The Green Bay Packers lost their Week One matchup to the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 23-7. The offensive line was, to put it mildly, terrible. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times. While that is not the most he has ever been sacked in a game, the hits he took were quite vicious. Just how vicious? Well, according to former Packers and Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, they were the hardest Rodgers has ever taken.
Brett Favre Shared His Perspective about the Packers/Vikings Game
According to an interview Brett Favre did with the33rdteam.com, Favre stated: “We saw a Vikings defense that was hungry and ferocious. Aaron got some of the hardest hits that maybe he’s gotten in his career. At least, it looked like that from my perspective.” Of the Vikings shutting down the Packers’ downfield passing game, Favre said: “You can count on three fingers how many games that’s happened to Aaron in his career, so kudos to the Vikings.”
The website, The 33rd Team, is made up of a team of former NFL players and coaches. Brett Favre is one of the members, as is former Packers and Vikings wide receiver Greg Jennings. Former Wisconsin Badgers great and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas is also a member. In addition to former players and coaches, award-winning broadcasters Jade McCarthy and Tray Wingo are contributors. Dr. Jess Flynn, an expert in sports medicine, is also a contributor to the site.
How Can the Packers Keep Aaron Rodgers Clean?
Obviously, the 23-7 score was less than an ideal way for the Packers to start their season. Playing without star tackles David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins was no help either. However, the offensive line that the coaching staff put on the field was less than adequate. Jake Hanson, in particular, was very bad. And then there was this:
It is clear that the Packers need to make some change on the offensive line before their Week Two game against the Chicago Bears. Zach Tom played well when he came in for an injured Jon Runyan Jr., who left the game with a concussion. Bakhtiari sounds like he will be out for at least another week, but hopefully Jenkins can come back. If Runyan can clear concussion protocol, Green Bay should roll out an offensive line of Jenkins, Newman, Myers, Tom, and Yosh Nijman.
Protecting Aaron Rodgers has to be a priority. Giving him time in the pocket is going to lead to a much better offensive performance.
More must-reads: