The Green Bay Packers Get No Respect: Why Skeptics Are Doing Them a Favor

Where is the respect for the Green Bay Packers?

Despite Vegas listing them as two-point favorites against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, it is apparent that the Pack have yet to be respected in a manner they deserve.

For them, this is a good thing.

Underdogs in each of their three playoff matches, the Packers have silenced their critics.

They went into Philadelphia and contained the electric Michael Vick, then into Atlanta, posting nearly 50 points on the one-seeded Falcons.

Finally, they set their sights on the Bears at Soldier Field, controlling the game and earning a trip to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1997.

As a reminder--their opponents made up the top three seeds of the NFC.

The Packers were 5th against the pass this season. Led by Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, Tramon Williams and Nick Collins, expect the defense to continue their stifling play.

Just ask the New York Jets what they're capable of--they were shut out by the Packers in Week 8.

Although Pittsburgh's run defense has been the talk of the league all season, their pass defense has been burned numerous times. The Packers are a one-dimensional passing juggernaut, and Aaron Rodgers should have success against a moderate secondary.

The presence of Troy Polamalu inhibits the rest of the Steelers defense. Hopefully, he can bail out Ike Taylor, who was burned by Santonio Holmes during the AFC Championship game against the Jets.

Green Bay is on a hot streak at the perfect time. To win the Super Bowl, they'll need the momentum gained from their three straight road victories in the playoffs, and Aaron Rodgers will need to continue his great leadership.

Let's not forget their stellar defense, which has only allowed an average of 17 ppg this postseason.

Flying under the radar is proving to work for Green Bay, and this lack of respect should benefit them come Super Bowl XLV.

What better time to prove your critics wrong, than the Super Bowl?