When the lights come on, the stars come out. That’s precisely what happen Thursday night when the injury and illness-riddled Green Bay Packers went into Arizona and proceeded to defeat the previously unbeaten Arizona Cardinals, 24-21. Without its top three receivers, top two cornerbacks (on the depth chart anyway), and All-Pro left tackle, very few expected Green Bay to unseat the Cardinals. But what the world forgot, Green Bay has a baaaaad man under center and that guy is out for vengeance. Of course, I’m referring to the reigning NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers.
This isn’t the first time the football world turned its back on Green Bay in 2021. Starting at Draft night, when stooges like Adam Schefter and Bill Michaels got the whole world talking about nonsensical speculation that was reported as fact. This dark cloud followed Green Bay all offseason until Aaron Rodgers arrived in Titletown for Training Camp. Then, for a short time, there was peace. Rodgers aired his side of the story and everything seemed okay.
That is until an absolute dumpster fire, stinker of a performance in Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints. Then came the moronic questions. “Is Aaron invested in this team?” “Is he trying to force his way out?” “Are they washed up?”
Green Bay Packers Return to the top
Since that dud in Week 1, Green Bay has looked to be in the upper echelon of the NFL. A big Sunday night win against the 49ers, cruising past Pittsburgh, surviving the upstart Bengals, owning the Bears and now being the reason the ‘72 Dolphins get to pop champagne bottles again. The defense has gelled together. Rodgers is slinging the ball, and Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon are a two-headed, thunder-and-lightning duo rushing past and through NFL defenses. On top of that, Rodgers is vocally loving being in Green Bay, going as far to say that he doesn’t feel like Week 6 wasn’t his last time as the visitor in the Packers-Bears rivalry. Rodgers is all smiles and showing all sorts of emotion in-game, being a vocal leader, cheering on teammates, and basically, everything that the critics and naysayers said he wouldn’t do.
Front Office Success
There are plenty of jokes out on the internet that Aaron Rodgers might be the first person to win MVP and Executive of the Year in the same season. But, the reality of the situation is that this front office, as frustrating as they may be at times, is hitting a home run this season. Maybe it truly was a wake-up call when Rodgers voiced his frustration of not having a seat at the table when it came to personnel. Suddenly, impact players like Whitney Mercilus, Jaylon Smith, Rasul Douglas and almost Stephon Gilmore are landing in Green Bay to fill huge voids. Preseason addition Randall Cobb is making it look like we’re in 2013 with the ways he stepped up throughout this season, especially against Arizona. Offseason addition De’Vondre Campbell has everyone, including Rodgers, wondering why Arizona didn’t bring him back.
And, of course, draft choices from the last few years are filling huge roles, truly embodying the “Next Man Up” mentality. It’s been a recipe for high success for the Packers.
What was once branded as a potential “Last Dance” type season, the FU Tour continues in Kansas City, when the Green Bay Packers play a seemingly vulnerable Chiefs team. Green Bay looks to get healthy with the “mini-bye” ahead of what could be a Super Bowl preview.
