9. Green Bay Packers (LW: 8)
The Packers are the prototypical upper echelon franchise — their ‘up years’ are fantastic and their ‘down years’ are above average. They appear to be right on the fringe of scuffling in the middle of the pack or going toe-to-toe with the Lions for NFC North — and NFC, itself — supremacy. A history of winning and a superstar quarterback typically yields the benefit of the doubt, especially after a tough road loss in New Orleans.
