The Green Bay Packers failed to show up in a critical game against the Arizona Cardinals. Suffering an ugly loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers now have critical game against the Minnesota Vikings to determine the winner of the NFC North. If the Packers are going to win, they need to play a lot better than they did in Week 16 as Aaron Rodgers is making it clear he is healthy and ready to win.
Rodgers was beat up in the loss to the Cardinals. The quarterback was sacked eight times in the beatdown and looked worn down at the end of the game. With left tackle David Bakhtiari and right tackle Bryan Bulaga, Rodgers had no time to do much of anything and the result was the quarterback getting taken down more times than not. According to the quarterback he is healthy, just frustrated with how the team played in Week 16.
"This was a playoff-style game and we played terrible," Rodgers said via ESPN.com, "but we have won a lot of games here. When you play long enough you are going to be on the wrong side at times, but I am confident that we have guys and myself that, when it matters for all the marbles, guys will show up."
The Packers need to show up in a big way against the Vikings who defeated the New York Giants in a blowout. The wide receivers did not get much going against the Cardinals as the team turned the ball over more than moved it forward. Rodgers had three fumbles while James Starks had one. James Jones led receivers, but only managed just five catches off 11 targets for 46 yards. Randall Cobb only managed three catches for 15 yards while tight end Andrew Quarless made his return for two catches for 17 yards. It was a struggle altogether, but confidence has not been shaken on the roster.
"I know what we're capable of, and I think we have the opportunity to put it together for two halves and just haven't done it [yet]," Rodgers said, via ESPN.com. "I think that we have enough guys on this team who have won big games, that when it comes time to play in the playoffs, you have to rely on that. I think that can get you over the hump sometimes; it can allow you to be more relaxed when you're out there playing."
Injuries have really been the downfall for the Packers this year. This season is proving that Rodgers simply cannot do it on his own. If the team can get some healthy bodies back in the week, they should have no issues against the Vikings.
