A couple archaeologists were sifting through a National Football League graveyard when they found a couple sets of bones that right before their eyes came to life. It was quite unexpected, but while the graves they had been buried in revealed they had recently been dug, the fact that they sprung back to life was astonishing.
It was the bones of a couple quarterbacks, who were seemingly past their time of effectiveness and left to rot in the ground. Turns out, neither was ready to call it quits, and both of them have their teams on the cusp of a playoff berth.
The two quarterbacks?
While there is a plot nearby for Matt Ryan, the two recently discovered that sprung back to life are Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Brady is leading his first team ever with a losing record, and yet he holds first place in the win-starved NFC South Division. In Green Bay, Rodgers was behind center when the Packers endured the first extended losing streak of his career, five losses in a row and seven of eight games the Packers were on the wrong side of the score.
The Buccaneers, who have won only seven of their 15 decisions this year, are fortunate to be playing out of a division without a team with a winning record. In the NFC South, 7-8 is good enough for first place. If they win this week, when they host the Carolina Panthers, the Bucs will be assured of a postseason date.
Before the calendar shifted to December, the Packers were left for dead following a loss to the team with the best record in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles. During their losing run the Packers lost to both New York teams, the Jets and Giants, along with setbacks against the Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans and the Eagles.
But, in December, the Packers have won three in a row over the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins. Admittedly, none of those teams are currently listed among the best, in fact, only the Dolphins have a winning record among that trio of Green Bay victims and they have lost four games in a row.
This week, Rodgers leads his squad against the Minnesota Vikings, who have the second best record in football with 12 wins in 15 decisions, and have already clinched the NFC North Division title over the Packers, Lions and Bears.
So, should we get the grave ready again for Rodgers and company or has the risen quarterback now put his team in a must win situation with a playoff berth in play ready for redemption?
It appears that both Brady and Rodgers are like a vampire, who keeps coming back to life prior to having a stake driven into their heart.
Are the Vikings capable of driving that stake?
Yes.
Will they?
Probably not.
Qoxhi Picks: Green Bay Packers (-3½) over Minnesota Vikings