This is a must-win game

[Future]

I have not seen confirmation that Rodgers is playing ?

Me neither, but he's been practicing, and I'd be shocked if he didn't.

 

[Idgit]

All the games are important from here on out. This is not a must win. It just feels like one because we know Philly already won and the pressure is on to hold serve. There's no upside tonight, only downside. Games like these kind of stink for that reason.

That aside, this is a team we should be. We've got more talent than this incarnation of the Bears at this point, and we've got a much better QB. Big game. Below freezing weather. In Chicago on Ditka Night on Monday Night Football with playoff implications for both teams.

Should be awesome.

 

[pavalley]

Me neither, but he's been practicing, and I'd be shocked if he didn't.

Broken collar bones don't heal that quickly....Packers have a maybe to get in.....either qb...we roll them at home after a bears win..Rodgers will certainly be rusty...

 

[Idgit]

the pivotal game was the giants game.

now this group needs to find a way to finish the deal and get the east in the end.

I agree. That game was more important both in terms of playoff implications for us, and for the statement it made.

 

[MRV52]

Highly doubt Rodgers plays. Broken collar bone takes more time to heel. If he does play, one good hit and he is done.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I understand that but if they lose tonight and fall a game behind the Eagles people will say it's gut check time. There is no more margin for error. If the team wins out from there and takes the division the Packers game will be the one pointed at as pivotal. It started then not the Bears game.

Of course this is a big game but it is not a must win. Not when you still control your own destiny.

In 1995 the most important game of that season was the loss to the Eagles.

I watched an interview with Emmitt after he retired. He stated the 4th and 1 game was devastating to the team but from the ashes they rose to win it all.

He claimed then that Switzer came into the lockerroom and told the team it was his fault. Not to listen to what anyone says. Switzer justified his calling for the same play twice because he "believed in them so very much."

They did not lose the rest of that season all the way through the play-offs.

Now one can lay claim they might have won anyway and nothing Switzer said made a whit of difference. But Emmitt was not rolling his eyes or being sarcastic.

Now I am not equating a loss tonight to the roll the team got on then. But there are games that mean a great deal outside of just win or lose. It has to do with confidence, and getting on a roll as a team.

Hostile territory, brutal environment, motivated Bears because of the Ditka thing and Ratliff facing his old team, that has enough components to make this critical.

In my eyes this is when the championship run starts. Not next week, not two weeks from now, not with an Eagles loss. Dallas needs to win out and end up 11-5 in my mind.

That would go further in making them believe than any of the backdoor success this team has almost come into the last couple of years.

Just my opinion.

 

[Idgit]

Highly doubt Rodgers plays. Broken collar bone takes more time to heel. If he does play, one good hit and he is done.

It's kind of starting to look that way to me, too. One thing's for sure...if he *can* bet back to play, he'll do it for this game. Assuming we beat the Bears (just for the purpose of the argument), we'd open that North division right up for them. The only question is whether or not he's healed up enough to be cleared for play.

 

[JD_KaPow]

With Eagles thrashing the Lions yesterday this becomes a must-win, IMO.

I'm hoping we split the next 2 weeks and beat Wash and keep our destiny in our own hands.

These two statements are contradictory.

 

[Doomsday101]

Me neither, but he's been practicing, and I'd be shocked if he didn't.

I think it is more likely now that Det lost yesterday opening the door for GB.

 

[cowboys2233]

Highly doubt Rodgers plays. Broken collar bone takes more time to heel. If he does play, one good hit and he is done.

If all he has to do is take one good hit and he re-breaks it, they'll never put him out there in the first place because that would mean his collarbone is not structurally sound. I happen to agree with you, I don't think he'll get the go ahead.

 

[cowboys2233]

I think it is more likely now that Det lost yesterday opening the door for GB.

Not really. I think that the Packers winning yesterday simply gives them the opportunity to delay making a decision on Rodgers. The Packers are alive for another week but that has no real bearing on Rodgers' availability. If a scan comes back this week and shows that his collarbone still hasn't fully healed, they will not put him out there, regardless of whether the team's chances have improved. I'm betting he does not play this week.

 

[Doomsday101]

If all he has to do is take one good hit and he re-breaks it, they'll never put him out there in the first place because that would mean his collarbone is not structurally sound. I happen to agree with you, I don't think he'll get the go ahead.

Really comes down to clearance from doctors, they cleared him to practice and will reexamine him this week for the Cowboys game. If they feel he can go they will play him

 

[Doomsday101]

Not really. I think that the Packers winning yesterday simply gives them the opportunity to delay making a decision on Rodgers. The Packers are alive for another week but that has no real bearing on Rodgers' availability. If a scan comes back this week and shows that his collarbone still hasn't fully healed, they will not put him out there, regardless of whether the team's chances have improved. I'm betting he does not play this week.

I think being a game down with 4 to go makes a big differance in him playing for not. If GB was out of the race then they likely would shut him down for the season but with the season still hanging in the balance if Docs give the nod then he will play. You only have so much time in this game it matters. I'm sure you are hoping he does not play but if cleared GB still has hope to go all the way they will not pass that up

 

[cowboys2233]

I think being a game down with 4 to go makes a big differance in him playing for not. If GB was out of the race then they likely would shut him down for the season but with the season still hanging in the balance if Docs give the nod then he will play. You only have so much time in this game it matters. I'm sure you are hoping he does not play but if cleared GB still has hope to go all the way they will not pass that up

You're missing my point. Yes, if he is cleared, of course he will play. But his team's improved chances of making the playoffs does NOT improve his chances of getting cleared. One has nothing to do with the other. I believe that as of today, his injury occurred exactly five weeks ago. Will it be fully healed by next Sunday, to the point where he can take a direct shot on it and there is no greater chance of re-breaking it than if he hadn't broken it at all? My guess is no. As such, I'm guessing he won't be cleared.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Even if rodgers isnt cleared the gb game is by no means an easy game for dallas. I could see them still losing.

 

[Doomsday101]

You're missing my point. Yes, if he is cleared, of course he will play. But his team's improved chances of making the playoffs does NOT improve his chances of getting cleared. One has nothing to do with the other. I believe that as of today, his injury occurred exactly five weeks ago. Will it be fully healed by next Sunday, to the point where he can take a direct shot on it and there is no greater chance of re-breaking it than if he hadn't broken it at all? My guess is no. As such, I'm guessing he won't be cleared.

I disagree in that if GB was out of the race that they likely would just shut Rodgers down for the year the fact that they are in the race matters. Granted being cleared by doctors will matter the most but he is close to being ready according to what they have posted they did not even rule him out vs Alt until late that tells me he is very close. How this week goes we will see.

 

[Doomsday101]

Even if rodgers isnt cleared the gb game is by no means an easy game for dallas. I could see them still losing.

Since I don't believe much in easy games (just look at recent outcomes like Cleveland and NE) I would agree it is no sure thing with or without Rodgers.

 

[cowboys2233]

I disagree in that if GB was out of the race that they likely would just shut Rodgers down for the year the fact that they are in the race matters. Granted being cleared by doctors will matter the most but he is close to being ready according to what they have posted they did not even rule him out vs Alt until late that tells me he is very close. How this week goes we will see.

I think he was ruled out against Atlanta as soon as the bone scan revealed that it hadn't fully healed early last week, they just didn't say anything. And the fact that they didn't do a follow-up bone scan later in the week tells me it wasn't nearly as close as some would have you believe. Just trying to read between the lines here.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think he was ruled out against Atlanta as soon as the bone scan revealed that it hadn't fully healed early last week, they just didn't say anything. And the fact that they didn't do a follow-up bone scan later in the week tells me it wasn't nearly as close as some would have you believe. Just trying to read between the lines here.

Just going by the people in the know. We both agree without medical clearance he will not play. My only disagreement is it matter if they are in the race or not. If GB was out of the running then I think Rodgers would be shut down for the season but being a game out and Rodgers at least being close and back at practice it would not come as a shock to see him playing this week or next.

 

[Nation]

Green Bay is playing by doctors orders with Rodgers. The scans have to clear him first and foremost before he's going to be put out there taking hits.