Sunday seemed like a nightmare scenario for the Green Bay Packers at FedEx Field. Not only did they blow a 13-3 lead and a game in which they were dominant, losing 16-13 in overtime, but they also lost several key players against the Redskins.
The most notable injury was to quarterback Aaron Rodgers who sustained a concussion in overtime. Tight end Jermichael Finley displaced his hamstring and could miss a few weeks, while star linebacker Clay Matthews also left with a hamstring injury.
The game completely changed when Clay Matthews exited the contest because of cramps, as he was pressuring Donovan McNabb on nearly every play. Though his final stats show just 1.5 sacks, Matthews was in the backfield on almost every passing play making McNabb uncomfortable on nearly every down. There’s no word on how much time Matthews will miss, but with a displaced hamstring muscle, Finley could be out for some time.
Aaron Rodgers joins Kevin Kolb, Matt Moore, and Jay Cutler as the four starting quarterbacks to be concussed during a game this season. You know what else they all have in common? None of them started the following week. Because of the league’s sensitivity towards concussions, you can expect Aaron Rodgers to be out next weekend. That means Matt Flynn will likely start for the Packers against the Dolphins at home next Sunday.
It’s not unreasonable to think that Green Bay will lose next weekend with Rodgers, Finley, and possibly Matthews, and that they’ll be 3-3 and two games behind the potentially 5-1 Bears in the NFC North. They’re in all kinds of trouble early in the season, which is stunning since most people considered them to be a Super Bowl favorite.
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