NFC North

Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace's roller-coaster ride with the Chicago Bears is over.

Chicago fired the head coach and general manager on Monday after an 8-8 record in both 2019 and 2020 and a 6-11 mark in 2021.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news.

The Bears suffered a 31-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in their season finale Sunday.

Jordan Schultz reported in November "an overwhelming number" of the team's players wanted Nagy fired. One source said, "He lost some of the locker room last season, but now it's gone."

Still, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported around Thanksgiving that Nagy was expected to keep his job through the regular season despite other reports that suggested his job was in jeopardy.

Rapoport then reported Jan. 2 the Bears would likely fire Nagy at the end of the regular season.

Pace had held the role of Bears general manager since 2015 after spending the previous 14 years in the New Orleans Saints front office. The team reached the playoffs just twice during his seven years in Chicago.

While he made some successful roster moves, headlined by the acquisition of Pro Bowl linebacker Khalil Mack, the Bears failed to take significant steps toward title contention.

Chicago hired Nagy before the 2018 campaign, and the Bears went 12-4 as NFC North champions in his first season.

That they missed the playoffs in 2019 was one of the biggest disappointments of the year after they returned many of the same pieces. Entering the campaign, fans rushed to bet on their Super Bowl prospects and even saw quarterback Mitchell Trubisky as an MVP candidate.

The optimism was warranted considering Chicago featured an elite defense and a young quarterback who figured to make strides under an offensive-minded coach.

Instead, the Bears wasted that defense and now have to find a new coach after Nagy failed to register a playoff win.

He was close in his first year when Chicago lost 16-15 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs after Cody Parkey hit the post on a potential game-winning field goal (later ruled a block). That miss helped define Nagy's time with the team, as Eddy Pineiro missed key field goals in losses to the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams in 2019 after he emerged from an unusual offseason search.

Kalyn Kahler of Sports Illustrated detailed Nagy's search for Parkey's replacement that saw him obsessing over 43-yard kicks—the distance of the miss against the Eagles—and using techniques such as "Augusta silence."

It was the start of a narrative switch for Nagy, who drew the ire of Bears fans when the 2019 season went south, even though he was the NFL's Coach of the Year in 2018.

Trubisky did not improve as hoped, and Chicago did not lean on rookie running back David Montgomery in the early going even when the quarterback struggled. Nagy told reporters after Montgomery had two carries against the New Orleans Saints that October: "I know we need to run the ball more. I'm not an idiot."

That he could change the play-calling wasn't lost on frustrated fans, and it was fair to wonder why the running back wasn't a bigger piece of the offense after Montgomery exploded for 135 yards in the first game after those comments.

Nagy also told reporters he wouldn't relinquish his play-calling duties despite the team's struggles, and Chicago was in catch-up mode in the daunting NFC almost all year.

It appeared the 2020 campaign would be better when the Bears started 5-1 behind a formidable defense. However, the same concerns arose as both Trubisky and Nick Foles—who the team acquired before the season—failed to establish consistency.

Chicago lost six straight games to fall out of a playoff spot at 5-7, prompting a report from Rapoport that the futures of Nagy and Pace were "uncertain."

However, switching play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor helped, as the Bears scored 30 or more points in four straight games for the first time since 1965. The offensive spark pushed them back into the playoffs despite a mediocre 8-8 mark.

Chicago lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card Round.

The organization drafted potential franchise quarterback Justin Fields out of Ohio State in 2021.

Nagy was criticized for starting Andy Dalton at the beginning of the year, but he switched to the rookie in Week 3 and again gave up some play-calling duties to Lazor. That wasn't enough to save his job, though, as the Bears won just six games and failed to remain competitive in the NFC North.

While Trubisky's limitations put a ceiling on what Nagy could accomplish in Chicago and the coach didn't get much time with Fields, the reality that the offense was the biggest problem under a coach with an offensive background meant it was time for a change in the Windy City.

After eight seasons, Mike Zimmer's tenure in Minnesota has come to a close. 

The Vikings have fired the head coach and general manager Rick Spielman after the team's disappointing 8-9 season.

Statement from the #Vikings ownership group pic.twitter.com/QoCsknmhzB

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 10, 2022

Former Vikings’ GM Rick Spielman: pic.twitter.com/KSL2spBzGN

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 10, 2022

Statement from Mike Zimmer pic.twitter.com/EcXSv85Au2

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 11, 2022

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network first reported the news. 

Zimmer, 65, posted a 72-56-1 record with the Vikings, leading Minnesota to the postseason three times. But the Vikings haven't reached the playoffs since 2019 and haven't had a winning season in that time.

Spielman has been with the Vikings organization since 2006 and has been their general manager since 2012. The 59-year-old was reportedly under contract through the 2023 season. 

A coaching change doesn't come as a huge surprise. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Jan. 2 that Zimmer appeared "to be one of the coaches whose fate has not yet been decided," though he added that "winning out and making the playoffs would go a long way toward solidifying his status."

When that didn't happen, a change was a possibility. 

The team's next head coach will inherit a roster with several talented players, mainly on the offensive side of the ball in wideouts Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen and running back Dalvin Cook.

While the team may have plateaued with Kirk Cousins under center and could move on after he becomes a free agent following the 2022 season, Minnesota has talent to build around.

As for Zimmer, his extensive resume should make him a popular name on the coaching market, either as a head coach or defensive coordinator. He spent 14 years in the latter role with the Dallas Cowboys (2000-06), Atlanta Falcons (2007) and Cincinnati Bengals (2008-13) prior to becoming a head coach.

The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly in for some changes this offseason.

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reported Sunday morning that the Vikings are expected to part ways with head coach Mike Zimmer:

"Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf have kept their plans close to the vest, sources say. All signs point to the Wilfs moving on from Zimmer after eight seasons, but they hadn't communicated any decision to Zimmer or other team officials as of Saturday. Several sources with knowledge of the coaching landscape say the belief is the team will move on, as well."

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported first Saturday the Vikings would fire Zimmer. He also noted that longtime general manager Rick Spielman is likely to remain with the organization.

Zimmer, who has been with Minnesota since 2014, is about to complete a second consecutive losing season. The Vikings are 7-9 heading into Sunday's season finale against the Chicago Bears.

La Canfora stated that Zimmer received a "clear mandate from ownership" for Minnesota to be a true contender this season. But the Vikings had an up-and-down year with no real consistency on offense or defense.

Zimmer has led the Vikings to a 71-56-1 record in eight seasons. Minnesota has won the NFC North twice during his tenure and made it to the NFC Championship Game once, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 season.

It seems that Zimmer has also rubbed people the wrong way for some time and the team is ready to move on. La Canfora reported that his "abrasive style has been an issue within that team for years, and the need to go in a different direction has seemed clear to many decision makers there in recent weeks."

Spielman has been general manager since 2012. Despite an unsuccessful run during his tenure, he has a close relationship with ownership and "is trusted immensely." La Canfora noted that sources said they'd be "surprised" if Spielman didn't remain with the Vikings in some capacity next season.

Aaron Rodgers fired back at Boomer Esiason on Friday after the former NFL signal-caller said a source texted him that the Green Bay Packers quarterback will threaten to boycott the Super Bowl if the NFL doesn't relax its COVID-19 policies should the Packers reach the title game.

“he’s told @jordan3love to be ready” 😂😂😂#directcircle#dumbestfuckingstoryever #fakenews #boycottfakenews #boycottbums #boycottshoes #boycottwaterfalls#boycottAJsmokingcigars #boycottLafleursBrows#boycottGutchies https://t.co/rhuyV2mnIN

— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) January 7, 2022

On the former NFL quarterback's WFAN show Boomer and Gio on Friday, Esiason's radio co-host, Gregg Giannotti, read the text from Esiason's source on air:

"Boom, the Rodgers saga continues to get crazier and crazier. I've been told by multiple people in Aaron's direct circle that if the Packers make the Super Bowl, he will use the week leading up to the Super Bowl to prove a major point. He will threaten the NFL by saying he won't play in the big game, or next season, if they don't eliminate some of the COVID-related rules.

"One big one that upsets him the most is the testing of non-symptomatic players. He's told [Packers backup quarterback] Jordan Love to be ready. Like you said, he's gotta make it first, but Super Bowl week will be set on fire and send [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell in a frenzy navigating the situation."

Rodgers' Packers are in the driver's seat to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. They have sewn up the NFC's No. 1 seed and the conference's bye week in the playoffs.

Rodgers has made national headlines for his COVID-19 opinions.

He told reporters in August he was "immunized" against COVID-19, but he admitted he wasn't vaccinated when he tested positive in November and sat out his team's 13-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rodgers has discussed his unsubstantiated opinions on the NFL's COVID-19 policies at length and said the league did not approve his immunization plan.

"Some of the rules are not based in science at all," Rodgers alleged on The Pat McAfee Show in November (h/t Emmanuel Morgan of the New York Times). "They're based purely in trying to out and shame people."

Rodgers also told McAfee in December (h/t Christopher Kuhagen of Packers News) that he believed the NFL was utilizing a "two-class system" for vaccinated and unvaccinated players.

Regardless of Rodgers' opinions, seeing him cap off a probable NFL MVP season and lead the Packers into the Super Bowl only to threaten a boycott for COVID-related reasons after committing to the franchise all year seems far-fetched at best and a falsity at worst.

It doesn't seem likely that he would leave his teammates before the biggest game of the year, regardless of how he feels about the league's COVID-19 stance.

Rodgers and the Packers will close their regular season Sunday against the Detroit Lions before playing a to-be-determined opponent during the divisional round either Jan. 22 or Jan. 23.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy announced Friday that Andy Dalton will start at quarterback in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. Nick Foles is set to serve as the backup.

Nagy explained it's possible signal-caller Justin Fields, who's on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list, could still test out of the protocols before Sunday, but the rookie has missed too much practice time this week to play a key role.

If Fields' debut campaign is over, it comes to a close with mixed results.

The 11th overall pick in the 2021 draft completed 58.9 percent of his throws for 1,870 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions across 12 games (10 starts). He added 420 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.

The Ohio State product ranked last among 31 qualified quarterbacks in ESPN's Total QBR (25.7) and received a lackluster 64.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

That's not to say there weren't moments when he flashed his potential.

He rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown in a Week 8 game against the San Francisco 49ers to highlight his dual-threat ability, and he put together his most comprehensive performance as a passer (26-of-39 for 285 yards with one TD and no picks) in Week 15 against the Vikes.

Fields should enter the 2022 campaign as the Bears' undisputed starting quarterback.

Meanwhile, Dalton is set to become a free agent at season's end and gets one final opportunity to prove himself to potentially interested teams.

The 34-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals starter has compiled seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven appearances (five starts) in 2021.

Both the Bears (6-10) and Vikings (7-9) have been eliminated from playoff contention heading into the Week 18 encounter.

At 7-9 and out of playoff contention, the Minnesota Vikings will head into the offseason with multiple pressing questions, but one thing seems clear: They must break up the Mike Zimmer-Kirk Cousins union. 

Who's more expendable, though? That's an easy answer.

After a trip to the NFC Championship Game with Case Keenum under center, the Vikings inked Kirk Cousins to a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million deal in 2018. In 2020, he signed a two-year, $66 million extension. Yet, Minnesota's lucrative investments in the signal-caller haven't quite paid off.

Together, Cousins and Zimmer have one playoff win in four seasons. The Vikings will finish below .500 in back-to-back terms. 

Cousins said he wants to finish his career in Minnesota. Because of his contract, he'll likely play another year with the club. He's on the books for $35 million guaranteed in 2022.

Because of the money tied to his contract, Cousins isn't the most appealing trade asset. On top of that, he's taken criticism for his inability to lead Minnesota to victories in marquee matchups.

Every time the Vikings have a standalone game, Cousins' abysmal record in the primetime slot (10-17) pops up in discussion.

With that said, he's usually productive. However, his passing numbers haven't translated to a lot of wins. Take a look at his career passer rating and the team's win-loss record with him in the starting spot following Week 13.

Yesterday Kirk Cousins climbed to 5th on the NFL's all-time passer rating leaderboard

Cousins is the *only* QB among the top 15 all-time whose teams are *below .500*

Interpret and distribute this information however you wish, in a respectful, mannerly fashion. pic.twitter.com/4p0Lxd3b6e

— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) December 6, 2021

Cousins has the numbers that suggest he's a solid starting-caliber quarterback. With the Vikings, he's thrown for 121 touchdowns and 36 interceptions while averaging at least 240.2 passing yards in each of the past four campaigns.

A squad that desperately needs a competent signal-caller such as the Carolina Panthers or Denver Broncos may inquire about him, but the Vikings don't have a replacement who's ready to take over the reins.

Going into Week 17, Zimmer made it clear that rookie third-rounder Kellen Mond didn't make enough strides to start over Sean Mannion in Cousins' place.

https://twitter.com/IanKenyonNFL/status/1477874858352590851

Cousins, though flawed with limited physical tools, has moved well as the centerpiece of the league's 11th-ranked passing attack. With a better supporting cast on the other side of the ball, he could have led the Vikings back to the postseason, which speaks to a bigger issue.

Zimmer has a background as a defensive coach. Between 2000 and 2013, he served as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals. In each of his first six seasons with the Vikings, the club ranked top-11 in points allowed. However, the defense has eroded significantly in the last two years.

In December of the 2020 term, Zimmer called his 29th-ranked scoring defense the worst in his career.

Despite the additions of cornerback Patrick Peterson, safety Xavier Woods and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson—along with the return of familiar faces in slot cover man Mackensie Alexander and defensive end Everson Griffen, who hasn't played since Week 11 because he's taking care of his mental health—the Vikings defense hasn't shown much improvement. 

Going into Week 18, Minnesota ranks 25th in points allowed and gives up the second-most yards, slightly worse than last year when the defense surrendered the sixth-most yards. 

If Zimmer can't tighten up the defense—his area of expertise—the Vikings have no reason to keep him around.

Between the 2014 and 2020 campaigns, Zimmer led Minnesota to double-digit wins every other year, but that trend came to an end after a disappointing Week 13 loss to the Detroit Lions, who went into that contest winless and marched 75 yards down the field in under two minutes for a game-winning touchdown drive.

No one can blame Cousins for that embarrassing defeat; he threw for 340 yards and two scores in that outing.

Even if the Vikings prefer a younger, cheaper upstart talent over Cousins, Zimmer isn't the guy to develop the team's next quarterback. He can rely on first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for that responsibility, but without an influence of a strong defense, the 65-year-old doesn't have a role in the team's prospective plan to bounce back in 2022.

When Zimmer appeared on his weekly segment with team broadcaster Paul Allen, he seemed at peace with the possibility that the Vikings could let him go after Week 18. 

"Regardless of anything that goes on after the season, I can stand proud," Zimmer said. "When I walk into a stadium like Lambeau, or I walk into U.S. Bank Stadium, and I say to myself, 'A billion people would love to be sitting here right now and doing this job."'

Zimmer should expect to lose his job as the team struggles in mediocrity with a bottom-tier defense. Despite a decent 71-56-1 head-coaching record and two more years left on his contract, he's run his course in Minnesota.

The Vikings won't close the gap on the Green Bay Packers or dig themselves out of the .500 lane until they either upgrade to a star quarterback, which seems highly unlikely, or find a head coach who can rectify the defense. 

Though Cousins takes a lot of the blame for the Vikings' recent shortcomings, the team doesn't have a clear-cut succession plan for him.

However, the front office can replace Zimmer with a hot-name offensive coordinator to elevate a unit with young and talented skill players in wide receiver Justin Jefferson, running back Dalvin Cook and tight end Irv Smith Jr. Minnesota has enough firepower around Cousins to field a potent offense.

The Vikings should also consider coordinators who have fielded high-end defenses in recent seasons, such as Matt Eberflus (Indianapolis Colts), Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints) and Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

If the Vikings bolster their defense, they could see more highs than lows with Cousins in big games. Remember, wins aren't a quarterback stat, and Minnesota's defense hasn't pulled its weight in two years. You can blame Zimmer for that.

                  

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said his relationship with general manager Brian Gutekunst has improved, and he hinted that staying with the franchise beyond this season may be his best option.

Rodgers was asked about his future during an appearance Wednesday on SiriusXM's The Adam Schein Podcast (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com) amid a season in which he's once again in the MVP conversation, and the Packers are a top-tier Super Bowl contender:

The grass is greener where you water it. I really believe that. And you know, that's an adage to dissuade people from going out and taking risk and chances, and you know, I think that where you spend your time and energy and what you choose to water will always be the greenest part of your life. I decided when I came back that I was going to be all in with the team and all in to see things move forward to a better place. And that's what the conversations were about, you know, during the offseason, was about being a part of those conversations that impact my ability to do my job.

And I, you know, from one of the first days, Brian and I sat it down and got on the same page and it's been a really nice Fall and Winter. I appreciate his approach, how it's been, and it's been very meaningful to me. So I'm thankful for that relationship, where it's at at this point, and that's made my life that much more enjoyable. So I gotta give Brian a lot of credit for meeting me in the middle.

The relationship between Rodgers and Gutekunst appeared on the verge of being unsalvageable at one point during the offseason, which raised serious questions about whether the three-time NFL MVP had played his last game for Green Bay.

In May, Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported the quarterback was "adamant" he wouldn't return to the team as long as Gutekunst remained in charge of the roster, and at that point it seemed "reconciliation may not be possible."

The sides were able to work out their differences, and a season that was on the brink of collapse before it even began has instead turned into a potentially memorable year for the Packers.

Green Bay has clinched the NFC's top seed with a 13-3 record, giving it a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the conference's playoffs.

Rodgers has been the driving force behind that success. He's completed 68.6 percent of his throws for 3,977 yards with 35 touchdowns and just four interceptions in 15 appearances.

The Packers lost the one game he missed—Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs while he was on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list—by a 13-7 score under the guidance of backup Jordan Love.

Rodgers has put together his latest terrific season despite a lingering toe injury that is finally starting to subside just in time for the postseason—a worrisome thought for the rest of the NFC contenders.

"This is a first game that my toe got through the game without any issues," Rodgers told reporters after Sunday's 37-10 blowout win over the Minnesota Vikings to clinch the top seed. "No pregame painkiller shot. I'm feeling good. I'm happy about it."

Regardless of when Green Bay's season comes to a close, the focus will quickly shift to Rodgers' future.

The good news for Packers fans, though, is Rodgers spending his entire career with the franchise is starting to sound like a far more realistic possibility than it appeared to be in mid-2021.

Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers pushed back against a member of the NFL media who said he won't vote for Rodgers on his MVP ballot largely for off-field reasons.

During a press conference Wednesday, Rodgers called writer Hub Arkush an "absolute bum" and said, "His problem is I'm not vaccinated."

.@AaronRodgers12 opened about the comments reporter @Hub_Arkush made: “I think he’s a bum. I think he’s an absolute bum."

"His problem with me is that I'm not vaccinated."https://t.co/h9XURmZgFE

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 5, 2022

Arkush said Tuesday on 670 The Score's Parkins & Spiegel Show that he didn't think Rodgers was deserving of the MVP.

"I don't think you can be the biggest jerk in the league and punish your team and your organization and your fanbase the way he did and be the Most Valuable Player," Arkush said.

He added the Packers quarterback "hurt his team on the field by the way he acted off the field."

Arkush acknowledged Wednesday on 670 The Score's Bernstein & Rahimi (via the Chicago Sun-Times' Jeff Agrest) that he "made a big mistake last night" and that his comments have become part of the conversation about this year's MVP race.

Rodgers has a strong case to collect the NFL's top individual honor for a fourth time. He has thrown for 3,977 yards, 35 touchdowns and four interceptions in 15 games. Green Bay has clinched the top seed in the NFC as well.

Rodgers' value to the team was evident when he missed a Week 9 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. Backup Jordan Love finished 19-of-34 for 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while the Packers' 301 yards of offense were well below their season average (364.8).

The 10-time Pro Bowler is the heavy favorite (-400) at DraftKings Sportsbook in MVP odds. He's trailed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady (+500), Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow (+1000) and Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor (+1600).

Player awards are subjective, and MVP might be the most obvious example.

This season, one could argue in favor of somebody other than Rodgers without making it about his COVID-19 controversy.

Taylor has 2,076 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Imagine where the Colts would be without him. 

Likewise, Burrow is the symbol for a revitalized Bengals squad. He has 4,611 passing yards and 34 touchdowns and leads the league in completion percentage (70.4). 

Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp has the fifth-most receiving yards (1,829) in a single season and could bring down the record mark of 1,964 set by Calvin Johnson in 2012.

But all of that is likely to take a back seat to the discourse sparked by Arkush.

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Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers believes his maturity as a person has allowed him to keep playing at a high level at this stage of his NFL career. 

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers explained he is "giving less f--ks" and developing a maturity from "aging, from making mistakes, from failing, from being too sensitive at times, from taking things too personal at times" as he enters the twilight of his career. 

"It really comes down to giving less fucks & that's what I've tried to do the last couple years.. there's a lot of joy in being unapologetically yourself" ~@AaronRodgers12#PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/YmrripWVGO

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 4, 2022

Rodgers believes this attitude and perspective have allowed him to age gracefully in a profession that doesn't historically reward athletes in their late 30s. 

Even though it's strange to think about now, there was a time not that long ago when analysts were questioning how much longer Rodgers would keep playing.

Rodgers had a solid statistical season in 2019 with 4,002 yards and 26 touchdowns to help the Packers win the NFC North with a 13-3 record.

But some of the underlying numbers suggested Rodgers was nearing the end of his peak. He had the two lowest QBRs of his career in 2018 (58.0) and 2019 (52.5). He led the NFL in throwaways during the 2018 season (59) and was second in 2019 (39). 

Whether or not the Packers' decision to draft Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft awakened something in Rodgers, he certainly found another level in his game before the start of last season. 

Rodgers has completed 69.7 percent of his attempts for 8,276 yards with 83 touchdowns and just nine interceptions in 31 games since the start of 2020. He is on track to potentially win his fourth MVP award, which would put him one behind Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history. 

The 38-year-old would also be the first player since Manning (2008-09) to win back-to-back MVP awards if he gets the trophy this season. 

The Packers are 26-5 in Rodgers' starts during that span and enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the second consecutive year. 

The Green Bay Packers already clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but don't expect Aaron Rodgers to rest on his accomplishments.

The quarterback appeared on Tuesday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show and said he will play in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

"The plan is to play," he said. "... I'm a believer in [momentum] ... and I think it's important for us to keep that momentum going."

Green Bay has plenty of momentum following five straight victories, one of which came over the 12-4 Los Angeles Rams and helped it clinch the No. 1 seed.

While there is nothing at stake for the Packers in the upcoming NFC North clash with the Lions, there is on an individual level for Rodgers. After all, he is battling the likes of Tom Brady, Joe Burrow and others for the league MVP award. 

If he wins it, it will mark the fourth time in his illustrious career he takes home the MVP. It would also move him ahead of Brady's three MVPs and one closer to Peyton Manning's five MVPs as two of the defining quarterbacks of the past generation of the NFL.

There is also something to be said for avoiding rust.

Thanks to the first-round bye Green Bay earned, Rodgers would be off for three weeks between the team's Week 17 win over the Minnesota Vikings and its NFC Divisional Round playoff game if he didn't play against the Lions.

Like he said, such a long break could interrupt the momentum he has generated while completing 68.6 percent of his passes for 3,977 yards, 35 touchdowns and four interceptions. It would also prevent him from reaching 4,000 passing yards for the fourth straight season.

Perhaps the Packers will treat this as something of a preseason game and let Rodgers and the starters get some work in before moving to the backups, but the quarterback expects to take the field Sunday.