Green Bay Packers: Why Aaron Rodgers and His Crew Can't Win NFC North

With the Green Bay Packers set to square off against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, now seems like a great time to look at the NFL's only publicly-owned team.

Green Bay has been a popular pick to win the NFC North and make the Super Bowl in 2010, but don't go crowning the Packers just yet. Here are 10 reasons why Green Bay doesn't have what it takes to take the NFC North title. 

10. The Detroit Lions

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DETROIT - SEPTEMBER 19: Jahvid Best #44 of the Detroit Lions runs for a first down during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles as Ellis Hobbs #31 attempts to make the stop during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 19, 2010 i

Before we start, let's get one thing clear: The Detroit Lions aren't all that good this year. Their offense is inconsistent (at least until Matt Stafford returns), the defense can't stop anyone, and they're at least a year away from being a playoff contender.

That being said, they haven't been completely terrible through three games this year. They played both the Eagles and Bears (a couple of high-octane offensive teams) extremely close, nearly pulling out victories in both clashes. While they aren't going to win the NFC North, they're also not going to be a guaranteed victory like they have been in recent seasons. With a competitive Lions team, it becomes infinitely harder for Green Bay to win the NFC North. 

9. Mike McCarthy

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers leaves the field after his team was defeated 51-45 by the Arizona Cardinals in overtime in the 2010 NFC wild-card playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 20

Mike McCarthy is a good coach. He's guided the Packers to three years with a .500 or better record in his four full seasons as the Packers' head coach, and has them sitting at 2-0 in his fifth. He led Green Bay to the NFC Championship game in 2007, and the Wild Card in 2009.

But McCarthy hasn't yet been able to get over the hump in Green Bay. His team fell to the New York Giants in 2007, despite being heavily favored, and fell to the Cardinals last year when his defense fell apart. Since Brett Favre left Green Bay, McCarthy has a 1-3 record against the Vikings, and hasn't beaten them since Favre arrived. Until he proves he can win the division without the old gunslinger, McCarthy will just be another coach. 

8. Aaron Rodgers

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GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 19: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks for a receiver against the Buffalo Bills at Lambeau Field on September 19, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Bills 34-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Im

Aaron Rodgers is supposed to be the Packers quarterback of the future, and in the three years he's been the team's starter, he's certainly looked the part. He's thrown for over 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, and heroically kept the Packers in the game when the Cardinals went off in the Wild Card round of last year's playoffs.

But Rodgers has looked mortal through two games in 2010, throwing a pair of interceptions against a lackluster Eagles secondary, and failing to eviscerate the Bills' defense in the way many expected him to in Week 2. He's also 0-2 against Brett Favre in his career, a monkey that will get bigger the longer his futility lasts. Until Rodgers can beat Favre, this team can't win the NFC North. 

7. Prior Success

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TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 08: Defensive end Stylz G. White #91 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sacks quarterback Aaron Rogers #12 of the Green Bay Packers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 8, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the

While Rodgers has looked good in each of his first two seasons at the helm, the Packers have yet to be a dominant force in the NFL during his tenure. Many saw this year as being the year it would happen, but through two games, they have yet to flash that dominance through an entire game. 

The Packers might be 2-0, but they have yet to play a division foe, and in their first road test, they struggled. Until they show us that they can fulfill their potential and have success, their track record indicates that Green Bay won't win the NFC North. 

6. Wide Receiver Depth

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Greg Jennings #85 of the Green Bay Packers rushes after a catch during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 12, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Image

The Packers have one of the better wideouts in football in Greg Jennings, and a veteran presence in Donald Driver, so they're not in bad shape. But after that pair, things go a little bit squiffy. Jordy Nelson hasn't broken 400 yards receiving in a season, and James Jones has only broken the 500-yard mark once, in his rookie season. 

Jennings is a supreme talent, but Driver is in the twilight of his career. At 35 years old, he's lost a step, and while his route running is superb, he could become somewhat injury prone as he gets older. If something happens to him, the Packers lack a proven option to replace him with, which could be serious problem.

5. The Run Defense

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Runningback Beanie Wells #26 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes the football during the 2010 NFC wild-card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona.

The Packers' pass defense and pass rush are excellent in 2010. Through two games, they rank third in both yards and touchdowns allowed through the air. 

But the Pack's run defense has looked awfully shaky for a team favored to win their division. They've given up the fourth-most yards in the NFL through two games, and opposing backs are averaging 5.3 yards per carry. With Matt Forte, Jahvid Best, and Adrian Peterson in their division, those numbers have to get better, or the Pack will be in trouble. 

4. The Schedule

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GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 19: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers rolls out to look for a receiver against the Buffalo Bills at Lambeau Field on September 19, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Bills 34-7. (Photo by Jonathan Da

The Packers' 2010 schedule does them no favors. Other than their Week 2 clash with Buffalo, there is no one on Green Bay's schedule who is a guaranteed victory. 

The Lions have looked scrappy thus far, while the Redskins, Dolphins, Jets, Cowboys, 49ers, Falcons, Patriots, and Giants will each present a significant threat to their chances. With that kind of a schedule, Green Bay will have a tough time winning its division. 

3. The Minnesota Vikings

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 26, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the

Sure, the Vikings are 1-2 through three weeks. Sure, quarterback Brett Favre is starting to show his age after 18 seasons of non-stop starting. Sure the defense hasn't been terribly good, and the offense has lacked punch at times.

But when it comes down to it, the Vikings are the defending division champs, and can still get the job done when the need arises, as we saw on Sunday against Detroit. They're not going to go quietly into that good night, and they haven't lost to the Packers since Favre donned the purple, horned helmet. 

2. Brandon Jackson

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GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 19: Brandon Jackson #32 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills at Lambeau Field on September 19, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Bills 34-7. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel

With typical starting running back and workhorse Ryan Grant out with an ankle injury, the Packers run game takes a serious hit. Into the void left by Grant steps Brandon Jackson, a fourth-year back out of Nebraska. 

While Jackson is a fairly dynamic runner, he's not quite as big or strong as Grant was. There are serious questions about his ability to be a reliable every-down caliber back, and after his 11 carry, 29-yard performance against Buffalo, those questions are getting bigger and louder. With Jackson getting most of the carries for Green Bay, the Packers will struggle mightily to win the NFC North. 

1. The Chicago Bears

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 19: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Through two weeks of the season, the Chicago Bears have looked pretty good. With a solid win over the Lions followed by a strong victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago may have finally found their identity. 

Quarterback Jay Cutler has looked great in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system, while the defense seems to be returning to the form they had in 2008 and 2007. Matt Forte has looked like the back people expected him to be after his 2008 campaign, and even the offensive line seems to be holding up well.

Monday night's game against the Packers will go a long way towards determining who the dominant team in the NFC North is in 2010, but even if the Bears fall, they pose a serious threat to the Packers' title hopes.