NFL Power Rankings: Who Has the Best Shot to Take Down the Green Bay Packers?

After their solid road win over the Detroit Lions, it appears that the Green Bay Packers have a clean shot to finish the regular season 16-0.

That being said, perfection won't mean anything unless the Super Bowl is won as we saw what happened to the Patriots in 2007. So with perfection in mind, who has the best tools to take down the cheese?

Well, it won't be until the playoffs but here are five teams with the best shot if they're fortunate enough to get an opportunity.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have the most prolific offense that can match Green Bay. As evidence by their 42-34 loss at Lambeau in Week 1, New Orleans can keep pace with the Packers.

They're virtually even on offense and special teams. Only difference, however, is that the Packers defense is slightly better despite being weak in pass defense. Here, Drew Brees can take advantage of how aggressive the Packers DBs are.

Currently Green Bay leads the NFL with 22 INTs, so if Brees can deceive/manipulate them into jump routes of fake-pumps, the Saints can score on almost every possession. Their defense would then just have to get pressure on Aaron Rodgers and force him into throwing much earlier than he wants.

In turn, giving their DBs numerous opportunities to make plays because Green Bay will score. It really comes down to which QB can get his offense more TDs on their total number of possessions, Brees or Rodgers?

Dallas Cowboys

To go with a solid offense that's capable of moving the ball effective through the air and on the ground, the Dallas Cowboys have a sick pass rush to get Aaron Rodgers under pressure.

With pass-rushers in DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, Big D must blitz them from all over the line of scrimmage and often. A big reason is because the Cowboys secondary is their weakest link.

You know Rodgers will get his but limiting his time in the pocket is crucial. As for when Dallas has the ball, utilizing the versatility of RB DeMarco Murray is the key. We know Tony Romo can shred the Packers vulnerable pass defense. However, he is susceptible to throwing INTs.

That said, establishing Murray as much as possible on the ground is the first priority. Lull the Packers secondary to sleep and then gun it down field. Green Bay likes to jump routes and they will get picks on Romo if Big D doesn't get a running game going.

Murray is the key to this game, because if Dallas becomes one-dimensional they're not explosive enough to keep pace and Romo's INT odds increase.

Atlanta Falcons

Perhaps Atlanta more than anyone knows the Packers right now. First off, Atlanta was dominated by Green Bay at home in the 2010 divisional round, but then was defeated by the Pack again earlier this season.

The difference, however, is that the Falcons not only played much better, but jumped out to a 14-0 lead only to lose 25-14. There, The Dirty Birds held the cheese to their second-lowest point total this season.

How Atlanta can win is by a balanced continuation like they've done all year, in addition to controlling the clock and not turning the ball over. RB Michael Turner is a good rushing threat and Matt Ryan has some great receiving targets to lock onto.

No Green Bay LB can cover TE Tony Gonzalez and none of their DBs can match Julio Jones (when 100 percent) one-on-one. Defensively, the Falcons must be like everyone else and get pressure on Rodgers.

Their pass defense isn't good enough to cover for four or more seconds, so blitzing from all over and trying to confuse him as much as possible is needed. If the Falcons can then control the tempo offensively and minimize the damage from Green Bay's offense, The Dirty Birds can steal on in Titletown.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Next to Atlanta, the Pittsburgh Steelers have just as much experience against the Packers as of recent. In 2009 the Steelers won a shootout 37-36 over Green Bay at home and then lost Super Bowl XLV 31-25.

Aaron Rodgers shredded The Steel Curtain in both games, but Ben Roethlisberger had his numbers high as well. In the 2009 regular season game, Big Ben topped over 500 passing yards and threw three TDs.

However, his play in the Super Bowl was once again the Achilles Heel of Pittsburgh.

So based on recent plays, the Steelers need to run the ball well and setup the pass. Use Roethlisberger's passing ability in clutch situations as that's where he performs his best. Defensively, a man-coverage blanket for the underneath routes with zone-coverage over the top is their best bet.

In turn, that allows defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to mix up the blitzes and coverages, while freeing up safety Troy Polamalu to make plays. Obviously pressure is the key, but for as sound of a defense as Pittsburgh is, they have the schemes to confuse Rodgers more than anyone.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders can defeat the Packers solely because of their running game. For one, whether it be the regular season or postseason, Green Bay will not have faced a rushing attack like The Silver and Black.

The Packers may have a solid rush defense, but that's only because no one bothers to run the ball against them since the pass defense allows so many yards.

Oakland however, will run the ball all game long until Green Bay puts at least eight in the box on a consistent basis. Then they will take flight as their WRs are much faster than any Packers DB. Carson Palmer will then just air it out and if it's not complete to one of his receivers, then it's overthrown.

And with controlling the clock while limiting Green Bay's offensive opportunities in mind, winning the field position battle is extremely vital. Thing is, Oakland doesn't need to vehemently win it as their kicker Sebastian Janikowski can hit from 60-plus yards.

If Oakland plays Green Bay, expect a slow and methodically tempo-ed game. The Packers will score, but if the Raiders run the ball well and get anywhere near the opposing 40-yard line, the Raiders will put points on the board.

Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank) (* = MNF Teams)

1. Green Bay Packers (11-0) (LW 1)	17. Tennessee Titans (6-5) (LW 18)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) (LW 4)	18. Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) (LW 15)
3. Houston Texans (8-3) (LW 3)	19. Buffalo Bills (5-6) (LW 20)
4. New England Patriots (8-3) (LW 6)	20. San Diego Chargers (4-7) (LW 19)
5. *New Orleans Saints (7-3) (LW 5)	21. Miami Dolphins (3-8) (LW 22)
6. Baltimore Ravens (8-3) (LW 8)	22. Arizona Cardinals (4-7) (LW 26)
7. San Francisco 49ers (9-2) (LW 2)	23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) (LW 23)
8. Dallas Cowboys (7-4) (LW 9)	24. Kansas City Chiefs (4-7) (LW 24)
9. Atlanta Falcons (7-4) (LW 11)	25. Seattle Seahawks (4-7) (LW 21)
10. Chicago Bears (7-4) (LW 7)	26. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8) (LW 25)
11. Oakland Raiders (7-4) (LW 13)	27. Washington Redskins (4-7) (LW 30)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) (LW 12)	28. Carolina Panthers (3-8) (LW 29)
13. Detroit Lions (7-4) (LW 10)	29. Minnesota Vikings (2-9) (LW 28)
14. Denver Broncos (6-5) (LW 16)	30. Cleveland Browns (4-7) (LW 27)
15. *New York Giants (6-4) (LW 14)	31. St. Louis Rams (2-9) (LW 31)
16. New York Jets (6-5) (LW 17)	32. Indianapolis Colts (0-11) (LW 32)

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