Packers have an active line and good flow linebackers

This also gives me the chance to hand the baton to another Lincoln-Sudbury guy ... ace Packer beat guy Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (check him out here and here, too.) Here's his breakdown of what's ahead in Green Bay ...

Where they're good: The passing offense and run defense. QB Aaron Rodgers blossomed last season during a Pro Bowl campaign. He has always put up nice numbers, but he finally started making the key plays to carry the team in the second half of the season, starting with a must-win over Dallas that set the stage for the post-season run.

The run defense was tops in the league and many teams just avoided the ground altogether because the Packers have an active line and good flow linebackers.
 
The big camp questions: Can the secondary shore up the weak spots that were exposed against top-flight QBs with quick releases?

When will CB Al Harris be able to play and how effective will he be? Will Brad Jones bring enough at LOLB to keep people from constantly doubling Clay Matthews?

Will the offensive line start another season slow? Can the special teams become adequate?
 
This needs to happen to win big: Defend the pass better. The Packers got torched last year against playoff-caliber teams and quarterbacks. If they don't improve -- a better pass rush would help -- they'll be another early exit from the playoffs.

Pity the poor and porous Lions  secondary, which has to deal with gunslingers Cutler, Aaron Rodgers and presumably Brett Favre. Detroit is 80/1 to win the NFC Conference.

Green Bay has the shortest conference odds at 6/1. The Vikings are at 8/1 with the Bears 14/1.

The Packers and Vikings each have the highest regular-season win total, too, in the division at 9 ½ victories. Green Bay, though, has minus 150 juice on the 'over,' while Minnesota has minus 120 vigorish attached to the 'over.'

Certainly the Packers have the passing game and defense to reach a double-digit win total. Rodgers became the first quarterback to pass for more than 4,000 yards during each of his first two seasons as a starter.

The keys for the Packers football jerseys are better special teams plays – they still haven't found a reliable punter – and a healthy offensive line with veteran tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher frequently nicked up and on the downside of their careers. Green Bay also needs better cornerback depth if Al Harris can't return from serious knee injury.

Minnesota was formidable at the Metrodome going 9-0, but went just 4-5 on the road. Favre should be back and three-time Pro Bowler running back Adrian Peterson is in his prime, although he'll be missing steady backup Chester Taylor.

Favre has outstanding weapons to throw to. Sydney Rice had a breakout season Donald Driver catching 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns. He had caught a combined 46 passes during his first two years in the league.

Star pass rusher Jared Allen and dominant tackle Kevin Williams head up an outstanding defensive line. The Vikings, though, have an overrated offensive line and their secondary has concerns. It would be a huge break for the defense if middle linebacker E.J. Henderson can return at full strength after breaking his femur last year.

Anything less than a Super Bowl victory would be a disappointment for both the Packers jerseys and Vikings.

The Bears and Lions are not near that stage, although heads will roll in Chicago starting with coach Love Smith if the Bears don't make the postseason.