The Green Bay Packers are still alive in the NFC North playoffs and heading into the final game for Week 17 against the Chicago Bears on the road, fans are going to want to know whether Aaron Rodgers will be cleared to start that game and the team would be thrilled if he could return to deliver the postseason yet again.
Rodgers has been out for weeks with a collarbone injury and while he was not cleared for the Week 16 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, there is a chance that he could play this Sunday at Soldier Field against the Bears. Matt Flynn has been good enough for the Packers during the stretch coming in for Rodgers and the team had a chance to win on Sunday, but the Steelers pulled out the game and then after the Eagles won on Sunday night football, that kept the Packers alive in the division race.
Rodgers was injured against the Bears back when the two teams played on Monday night football over a month ago and now his season could come full circle against the team again. According to ESPN.com, Rodgers was never close to starting in Week 16 despite the fact that he had been looking good in practice and that could mean he will once again be out in Week 17. The Packers have hung in tight with the Bears in the NFC North race and their tie with the Vikings may be the one thing that helps them get into the playoffs.
The Bears had the chance to clinch the division on Sunday night against the Eagles, as the Giants ended the Lions playoff hopes and the Packers lost, but Philly played tough and won with nothing on the line and now the East and North divisions will come down to those final games. The NFC picture has some openings as well, with the Saints, 49ers and Cardinals fighting for one spot, meaning one of those teams will be missing the playoffs this season. Rodgers would have been under "extraordinary risk" of hurting his collarbone again if he came back this week and now it will be up to the medical staff to see if he can return.
Rodgers has been out since early November and the Packers have shown that they will not bring him back simply to win games if he is not healthy. Matt Flynn led the team to the win over the Cowboys and he led them to nearly another win against the Steelers.