Can Rodgers Do It Again?

The game today at the Georgia Dome is a microcosm of the Packers season. A Packers offense that is as good as in the league without its major stars and a defense that isn't playing against the best offense in the league with its MVP possible quarterback.

Now you add the flu which I understand started with Jordy Nelson and I get the feeling the football gods seem to be against the Packers, but somehow Aaron Rodgers has thrown all the trials and tribulations those gods have thrown at the team since Week 11 and has come out on top. Today could be one of those games that could cement Rodgers' legacy as one of or maybe the best the league has ever seen since he has been sick with the flu since Friday.

If the flu wasn't enough the football gods threw in the weather. The Packers bused to Milwaukee with bad weather in Green Bay and were delayed flying out. They got into Atlanta late, but at least they go some sleep unlike the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were rousted out of their slumber with a 3 a.m. false alarm.

Even though they arrested a man for making the ball the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree. The New England Patriots and Bill Belichik are known to want to cheat even if they don't need to. If Belichick didn't order this (and there seems to be reason to believe he did) the atmosphere surrounding the Patriots makes this a predictable reaction to a challenge. Sad isn't it.

Injuries have been the issue all season on both the offense and the defense. Running back James Starks, who I will predict won't be back next year, is out with a concussion. Center/tackle/guard J.C. Tretter was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Wide receiver Davante Adams is questionable with a bad ankle injury as is wide receiver Geronimo Allison with a hamstring and wide receiver Jordy Nelson with broken ribs. I understand all three are active and will play. I actually hope McCarthy holds Nelson out so he can be ready for the Super Bowl if the Packers win.

Ted Thompson will have 2 other receivers available in former Bronco great Ed McCaffrey's son Max, who was brought up from the practice squad Saturday to replace Tretter on the roster and former wide receiver turned cornerback Herb Waters. Heaven help us.

It seems to me that every time a player has done well he immediately comes down with a hamstring injury. I would have felt fine if Allison was 100% replacing Jordy, but he might not even be able to play or play well.

I also see placekicker Mason Crosby and wide receiver Jeff Janis are on the injury list with some undisclosed issues. Crosby wins the game with a playoff record 56-yard and two 51-yard field goals and Janis may have to start if Allison and Adams can't answer the bell. The football gods just hate us.

On the positive side the offensive line is playing as well as the Packers' lines have played in recent memory. Tight ends Jared Cook is also playing as well as any Packer tight end since Mark Chmura and Paul Coffman and even Jermichael Finley, who a lot of people don't like.

Also on the positive note Ty Montgomery and Aaron Ripkowski have been good or even better at running back. Ripkowski is already better than John Kuuuuuuuuuuuuhn ever was and Montgomery seems to be a bonafided running back with excellent receiving skills.

I get a feeling if the worse comes to past the Packers will have to line up with Jeff Janis and Randall Cobb on the outside, Cook in the slot and Richie Rodgers at tight end with Trevor Davis in reserve.

The key to offense against the Falcons is how sick is Rodgers and do Adams and Allison play. If all three are anywhere close to being 100% the Packers can keep with the Falcons on offense.

Now the defense. The Dom Capers defense. On a good day with all hands on deck the best you can get out of this defense is 25 points given up, a hole in the middle of the field, untimely penalties and a forgettable second half.

Well......the Packers are far from whole and far from dominant. Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion are playing well on the line as it is. Capers plays a two-man line with Julius Peppers and Nick Perry playing basically the defensive end spots without the hands on the ground. Datone Jones and Clay Matthews come in to rush the passer with Jayrone Elliott (when he is healthy and he has a hand injury) and Kyler Fackrell also coming in to rush the passer.

The pass rush has been spotty lately at best and the pass rush will be the key to the defense against the Falcons. Pressure on Matt Ryan is key to victory. If Clay Matthews has anything left beyond his reputation today is the day for him to show it.

Inside linebackers of Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez and Joe Thomas are midland at best and below par on a normal day. All 3 are on the light side and except for a few hard hits by Thomas they don't put the fear of Ray Nitschke and Brian Noble or even Jim Carter (sorry Ray) in opposing running backs or quarterbacks. The Packer middle is a huge liability on this defense.

The secondary has been in intensive care all season with injuries. Strong safety Morgan Burnett has found his niche when they moved him closer to the line to help in the running game. But, of course, he gets injured. If it weren't for bad luck the Packers would have no luck at all. I consider what Rodgers does not luck, but skill.

Burnett is questionable with a quad injury suffered early in last week's game. Undrafted free agent Kentrell Brice replaced him and he led the team in tackles. He has some skills, but he is not Burnett. Undrafted free agent Marwin Evans is the other backup safety.

Slot corner/safety Micah Hyde is playing the best of his career. I think he might be the Defensive MVP of the team.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was named to the Pro Bowl and is playing like it. He still doesn't have the football instincts of Nick Collins, but he is getting close. He will need to extra good (thanks Andy Taylor) today if the Packers have a chance to keep the Falcons under 30 points.

The cornerbacks have been a disaster. Damarious Randall has regressed from his excellent play last year and LaDarius Gunter (or Gunner as Troy Aikman calls him) has also regressed from his play early in year when he took over for Sam Shields in the 1st game.

Two years ago Ted Thompson drafted Randall No. 1 and Quinten Rollins No. 2 with the express reason to let Casey Hayward walk. Hayward signed with the San Diego Chargers and led the league in interceptions.

Randall became a starter his rookie season and like I said regressed this season to the point he was benched a few weeks ago. He may be the luckiest man in the in that no matter how bad he plays he's better than anyone behind him.

Rollins can best be summed up as a bust. He should have been the 1st man up when Shields went down, but instead Gunter, an undrafted free agent, stepped in and has been there ever since even as he is beaten more and more each progressing week. Rollins has been hurt many times this season and is again questionable with a neck injury.

Behind them are undrafted free agents Waters and Josh Hawkins. The team is riddled with undrafted free agents as reserves. This is how Ted Thompson builds a team with untested rookies instead of solid veteran reserves. This would have been a good season to have steady hands ready to play. But NO!!!!

Today's game will be a shootout. Last team with the ball should be the winner. The consensus is Falcons win. But, even with a below par Rodgers, the Packers have a chance. I will take that chance and run with it.

GO PACK!