Free NFL Pick: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

It is the Green Bay Packers policy to prohibit recreational fires, open flames and fryers in all Lambeau Field parking lots, including those surrounding the stadium.

Hoyer was unable to recall plays during Monday’s game and was replaced by backup T.J. Yates.

As the slumping Packers go into Sunday’s game at NFC North leader Minnesota, the guys entrusted to protect Rodgers know what must be done. Head coach Mike McCarthy said his franchise quarterback is just “banged up” and will be ready for the Vikings contest.

“Defenses are kind of dictating us throwing the ball a little bit more, so we need to be efficient to kind of throw it to set up the run”, Rodgers said. “We’ve seen it for the last several weeks, that teams have had success with it at times, and we’ve had success against it at times”, Packers play-caller Tom Clements said of the blitz. Back-to-back defeats to then-unbeatens Denver and Carolina started the slide before the Packers were stunned at home last week by the lowly Detroit Lions.

Yes, Rodgers has an injury to his right shoulder that limited him in practice this week. Guard Josh Sitton (knee), cornerback Micah Hyde (hip) and tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) were able to do a few things in practice. Lang (shoulder), sat out Wednesday’s light practice entirely. “They’ve got Aaron Rodgers, so they always have a chance”. “When he gets hit because of us, yeah, we get frustrated”. It turns out that the winning streak was shut down by one of the worst Lions teams they’ve had since their historically bad season. He was inactive against Detroit with a groin injury. The Packers’ running game has all but disappeared – starter Eddie Lacy was benched and James Starks has rushed for only 90 yards over the three-game tailspin.

“Obviously this is his third injury”, McCarthy said. “So far, so good”.

Having success running the football is a focus for the Packers this weekend as they look to free up their receivers, who have been blanketed by tighter pass coverage. A fifth-round pick from Maryland, the 6-foot, 191-pound rookie has 30 catches for 507 yards and two touchdowns in six games.

Eleven years ago, the first matchup of the season between the border rivals was in Week 10, one week earlier than this year. Minnesota is averaging just 22 points and 328.7 yards per game on offense, but the defense is one of the best in the NFL. It’s almost a must-win situation for the visitors, who can ill afford to fall two games behind Minnesota in the division. “It’s Week 11 coming up, everybody is dealing with different things”.

Up front, they aren’t much weaker; up and coming stars like Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, and Sharrif Floyd are all proving their worth to Minnesota and will pose a very real threat to Aaron Rodgers.