I picked the Packers to win it all in August, noticing that they were 7-1 (with one loss by 1 point) in their last 8 games last season, after the returns of Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher stabilized the line in front of Aaron Rodgers. With rookie tackle Bryan Bulaga coming in, they would have depth behind Clifton and Tauscher in case one of them got hurt again (which Tauscher did). However, I will admit, once Nick Barnett, Jermichael Finley, and Ryan Grant went on IR and my Patriots got hot, I jumped on the Patriots in 2010 wagon.

However, the Packers would prove me wrong (and right to begin with). They never quite replaced Finley, but Desmond Bishop replaced Nick Barnett and James Starks replaced Ryan Grant. They started out slow, going 3-3, but with all 3 losses by 3 points. Despite losing 16 players to IR, the Packers stood at 8-6 heading into a week 16 game with the Giants. In order to make the playoffs, they would have to beat the Giants and the Bears week 17.

The Packers didn’t just beat the Giants, they destroyed them, putting 500 yards of total offense in a 45-17 blowout. After they beat the Bears 10-3 week 17, it was on to the playoffs. The Packers finished the season at 10-6, but with the NFC’s best point differential, no losses by more than 4 points, and no losses in games that Aaron Rodgers started and finished by more than 3 points, the Packers looked to be in good shape.

They beat Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Atlanta in Atlanta, and Chicago in Chicago to advance to the Super Bowl, where they beat the Steelers. Despite several drops by his receivers, and injuries to Donald Driver, Charles Woodson, and Sam Shields, the Packers prevailed 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV, as Aaron Rodgers threw for 300+ yards on the league’s best passing defense.

Some would say they got lucky. If the Eagles hadn’t comeback from down 31-10 with 8 minutes to go against the Giants, the Packers wouldn’t have even made the playoffs. If David Akers (who had his mind on his daughter’s battle with cancer) hadn’t missed two makeable field goals against the Packers, they would have gone out in the first round.

However, every team catches a few breaks. This wasn’t a lucky season for the Packers, with 6 losses by 4 or fewer and 16 players on IR, but they prevailed anyway, winning essentially 6 straight must wins to do so. That’s not luck. That’s skill. That’s Aaron Rodgers.