Three words that are as boring as they are grammatically incorrect: It's the Packers.

To elaborate in 36 more: The Packers are going to win about 15 games, then they're going to win the NFC, then they're going to win Super Bowl XLVI. Somewhere in there, Aaron Rodgers is going to win the NFL MVP.

Even Andy Rooney could've agreed to that, right?

The Packers have, say, the third-best offense in the NFL (second in points, fourth in total yards), the best quarterback, a prototypical bend-but-don't break defense (there are stats to back that up too, but we're trying to stay awake here), 2-1 odds in Las Vegas, an 8-0 record, the most recent Lombardi Trophy ...

Somebody in Green Bay's already taken advantage of low-low pre-order pricing on Rodgers' MVP trophy engraving.

Maybe they'll even just go for it, and start looking for a cheap way to park a be-mulleted statue of Rodgers between Vince Lombardi, Brett Favre and the guy who invented fried cheese.

(Can you re-purpose a used-up shrine? Fake Craigslist ad from State College, Pa.: "Lawsuit forces sale. Bronze statue of local legend. Prematurely erected. Old, dirty, structurally unsound. Severely tarnished. Should've thrown it away already, but our stupid kids won't let us.")

Here's a fun fact: The last time Rodgers and his opposing quarterback both played a full regular-season game and the opposing quarterback came out with a better passer rating was Dec 20, 2009.

But anything's possible. Let's pretend Rodgers buys a tent, moves to Wall Street and slips down a percent or two.

Or, perhaps more likely, blows out his knee or suffers a massive concussion.

Who's left? Check the standings.

The 49ers, Giants, Lions and Saints.

Quick answers: Too NFC West, too Eli Manning, too Detroit, too much Nyquil for Drew Brees.

The Eagles, though.

The Eagles are grotesquely talented.

The Eagles had a terrible start to the season, and have lost four games they led in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles are playing an awful Arizona team at home this week, and if they win, they'll come out 4-5.

The Eagles' remaining schedule includes games against the Seahawks, Dolphins, Jets, Cowboys and Redskins, all of which they're likely to be either favored or small underdogs.

Let's give them four wins there, for fun.

Between that stretch and the Arizona win we've agreed upon (yes, you did! I never heard otherwise!), there's a home game against New England, and a visit to the Giants.

We're just having fun here, to make up for that boring beginning earlier.

So let's give the Eagles one of those games, and put them in the playoffs as a 9-7 wild-card team that got red-hot in the second half of the season and still has Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy, Jason Babin and Jason Peters (no relation), Evan Mathis ...

OK, boring again.

And maybe that's the point.

We're all in agreement.

The Packers are clearly going to win the Super Bowl.

Unless the Eagles do.

Dusty Lane is not , in fact, a made up name. He can be contacted at dustin.l.lane@yahoo.com

(China Daily 11/13/2011 page8)