Rodgers not ready to Pack it in yet
Return of star QB gives Green Bay chance at playoffs
The Green Bay Packers are hoping the return of Aaron Rodgers can propel them into the post-season.
But the Packers (7-6) are going to need plenty of help aside from the two-time NFL most valuable player’s return as they remain on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff race entering Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers (9-4).
Green Bay is three games behind Minnesota with three games remaining, so winning the NFC North is considered a long shot.
The Packers trail the Falcons (85) and Seahawks (8-5) in the race for the final wild-card spot.
Rodgers knows the Packers have to win all three remaining games, but downplayed his first start since breaking his collarbone in Week 6.
“Hopefully it gives a lift to some of the guys, but I’m not coming back to save this team,” Rodgers said. “I’m coming back to play quarterback the way I know how to play it.”
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he wasn’t surprised Rodgers was able to return so quickly given how aggressively he attacked his rehabilitation and his desire to win.
“He couldn’t do any more than you possibly could as far as clearing each threshold that you have to, to come back,” McCarthy said.
Further south, Rodgers’ return has been greeted with a mere shrug of the shoulders.
It’s not that the Panthers don’t respect Rodgers, but Carolina coach Ron Rivera has been preaching to his No. 5-ranked defence to prepare for the Packers as if Brett Hundley was still the starting QB.
“To us, it shouldn’t be a big deal,” Rivera said. “They said he was going to be back for our game. That’s what we expected. I don’t want our guys getting caught up in it. I want our guys focusing on getting prepared.”
But maybe there is some reason to be concerned.
Rodgers has played well against Carolina. He’s averaging 307.5 yards per game with 12 touchdown passes and three interceptions over the past four meetings.
The Packers will need to step up their protection.
Rodgers was sacked 19 times in five games before being injured on Oct. 15. Green Bay has allowed the third-most sacks (43) in the league and will face a Carolina defence that is tied for third in the league in sacks with 40.
There was at least one benefit for the offence without Rodgers: the Packers rediscovered their running game.
Rookie running backs Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones have each had 100-yard games since Rodgers was hurt.
Those plays are likely to go away with Rodgers back, though the production out of the backfield has brought more balance.
Meanwhile, McCarthy said he’s not surprised the Panthers’ Julius Peppers is on the verge of his ninth double-digit sack season. The 37-year-old defensive end has 9 ½ sacks coming into the game against his former team.
McCarthy said that Peppers works hard, was a great leader during his three seasons for the Packers and has nothing but respect for him.