Super Bowl Predictions 2012: Green Bay Packers Need Defense to Step Up to Repeat

The case for Aaron Rodgers to be the NFL MVP doubles all too easily as an argument against the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl title defense.

That is, the Packers have succeeded in the standings this season despite a dramatic drop-off in performance from their defense, thanks in large part to A-Rod's stellar play.

Believe me, folks, drop-offs don't get much more dramatic than the one Green Bay's D has endured from their championship run to the present day. The Packers went from fifth in total defense in 2010 to dead-last in 2011. They plummeted from second in points per game allowed to 19th. 

Why the decline, you ask? Well, there's Cullen Jenkins' move to the Philadelphia Eagles, Tramon Williams' return to Earth, Charles Woodson's aging, Clay Matthews' sharp backslide in productivity and, presumably, B.J. Raji's wayward foray into discount double-checking.

Rodgers has done plenty to mask the Packers' defensive deficiencies with a stratospheric season of his own, though the defense has done plenty to help itself, notching an NFL-best 38 takeaways along the way.

For Green Bay to retain its title atop the NFL, head coach Mike McCarthy has to hope that his defense won't break after all that bending, and that ball hawks like Woodson, Williams, Matthews, Sam Shields and Charlie Peprah can pepper their opponents with just enough pressure to give Rodgers the go-ahead on the other end.

The Packers managed to squeeze Eli Manning for two crucial turnovers when they narrowly defeated the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium earlier this season. They'll likely need a similarly ball-jarring effort to keep a sizzling Big Blue squad at bay on Sunday.

The same goes for the NFC Championship Game against either the San Francisco 49ers or the New Orleans Saints, and will likely be a significant storyline should the Packers advance to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI.

In any case, Green Bay will need its defense to play closer to its previous form if it is to replicate its former success. Rodgers is certainly capable of carrying the Packers most of the way, but with his offensive line and his receiving corps a bit banged up, he'll need all the help he can get from his buddies on the other side of the ball if he's going to keep that title belt slung comfortably over his shoulder.

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