The Green Bay Packers have very few flaws. That reason gets them very serious consideration, almost unanimous, as the best team in the NFL. However, Aaron Rodgers will be without both starting offensive tackles against the St. Louis Rams this week. Both starters, Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga, are on the shelf.
Chad Clifton, their starting left tackle, was injured in the Packers' Monday night game against the Falcons, the one where they scored 25 unanswered points to overcome a 14-0 deficit. Clifton has a "significant" injury to his right hamstring that could keep him out for some time.
Second-year offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga is still dealing with a knee injury. He will miss this week's game against the Rams.
Replacing Clifton and Bulaga are Marshall Newhouse and rookie first-round selection Derek Sherrod. Newhouse will be on the left side, and Sherrod will start on the right.
If the Rams are going to have any thin sliver of hope in this game, they'll have to get to Rodgers. He was sacked four times by the Falcons. Weakness on the edges gives the Rams an opening to exploit.
Also, notice that the Packers drafted two OTs in the first round two years in a row.