Packers News: Three Reasons Green Bay Will Win the NFC North

Coming into the year, expectations were extremely high for the Packers. They were the best team in the 2011 regular season and entered this year as the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Despite their rough start, Green Bay still has a chance to make a championship run. Here are three reasons why the Packers will win the NFC North:

Aaron Rodgers

He hasn’t been great through the first three weeks, but Rodgers is probably the best quarterback in the league. Green Bay’s signal caller is the only player to have a quarterback rating of over 100 in each of the past three seasons.

The Packers offense has yet to get on track this season. After averaging 35 points per game in 2011, Green Bay has yet to score more than 23 points in any of their first three contests.

Rodgers hasn’t had a completely healthy complement of weapons, thus far. Greg Jennings, his best wide receiver, didn’t play in Week 2 and was still hobbled against the Seahawks.

Once the Packers put it all together, they could have the best offense in the NFC.

Defense

Green Bay’s defense was supposed to be their biggest weakness entering the season, but it’s actually been their strength.

Not including the blown call on Monday night, the Packers have allowed just one touchdown in the past two games. They were dominant against Chicago, sacking Jay Cutler seven times and intercepting him four more times.

Last year, Green Bay became a poor defensive unit after being one of the better defensive teams the previous season. Their performance this year might prove that 2011 was an aberration.

If the Packers can continue to keep teams out of the end zone, they’ll be at the top of the league when it’s all said and done.

Bears, Lions and Vikings

The NFC North might be very competitive, but the Packers are still the class of their division.

The Bears were expected by many to be one of the surprise teams in 2012, but they haven’t proven they have a championship caliber club. They’re 2-1, but Chicago has struggled to score, and still has trouble protecting Cutler. In their Week 2 matchup, the Packers showed that the Bears are not on their level.

Detroit made the playoffs last year, but they could be headed for a disappointing 2012 campaign. The Lions are 1-2 and lucky to not be winless. Matthew Stafford got injured against the Titans, and it could be a long season for Detroit, if their quarterback can’t stay healthy.

The Vikings look improved, but they aren’t a real threat to the Packers. With second-year quarterback Christian Ponder as their starter, it will be tough for Minnesota to finish above .500.