Dropping 59 points on the defending AFC champion - even in a preseason contest - is a good sign but it's a long way from being super.

There's a lot of talk surrounding the Packers heading into this season, a lot of it focusing on a possible trip to the Super Bowl.

Before anybody goes booking a Dallas hotel room for Feb. 6, take a deep breath and step back for a second. This team isn't super. Not yet, at least. There's plenty of work to be done on both sides of the ball.

Green Bay's offense has shown without a doubt, it's just as powerful as it was a year ago. The Aaron Rodgers-led attack can strike at any time, from anywhere on the field. The running game is a concern (is Ryan Grant really an elite running back?), but other than that ... the offense should be fine.

The offense isn't the problem. Again, it's the defense.

No team becomes a bona fide Super Bowl contender unless its defense is ready for prime time. Look at the Packers' last Super Bowl teams, from 1996 and '97. Those teams made it to the Super Bowl because there was a solid defense to support the offense.

Like the current roster, the team had a potent offense led by an up-and-coming quarterback, still in the early stages of his career. Brett Favre was surrounded by potent wide receivers like Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman and - down the stretch, Andre Rison. Edgar Bennett and Dorsey Levens provided a powerful one-two punch out of the backfield and tight ends Mark Chumura and Keith Jackson were attractive targets, too.

On defense, though, the Packers shined. Reggie White was the leader while Sean Jones and Gilbert Brown were the anchors of a vaunted defensive line. The secondary? Eugene Robinson - another veteran - and LeRoy Butler combined for 11 interceptions.

In short, the Packers defense set the tone because it performed at a level that allowed the offensive unit to just go out and do its job. You didn't have to worry about a late-game meltdown by the defense; it just didn't happen.

That can't be said for this defensive unit. Capers' scheme started to fit later in the season, as the Packers finished the year second in total yards allowed (284.4) and led the NFL by allowing the fewest rushing yards (83.3) per game.

Now, those numbers are slanted because the Packers faced some downright awful quarterbacks last year. Aside from Brett Favre (twice), Ben Rothlisberger, Carson Palmer, Tony Romo and Kurt Warner, Green Bay's defense went up against a collection of underwhelming QBs (Josh Freeman, Matt Stafford, Derek Anderson, Joe Flacco, Alex Smith).

And even in those games, the Packers couldn't mount anything close to resembling a pass rush. Opposing quarterbacks had all the time in the world to find an open receiver and routinely completed for big gains.

The Packers won't get to Dallas by letting that happen again.

Without a doubt, this could be a very good season for the Packers. Rodgers has firmly established himself as the leader; Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have built a team that has shown it can win. All that's left now is for Capers' unit to step up to a similar level.

Then and only then, can people start considering the Packers to be super.