It wasn’t pretty but the Packers’ season remains intact for at least one more week. With a win over Atlanta, Detroit’s loss to Philadelphia and a pending return by Aaron Rodgers, there is reason for fans to at least be hopeful. Having Rodgers healthy in next week’s meeting with Dallas seems to be Green Bay’s only shot at victory. Of course, the Packers have a number of loose ends to address if they are to even compete with Rodgers under center.
Positives
Andrew Quarless
Quarless turned in a career day versus the Falcons, catching six balls for 66 yards and a touchdown. The front office surely has high hopes for Quarless, who would be the default starter at tight end next season in the likely event that the organization part ways with Jermichael Finley. The knock on Quarless has been his inconsistency in catching well-thrown passes, despite having the talent to reel in off-target balls.
Front Seven
Nick Perry continued his quiet ascent as a pass rusher while Mike Neal forced a key fumble in a reasonably impressive outing for the Green Bay defense as a whole. In an ideal world, the Packers would be getting more production out of Datone Jones and Jerel Worthy, both of whom are recent early-round draft picks. But with Worthy struggling to get healthy, the Packers will continue to rely on the services of lower-profile linemen, Mike Daniels and Johnny Jolly.
Negatives
Offensive Line
A banged-up offensive line has not made life easy on Matt Flynn in his temporary backfilling of Rodgers. It’s no secret that Rodgers’s return could be short-lived if the O-Line can’t hold up against the difficult front sevens of Dallas, Pittsburgh and Chicago. The Packers will look to a sustained high level of play out of rookie David Bakhtiari in order to keep the franchise’s greatest asset on two feet when he is able to return to the field.