Why Green Bay Packers Are Still Team to Beat in NFL

After last night’s 25-14 comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons, the Green Bay Packers are 5-0 and well on their way to defending their Super Bowl Title.

This was their toughest test offensively and they managed to make the necessary adjustments and got a tough road win.

Chances are the Packers won’t go 16-0, but right now there is not a team in the NFL that can match up with them on right now.

I’m going to give you four reasons the Packers are the crème de la crème in the NFL.

Passing Game

The top four Packer receiving threats, Jennings, Nelson, Finley and James Jones have combined for 1,286 yards and 12 touchdowns over the first five games, which is second only to the New England Patriots’ top four receivers who have posted 1,588 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Aaron Rodgers always seems to find his route-runners in space, which makes it especially tough for opposing defenses to stop.

Legitimate Run Game

Last year, the Packers made it through the year with basically zero running game, due to Ryan Grant going down for the year with a foot injury. It wasn’t until the last year’s playoffs that James Starks started to emerge as a viable threat.

This year they get Grant back and Starks has one full season under his belt.

Green Bay is averaging 4.0 yards per carry in 2011, compared to 3.8 yards per carry last year.

Teams were able to key on the pass last year, but it’s a different story this season. 

Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams

It’s true the Packers have given up almost 319 yards per game through the air, but that’s a direct result of their defensive line not getting the same kind of pressure on the quarterback that they did last year.

However, Woodson and Williams remain one of the best cornerback tandems in the league. Woodson’s ability to cover in the slot and put pressure on the quarterback, along with Williams’ shut-down coverage, will make that Packer defense better as the season wears on.

Aaron Rodgers

What Rodgers is doing is simply remarkable. Everyone talks about how Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are the class of the NFL, but what Aaron Rodgers has done over the course of the last three seasons is nothing short of amazing.

According to Trent Dilfer, “We might be seeing the ultimate quarterback. Because all the attributes you admire and marvel at from all the quarterbacks—the athletic quarterbacks, the ability to extend the play, the ability to extend the play, the accuracy of a Brady, the brain work at the line of scrimmage of a Manning, the toughness and courage of a Brees—they’re all wrapped up in one guy right now and that’s Aaron Rodgers.”

It just seems like nobody can stop this guy and he’s only getting better. If he keeps that chip on his shoulder and continues to do what he has done for three years now, there is no doubt they will be back to defend their Super Bowl Title.

If you like this article, check out my other articles here.

Check out Out of My League every Friday afternoon for weekly fantasy football rankings.