The Green Bay Packers face an imppressive list of quarterbacks in 2015.  Russell Wilson, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Colin Kaepernick and Tony Romo, to name a few.  I started wondering which would give the Packers their stiffest test this season and a few thoughts emerged.

Of the bunch listed above, Manning has the most impressive career resume.  Because of his move from the Indianapolis Colts to the Denver Broncos, the Packers have only faced him twice in the last decade.  Aaron Rodgers was in his first season as a starter in 2008 when the Packers last saw Manning behind center.  The Packers had their way with Peyton that day and emerged victorious.  The Manning of today doesn't have the same mobility and ability to get the ball downfield as he once did, but his savvy has proven to be an asset in Denver over the last three seasons.  He's thrown over 130 touchdowns and led the Broncos to the postseason each year.  The game against the Broncos is in Denver and won't be easy.  The Packers' younger players will have had a chance to get some experience under their belt by then, however and the defense could be reaching its peak.  This one is difficult, but not impossible.

Wilson needs no introduction nor explanation to Packers fans.  In the three games that Wilson has faced the Packers, Green Bay should have won two of them.  Somehow, Wilson is 3-0 against the Pack with the latest being the meltdown for the ages in the NFC Championship game.  Wilson's mobility and throwing ability pose a dual threat to defenses that make it tough to defend all day long.  The Packers had it figured out for nearly all of the day last time, and it was more other areas that led to the Seahawks winning than Wilson himself.  Still, the Packers don't have a great track record against the former Badger and Super Bowl champion.  This time, they'll get their shot at him in Green Bay in week two.  While the warmer weather means good footing for both sides of the ball, the defense won't have to worry about frozen or slipper turf.  If they can hone in on the first 55 minutes of the January game in Seattle, they should be able to contain Wilson enough for Rodgers to do his thing and outscore the 'Hawks.  Wilson seems to have the Packers' number one way or another, but eventually the odds have to shift in Green Bay's favor.  

Rivers is another AFC quarterback that the Packers rarely see.  In two starts, Rivers is 0-2, facing Brett Favre and Rodgers once each.  Rivers is entering his 12th season in the league, but he is showing no signs of major drop off in his game.  The Chargers always seem to hang around and win a big game or two every year and Rivers is a big reason why.  His favorite target, Antonio Gates, will serve a four-game suspension to start the season but should be active when the Chargers come to Lambeau Field to take on the Pack.  Gates is the type of pass catcher that has given the Packers fits over the years and if those two are in top form, Rivers could put up some numbers.  He's still very good and can't be taken lightly, but Rivers isn't quite the toughest test on the schedule for Green Bay.

Romo faced the Packers in the playoffs and nearly threw a game-winning prayer on a late fourth down play that was ultimately ruled an imcompletion that gave the ball back to the Packers.  Romo has been around nearly as long as Rivers and despite a few injuries along the way, is still playing at a high level for the Dallas Cowboys.  Whether at home or on the road, Romo prepares well and has had some good games against the Packers in the past.  Romo's top target, receiver Dez Bryant, just signed a new long-term deal and will be out to start earning his next.  He is tough to contain all day for any defense and Romo will be looking for #88 often.  Green Bay will need to make the pocket as uncomfortable as possible for Romo and even then, he can move around, extend the play and make things happen.  He's still a tough match up but not quite the toughest, in my opinion.

Some of you may be wondering why I mentioned Kaepernick after his drop in production in 2014.  Simply put, Kaepernick has befuddled the Packers in three straight games, including a record playoff performance after the 2012 season.  In the 2012 season opener at Lambeau Field, Kaepernick relieved then starter Alex Smith on one snap and managed to run for long yardage.  It seems he's nearly invisible to Packers defenders.  In 2013, the Packers fared a little better in the opener in San Francisco, but succumbed in the end.  Later that season in the wild card playoff round, a Kaepernick run for a first down sealed the Packers' fate once again.  The cast around Kaep is much different and not as formidable this time around.  The defense is missing quite a few pieces and the pressure on Kaepernick will be greater than it's previously been against Green Bay.  This may be the Pack's best chance to exact some revenge and beat the man who has been unbeatable to them.  Green Bay has quite a few new pieces on defense and for crying out loud, they have four seasons worth of film on the guy.  They have to get it right this time, don't they?  Still, until I see it with my own eyes, I still see Kaepernick as the Packers' toughest quarterback test this season.  He can still run and has a great arm.  The game is week four in San Francisco, the site of Super Bowl 50.  Rodgers comes back home and has to want to score a win against this nemesis pretty badly.  A little beatdown in the Bay to give fans a preview of the potential NFC representative in the Big Game.

One quarterback I didn't mention that could emerge in this group is Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater.  If his jump from year one to year two is what many scouts and experts are calling for, the Packers will find the sledding a lot tougher against the Vikings than the past few seasons.  Bridgewater can run and throw, which is a combination we know the Packers have struggled with.  It's just still to uncertain how good Bridgewater will be this year and  Rodgers has fared well against this defense that brings in a new first-round cornerback to try and neutralize him.  While I don't see Bridgewater as the toughest test, I did at least want to acknowledge him and not neglect the entire NFC north crop.  As for the others, Stafford is Stafford and the Packers can handle him.  And I need not spend any more type on the guy in Chicago.