Aaron Rodgers' Injured Collarbone Hurts Packers' Playoff Chances

In the wake of Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone injury suffered during a 27–20 Green Bay Packers loss to the NFC North rival Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, there are several Vince Lombardi quotes that come to mind and could be used as inspiration for Title Town.

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall,” the Packers’ iconic coach famously said. That advice certainly fits. Although, since Rodgers took over for Brett Favre as Green Bay’s starter in 2008, Cheesehead fans have not had to double-check Rodgers’ status. The 2011 league MVP and Super Bowl XLV MVP has missed only two games. After suffering a concussion the game before, Rodgers missed a Week 15 contest at New England in 2010. And in 2011, Rodgers sat out the Week 17 season-finale against Detroit, watching backup Matt Flynn set franchise records with 480 yards and six TDs.

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have,” Lombardi reminded his players more than once during his Hall of Fame career, which included two Super Bowl wins and six NFL titles with the Packers.

What Green Bay has at quarterback currently is Seneca Wallace, a 5'11", 205-pound, 33-year-old with 31 TDs and 19 INTs over 10 years out of Iowa State. Wallace completed 11-of-19 passes for 114 yards and one INT subbing for Rodgers against the Bears.

The Packers have several other options who are familiar with coach Mike McCarthy’s offense. Flynn, who backed up Rodgers for four seasons from 2008-11, was released by the Buffalo Bills on Monday. Meanwhile, Vince Young, Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman all spent time with Green Bay during the preseason.

“I’m focused on Seneca Wallace right now,” said McCarthy, during a postgame press conference following the loss to Chicago.

Regardless of who lines up under center, he won’t be as good as Rodgers — who completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 2,218 yards, 15 TDs and only four INTs for a 108.0 passer rating prior to landing on his non-throwing left shoulder while being taken to the ground by Bears defensive end Shea McClellin.

“Aaron is a huge part of our offense,” said McCarthy. “This is something that was built over time. Aaron is the centerpiece.”

With a 5–3 record, including a 2–1 mark within the NFC North division, the Packers are still alive in the playoff picture. But with seven games left against NFC opponents, including three divisional contests, the window of opportunity could slam shut unless Green Bay follows its greatest coach’s mantra: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”