NFL Power Rankings Week 1: Green Bay Packers Still the NFL's Best

Much has been made about the offseason acquisitions of the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles heading into Week 1 of the NFL season; so much so that some are picking them over the defending champion Green Bay Packers for the Super Bowl.

But while the Patriots and Eagles undoubtedly improved their respective squads, the Packers should still be considered the favorites to win the Super Bowl again.

There hasn't been a whole lot of hype for the Packers heading into this season because they didn't sign any significant free agents and lost top defensive end Cullen Jenkins.

But these are the defending Super Bowl champions. By largely keeping their squad intact, they are still the favorite at this point. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers became a superstar last season, passing for over 3,900 yards and 28 touchdowns to 11 interceptions on his way to Super Bowl MVP honors. He picked apart a vaunted Pittsburgh Steelers defense in the process, by the way.

This season, Rodgers still has his favorite wide receivers, including one of the best in the NFL in Greg Jennings. He also is backed by one of the league's best defenses led by cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker Clay Matthews, the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year last season.

In terms of a complete team, the Packers still have the best combination of offense and defense in the NFL, with apologies to Michael Vick and the Eagles.

I didn't think it was possible for the Packers to be ignored coming into this season, but in some ways it feels like that, and it's only going to help a Packers squad ready to do damage in 2011.

The one concern for the Packers, with the loss of Jenkins, is the depth at defensive end, and multiple injuries could see them overtaken in 2011. But if they are able to stay healthy in that department, I see no reason why they can't repeat in 2011.

The road may be more difficult, it may not, but while the landscape has changed, the Packers have largely remained the same, and that's a good thing.