Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is hoping his team – and especially some of his young, up-and-coming teammates – will embrace being “counted out” and positioned as a big underdog on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
The 18-year veteran thinks a primetime showdown against arguably the best team in the NFL could be the ideal time for some to step up and break out.
“I’ve always enjoyed that feeling. For these guys with a lot to prove, hopefully they embrace that as well,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “It’s time to make a name for yourself in this league. There’s a lot of guys that are going to get opportunities on Sunday on national TV with millions and millions of people watching. Great time for some of those guys to step into the limelight.”
Romeo Doubs? Christian Watson? Josiah Deguara? Amari Rodgers? Samori Toure? Juwann Winfree?
With Randall Cobb on injured reserve and Allen Lazard nursing a shoulder injury, Rodgers may need an unexpected player to step up and be a star in the toughest game on the schedule to date.
The Packers are 10.5-point underdogs after losing three straight games and falling to 3-4. The Bills are coming off both a huge win in Kansas City in Week 6 and the bye week.
Might going into Buffalo with so little outside belief behind the team provide an intangible effect? Could the mental mistakes that have plagued this team dwindle with some of the pressure on the Bills? Rodgers is hoping so.
“Embrace the fact that nobody is expecting you to win,” Rodgers said. “In that scenario, you can maybe play a little freer, maybe the pressure loosens up a little bit, maybe in your mind you can slow things down a little bit. I know that’s what I’ll be doing this week, and hopefully other guys as well.”
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