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Packers picked as NFL's top team -- coronation or curse?

The Packers have arrived this week in Green Bay for their first organized team activity of the season, and with them, sportswriters who apparently have lost interest in basketball and baseball (at least in Wisconsin.)

The Green and Gold faithful, even without taking into account their genetic bias, have become increasingly optimistic as the Aaron Rogers era has progressed.

Others are taking notice, too, and are willing to go out on a limb after only a few days of practice.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King surprised plenty of folks this week by picking the Packers as his top-ranked NFL team. (Will Packers' fans remember to talk about this in January, no matter the outcome?)

King admits, however, that he's not really very good at these early prognostications. Keep in mind that King picked the Bears to make the Super Bowl a year ago, and ranked the Saints at 24.

Packers fans quickly dismissed the list a year ago, just as Bears' fans no doubt will breeze over King's predictions this time around.

From King's column:

1. Green Bay. It's not just the maturation of Aaron Rodgers. It's the carryover from a fluky end to 2009 (the weird playoff loss at Arizona) and the fact that only one team in football -- New Orleans -- had a better point differential than the Pack's plus-164 last year.

I like Jermichael Finley to become a great player in his second starting season. I don't trust the pass-rush (where Clay Matthews is the only real thing), and I worry about two of the top three corners coming off ACL surgery, and aging.

But the defensive front is formidable, and a very good match for the good run teams of the NFC North.

I also like Weeks 2 through 5 on the schedule (Buffalo, at Chicago, Detroit, at Washington), which sets up for a strong start.

Read the full column HERE.