Game 6 - BROKEN Bone, Broken Dreams

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Broken, perhaps not unbowed.

Aaron Rodger's collarbone in his right shoulder broke while getting slammed into the ground after he threw an incomplete pass in the first quarter yesterday in the home of the Minnesota Vikings.

Viking linebacker Anthony Barr was an especially ungracious host in hitting, controlling, and taking Rodgers to the turf where he landed on his right shoulder.

Rodgers appeared to crumple on impact.  He rolled off his shoulder and didn't move it.

It was the biggest hit Green Bay took on the day, but not the only one in a 23 - 10 take down by Minnesota.

Even before the game started, the teams' top two defensive backs and its All-Pro caliber safety were sidelined - meaning back-ups to the reserves had to play.

While this game was the first all season Coach Mike McCarthy had all five preferred players starting on the offensive line, it didn't last long.  By early in the second half, Lane Taylor, Brian Bulaga, and David Bakhtiari were on the bench with injuries.

Prior to the game it was the Packer defense I wondered about with three preferred starters out, but with Aaron Rodgers as quarterback, I figured Rodgers would get his reunited offense to outscore the Vikes.  Wrong.

Back-up QB Brett Hundley, in his third season out of UCLA, never got comfortable.  He lead two scoring drives, both after Minnesota turnovers, but when the second drive resulted in 3 instead of 7, it didn't look good.

How do you heal a broken team?  Since Mr. Rodgers theme for this season is "No Excuses," I'll go with that.  McCarthy and the offensive coaches need to get Hundley comfortable with the game-plan for Sunday's home game.

Maybe General Manager Ted Thompson can find a healthy body or two to replenish team talent.

Judging by the last time Rodgers broke his collarbone in 2013, I'm hopeful he won't miss more than 7 games which is when he came back that season.  However, that was on his non-throwing shoulder and this one is, so it is possible he won't make it back.

No Excuses require the offense to step up and move the ball.  The defense has to a little better on its side of the ball, and the special teams need to be a difference-maker when it is on the grass.

Seven days ago, Green Bay looked like a team to be reckoned with and a strong contender to play and win Super Bowl Fifty-one.  This morning, it is difficult to see a clear path to the play-offs without the quarterback.

I'm not throwing in the towel.  I need (yes, I know I really can't influence the outcome) to cheer harder and fly the Packer flag.  Rodgers needs to get healthy.  His teammates need to collect themselves, strap up, and play so #12 has something to return for this year.

4 - 2 with the New Orleans Saints coming to Lambeau Sunday at noon, let me hear you say it: Go Pack, Go!