The NFC North this year has been a case of who doesn’t want it, ever since the Packers lost their quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. The Packers seemed destined to runaway with the division early on, however the untimely injury to Rodgers sent the division into a tailspin. At times both the Bears and Lions seemed to be the likely team to step forward and claim the division out from underneath the Packers. However, with the Lions now officially eliminated from playoff contention in a fashion that couldn’t have been more inept if they tried to lose, fans of the NFC North are left with a one-game showdown between the Packers and Bears to see who will represent the division in the playoffs.
A lot of questions remain to be answered leading into this game and answers that will likely weigh heavily on the outcome.
The questions of uncertainty of this game both start and end with Aaron Rodgers and the endless will he, won’t he. It has been made clear from the Packers that they are not rushing their quarterback into the line-up before he is absolutely ready, even if that comes at the cost of hosting a home game in the playoffs. A detail that should be respected and admired from football fans, inside and outside of the game. In an industry that the bottom line is what’s most important, the Packers are choosing the long-term health and outlook of their quarterback and team over the short-term payoff of a single home playoff game. Even if Rodgers is unable to go, the Packers go into the final week of the season with a chance. Matt Flynn, a quarterback who’s been cut by three teams since 2012, seems to squeeze everything he’s got while out there on the field for the green and gold.
On the other side of the field, questions around the quarterback exist as well. Jay Cutler is undoubtedly the number one option for the Chicago Bears, however with the play of their back-up Josh McCown in the absence of Cutler, Marc Trestman and company understand they have a viable option to turn to in a one-game scenario if they need to.
Coming back to the Packers, week 16 was a game like no other. The Packers have become heavily reliant on an effective running game and it was on display against the Steelers. Eddie Lacy had 15 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns and possibly equally as important, moved the ball downfield in a manner that allows McCarthey to be confident in his back when needing to convert. It’s one thing to put up some stats that sometimes don’t tell the full story, it is another to give your coach the belief that you will get what is needed. Eddie Lacy has given that to the Packers. With another injury to his ankle, fans and fantasy owners will remain in the dark until Thursday to know Lacy’s status heading into the final week. His presence might not be the most important for the Packers as Aaron Rodgers will stake claim to that, but Lacy is damn important to the success of this team.
In his absence though, James Starks continues to do what he does. In limited action late in the game, Starks picked up 47 yards on 10 carries and also had a 23 yard reception to go with it. The one-two punch of these two would be welcomed by any Green Bay fan, however if Starks needs to step into the number one option, he’s proven over and over again that he is capable.
Clay Matthews suffered another injury to the same thumb that kept him out for a month earlier in the season and is unlikely to see action in week 17, a big blow to the Packers defense. News is a little better when it comes to Randall Cobb; he’ll continue to practice this week and could be activated from the short-term injured reserve list for week 17.
If the Packers can come out of the final week with a win, the conversation quickly turns to their playoff match-up. With so many movable pieces in play for week 17, it’s difficult to forecast just who the Packers would host. But in most of the possible scenarios, Lambeau is not going to be a friendly place that welcomes a team who will most certainly have had a better season as they go on the road to Green Bay.
For another week the waiting game continues. My sense is that Rodgers won’t start, Flynn will have a mediocre game and because the Bears are more like the Lions than they are what is expected from Chicago, the Packers will win the NFL North this season. And the apathy that I feel towards this team heading into week 17, if they are to book a ticket to the playoffs, a lot of this apathy subsides. The underdog role is one that this team has embraced for some time and it may serve them well once again.
Another conclusion I hope is safe to draw is that the horrendous penalties that the team was taking late, is not something that will be seen again. A late encroachment and a false start resulting in a ten second run-off, it was an odd finish to the game. In the span of two minutes, the Packers fumbled, took an awful penalty to extend the drive resulting in a touchdown instead of the inevitable field goal, had a +70 yard kickoff return to set up an improbable touchdown drive for the tie, instead of the win had they only allowed the field goal. And then once in the red zone, they managed to get two plays off in a span of over a minute. A late snap as the clock ticked to zero and a pass into the end zone that seemed to have no chance of being caught resulted in the end of a game that seemed like the Packers would send to overtime. It was a dagger that stung the hearts of Packers fans everywhere.
But then out of a bad afternoon soap opera, the Bears got beat-down by a team who had nothing to play for.
Week 17, we’re all waiting.
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