Packers vs. Saints: 17 Reasons This Is the NFC Championship Game Preview

As you'll no doubt hear over and over today, the Packers-Saints game that kicks off the 2011 NFL season is a showdown between the two most recent Super Bowl champions.

Even though there is a pretty rich history of world champions struggling with the proverbial "hangover," it's a safe bet to assume these two clubs are contenders to go back and represent the NFC this February in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Now, as good as both the Saints and Packers are (and they certainly are the cream of the crop, especially in the NFC), they will need a little bit of luck to return to the conference championship. 

So, here is a laundry list of reasons why the Pack and Saints will meet again in late January, partly because of their own dominance, partly because of holes in the other contenders. 

No. 17: The Giants and the Curse of Plaxico Burress

I really thought the Giants were poised to have a fine year in 2011....well, until about a month ago. 

They made the right moves by re-signing Ahmad Bradshaw and not trading Osi Umenyiora and had a really great draft with Prince Amukamara, Marvin Austin and Greg Jones. 

But you know what followed: injuries, injuries and more injuries. 

It's almost impossible for them to overcome the losses of Terrell Thomas, Austin, Jonathan Goff, Clint Sintim and Amukamara for at least a month. 

Now, would re-signing Plaxico Burress have avoided those injuries? No. However, it certainly does make for a nice discussion of a "curse," having let him go to the Jets. 

No. 16: The Return of Ryan Grant

Plenty of clubs have won Super Bowls with mediocre running games: The 2002 Bucs did it, the 2001 Patriots did it and so did the Saints of 2009. 

But last year's Packers seemed to have set a new standard. They lost their starting running back, Ryan Grant, in Week 1, then won a Super Bowl. 

So now that Grant is back, there is certainly reason to believe that incredible offense will only get better.

The return of Grant doesn't necessarily make the Packers offense as balanced and explosive as, say, the Greatest Show on Turf, which had Marshall Faulk and a ridiculously great passing attack.

However, it does give them even more options and a bit more of an explosive runner than they had with James Starks and Brandon Jackson.

No. 15: Julio Jones Isn't Randy Moss—And He Doesn't Play Defense, Either

Don't get me wrong, I think trading up to get Julio Jones in this year's draft was a master stroke by the Falcons and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. It has the potential to make a very good offense historic. 

But look for that to happen in 2012, not this year. 

It's just so rare that college wide receivers transition right away to stardom at the NFL level, and given the time lost during the lockout it's even more unlikely. 

While I think Jones will have his moments and the Falcons offense will again be outstanding, the Saints and Packers are each capable of knocking them out of the postseason. 

Given the way their secondary was exposed in the divisional loss last year, they really are vulnerable against the Saints and Packers, who both have first-rate passers and tremendous depth at the wide receiver position. 

No. 14: Jimmy Graham Is a Superstar in the Making

On a team as loaded at the wide receiver position as the Saints are, it takes a special talent to stand out as a tight end, but Jimmy Graham does.

They were so willing to let Jeremy Shockey go in part because Graham is so physically impressive and had such a standout season as a rookie last year. 

And since David Thomas will handle some of the more traditional tight end duties, Graham should be free to be the pass catcher over the middle that the Saints really need, considering that Lance Moore, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson stretch the field so effectively. 

Graham may not catch 70 passes, be an All-Pro or even play every down, but he will play a huge role in that offense. 

No. 13: The Cowboys Defense Won't Hold Up

As much as the Cowboys offense struggled last year with the absence of Tony Romo and then Dez Bryant's injury, it was the defense that was most directly responsible for their disastrous 2010.

So it shouldn't be too surprising that Wade Phillips, the defense's architect, was canned. 

Bringing in Rob Ryan was a great move and it will certainly improve their performance, beginning in Week 1. However, the Ryan brothers have been able to be so cocky and/or confident with their defense and blitzes because they had outstanding corners.

Rex has Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, and last year even Rob had Joe Haden in Cleveland. 

If Rob tries that same approach with an aged Terence Newman, Michael Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick, they'll repeatedly get burned, especially against prolific passing teams like Philadelphia, Atlanta, New Orleans and Green Bay. 

No. 12: Green Bay's Ability on the Road

It may not have been unprecedented since the 2005 Steelers and 2007 Giants accomplished the same feat, but the 2010 Packers' ability to win on the road three straight weeks, then earn a Super Bowl title, was incredible, especially considering the fact they won in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago, three fairly hostile environments.

That may have been in the past and this is a new team, but that type of confidence in big games on the road is something that can't be measured in a stat sheet.

The Packers have to play Atlanta, San Diego, Kansas City and the Giants all on the road in addition to their divisional matchups with the Bears, Vikings and Lions.

Even if they manage to win four of those extremely difficult games, given their home-field advantage in Lambeau, that will likely be enough to earn a playoff bye, which means they only have to win one home game to get to the conference title game. 

No. 11: The West Is a Mess

Granted, each team made nice improvements, but don't expect any of the NFC West teams to be a legitimate roadblock for the cream of the crop like New Orleans and Green Bay.

Yes, the Seahawks managed to upset the Saints last year in the playoffs, but that was as much a product of the Saints' defensive problems (which they have now fixed) as anything.

Someone will limp to the finish line again, be it a rejuvenated Cardinals team, Sam Bradford's Rams, or the defending Seahawks, but neither team can score enough points to contend in the postseason against the truly elite teams. 

So instead of six teams standing in the way of a Packers-Saints NFL title game, you can count on just five. 

No. 10: Saints Pride

Don't discount how crushed and even embarrassed the Saints had to feel following last season's playoff loss. 

Not only did they fail to come close to defending their title, but they lost to literally the worst team ever to make the playoffs: a 7-9 team.

Furthermore, they were outscored by a mediocre (at best) Seattle offense and their defense was utterly annihilated on national television.

Couple that humiliation with the fact that the Eagles, the Falcons and the Packers got most of the publicity this preseason as Super Bowl favorites and that Saints team has to be as motivated as ever. 

No. 9: Tampa Bay and Detroit Are Still a Year Away

The Saints-Packers game is perhaps the marquee game on this week's schedule, not only because it kicks off the NFL season but because it's a matchup of the last two champions.

Ironically enough, another Week 1 showdown features two teams that many people have penciled in to be future defending Super Bowl champions: the Lions vs. the Buccaneers.

Both are hot picks to make noise this year and they very well could become the next powerhouses; they have great defenses in the making and quarterbacks capable of being franchise players. 

However, both teams have far too many holes right now to really give the Saints or Packers a threat in the postseason or even for a wild-card berth.

The Lions still need help in the secondary as well as the offensive line, and the Buccaneers are really missing a legitimate top wideout; both the Saints and Packers have those critical pieces. 

No. 8: Randall Cobb and Darren Sproles as Returners

Both the Saints and Packers added several pieces to their roster this year, on both sides of the ball, but it's the additions of two players who will contribute to special teams that have been somewhat forgotten.

Randall Cobb as a kickoff and punt returner gives the Packers a really explosive and fast player who can be a real difference maker. Give Aaron Rodgers a short field, and the Packers are even more imposing on offense. 

The same is true for Drew Brees and the Saints. They brought Darren Sproles in to be a change-of-pace guy out of the backfield, but kickoffs and punts (now that Lance Moore is hurt) might be his best threat.

When there are a handful of elite teams in the NFL, special teams are often the difference in games, especially the playoffs.  

No. 7: Interconference Schedules

You can only play the teams on your schedule, and although these two teams are winners of the last two Super Bowls, each catches something of a break from the schedule makers.

The Packers are slated to play the AFC West, which still has two potential doormats in the Raiders and Broncos. Not only that, but the Chiefs have really struggled this preseason and it's not crazy to think they are going to come back down a bit.

Sure, going out to San Diego will be a tough sell, but 3-1 against the AFC West would put them in great shape for a first or second seed. 

The Saints have an even better four-game set against the AFC: They play the South. The Jags are a mess and will not have nearly enough offense to keep pace with New Orleans. Neither will the rebuilding Titans.

They also get Houston (the favorite to win the division) at home, as well as the Colts, who are in limbo without Peyton Manning right now. 

No. 6: Bookend Offensive Tackles

Considering how much they rely on the passing game, it shouldn't be too surprising that both the Saints and Packers have very good offensive tackles.

Jermon Bushrod and Zach Strief aren't necessarily high-profile names, but they wouldn't have given Bushrod nearly $5 million per season or cut Jon Stinchcomb if they didn't have complete faith that those two could keep edge rushers at bay. 

The Packers have a similar set of excellent offensive tackles in veteran Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga, who was very impressive as a rookie starter last season. They deserve the same amount of credit for the Packers offensive dominance as head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

Sure, you'd like to think that every team—especially the elite ones—don't have a question mark at such a critical position like offensive tackle. However, look at the Eagles and Steelers—two legitimate Super Bowl contenders whose quarterbacks cannot have the same type of comfort in the pocket as Brees and Rodgers. 

No. 5: The Saints' Three-Headed Backfield

Everyone remembers the 2009 Saints team winning the Super Bowl because they had an outstanding, explosive passing game led by Drew Brees. Obviously, that is the best way to look at that team: He was and still is the centerpiece of that organization and one of the most important free-agent signings in history.

However, don't forget how productive that team's running game was. It didn't have an All-Pro like Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson, but people forget they rushed for the sixth-most yards in the NFL that year. 

Last year, the injuries to Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush completely ruined any hopes of similar stats, and they had to turn to guys like Julius Jones and Chris Ivory. That isn't the case anymore.

Thomas is healthy and they wouldn't have given him a huge contract if they didn't believe he was top notch. Darren Sproles had an outstanding preseason and, at some point, Mark Ingram is going to play significant snaps and carry the ball a ton late in the season. 

No. 4: The Packers Corners

I hate to keep harping on the importance of secondary play (i.e. the Falcons, Giants and Cowboys deficiencies) but this is a pass-first NFL now, and if you can't rely on your corners to occasionally bail you out or step up when a blitz is called, a deep playoff run just isn't going to happen. 

While people are fawning this offseason about the collection of corners in Philadelphia (Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) or with the Jets (Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis), the Packers have a duo just as good, if not better. 

Charles Woodson is a Hall of Famer and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down and Tramon Williams really is becoming one of the better cover corners in the game.

Those two alone should be able to handle top-notch receivers on a regular basis, opening the door for the Packers front-seven to put a ton of pressure on the opposing passer. 

No. 3: The Saints' Improved Pass Rush

It's going to take a while for everything to come together, but the Saints have a very good shot at (almost overnight) developing one of the best pass rushes in the NFL this season.

Cameron Jordan might turn out to be the best defensive end in a draft loaded with them; even if he isn't the sack specialist that others are, he will draw attention and open things up for the rest of the front seven.

And don't discount the selection of Greg Romeus from Pitt. If he returns healthy in the middle of the season, he could be a great asset as a rotator. 

Still, it's Will Smith (who will return later this month from suspension) and the interior tackles, Aubrayo Franklin and Sedrick Ellis, who will really open things up so that Gregg Williams can bring pressure off the edges in the exotic form he loves so much. 

No. 2: The Dream Team Is Anything But

Collecting big-name players doesn't instantaneously develop a championship—just ask the Miami Heat.

So, while the Eagles' offseason was great for publicity and selling jerseys, they are far from guaranteed a spot in the Super Bowl.

After all, how much can Ronnie Brown, Vince Young and Steve Smith really contribute? And that's not even the main reason why I think even a trip to the NFC title game isn't in their 2011 destiny.

Michael Vick might be the most thrilling quarterback in today's game, but he has shown an inability to stay healthy throughout his entire career.

It's a tall order to think he'll make it through the 2011 season without missing at least some time, especially considering how much he runs and how mediocre that offensive line is. 

A Vick injury will either cost them a shot at home-field or keep him out when they face the Saints or Packers in a playoff. 

No. 1: Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees

It may be the "consummate team game," but this is still a quarterback-centric league. 

And when you have a recent Super Bowl MVP under center, it's hard to overlook that type of intangible when the playoffs are approaching and the season is coming down to a one-game, winner-take-all.

The Packers and the Saints are one of the few teams (fewer now that Peyton Manning is hurt) who have a Super Bowl MVP at the helm, and that's not something to overlook.