Rodgers leads rout, one left on table

Aaron Rodgers is healthy and the Green Bay Packers are hot. If that’s the case, though, why didn’t Newman approach Zimmer sometime before the first quarter of Saturday’s game with his request to cover Nelson?

A win over the Vikings Saturday would guarantee the Packers a chance to win the division the following week. And after taking a 28-13 lead into halftime, the Packers coasted from there.

It was all but a formality at this point, but the once 5-0 Vikings were officially eliminated from playoff contention with this loss as well. Green Bay’s top two running backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks both have missed several games because of injuries, forcing RB/WR hybrid Ty Montgomery to be the feature back in recent weeks. His 71-yard touchdown was the longest of his career.

The Packers quickly answered with their second touchdown.

But, it appears that we now know who was responsible for what happened with the Vikings’ defensive backs on Saturday at Lambeau Field.

Another Forbath field goal early in the second quarter made it 14-6.

Put together, with the possible return this week of linebacker Nick Perry, Green Bay’s leader in sacks this season, and you can see why the Packers might be the rest of the NFC’s least-wanted team in the playoffs. Rodgers found Nelson again, in the end zone, for his third TD pass.

Getting a bit of assistance from the Packers, as defenders collided on the play, Thielen was all alone as he hauled in this deep pass from Sam Bradford. He enters the final weekend of games tied for fifth with 91 receptions, sixth in yards and first in touchdowns.

And if the Packers pull that off, an MVP conversation that has been dominated by names like Matt Ryan, Derek Carr, Ezekiel Elliott and even Matthew Stafford should be rebooted and turned back toward the one player who still plays the game’s most important position better than anyone else when he’s healthy and clicking on all cylinders.

The Packers struck first, despite not scoring on the opening drive.

The Packers were more than happy to concede the yards, especially with such a large lead and Minnesota’s consolation scores felt nothing like the Bears’ furious comeback in Chicago last week. He had seven for 145 in the first half against the league’s fourth-ranked passing defense.

Rodgers hit Nelson for 33, scrambled for 7 and hit Nelson for the touchdown.

While that would have been enough to make a stalled-out season understandable, the Vikings’ problems go far beyond that.

Rodgers hasn’t thrown an interception in the last six games, tying the franchise record. After Green Bay’s first possession resulted in a punt, Zimmer and the coaching staff told the defensive backs to play the right scheme. (Bradford and Bridgewater.) This season shouldn’t have ended this way after the way it began, but it will nonetheless next week at U.S. Bank Stadium, and we will be there to bring it all home.