Can the Green Bay Packers repeat as NFC North champs without Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre? Sportsbook.com has the Green Bay Packets listed at 25 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl 43 . Find out in Football Handicapping Expert Dave Price's 2008 Green Bay Packers 2008 NFL Predictions article for Point-Spreads.com.
Offense – Aaron Rodgers will try to fill the big shoes of, perhaps, the best QB to ever play the game this season (unless Favre is back). It will be an impossible task for him to please Packers fans who have been spoiled for so long, but there is no doubting that the kid has talent. Hopefully, the Rodgers we will see all season long is the one that came in for the injured Favre in last year's Dallas game. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and kept the Packers in the game when it looked like they were down and out. He has endured injuries in limited action each of the last two seasons, which is a bit disconcerting. Rookie's Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn will be waiting in the wings.
Getting running back Ryan Grant from the Giants for a sixth-round draft pick may have been the trade of the year. He rushed for 929 yards in the final nine games, bringing life to a dormant running game. If he can stay healthy and keep getting those tough yards, it will really help out Rodgers in his maturing process.
A deep group of receivers also figures to help our Rodgers. Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and James Jones are a great team of wideouts. Rookie Jordy Nelson gives the Packers a big wide receiver target for goal line situations also.
Favre often made his line look good with his ability to ready blitzes and get rid of the ball quickly. The truth is that Green Bay has an average line and is weak at guard.
Defense – The defensive front is solid and it could get even better if 2007 first-round pick Justin Harrell makes expected strides after a so-so rookie campaign. Johnny Jolly is expected to recover from shoulder surgery to be Green Bay's best inside rusher. Defensive end Aaron Kampman keeps getting better and better. He had 15.5 sacks in 2006 and came back with 12 last year.
With Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk, the Packers have one of the brightest up and coming linebacker duos in the NFL. Barnett is near Pro Bowl caliber and Hawk will be there soon enough.
The cornerback spot is very important to defensive coordinator Bob Sanders' scheme as Al Harris and Charles Woodson have the ability to play bump-and-run coverage. Both of these guys are over 30 and age is starting show, so the Packers need to add some depth here.
Special Teams – Mason Crosby is coming off a spectacular season in which he made 31 of 39 field goal attempts and looks to be Green Bay's long term solution at place kicker. Jon Ryan will likely return for his third season as punter despite his 37.6-yard net average.
2008 NFL Predictions for the Green Bay Packers – 2nd NFC North
The first year without Brett is not going to be completely hopeless, but Aaron Rodgers is sure to go through some growing pains. The Packers are still a relatively young team with lots of talent. Second place is realistic in a weak division.
SportsBetting.com has posted football betting odds on various 2008 NFL Predictions to win Super Bowl 43:Arizona Cardinals
50 – 1
Atlanta Falcons
100 – 1
Baltimore Ravens
75 – 1
Buffalo Bills
50 – 1
Carolina Panthers
40 – 1
Chicago Bears
35 – 1
Cincinnati Bengals
60 – 1
Cleveland Browns
25 – 1
Dallas Cowboys
6 – 1
Denver Broncos
50 – 1
Detroit Lions
80 – 1
Green Bay Packers
25 – 1
Houston Texans
60 – 1
Indianapolis Colts
7 – 1
Jacksonville Jaguars
12 – 1
Kansas City Chiefs
100 – 1
Miami Dolphins
90 – 1
Minnesota Vikings
18 – 1
New England Patriots
7 – 2
New Orleans Saints
20 – 1
New York Giants
15 – 1
New York Jets
35 – 1
Oakland Raiders
50 – 1
Philadelphia Eagles
20 – 1
Pittsburgh Steelers
14 – 1
Saint Louis Rams
75 – 1
San Diego Chargers
7 – 1
San Francisco 49ers
80 – 1
Seattle Seahawks
25 – 1
Tampa Bay Buccanneers
40 – 1
Tennessee Titans
40 – 1
Washington Redskins
50 – 1
