December 20, 2017
With the Atlanta Falcons’ win against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay on Monday night the Green Bay Packers have nothing whatsoever to play for on Saturday night when they take on the rival Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Green Bay has been eliminated from wild card contention and will miss the playoffs this season.
So the big question for this game had been whether the Packers (7-7 SU and 7-7 ATS on the season) would allow quarterback Aaron Rodgers to play. The common sense answer was no. Rodgers broke his right (throwing) collarbone in a Week 6 23-10 loss at Minnesota. He returned last Sunday – with 13 screws and two plates in that collarbone – to try and keep his team’s playoff hopes alive. Alas, the Packers lost by a score of 31-24 at a good Carolina Panthers team. Rodgers did throw three touchdown passes but was a bit rusty with an uncharacteristic three interceptions. He also took several big hits in the game.
Rodgers is 34 years old. He has now broken both collarbones since 2013. You simply can’t risk your franchise quarterback in a meaningless game – and as a result he’s been placed on injured reserve and will miss Saturday’s contest. Rodgers admitted he wouldn’t have played in Carolina had the Packers been out of the playoffs already. The last time the Packers missed the playoffs was way back in 2008, Rodgers’ first year supplanting Brett Favre as the team’s starting quarterback. That club went 6-10 that season.
Minnesota (11-3 SU and10-4 ATS) has been one of the best bets in the NFL this season and has won the NFC North division title for the second time in three seasons. It still has motivation, however, in the form of a first-round bye in the playoffs. Should the team win out, it would be guaranteed no worse than the NFC’s No. 2 seed. There’s a chance it can catch Philadelphia (12-2) for the No. 1 seed, but that’s unlikely.
There’s also the possibility of Minnesota being passed for the No. 2 seed in the conference by whichever team wins the NFC South or the Los Angeles Rams. Thus, the Vikings are likely thrilled to see Brett Hundley under center Saturday for the Packers instead of Rodgers.
The Vikings’ only loss in their past nine games was two weeks ago in Carolina by that same 31-24 score Green Bay just lost by last week. As noted above, Minnesota beat Green Bay by 13 points in Week 6. Rodgers was hurt on Green Bay’s second drive in that game, and the Packers managed just 227 yards. Hundley was intercepted three times. Running back Jerick McKinnon rushed for a score and caught a touchdown pass for the Vikings on the day.
Minnesota has covered only two of its past eight games in Green Bay, but this one’s all about motivation. Give the points and take the Vikings on Saturday.