Packers are class of NFC

I've been trying for a couple weeks to build a case for somebody other than the Packers to represent the NFC in Indianapolis in the game with Roman numerals. It's difficult.

Some say the Eagles, but I like Michael Vick better as a fantasy quarterback than as a guy who can take a team to the Super Bowl. And unless he's making a restaurant recommendation, I don't trust Eagles coach Andy Reid.
The Falcons won 13 games last year, but what's etched in my brain is a defense that had no answers against the Packers in the playoffs. I like quarterbackMatt Ryan, running back Michael Turner and the Falcons receivers, but the addition of Ray Edwardsas a pass rusher isn't enough to get Atlanta to its second Super Bowl.

The Giants? Too hurt already.

The Saints? Meh.

Oh, the Bears. I don't suspect an 8-8 finish gets them a wild card berth. That's what I see for Team McCaskey: a .500 season.

And I liked what Lovie Smith did over the past six weeks. Smith demanded more physical play in Bourbonnais workouts and played his front-line talent more in the exhibition games than he did in his previous seven Augusts.

I just don't think the Bears have enough talent offensively to be a playoff team. It's time to warm up to the idea that the Bears could be every bit as impotent at receiver as they were a year ago. Preserving the well-being of Jay Cutler is going to be a challenge again.

There's no way the Bears can elude injuries as they did en route to last year's 11-5 finish. With new rules potentially minimizing Chicago's prowess on the special teams, there's more pressure on Mike Martz's offense to have longer, sustained drives, preferably the kind that result in points.

It's the Packers. Again.

Other division winners: the Saints, the Rams and the Eagles, with the Giants and the Falcons getting the NFC wild cards.

In the AFC, I like the Ravens, the Texans, the Chargers and the Patriots to win their divisions with the Steelers and the Jets as the wild cards.

I see a Green Bay-New England Super Bowl. Put me down for the Patriots to win it.

•Gambling is such a dirty word. Let's call it investing.

I'm investing in the Bears getting the three points against the Falcons on Sunday. Atlanta's offensive line, which didn't allow a sack of Ryan in two games against the Bears in 2008 and 2009, is iffy. Matt Forte should get some of his frustrations out as both runner and receiver.

Bears 26, Atlanta 21.

•It has been 28 years since the Bears lost to the Falcons at Soldier Field. That also was a season opener.

Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski was efficient, going 14-for-23 for 201 yards with 2 TDs and no picks. But, Bears defensive end Jim Osborne sacked Bartkowski four times.

•With Peyton Manning's consecutive games started streak ending this weekend, I was wondering when is the earliest possible date Brett Favre's record of 297 straight starts could fall.

Found my answer on profootballtalk.com. Eli Manning, whose start Sunday against the Redskins will be his 104th straight, would have to start every game for more than 12 seasons (based on a 16-game schedule) to catch Favre. That would put Manning at 42 years old in the 2023 season.

•Fantasy tip of the week: Roll out your Cardinals this weekend. Arizona is home Sunday with Ron Rivera's Panthers. I'm thrilled for Rivera that he finally got his first chance to serve as a headmaster, but the Panthers went 2-14 last year for a reason and their best defender, linebacker Jon Beason, is banged up.

•Remember when the Notre Dame-Michigan game meant something? They're playing Saturday night in Ann Arbor in case you didn't hear.