The Green Bay Packers will win the Super Bowl in 2011. There I said it.
With an explosive offense and a stifling defense, there won't be many teams that will be able to score on Green Bay or stop the Packers from scoring. Most of their key players are still young and they shouldn't lose anyone that is irreplaceable to free agency or trades.
It appears as if the Packers have all the pieces in place to be a Super Bowl contender for the foreseeable future.
Since it starts and ends with No. 12 for the Packers, here are 12 reasons why the Green Bay Packers will once again be Super Bowl Champions in 2011.
12. The NFL Lockout
Some might say that the current NFL lockout is hurting every team. While that may be true to a degree, the lockout also helps the Packers and here is why.
New coaches can't meet with their teams and implement their new playbooks. Teams that barely missed the playoffs last year that could have been a threat this year are losing valuable time and could be unprepared when the season starts.
However, Green Bay doesn't have a new coach, they have been running the same offense and defense for a few years now and they have experience playing with each other. Sure, it would be nice if the lockout ended tomorrow, but for the Packers, it acts as an advantage right now.
11. Less Injuries (Hopefully)
Don't worry, I knocked on wood before I started writing this slide.
Green Bay was hampered by injuries all season long. There were 16 players on IR when the season ended, plus they lost Charles Woodson and Donald Driver to injury during the Super Bowl. Star players such as Ryan Grant, Nick Barnett and Jermichael Finley were lost early in the season, yet the Packers still found a way to win it all.
It would be highly unlikely for Green Bay to suffer another massive amount of injuries during the upcoming season. I'm not saying that they won't lose any starter to injury, but 16 player on IR won't happen again. Considering Green Bay already won the Super Bowl with all those injuries, it would be crazy to say they won't win it again without those injuries.
10. A Difficult Regular Season Schedule
This could be beneficial or harmful, depending on which way you look at it. If you are a glass half empty person, a difficult regular season schedule would be harmful. If you are a glass half full person, like myself, you see the benefit of having a difficult regular season schedule.
Green Bay's schedule consists of talented teams such as New Orleans, Tampa Bay, San Diego, Kansas City, Oakland and Atlanta. They also have to play against, what should be, a deep NFC North. Chicago will once again contend for the division crown, while Detroit and Minnesota will be no cakewalk this year.
Playing quality competition during the regular season will only help to prepare the Packers for the grind of the playoffs. If they can make it through their difficult regular season at 11-5 or 12-4, they will be in great shape for another Super Bowl run.
9. Continued Improvement of B.J. Raji
B.J. Raji burst onto the scene late last season and into the playoffs. His interception returned for a touchdown against the Bears in the NFC Championship game was the first time I laughed and cried in the same moment.
Continuing on last year's success, Raji should only get better this year. He could easily cement his position as one of the top interior defensive lineman in the league and could make a run for the Pro Bowl.
Raji's play is so vital to Green Bay. When he can create pressure up front, it only increases the productivity of the rest of the Packers. Whether stopping the run or opening up lanes for Clay Matthews, Raji's improved play this year will make Green Bay's defense all the more dangerous.
8. Randall Cobb
The last time I was excited about a special teams' player for Green Bay was when Desmond Howard was part of the team. When Green Bay drafted Randall Cobb, Packer nation rejoiced at having someone with talent to return punts and kicks.
Cobb was one of the most versatile players in college football all of last season. He ran, caught and threw for a touchdown. His dynamic play making ability should make him an instant threat on offense for Green Bay.
However, his biggest upside comes in the return game, where the Packers have been poor in recent years. Cobb should be exciting to watch and could have a similar impact his rookie year like Percy Harvin did for the Minnesota Vikings. He is just another player that makes the Packers all the more dangerous.
7. Mike McCarthy
It may surprise some to find McCarthy's importance to another Super Bowl so low on this list, but wait until you see the rest of the list before you judge.
McCarthy is easily one of the most underrated coaches in the NFL. He is an intelligent coach whose biggest goal is to win games. It doesn't matter to McCarthy how the Packers win, as long as it is a win.
There are flashier coaches out there, but McCarthy is a perfect fit for Green Bay's persona as a humble, yet dangerous team. Don't expect to see another head coach in Green Bay for a long time and watch while McCarthy becomes an elite coach while leading the Packers to another Super Bowl.
6. Return of Jermichael Finley
No tight end in the league has the combination of size and speed that Jermichael Finley possesses. He is too fast for linebackers to cover and too big and strong for safeties and cornerbacks to cover.
Finley's return will boost an already dangerous passing game for the Packers. He should instantly become Rodgers' favorite target in the red zone and he has the possibility of putting up some ridiculous numbers. He was well on his way to a Pro Bowl season last year before suffering a season-ending injury.
Adding Finley to the Packers offense is like adding a machine gun to a tank. Is it really necessary? No, but it does add fire power.
5. An Extremely Deep and Dominant Secondary
Even if teams throw away from Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams, they will still have to deal with Sam Shields, Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett. That is a tough group to pass against.
Charles Woodson is still one of the best and most versatile cornerbacks in the league. Tramon Williams has established himself as the team's shutdown corner, while Sam Shields had a breakout performance during the playoffs. When you throw in Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett, it adds up to a difficult group of players to throw against.
Considering that the NFL is starting to become a pass-first league, a dominant secondary is a huge advantage for the Packers. Teams will struggle getting the ball down the field which will boost Green Bay's Super Bowl chances.
4. Improved Running Game
Before an injury ended his season, Ryan Grant was a top-10 running back. He was coming off back-to-back 1,200 yard rushing seasons and was expected to have an even better season.
After Grant's injury, the Packers struggled the entire regular season trying to find something that would be considered an actual running game. It wasn't until the playoffs that Green Bay found an answer in rookie James Starks. Well, Grant is back, as is Starks, and the Packers added a talented running back in Alex Green during the draft. These three will combine to put up impressive numbers both running and catching the football.
We will absolutely see a committee rushing attack in Green Bay next season, which, in the long run, will be an advantage. Fresher legs throughout the season will mean fresher legs during the playoffs. We saw how important the run game was to Green Bay's Super Bowl last season and it will be much improved this year.
3. Clay Matthews
Has there ever been a scarier looking football player? Also, has there ever been a better t-shirt depicting an NFL player before?
Matthews finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and he only played in 13 games. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to predict a better statistical season and some awards for Matthews this year. He is a game changer on defense and he forces opposing offenses to plan around him.
His ability to rush the quarterback is his greatest strength and it will be the most vital part of his game to Green Bay. While many teams may attempt to take Matthews out of the game with double-teams, that should only create other openings for the Packers talented defense to make plays. By the end of the season, Matthews will be in a league of his own as a pass rusher.
2. Experience of Winning It All
I was a little surprised myself when I ranked experience this high on the list, but the truth is that experience is going to play a huge role in another Packers Super Bowl run.
They have been there before and they know what it takes to win the big game. Unlike other teams that might be making their first playoff appearance in a few years, or teams that are looking for their first Super Bowl in a while, the Packers are defending champions. They have raised the Lombardi Trophy and seen it's beauty up close.
Trust me when I saw that the Packers experience will be a huge factor, especially come playoff time. When there is two minutes left in the game and it is still up for grabs, you will want experience on your side.
1. Aaron Rodgers
Like I said, it all starts and ends with Aaron Rodgers. He is the absolute leader of the Green Bay Packers and he silenced any critics he might of had with last season's gutsy performance.
There aren't many quarterbacks in the NFL that have Rodgers' combination of arm strength, elusiveness and field vision. He has a knack for getting everyone involved on his offense and is easily one of the five best quarterbacks in the league, no matter who you ask. He still needs to learn how to slide so he stays concussion free, but when that is your biggest flaw, I would say you are doing pretty well.
I'm expecting big things from Aaron Rodgers this year. Just read this to see how big. If he continues his progression as an elite quarterback, the Packers will be near unbeatable and Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Green Bay Packers should once again be raising the Lombardi Trophy in 2011.
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