Packers Vikings, Rodgers to Play

Here we go! 2018’s first match-up between rivals Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers just got more exciting with the announcement that the Packers All World quarterback Aaron Rodgers will indeed play after the frightening knee injury that sidelined him for part of the first half last week vs the Chicago Bears and obviously hobbled him in the second half. Rodgers was vintage Rodgers in the second half, coming back from 20 points down to beat the Bears by 1 point, but questions persisted all week on whether or not he would actually play against his most hated rival.

Packer fans will remember that the last time Rodgers played against the Vikings, Edge Rusher Anthony Barr, effectively ended the season for Green Bay with what many believed to be a cheap shot after Rodgers had gotten rid of the ball, breaking his collar bone and keeping him on the sideline for the majority of the season. Back-up Brett Hundley was only able to win 3 games, dropping 7 as a starter in Rodgers absence, in a season that was virtually unwatchable for Packer fans and made us all thankful that we are not fans of the Cleveland Browns, and have to watch that kind of Quarterback play year after year.

What I feel went mostly unnoticed last week was the play by the Packers Wide Receivers, a position that many were worried about after the team cut ties with Jordy Nelson and didn’t replace him with a veteran. What it did do is open up opportunities for Superstar Davante Adams, and Pro Bowler Randall Cobb, as well as the player that I thought stepped up in a big way last week, Geronimo Allison. If the Wide outs can again play with consistency and get separation throughout the game, and Jimmy Graham can find a way to be a factor from the Tight End position, which he really wasn’t last week, it will take a lot of pressure off of Rodgers.

The defense will have to play better this week as well, as they were OK last week, but will be playing against a much more complete offense in the Kirk Cousins led, Vikings Offense. With Stefon Diggs, and Adam Thielen, stretching the field, Green Bay will not be able to stack the box to try to stop the potent combo of Dalvin Cook, and Latavius Murry coming out of the backfield.

On paper, the Vikings, who are the returning divisional champs, are the favorites to win this game, but I stopped doubting Aaron Rodgers a long time ago, so my prediction is Green Bay 24 Minnesota 17. GO PACK!