Why Green Bay Packers Receiving Corps Is Not the Best in NFL

Just offering an alternative view, I'm actually a believer in Green Bay's massive arsenal. Just FYI.

It's hard to find anyone these days that disagrees with the notion that the game's best receiving corps belongs to Green Bay. In fact, it's almost downright impossible.

From the NFL Network to ESPN, experts, fans, players and even critics alike all agree that Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and now Randall Cobb easily combine to be the game's best.

I certainly feel like they're one of the best, but to say that they are easily better than everyone else I feel is a stretch, and here's why.

The Quarterback

Wait, what? Isn't that an argument for the Packers receiving corps?

Yes, and no. If a quarterback plays extremely well, it leaves them susceptible  to the argument, "oh he just looks good because of that receiving corps". However, it can also work the other way around. What if the receiving corps just looks really good because the quarterback?

Jermichael Finely went down, Donald Driver was either out or ineffective for half the season, and James Jones was wildly inconsistent. And yet, Aaron Rodgers not only kept himself from getting worse as his weapons began to drop left and right, he continued to play even better!

Rodgers threw nine interceptions in the first seven games of the season. From that point on, til the Super Bowl, Rodgers only threw four more, two of which weren't even his fault.

Further more, Rodgers worked with arguably the worst running game in the league, and was sacked 31 times in the 15 games he started. 31 sacks isn't bad, but it's certainly not good either.

How does a guy do that? The only answer I can find is that he's simply that good. So good, he makes his receivers look good.

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is probably every bit as good as Rodgers is, yet when he began to lose some weapons last season, he clearly began to drop production.

Brees threw a career high 22 interceptions last season. So when it comes to comparing him to Rodgers, why can't this "elite" quarterback do what Rodgers did?

But that aside, it's clear that the Saints actually have a better receiving corps than Green Bay does. Why?

It's very simple. They managed to accumulate more than 5,000 totals yards in 2008. And many of the players made that happen are still playing with the Saints. Some have even gotten better.

The Saints can probably make the strongest case of all that their receivers are a better group than Green Bay's.

San Diego Chargers

The Bolts lost their H.O.F. running back, and the man to replace him, Ryan Matthews, was often injured. Vincent Jackson, their No. 1 receiver, was suspended for a few games and then held—out for a new contract.

Yet, the San Diego Chargers were the No. 1 ranked overall offense in 2010, with Philip Rivers throwing over 4,700 yards.

Most say, "Well that's just how talented Rivers is," and there's certainly some truth to that. But in the time that Matthews wasn't playing, Mike Tolbert filled in as a decent back-up, and Rivers still played with the likes of Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd.

Not to mention, Rivers threw 541 passes last season, a career high by more than 50 passing attempts. Any quarterback will look good when they throw more yards as long as they're throwing the ball more.

The Bolts can make a strong case that they have a better receiving corps than Green Bay.

Any More?

The Indianapolis Colts have held one of the most consistent receiving corps in past decade. With the likes of Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne thrown in there, and younger receivers coming in like Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon emerging as new threats, another case can made here.

Except for one problem. Peyton Manning is the quarterback, and almost any receiver that has ever played with him, played at an extremely high level.

The Houston Texans also boast one of the more explosive offenses in the league, and they accumulated over 4,700 yards back in 2009. The man leading that offense beyond any doubt is Andre Johnson, and he's playing as well as ever.