By Nicholas Billy
The Green Bay Packers worst fears were realized on Sunday when quarterback Aaron Rodgers got hurt. The question now is, where do the Packers go from here?
Green Bay is still tied for first place in the NFC North but they have big games coming up against the Saints and Lions and those games could go a long way in determining how the rest of the season plays out. Do they still have a shot at winning the NFC North? Sure but it will be tough to win the division without Rodgers.
Rodgers has broken his collarbone before but this injury is more severe and as a result, he is out for the rest of the season. Rodgers injury has now opened the door for the rest of the division.
At 4-2, the Vikings are tied with the Packers atop the division. Despite losing Dalvin Cook for the season, Minnesota has played well and the defense has once again led the way. Just like the Packers, Minnesota’s future success hinges on quarterback play. Case Keenum has played well in Sam Bradford’s absence but can he play at a high level until Bradford or Teddy Brudgewater get back? That remains to be seen.
The Lions also have a shot at winning the division but they struggled defensively thus far and Matthew Stafford has been wildly inconsistent. The time is now for Detroit to capitalize on Green Bay being without Rodgers and make a run at the division.
The Bears are the least of the Packers worries. Chicago is in full rebuild mode, especially now that they have turned the reigns over to rookie Mitchell Trubisky. Chicago is playing for 2018 and beyond but as we saw this past week, they are good enough to play with and beat anyone in the league if they come to play.
Despite the loss of Rodgers, the Packers have a pretty good shot at winning the NFC North and making the playoffs. They are a veteran team led by a veteran staff that has been there before. If there is one team with the infrastructure in place to withstand the loss of their franchise quarterback, it is the Packers. They will be o.k as long as they get decent quarterback play from Brett Hundley. If not, Packers fans will be chanting NO PACK NO!