Power Rankings: Experts high on the Packers

With the National Football League set to kick off its 2017 regular season tonight, there are plenty of power rankings to peruse across the web. Each week, we’ll be taking a look at how the Packers are faring in various rankings and what experts are saying about them.

We start with the USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings. The Packers, ranked No. 5 to start the season, are preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks, who find themselves at No. 3.

Here’s USA TODAY's blurb about the Packers:

The secondary appears to have made strides, but last year's 31st-ranked pass defense still might struggle with pressuring quarterbacks. Ahmad Brooks adds depth, but Clay Matthews and Nick Perry shoulder most of the load.

And here’s what they have to say about the Seahawks:

Sheldon Richardson could be Pete Carroll's latest reclamation project to pay big dividends. If he stabilizes the interior line, a formidable defense will have solved perhaps its lone weaknesses.

Elsewhere around the web, NFL Media’s Elliot Harrison has the Packers at No. 4.

From Harrison:

Aaron Rodgers barely played in August. Preseason football, yo. But I like what I'm seeing. All the hand-wringing about Ty Montgomery getting passed on the depth chart and losing opportunities to Jamaal Williams is going to go the same place as all those Najeh Davenport-is-gonna-run-for-1,100-yards takes: in the ... er ... trash. Depth on the offensive line and at linebacker is problematic, but the secondary -- despite popular belief -- is not.

Bleacher Report’s Chris Simms has the Packers coming in at No. 10:

Writing for CBS Sports, Pete Prisco has the Packers at No. 2.

From Pete:

We know Aaron Rodgers and the offense will be good, but it's about the defense for the Packers. Have they done enough to improve a unit that struggled against the pass last year?

The staff over at The Monday Morning Quarterback also has the Packers at No. 2.

Yes, even Business Insider has NFL Power Rankings:

Here’s what they have to say about the Packers, who they place at No. 6:

While it's only Week 1, it's easy to see the Packers' opening game against the Seattle Seahawks having huge implications on the NFC playoff picture. Depending on how the season shakes out, both of these teams could be looking back on this game as the one that set their course for the year.