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Well, it looks like 2020 wanted to come out with a bang by giving the Green Bay Packers a straight kick to the seeds.
There’s never a good time for a late-season injury for anyone on your team, let alone an all-pro. But you have to take into account that the Packers are trying to lock down the seed in Week 17 and have to play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field AND that they have arguably played their best football of the season in recent weeks. , yes, this one stings.
Words just won’t do justice to help describe what David Bakhtiari’s absence means for the Packers for the rest of the time. Aaron Rodgers literally never has to worry about his blind slip because the No.69 is there to keep things on this side of the line. He’s a four-time All-Pro who is constantly in the discussion for the game’s best offensive lineman; not just the best tackle.
PFF also ranked him as the second-best tackle in the NFL this season. The dude is a tank and he is so reliable and complex in running this Packers offense. It cannot be said enough how significant this loss is.
Now, before panic sets in and fans of the green and gold want to see it as a fall from the sky scenario, the Packers have gone three games without Bakhtiari this season. In those games, Green Bay led 2-1 and accumulated 91 total points in those three games combined against the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.
It’s a huge loss, there isn’t a soul in the world who would dispute that. But it’s still very doable for Green Bay and the “it” I’m referring to is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy when this season is over.
They have missed Davante Adams for three games this year. Aaron Jones missed three as well. Bakhtiari had missed the above three before this injury today. We go to our grave saying, ‘As long as No.12 is healthy and under center the Packers have a chance.’
Perhaps the saving grace in all of this was Corey Linsley’s return last week. The Packers missing both him and Bakhtiari at the same time could have been devastating Linsley returned last week, but now No.69 is gone. I don’t know how the Packers mix and match this, but it helps tremendously to have a versatile lineman in Elgton Jenkins who has literally played clichés in every position on the offensive line. If I had to guess I would say the Packers roll with this left to right on the line:
Elgton Jenkins – Lucas Patrick – Corey Linsley – Billy Turner – Rick Wagner
In said scenario, Jenkins slides from left guard to left tackle, and Patrick places a left guard, a place he’s familiar and comfortable with. Linsley to the right of the line remains the same. This is one way the Packers use it. We will see Sunday.
There’s no sugar coating, it’s a big hit, especially at this time of year for Green Bay. After the initial shock, they have no choice but to relocate and maintain the good vibrations. It sucks for Bakhtiari but the show continues. And again, fans of the Packers Nation, deep breaths, the ultimate goal of winning it all is still achievable.
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