NFL teams
David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Panthers preparing to face Packers with Aaron Rodgers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers were still celebrating Sunday’s 31-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings when the attention turned to Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

That was also a hot topic on Monday.

Never mind that Rodgers hasn’t been fully cleared to play in Sunday’s game against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

Never mind that Rodgers could be rusty after missing seven games with a broken right collarbone that took 13 screws to repair.

Just the chance that the two-time NFL MVP and six-time Pro Bowl selection might face the Panthers (9-4) was enough to make players and coaches more wary of a Packers (7-6) team that still has a chance to make the playoffs.

“That automatically makes them one of the better offenses overall in the entire league," defensive end Wes Horton said of getting Rodgers back. "We’ll definitely have our work cut out for us.

"It’s definitely a huge, huge challenge ahead of us."

Coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers are preparing as though Rodgers will play. But he doesn’t expect Green Bay’s game plan to be that much different if Brett Hundley is under center instead.

“Our focus will be on the Packers and what they do and how they do it," Rivera said.

Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said the focus has to be "on us." He pointed out that the Panthers have already faced some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season in New Orleans' Drew Brees (twice), Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and New England’s Tom Brady.

The Panthers beat Atlanta, Detroit and New England, but lost twice to the Saints.

"I think someone said earlier in the year we had one of the easier schedules," Wilks said. "I didn’t really understand that when you look at the quarterbacks we’ve faced.

"So we’ve seen some of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League this year. The focus is not on trying to concentrate on what they do personally -- scheme-wise, yes -- but we’ve just got to work our technique and do what we do."

That means the Panthers likely will continue to be aggressive as they were against Minnesota’s Case Keenum, who was sacked six times and pressured 20 times Sunday.

Still, there’s a mystique about Rodgers that there isn’t with Hundley. The potential return of the future Hall of Famer is so intriguing that two of Carolina’s biggest offensive stars -- quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen -- were asked about him on Sunday.

"I'm not playing him. I get to deal with his roommate, Clay Matthews," Newton said with a laugh.

Olsen agreed, but he understands why there's so much attention on Rodgers.

"He’s special," Olsen said. "There’s not many guys like him out there. That’s this league. They’re fighting for their playoff lives, too. They’re going to come in giving us everything they’ve got. I’m assuming he’ll play.

"That’ll be the defense’s problems. We have enough problems on offense."

The defense played at a high level against Minnesota until giving up a 52-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. James Bradberry and Daryl Worley both got their first interceptions of the season, keeping this team from being the first in Carolina history to go without an interception from a cornerback.

But they, too, already were looking ahead to facing Rodgers for the first time.

"I’ve seen him on TV," Bradberry said. "I’ve definitely got to watch film on him and take notes on his tendencies."

^ Back to Top ^