Plaxico Burress back.

Reason 7: Injuries

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: A.J. Hawk #50 of the Green Bay Packers addresses the media during Super Bowl XLV Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 1, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Green Bay Pa

Green Bay was picked by many to go to the Super Bowl during the preseason, due to the strength of the defense and the play of Rodgers.

Those are the two reasons they won the Super Bowl this year and won three playoff games on the road.

They did struggle with injuries this year.

A lot of injuries.

Six opening day starters went on injured reserve this year including Jermichael Finley, Ryan Grant and Nick Barnett.

Green Bay is not going to escape next year without injuries, but the outcome will be different.

Reason 8: Jessica Szohr

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Actress Jessica Szohr attends a private dinner hosted by Audi during Super Bowl XLV Weekend at the Audi Forum Dallas on February 5, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Audi)

This is a picture of Rodgers' alleged girlfriend Jessica Szohr. She is a beautiful woman and the star of CW's hit show "Gossip Girl." She is also semi-famous.

Here is the problem when quarterbacks start dating celebrities: Their performance gets worse.

Look no further than Tony Romo.

Reason 9: Clay Matthews, the WWE and the Grammys

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 24: Hulk Hogan gestures to the audience during his Hulkamania Tour at the Burswood Dome on November 24, 2009 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews guest-refereed the World Championship match between Dolph Ziggler and Edge.

Several Packers were in attendance and they showed off their championship belts.

On Sunday, Matthews is going to present a Grammy Award.

Every single member of the Packers deserves to be out celebrating their championship. They deserve it, and no one should begrudge them any of the limelight.

There are 31 other teams who are not at the Grammys on Sunday night, and they are focused and getting ready for next season.

Reason 10: There May Not Be a Next Season

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 07: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (R) pose with the MVP trophy after speaking to the media during a press conference at Super Bowl XLV Media Center on February 7, 2011 in Dallas,

The NFL owners and players association has not yet reached a labor deal to allow for a season next year.

There are several outcomes, including a strike, substitute players or no season at all.

The NFL, better than any other professional sports league, does a great job getting money out of the fans. A strike would not devastate the league, but would be foolish.

Look for a labor deal to happen, but it will take some time and there will be some ugly headlines.

But the dollars will prevail, and next season should happen.

For now we need to focus on Roger, not Rodgers.