Written by 
Because, let’s face it, we all know the Pack is gonna win (insert smily-wink here.) This is something I’ve been wanting to post about for many weeks, but I just haven’t gotten around to it, so I’ll start with some of my thoughts from back then, before the whole playoff picture became complete. Basically there are (were) only four teams in the AFC that has (had) any chance of making it to the Superbowl: Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens.
The Patriots could make it that far just because they’re the Patriots (and because of Tom Brady.) Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh have pretty good defenses, but I don’t think the Steelers (or the Pats for that matter) are playing at their best this year, and I really don’t want to watch a rematch of last year’s championship game. The only reason I add the Broncos to this list is because this whole season has been one huge miracle for them. Tim Tebow is not that good a quarterback, but for some reason he’s a winner. At the time I originally wanted to write this he was 7-1 since he became Denver’s starter, but afterwards went on a three game losing streak.
I am, first and foremost, a Packers fan, but, at the same time, I have a tendency to root for the underdog, which is why I want Tebow to succeed. Also, the only thing I like more than watching the Pack win is watching the Pats lose, and I don’t particularly care for the Steelers. When all is said and done, I think the Ravens will be the (un)lucky ones to lose to the Pack this year. I have been saying for weeks that the greatest thing to ever happen will be the Tebow-led Broncos knocking out the Patriots and the Steelers out of the playoffs, but I never would have believed they would ever be halfway there. I still don’t believe the Steelers lost.
That’s all fine and dandy, but if you’re not a Packers fan like I am, you probably like to deny the inevitable and still hope for any other team to dethrone the defending Superbowl champs. Keep dreaming, I say to you, but just for fun, let’s pretend there’s even one team almost good enough in the NFC, or whole NFL for that matter, that can keep the Pack from retaining their title. All joking aside, there are a few teams that I believe can give Green Bay a run for their money, and they are the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and maybe, and this is a huge maybe, the New York Giants. (Remember, I was planning on writing about this when people were still wondering if the Pack could achieve a perfect season.) On the other hand, I don’t think anyone believed Eli Manning would ever be capable of beating Tom Brady, but a few years ago he did.
I don’t dislike any of these teams, so I really don’t care who Green Bay beats in the NFC championship game. The Niners’ pretty awesome run game will prove to be a nice challenge to the Pack’s defense, which we all know hasn’t performed as well as they should have. Drew Brees has had an amazing season, beating Dan Marino’s record by passing for a total of 5,087 yards this season. He would also be a worthy challenge to the Pack. The Giants came pretty close to adding the first number to Green Bay’s L column this year, but that was a fluke; New York just doesn’t have what it takes. I’d also like to see a rematch of the 1998-1999 NFC Wild Card game where Steve Young and Terrell Owens beat the Pack.
So, I guess to answer the orignal question, who the Pack will beat at Superbowl XLVI, is no matter how much I’d love to see Aaron Rodgers send Brady home crying, or to see a rematch of Superbowl XXXII, I think Baltimore has the best chance of being the final victim of the Packers’ 2011-2012 season.
Dropbox
Lifehacker
TinyPic