Ground Control to Packers Fans...Rodgers Is Back
Aaron Rodgers got cleared to play football. The hearts of Packers' fans are probably beating a little faster after the news took root in the Limbic system and created a feeling of euphoria.
It probably could have taken the wind out of the Packers' playoff hopes if Rodgers couldn't play this weekend. Packers' fans saw Rodgers throwing deep passes before the game the other week, and maybe felt a great ping of hope that all is right in the world and everything is going to be okay.
Ticket sales and ticket prices will certainly go up with the news that Rodgers will play again. The Packers did take a hit when Rodgers got hurt, and some fans stopped going because there was no hope in their hearts. They might have expected Rodgers to be out for the rest of the season. I won't say that I was one of those fans. I didn't have enough information on Hundley to feel that the Packers could make it to the playoffs. Hundley did his job and kept the Packers' playoff hopes alive.
The bad news is that Rodgers shoulder will probably take some pretty big hits if the Packers can't establish a running game, and the defensive backs will be sitting on the short pass because of the Packers lack of pass protection. Rodgers might also be a little gun shy as he attempts to protect his injured shoulder from defenders looking to hit him.
Rodgers can do a lot on the football field, but he is human, and is breakable, even if, Packers' fans believe he is more than human by the way they view his athletic accomplishments. He has missed more games than Favre, but it isn't fair to compare him to Favre because they play the game differently. Favre might have rolled out of the pocket and taken the same hit on his shoulder, but that is just pure speculation.
We are spoiled by eight straight years of playoff appearances. We are spoiled by the way the Packers always find ways to win. Maybe it is our time to face the reality that just winning the last three games might not be enough. We might need to brace ourselves for the reality that winning the last three games is probably unrealistic if you look at the record of all three teams we face. None of these games are going to be easy wins if you look at how those three teams are playing right now.
The Vikings will be ready and be looking to win the division. The odds are pretty slim the Vikings lose out and don't make the playoffs. Yes, it is the Vikings and they choke like they did in other years. That might be a pipe dream, but last week the Vikings lost to the Panthers, so if the Packers win this weekend, we can hope for a win against the Vikings.
The Panthers defense ranks fifth against the rush, and rank twenty-eight in pass defense, so there is a glimmer of hope for the Packers this weekend. With Rodgers at quarterback, the Packers have more firepower when it comes to the passing threat, and if there two rookie running backs can pass protect and establish the running threat, the Packers should win on the offense side.
We still need to cross our fingers the Packers defense will continue the trend of making big plays when they are needed. They are probably breathing a lot easier today because Rodgers is their starting quarterback.
It probably could have taken the wind out of the Packers' playoff hopes if Rodgers couldn't play this weekend. Packers' fans saw Rodgers throwing deep passes before the game the other week, and maybe felt a great ping of hope that all is right in the world and everything is going to be okay.
Ticket sales and ticket prices will certainly go up with the news that Rodgers will play again. The Packers did take a hit when Rodgers got hurt, and some fans stopped going because there was no hope in their hearts. They might have expected Rodgers to be out for the rest of the season. I won't say that I was one of those fans. I didn't have enough information on Hundley to feel that the Packers could make it to the playoffs. Hundley did his job and kept the Packers' playoff hopes alive.
The bad news is that Rodgers shoulder will probably take some pretty big hits if the Packers can't establish a running game, and the defensive backs will be sitting on the short pass because of the Packers lack of pass protection. Rodgers might also be a little gun shy as he attempts to protect his injured shoulder from defenders looking to hit him.
Rodgers can do a lot on the football field, but he is human, and is breakable, even if, Packers' fans believe he is more than human by the way they view his athletic accomplishments. He has missed more games than Favre, but it isn't fair to compare him to Favre because they play the game differently. Favre might have rolled out of the pocket and taken the same hit on his shoulder, but that is just pure speculation.
We are spoiled by eight straight years of playoff appearances. We are spoiled by the way the Packers always find ways to win. Maybe it is our time to face the reality that just winning the last three games might not be enough. We might need to brace ourselves for the reality that winning the last three games is probably unrealistic if you look at the record of all three teams we face. None of these games are going to be easy wins if you look at how those three teams are playing right now.
The Vikings will be ready and be looking to win the division. The odds are pretty slim the Vikings lose out and don't make the playoffs. Yes, it is the Vikings and they choke like they did in other years. That might be a pipe dream, but last week the Vikings lost to the Panthers, so if the Packers win this weekend, we can hope for a win against the Vikings.
The Panthers defense ranks fifth against the rush, and rank twenty-eight in pass defense, so there is a glimmer of hope for the Packers this weekend. With Rodgers at quarterback, the Packers have more firepower when it comes to the passing threat, and if there two rookie running backs can pass protect and establish the running threat, the Packers should win on the offense side.
We still need to cross our fingers the Packers defense will continue the trend of making big plays when they are needed. They are probably breathing a lot easier today because Rodgers is their starting quarterback.
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