Superbowl contenders

I've been a fan of the Green Bay Packers since I was about eight years old. When I turned eight, I went to Toys'R'Us and bought my first ever football video game: Quarterback Legends '97 for the Nintendo 64. On the cover of the game was a picture of the legendary Brett Favre; his arms were raised in excitement, and the green and gold 'G' on his helmet seemed to glisten. That year, Favre won the MVP award, and led the Packers to a Superbowl. He instantly became my favourite player. Even though Favre changed teams near the end of his career, I stuck with my Packers, and last year, the Packers Nation was rewarded with a Superbowl victory under the leadership of Aaron Rodgers; a young quarterback whose legend has only begun.

Nearly halfway through the 2011-2012 season, it's looking like the Packers might be able to pull off a repeat of last year. At 7-0, the team has the best record in the NFL. Their offence has no trouble scoring points, and if he continues this level of performance for the remainder of the season, Aaron Rodgers might have a great chance to win league MVP. With a QB rating of 125.7, he has shown the NFL that he is quite possibly the most dangerous quarterback in the league. Tom Brady comes at a distant second with 104.4.

Despite his 'second-place status' in QB rating, to leave Tom Brady out of any Superbowl equation is unwise. Firstly, he's got an uncanny ability to close games. While Brady is a quarterback with exceptional skill, it is his ability to win close games and his poise during the last minutes of the game that drive fear into the hearts of his opposing defenders. Secondly, as long as Bill Belichick is head coach of the New England Patriots, Brady and his team will always be Superbowl contenders.

Having played in three of the last six Superbowl finals, the Steelers also tend to be big contenders. With a record of 6-2, they lead the AFC. This team has consistently produced defensive powerhouses over the last few years, and this year is no exception. The hard-hitting black and yellow are always looking to give their fans reason to wave the Terrible Towel, and after losing in a tight Superbowl final last year to Green Bay, you can be sure that they're hungry for revenge.

Yes, there are other teams in the league that have had promising beginnings to the season, but the Packers, the Patriots, and the Steelers are really the hottest of the bunch. With another nine weeks of regular football to go, there's plenty of time for other teams to step up their game, and make it to my next post!