With the Packers currently locked in a tight one against the Lions, all quarterback Aaron Rodgers can do is helplessly watch from the sideline.Rodgers left the game in the second quarter after being decked by two Lions players and will not return to the game after being ruled out with a concussion.
Rodgers decided to take off straight up the middle on a passing play and gained a good chunk of yards before two Detroit defenders – linebacker Landon Johnson and S Amari Spievey – hit him simultaneously. Rodgers was dazed and confused when he got up to return to the huddle.
Matt Flynn, the team’s seventh-round pick from 2008, entered and will take over at quarterback for the rest of the game.
Although Rodgers looked okay later in the game, the last thing the injury-ridden Packers can afford is another debilitating injury. Remember, Rodgers was concussed earlier in the season, so the team has to be careful in bringing him back.
With a big Sunday night showdown against the Patriots looming in Week 15, Green Bay is going to need their Pro Bowl quarterback under center. This is a situation to monitor in the next few days.
The Football Earned Run Average is real football analysis of pro football statistics, scores, and handicapping. The formula has been developed over a dozen or so years of crunching numbers while fine-tuning & tweaking a statistical analysis of games and team performances. This special algorithm measures a teams performance at the LINE OF SCRIMMAGE (as best can be done in conjunction with film analysis) with a statistical analysis of a team's performance. It measures a team's offensive line and defensive front's effect on overall team performance by analyzing its Rushing and Ball Control performance as well as the amount and effect of Defensive pressure (sacks, hurries, pass defense...) on the results of the game.
When asked about PTI’s co-host Tony Kornheiser, Rodgers boldly stated:“Tony’s stuff wasn’t funny at all. He did no research. We’d sit in those production meetings and he would add absolutely nothing to the conversation. I’d be like, ‘What are we doing here? This is stupid.’… You get in there with Tony and he’s asking you all these dumb questions that have no application to the game you are playing or anything you are doing. He’s terrible on [PTI], too. I don’t think he’s funny. I don’t think he’s insightful. I don’t think knows anything about sports.”
With Super Bowl XLV not too far away many Green Bay Packers fans are champing at the bit to witness Aaron Rodgers capture his first Super Bowl ring, and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to title-town. But the other side of the field will be occupied by another title rich team in the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are champing at the bit for their third Super Bowl win in five years.Nothing’s ever easy in this game, is it?
But for Aaron Rodgers, the past two weeks have in fact looked rather easy as he masterfully weaved his best career performance against the favored Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago, only to follow that performance with a stellar outing against a Chicago Bears team that seemingly had no answer for Aaron Rodgers’ methodical aerial attack.
Both the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing their best football right now which is perfect timing, but for the Packers things just look different. With each passing contest you get a sense of entitlement—as if Aaron Rodgers is quietly saying “It’s my turn; it’s my time.” You get the notion that this team and this quarterback are simply unstoppable right now—as if the inevitable is beginning to materialize.
Since his first snap under center, Aaron Rodgers has done more than enough to prove he is among the elite quarterbacks of the league, but without a Super Bowl ring his elite status will never be truly recognized. Since getting the nod as the new leader of this storied franchise, Aaron Rodgers has always played in the perpetual shadow of Brett Favre—but again—without a Super Bowl ring that shadow will always follow him.
But there is no denying the fact that Aaron Rodgers can in fact blow through the Steelers’ vaunted second ranked defense (number one ranked in postseason play) and capture his first career Championship ring.
Remember, we are talking about a guy who has thrown for 12,394 yards and 86 touchdowns in his last three seasons as a starter. We are talking about a team that has more weapons than any one defense can account for, and we are talking about a quarterback who took a significantly injured team through the mire only to lead them to the “promise land”.
To be honest, there really is only one thing left to do for Rodgers.
But defeating the Steelers will take more than just grit, luck and cleverness. It’ll take determination, flawless execution and a single minded approach built on team unity. Defeating Big Ben’s Band of Brutes will also take the cool hand of a leader who has shown himself to be unwavered.
As Eminem says in 8 Mile, “Ward, I think you were a little hard on the beaver.” No doubt, Tony Kornheiser was pretty bad on Monday Night Football and his harassment of Hannah Storm was uncalled for. However, it’s impressive for PTI to be one of the most watched shows on ESPN considering it has a co-host who, “doesn’t know anything about sports,” as Rodgers frankly stated.
Rodgers’ “love” didn’t stop there. The Packers‘ quarterback was critical of former Eagles quarterback and current NFL analyst Ron Jaworski, calling his analysis of Rodgers’ fundamentals before the NFL draft, “the worst segment in the history of TV.” He also went on to express his disdain for former Cowboys defensive end and current NFL analyst Marcellus Wiley:
“You look at Marcellus Wiley up there talking about quarterback play. The guy was a defensive end for a few years in the league. He’s not any good.”
Wiley played in the league for ten years, which is eight more than Rodgers. Despite having back-to-back impressive seasons, Rodgers still has a lot to prove, especially if he is going to talk down to seasoned veterans like “Jaws” and Wiley. Plus, calling out analysts behind their backs usually isn’t the best thing for PR.
Justin Mertes-Mistretta is a senior editor for the Sports Bank.net mainly covering the NFL, NBA playoffs, college basketball (Ohio State), and fantasy football. Follow him on twitter at MertesMist_tsb or become a fan of his blog here.
