NFL Power Rankings: Are Defending Champion Green Bay Packers No. 1?

John Rozum

Sep 13, 2011

Even though the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers only won their opening game 42-34, it was against a perennial NFC contender in New Orleans, and all those panicking in the NFL world need to relax.

Yes, coach Mike McCarthy's defense allowed over 400 passing yards and three TDs.

However, we need not forget that they also sacked Saints' QB Drew Brees three times and had an additional six hits on him.

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Only thing is, Brees must be slowed down a lot more, because frankly, he's just that good.

Offensively for the Packers, it was like there wasn't even an offseason, because Aaron Rodgers picked up right where he left off, as did his entire receiving core.

In addition, RB Ryan Grant is back and healthy; McCarthy was just being cautious with him in Week 1, as Grant hasn't played in a real game since the beginning of the 2010 season.

Now let's look at the third area of football, special teams.

Rookie WR/return specialist Randall Cobb made a name for himself on Thursday by returning a kickoff 108 yards for a TD, and he did so by eluding a few tacklers, including breaking one tackle that completely stopped his momentum, and then still proceeding to out-run everyone on the field.

If that's not a game-breaker, what is?

All this being said, the scariest part about the 2011 Green Bay Packers is that they're even better this season than last.

When they won Super Bowl XLV over Pittsburgh, not only were they the No. 6 seed from the NFC, but in order to earn that final wild-card spot, they had to win their final regular season game against their longtime rival, the Chicago Bears.

So to win it all, they technically had to win five straight playoff games, and do so with 15 players on injured reserve.

And although they were lit up by the Saints' offense, we have to remember that that New Orleans offense will be the best the Packers' D faces all season long.

Sure, the Bears, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Diego Chargers will be formidable opponents this season, but from a complete and all-encompassing perspective, the Big Easy takes the cake.

Now, it's obvious to expect the Packers to lose at some point, because going undefeated would be pretty unreal (although it's not out of the realm of possibility).

Therefore, until they are not able to defend their title (meaning, miss the postseason, or lose in postseason), Green Bay/Titletown will remain No. 1.

2011 NFL Week 2 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers

2. New England Patriots

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Baltimore Ravens

5. New York Jets

6. New Orleans Saints

7. Houston Texans

8. San Diego Chargers

9. Chicago Bears

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

11. Atlanta Falcons