The Green Bay Packers will be a double-digit underdog for the first time in Aaron Rodgers’ career when they face the Buffalo Bills this weekend amid a disappointing run of form.
The Packers were defeated 23-21 by the lowly Washington Commanders to condemn the franchise to a losing record of 3-4 in 2022. Rodgers threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns but failed to breathe life into a youthful Green Bay offence which has struggled this season.
As a result, the Packers now sit second in the NFC North but are well off the pace set by the Minnesota Vikings, who have five wins and one defeat so far. Rodgers’ frustrations with the stagnant offence meant the Packers are now 10.5-point underdogs ahead of their trip to Buffalo to face the Bills in Week 8.
Ben Fawkes of VSiN reported that it will be the first time in Rodgers' career he'll start a game as a double-digit underdog. The four-time MVP quarterback was drafted by the Packers back in 2005 and became a full-time starter - usurping Brett Favre - in 2008.
Green Bay's offensive struggles continued in Sunday's loss to the Commanders. Rodgers has not surpassed 255 passing yards in a game all season and currently ranks 26th among quarterbacks in QBR (40.5).
The Bills are considered by many to be the Super Bowl favourites and a week off as they will be coming off their bye. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen is leading the way as the MVP favourite, so Sunday’s contest highlights the different places these two franchises - and quarterbacks - are in at the moment.
Rodgers is unconcerned by outside noise and dismissed the fact Buffalo are so heavily favoured against the Packers this weekend. After the brutal loss at Washington, Rodgers said: “I’m not worried about this squad. In fact, this might be the best thing for us.
“This week, nobody’s going to give us a chance, going to Buffalo on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ with a chance to get exposed … Shoot, this might be the best thing for us.”
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After throwing 37 touchdown passes with four interceptions last season, the Rodgers has just 11 passing touchdowns in seven games with three picks. His 94.9 passer rating in 2022 would be his third-worst in 15 years as an NFL starter.
Rodgers’ patience was surely tested in the defeat on Sunday, as receiver Allen Lazard was forced off with a shoulder injury to pile onto the absence of Randall Cobb and rookie Christian Watson, while rookie Romeo Doubs finished with zero catches after a key third down drop.
Amari Rodgers also muffed a punt that swung momentum in Washington's favour.
The loss to the Commanders was the Packers’ third successive defeat after suffering against the New York Giants and New York Jets, and its the first time the team have lost three successive matches under Matt LaFleur. LaFleur called on his roster to dig deep and attempt to prove the critics wrong.
“I don't think anybody thought we'd be in this spot that we're in right now,” head coach LaFleur added. “We're going to find out what we're made of in terms of just how we attack Monday, how we attack Tuesday, Wednesday and every day in practice.
“I do believe that we've got the right kind of guys that will continue to battle.”
