NFL 2011 Season Opener: Should NFL Teams Fear the Green Bay Packers?

Heck of a game last night, and a great start to an NFL season that almost wasn't.

Owners and their franchises, unappreciative of what they were making, had tortured NFL fans and players the past six months, threatening for a canceled season.  Well, after all the hoopla and media coverage, they finally got what they wanted.  Owners and NFL players agreed to a new CBA.

The NFL is back and what a way to start the season. The monster game featured the New Orleans Saints against Super Bowl defending champs Green Bay Packers.

2009 Super Bowl champs vs. 2010 Super Bowl champs.  2009 Super Bowl MVP (Brees) dueling 2010 Super Bowl MVP (Rodgers).  Both the Packers and the Saints have a high-octane offense. Wow.

It was a memorable game in which both teams had a combined final score of 76 points and close to 900 total yards .  A final score of Packers 42, Saints 34.  The Packers held off the  Saints until the last second, as they marched down the field to the one to almost score a touchdown and send the game into overtime (a two point conversion needed).

What was very noticeable was the Packers. They almost seemed unstoppable.  Aaron Rodgers seemed unstoppable.

Lack of offseason workouts?  Lack of player-organized workouts?  Post Super Bowl hangover?  Forget all that noise.

The Packers looked like they didn't miss a beat, picking up right where they left off last season.  The Packers marched down the field in their first three tries against the Saints defense, to score three touchdowns.  All in the first quarter—and they ended up scoring in each quarter in the game.

The Packers are a better team than they were last year,  and that's a scary thought.  In last night's game, Rodgers seemed to be playing pitch-and-catch the majority of the night, scoring touchdowns with ease. Their offense was efficient and perfect in the red-zone, scoring on all four attempts in the area.

The Packers won the Super Bowl with a lot of big injuries to their starting lineup on the offensive and defensive side. Now they have a strong roster, and the return of those that were injured last year.  Ryan Grant is back and should be productive for the running game, back-up to Grant is James Starks who played like he could be a premiere running back for another team. Starting tight-end Jermichael Finley is back and will create a lot of mismatches and headaches for opposing defenses.  Newcomer Cobb had a heck of a debut, hauling in a 32-yard touchdown pass, and doing some damage on special teams taking it to the house for 108 yards.

Add to that a healthy defense, with monster linebacker Clay Matthews, AJ hawk, B.J. Raji, Charles Woodson, etc.  The Pack is a scary thing indeed.

NFL teams, prepare yourselves because the Packers are back and they are better.

"I think we're hungry again," said cornerback Charles Woodson. "I think we will be better."

It sure does seem like it.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/842428-should-nfl-teams-fear-the-green-bay-packers

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