If anyone doubted the greatness of Aaron Rodgers, it is likely that A) they do not doubt it any more, or B) if they’re a Bears, Lions or Vikings fan, it must feel like supernatural forces are aligning against them.
What supernatural forces? Namely, the god-like QB named Rodgers. The great Green Bay veteran was badly injured, carted off the field, early in a Week 1 contest with the Chicago Bears.
Chicago’s offense had gotten off to a lightning-quick start in the old rivalry battle. Much-maligned QB Mitch Trubisky finished with only 171 passing yards, but was effective college-style read option plays and on the scramble. Behind their upstart QB, the Monsters of the Midway ran out to a 20-point lead. Meanwhile, Rodgers was taken into the halftime tunnel early so that doctors could examine what appeared to be a bad a knee injury.
Running and flinging on just one good leg, Rodgers turned-in a performance for the ages, throwing 3 touchdown passes during one of the most incredible 4th quarters anyone has ever seen in the NFL. The Packers somehow, some way managed to win 24-23.
But can the iconic signal-caller make it back onto the field this week? Oddly, the point spread opened with the Packers as a slight favorite, but action on the Minnesota Vikings – who visit the Pack this Sunday – has been heavy enough to move the line to a pick’em at many NFL sportsbooks.
Yet at the same time, Rodgers has been upgraded to “probable” for the tilt. How does that compute?
Who: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday, September 16th, 1 PM
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Lines: Pick’em (at 5 Dimes) / O/U Total: (46)
Just how amazing was Rodgers’ performance (or Rah-Jahs, as he is known in Green Bay) last week, within the context of legendary comebacks by Hall of Fame QBs?
Take it from Sports Illustrated:
Somehow, on Sunday night at Lambeau, Rodgers went from riding a cart towards an uncertain future, after an inauspicious start to this particular game, to slicing and dicing a loaded Bears D and announcing his return to the NFL in the most emphatic way possible. He wasn’t just getting by out there, either. After his knee crumpled in a pocket collapsed by Khalil Mack and Roy Roberson-Harris, he got better.
“It would have had to take something really catastrophic injury-wise to keep me off the field in the second half,” Rodgers told NBC’s Michelle Tafoya at the gun. “I went in the locker room, did all the tests, and then I was in the indoor facility, trying to loosen up. But I knew once I got back on field, the adrenaline would start flowing, I’d be able to hang in there.”
He did more than that. Like, a lot more than that. At the time of his injury: three for seven, 13 yards, 50.3 rating; Packers down 10-0. After post-halftime return: 17 for 23, 273 yards, three TDs, 152.7 rating; Packers outscore Bears 24-6.
Gee. And all that on a bum wheel. Rodgers has been practicing in limited fashion this week and will most likely try to go on Sunday. He played against the Bears – why not the Vikings?
But don’t get caught up in trying to handicap what will happen if Rodgers doesn’t play. The Pack offense is obviously anemic without him, and the defense wasn’t good enough to stop Mitchell Trubisky until it was desperation time. Clay Matthews even took an awful 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer on the Bears’ final drive, but a sack for the Packers saved the day.
The Vikings had a break-through season in 2017-18, but in the here and now, it’s anyone’s guess whether they can beat an emotionally-charged Packer team on the road, at least if they’re going against the #1 QB. Kirk Cousins was not especially well-protected or accurate in an 8-point win over the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, going 20-for-36 and taking 3 sacks.
Minnesota’s running game – sometimes a sore spot in the Mike Zimmer era – only produced 3.6 yards per carry and not one rush of over 15 yards.
The defense was better, though, intercepting 3 passes and holding the 49ers to just 90 yards rushing.
Packers Wire says DT Sheldon Richardson will be a key to stopping the Packers:
The Vikings’ new defensive tackle was dominant in the opener, beating blocks and harassing 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with quick interior pressure. The Packers can’t afford a repeat from Richardson Sunday, especially if Rodgers is confined to the pocket.
Rodgers should also be wary of Minnesota CB Mike Hughes, who had a pick-6 in the Week 1 victory.
I’m liking the Packer offense to match-up well given that the Vikes’ interior rush is getting more hurries than its edge rush. Rodgers can still step away from the pocket and throw quickly – he’d have a harder time against a crew of great linebackers attacking on the blitz from all sides.
Bur double-check those injury updates one more time before banking on Rodgers to do it again with a pick ATS.