Sad State of Affairs

As Always Aaron Rodgers is the Key to Victory

The Packer season has at least two games left with the Packers assured of the third seed or the fifth seed in next week's playoffs.

If the Packers win then they host the wild card playoff game against the sixth seed, which would be against the Vikings if the Seahawks beat the Cardinals or against the Seahawks if Seattle loses. If the Packers lose then they hit the road against the fourth seed Washington.

The best scenario might be to lose and go to Washington that hosting either Seattle or Minnesota. It's sad to think about how far the Packers have fallen under Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy when it would be better to play a road game than play at Lambeau Field.

The Line is Key to Rodgers Being the Key

The injury report is going to be huge this week with the offensive and defensive lines on the fritz. Last week Bryan Bulaga (ankle) and David Bakhtiari (ankle) were knocked out the Disaster in the Desert and their backups (Don Barclay at left tackle and Josh Walker at right tackle) were terrible at best or should have been arrested for attempted murder of Aaron Rodgers at the worse. JC Tretter took over for Walker and he was better, but a department store mannequin would have been an upgrade.

Bulaga, left guard Josh Sitton (back), right guard T.J. Lang (shoulder) and center Corey Linsley (ankle) are all listed as probable, so they will start. Bakhtiari is listed as questionable, which means Barclay will most likely start again and that is not good.

So with the offensive line questionable the key to the game this week is pressure (does that sound familair?) on Teddy Bridgewater and the defensive line will be key to that pressure and it is nicked up at best and knocked out at worst.

Datone Jones Sacking Teddy Bridgewater Will Be the Defensive Key

Nose tackle B.J. Raji was also knocked out of the Disaster in the Desert with a concussion and is listed as probable. Defensive tackle Mike Daniels, who intercepted a pass last week, is also listed as questionable with a groin injury, while defensive tackle Letroy Guion is listed as probable with a foot injury. That only leaves defensive tackle Mike Pennel and defensive end Datone Jones as the only healthy members of the line.

The pass rushers have also been hit hard with the Sackmaster (Jayrone Elliott) out with a quad injury. Claymaker Matthews (ankle), Nick Perry (shoulder), and Mike Neal (hip) are listed as probable. That leaves "Hit or Miss" Julius Peppers and Andy Mulumbo as the only healthy players on the outside. Inside former starter Nate Palmer backs up Jake Ryan at the spot next to Matthews. Joe Thomas plays on passing downs because he is better in coverage, supposedly.

Last week Ryan and Thomas had the worse games of their careers. Ryan looked small and spent most of the game chasing runners down the field and Thomas couldn't cover a park bench with a coat of paint. Palmer was benched for a reason. The inside backers are a disaster in the desert or on the frozen tundra.

Running back Eddie Lacy is suffering from a rib injury, which means John Crockett may be the main runner because James Starks has made a key fumble in each of the last two games.

Cornerback Sam Shields is listed as questionable with a concussion and I bet he doesn't play. Casey Hayward is listed as probable with an ankle injury and losing him won't help. That leaves Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins as the starting cornerbacks and Micah Hyde in the slot.

Bridgewater can pass, so the secondary is again primary with the pass rush being MIA for several weeks now. When the Packers beat the Vikings seven weeks ago they sacked him six times with Datone Jones having his best game of the season with two sacks. He needs to repeat that performance again for the Packers to have a chance.

James Jones Open in the Redzone Is Also Key

The game will come down to two things. First, getting pressure on Bridgewater so he can't take advantage of the secondary. Second, is for Aaron Rodgers to have a breakout game, which means the receivers have to get open and catch the ball and the offensive line keeps him upright. Seven weeks ago Rodgers didn't have a good day completing 16-of-34 passes for 212 yards and two touchdown passes with no interceptions. He was sacked only twice for 16 yards. James Jones (6-109) and Randall Cobb (2-24) caught the TD passes.

Randall Cobb Finding Open Seams is Another Key

On a cold night on a hard field it would be nice if the running game worked, but with Lacy hurting, Starks fumbling and Crockett an unknown the key to the offense is and has always been Rodgers. If he has a good game then the Packers win. If not it won't make any difference how the defense plays.

Like I said last week. I predict a Packers loss and I mean it. The Vikings are hot and the Packers are not. Plain and simple.