Vikings Message Board.Com

• All 16 ESPN.com analysts picked the Packers to win the NFC North. Of that total, 13 had the Packers winning the NFC and nine picked them to win Super Bowl XLVII, more than any other team.

• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers got nine of 16 votes to win the MVP, more than any other player.

AccuScore predicted the regular-season record of all 32 teams, and as you saw in the headline, its projection for the Green Bay Packers is as bold as possible. That's right, AccuScore has the Packers following their 15-1 regular season with a perfect 16-0 mark.

The closest games on the Packers' schedule, according to AccuScore, will be a Week 6 game at the Houston Texans (a predicted 30-29 victory) and a Week 12 game at the New York Giants (29-27 final).

For what it's worth, AccuScore has the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions each finishing 11-5, while the Minnesota Vikings check in at 3-13.

What to make of this? Here's what I'll say: Everyone is stabbing in the dark when it comes to preseason NFL predictions, whether you're a computer like AccuScore or a television analyst or even a two-bit blogger. So enjoy it. Embrace it. Discuss it. And hold on tight for what surely will be a wild 2012 season.

Mothman wrote:ESPN's previews for each team in the division are now available. Kevin Siefert posted links and a few bits of info here:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... -nfc-north

"We beat ourselves. They really didn't beat us," cornerback Jarrett Bush said after the game

If any of this sounds familiar, let's replay some comments from Clay Matthews this offseason about Green Bay's playoff loss to the New York Giants.

"The fact is, (the Giants) didn't beat us; we beat ourselves," Matthews told Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports.

Cliff wrote:Yesh ... the Packers are in denial big time.

Packers' Jarrett Bush says 49ers 'really didn't beat us'
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... line_stack

GBFavreFan wrote: On offense they still have the best receiving corps in the NFL, which they've had since 2007. Greg Jennings is the best big play receiver in the league, Jordy Nelson is fast becoming top tier, Jermichael Finley is crazy talented, Cobb is an up and comer, plus Starks and Cedric Benson is as solid as it gets. And the o-line has been solid to very good for several years now. The defense is filled with stars, and Cobb is a lethal returner.

The secret to their offense is it's an incredibly effective system created by McCarthy. If everyone does their job its best in the NFL. As evidenced by the simple insertion of Matt Flynn for equal if not greater success. The receivers are YAC masters by design and they are always open. The system is conservative and relies on throwing to guys that are open. Their separation and YAC turns almost every play into a big one. The key to beating them is to provide a degree of coverage on their receivers. By design Rodgers rarely throws to receivers who are covered and when your offense is so loaded someone is usually open. But if a team like the Chiefs, Giants, or Niners are able to get in tne way enough Rodgers throws it in the dirt, takes a sack, or throws it out of bounds. The system is designed to not take risks or force balls (aka make plays), so this is how you beat them. The Packers will be winner as long as they have a mega-talented group.

To be clear, a reduced ability to hit big plays shouldn't be a death knell for any team, even in a passing league. For the Packers, however, it has been their team-wide identity during one of the most successful periods in team history, and it has helped cover for deficiencies in other areas of the team. In response, the Packers must find an antidote or make substantive adjustments to their approach.