A game that includes the return of two quarterbacks that will enter the Hall of Fame five years after they retire is on tap today at Lambeau Field when the Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks.
Aaron Rodgers is back behind center for the home team after his bout with the truth and Covid. Seattle’s Russell Wilson returns after missing three games following surgery to repair an extensor tendon rupture and a comminuted fracture-dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal joint on the middle finger of his throwing hand.
The injury was incurred by Wilson during the Seahawks loss to the Los Angeles Rams five weeks ago and his return is ahead of initial projections. The injury also caused Wilson to miss the first games of his career, a setback that ended a 149 consecutive game run for the talented Seattle signal caller.
Rodgers' absence last week from the Packers lineup was due to a positive Covid test that led to the team finding out that their quarterback was not vaccinated. While he can contend that he didn’t lie when viewing his statements on the matter, his statements can only be considered not a lie when not taking into consideration the impression he left with what he said.
Enough of that already, time to play football.
The Packers were upset on opening day by the New Orleans Saints, 38-3, then ran off seven consecutive wins with Rodgers behind center. Without Rodgers running the Packers offense last week, they dropped their second game of the season in Kansas City, 13-7, while Jordan Love got his initial pro start.
There are a lot of reasons to like the Packers with Rodgers behind center, but there are also more questions this week than usually accompany his lining up for a contest. How well will he play just a couple weeks after his diagnosis and how will his teammates respond to his deception on his vaccine status?
You don’t think that matters?
This is Rodgers?
Well, if you think that, you’ve never been in a locker room where team unity is as important as the game plan.
The point spread on this contest opened with the Packers a 5½ point favorite with expectations that Rodgers would return to the Packers offense. Early in the week, the availability of Wilson was still in question. During the week the books twice took the game off the board while they sifted through the moving parts in determining the right line on this matchup.
On again, off again, on again and finally put back up on Friday night with the Packers favored by 3½ points. Even while the majority of wagers are backing the home team the line has been shaved down to 3 points at some of the sharper books.
What does that tell us?
The books like the Seahawks; the public likes the Packers.
I’ll side with the books.
Qoxhi Picks: Seattle Seahawks (+3) over Green Bay Packers.