Green Bay Packers: Who Can Stop them?
by Graeme Young
December 3rd 2011
 
The Green Bay Packers led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers have swept all before them this season. That is on the back of a six win finish to end their 2010 season, which included four victories in the playoffs which was topped off by their victory in Super Bowl 45. The Packers have eased through almost all their schedule, which despite a defence which has regressed in yards allowed. Defensive Co-Ordinator Dom Capers may not be entirely satisfied with his defence but they have still found a knack of taking the ball away from their opponents. Rodgers and Head Coach Mike McCarthy have created an unbelievably good offence with running backs like James Starks there to get tough yards and keep the opposing defences honest. Aaron Rodgers is in control of one of the great passing attacks of all time, with great receivers like Jordy Nelson, Gregg Jennings and a fantastic young tight end in Jermichael Finley. They will be hard too stop but I look deeper to see who looks most likely in doing so.
 
NFC
 
1. New Orleans Saints - NFC Playoffs
I think this is an easy choice. New Orleans has arguably given Green Bay their toughest test this season. While the Saints have show shown frailties against sub-par opposition such as Tampa Bay and St Louis they have very rarely failed to rise to the challenge of matching up against an elite team in the Sean Payton/Drew Brees era.
I think the main reason I feel confident in the Saints going to Lambeau and potentially winning is their solid offensive line play in recent weeks. Brian De La Puente has been a big upgrade over Olin Kreutz who was a shadow of his former self and maybe looked better than he actually was on a terrible Chicago Bears line for several years. Right tackle Zach Strief has also been a significantly better than John Stinchcomb, who aged badly after the Saints Super Bowl win. If Drew Brees has time then he could easily dismantle the (at times) poor Packers pass defence.
The Saints are absolutely loaded with experience; the main reason for concern with their potential trip to Lambeau is their inability to turn the ball over. In 2009 Gregg Williams D was so-so in categories but they were ball hawks led by Darren Sharper. In 2010 they were excellent in all statistical categories but couldn't force a turnover to save them selves, this season is like the worst of both worlds and it puts a tremendous strain on Drew Brees to carry this team . The Saints can run the ball well, especially with tough yard getters like Mark Ingram and Chris Ivory but turnovers would be the key to any Saints victory.
 
2. San Francisco 49ers - NFC Playoffs
The San Francisco 49ers has amazed many with their excellent play in 2011. A coherent offence led by a smarter Alex Smith has given the 49ers nine victories so far this season under first year head coach John Harbaugh. The star of the show has been San Francisco's defence and if it came down to it they would give Aaron Rodgers and his vast array of receiving options a tough in a more than likely cold and snowy Lambeau. Their front seven is as good as anything I have ever seen.
The main reason I think the 49ers could oust the Packers is the defeat to the Ravens was perhaps overly cautious. It reminded me of a boxer who had a great record and stepped up and fought another top opponent but on the night didn't show anything extra when they needed it.
If John Harbaugh can get Alex Smith moving the ball down the field to any of his various receiving options such as Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards then they have a defence which could keep the Pack under 20-23. Anything is possible.
 
3. Detroit Lions - Week 17 of the regular season at Lambeau
I'm not completely sold on this one myself. I just think that if Green Bay gets to 15-0 there is absolutely no chance they are not going to take a shot at going undefeated in the regular season. They will have a bye week as well so small injuries won't come into the equation. The Lions have been much improved this season but at the time of writing the wheels seem to be coming off slightly with Suh-Gate and Stafford starting to make some really bad decisions. If the Lions knew they had to win to gain a wildcard birth then that may just be enough to eek out a historic win in Green Bay but I still think this is probably the least likely place for the Packers to lose their first game.
 
AFC
 
1. Baltimore Ravens - Super Bowl 46
The Ravens are very similar to the Saints in terms that they play down to inferior opposition but rarely let you down in the big games. It wouldn't get any bigger than the Super Bowl and the best pass rush in the league would have Aaron Rodgers at least uncomfortable at some stage. Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are two of the defensive players of all time and you could bet your house they would roll back the years for a shot at glory. Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs are excellent players and Chick Pagano's D has been money all season. I am not by any means Joe Flacco's biggest fan but he seems to have enough good things going on with the deep threat of Torrey Smith, two decent young tight ends and the man for every job Ray Rice. I think Baltimore represent the best chance of an AFC team knocking off Green Bay.
 
2. New England Patriots - Super Bowl 46
I was almost tempted to move the Raiders to number two on this list as I think the Packers are more likely to go down to a Raiders team in Week 14 than in the Super Bowl against anyone. A quick browse through Tom Brady and Bill Bill Belichick's career achievements made me change my mind rather quickly. THere are still massive questions that linger for me with this one; I just don't see New England's defence being able to match up well against Jennings, Nelson and co. It would be too big an occasion for Green Bay to underachieve, the NFL's last dynasty against it's next most likely but if anyone could do it could be Tom Brady. Rob Gronkowski is phenomenal and Welker and the running backs also produce week in and week out. I don't see it happening but the Packers wouldn't win without a fight.
 
3. Oakland Raiders - Week 14 regular season at Lambeau
I think this has as much of a chance as the other two AFC teams but only if Oakland could somehow engineer an early lead. Tampa Bay gave Green Bay a tough game recently and a lot of that was due to the success of LeGarrette Blount, a big bruising back who mauled the Green Bay front seven. McFadden and Bush would cause the same kind of panic and the Raiders bend but rarely break defence seems to get them by. It is not just the Raiders but where the game falls on the schedule. Every team produces a terrible performance now and then and I think Green Bay could be flat going down the stretch. Improbable but anything but impossible. Carson Palmer would need to protect the ball and Denarius Moore could cause big problems in the Packers secondary.
 
So there you have it, who I think has the best chance of knocking off the Packers and that's if anyone can manage what looks like an unlikely feat at the present moment.