The Green Bay Packers are set to face off against the Minnesota Vikings in NFL Week 17 action. It is a huge game that will decide the winner of the NFC North division and ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky joined us for an exclusive interview to answer a few questions.
Q. Aaron Rodgers has been struggling in a big way this season. What do you think it will take to get him turned around?
Demovsky: It's certainly interesting that a 30-touchdown, seven-interception season is categorized as a struggle, but I know statistics don't tell the whole story. Certainly, Rodgers, and more accurately this offense, hasn't passed the eye test, and I don't think that's going to change significantly this year. It can be managed if the Packers run the ball well, but what team can't say that? I thought they would be able to function better without Jordy Nelson than they have. I was wrong about that.
Q. What is wrong with Eddie Lacy? Do you see him turning things around this year?
Demovsky: The simple answer is that he was overweight and out of shape early on. But even if that wasn't the case, perhaps it may have been unrealistic to expect him to put up a third-straight 1,100-yard season. I did some research on that before the season and found that since 2000, a total of 49 backs have put together two straight 1,100-yard seasons. That includes Lacy, LeSean McCoy and DeMarco Murray each of the past two seasons. Of the 46 backs who did it before them, exactly half followed it with a third straight 1,100-yard year.
Q. With Mike McCarthy back on play-calling, do you foresee any more changes coming to the offense in the coming weeks? Say different route combos or other players being utilized more?
Demovsky: It doesn't seem like it matters who calls the plays, at least based on the last couple of games.
Q. Looking ahead to Week 17 against the Vikings, what five keys are there for the Packers to pull out a victory?
Demovsky: I don't know if there are five, but here's three: 1. Run the ball effectively early on. It's the only way McCarthy seems to stick with it. 2. Stop the run, which they did a great job of against Adrian Peterson the first time. 3. Score on defense or special teams; it would take some pressure off the offense.
Q. If the Packers were to lose, do you think that the playoff road would be more favorable?
Demovsky: No, I still think you're better off playing as many games at home as possible.
Q. There is a chance that the Packers could play the Cardinals again in the playoffs. What changes need to be made after seeing what happened this past week for them to pull off a win against Arizona?
Demovsky: Honestly, I'm not sure there are any changes that would work. I think the Cardinals are the best team in the NFC and if the Packers played there 10 times, they might lose all 10.
Q. Do you foresee any major offseason changes coming due to the front office seeing these major holes?
Demovsky: That's so tough to tell. I don't think there will be major changes on the coaching staff. Ted Thompson is usually a steady-as-he-goes general manager.
We hope that you enjoyed the interview with Rob Demovsky and we appreciate his time and willingness to do the exclusive interview. What are your Packers' final score predictions for this week's game against the Vikings?
