2011 Green Bay Packers Team Preview | NFL Predictions
For the first time in his long but short career with the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to step out of his own shadow. A Super Bowl victory has a way of doing that for a gifted gunslinger who no longer has to look over his shoulder at a famous predecessor.
2011 Green Bay Packers Team Preview/Prediction
2010 Record: 10-6, Super Bowl Champions
ATS Record: 9-7
In 2010, Rodgers produced one of the greatest postseasons any NFL quarterback has ever enjoyed. He led the Pack to their first NFL championship in 14 years, a storybook journey which ended with a 31-25 over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in suburban Dallas.
The Packers reclaimed the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after their legendary coach who won the first two Super Bowls. That they did so against the franchise with the most Super Bowl titles made the achievement that much more special.
Doing the deed in Dallas, whose team (the Cowboys) has been a rival of both the Packers and Steelers over the decades, added to the magnitude of the moment for Green Bay.
Rodgers, who was named Super Bowl MVP, wrote another chapter in his career, adding to his legendary status among members of Packer Nation with a spectacular six-game string that should finally erase the bitterness of the Brett Favre divorce in Green Bay.
After sitting for three long years before Favre left in 2008, Rodgers is now Favre’s equal in Super Bowl wins, and he extended the Packers’ record of NFL titles to 13.
Even though the Packers won the Super Bowl, they still figured they needed to improve in some areas and they wasted no time in using their draft picks to improve. The Packers selected offensive tackle Derek Sherrod with the 32nd overall pick in the draft. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
They used their second pick on return man Randall Cobb, and their third pick on running back Alexander Green.
The Packers should already be considered favorites to win the NFC North, but if they can generate even an average running attack, they should threaten for the top seed in the NFC and be considered for another Super Bowl run.
Rodgers finished the 2010 season with a QB rating of 101.2, which put him third in the league. Rodgers favorite target was wide receiver Greg Jennings who finished the campaign with 76 catches for 1,265 and 12 touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the pigskin, Clay Matthews and the Packers defense made things miserable for opposing quarterbacks. Green Bay ranked second in the NFL in sacks with 47.
The Packers also finished second in interceptions with 24, and ranked first in limiting opposing signal callers to a QB rating of 67.23.
Most people tend to forget that Green Bay was 9-6 going into the final weekend of the season and needed a victory over the Chicago Bears just to make the playoffs. It’s not as though this team was on pace to match the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ unbeaten season. The main reason for this uneven progression in the Packers’ season had to do with their inability to get any kind of consistent running game going.
The Green Bay rushing attack averaged 3.81 yards per carry, which put the Pack 25th in the NFL, well below Super Bowl quality. Defensively they were even worse, allowing opponents to average 4.64 yards per carry.
If the Pack can improve in these areas, there is no denying they are a legitimate threat to repeat as champions.
2011 Packers Futures:
Super Bowl Odds: +685
Conference Odds: +300
NFC North Odds: -225
2011-2012 NFL Regular Season Wins: Over 9.5 (-115), Under 9.5 (-115)
2011 Packers Predictions:
Place they’ll finish in NFC North: 1st
Place they’ll finish in NFC Conference: 1st
Over/Under Wins Prediction: Over
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One reply on “2011 Green Bay Packers Odds | Preview | Picks”
Cheesehead fans! Do we have the makings of a DYNASTY? How bout a 12 or 13 win season? Possible? I think so… weigh in