Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers + Brett Hundley = Season Over?

Is the Packers season really as doomed as everyone is saying it is? Is Brett Hundley this completely inept and unskilled guy who’s going to do his best Brandon Weeden impression by throwing an interception every other play. I’m not sold on that, and I’m hoping that if I do my job write, that at the end of this you’ll be at least thinking about my position.

Brett Hundley got thrust into an offense on probably 0 1^st team snaps, so he had no rapport with his receivers, his offensive linemen dropped on seemingly every other play, and his defense wasn’t doing him a ton of favors keeping the score low. Now, by no means was Hundley perfect on the day. He threw three interceptions, though one was on the Packers last possession of the game where he threw a ball too high for Jordy Nelson that was ultimately tipped up and intercepted. His first interception was an instance of him releasing the ball too soon and the receivers not getting out of their breaks fast enough, which allowed the defenders to make a play on the ball. The Vikings defense is also one that’s built to give Packers receivers fits. They have great cover guys on both sides of the field, and in the slot that make it difficult for them to get separation, which makes life difficult for a guy with a total of 11 career pass attempts.

However, this article isn’t about how good the Vikings defense is. It’s about how Brett Hundley can keep the Packers alive in the hunt for the playoffs. Watch this throw and tell me it doesn’t remind you of Rodgers. He feels the pressure rolls out and throws a beautiful pass to Nelson who needs to come down with the ball there. The skills are there, and he has the weapons around him to succeed. Nelson, Davante Adams, and Randall Cobb are one of the best trio of receivers that you’re going to find in this league. Martellus Bennett has gotten off to a slow start this season, but is a top-10 tight end on talent, which is very important for a young QB to succeed. The offensive line, when healthy, is a top-5 unit in the league, and the backfield of Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones have looked great this season, which helps take pressure off a QB. Am I convincing any of you yet? If not, keep reading.

Going into his final season at UCLA, Brett Hundley was considered a first round prospect for multiple reasons. He had above average athleticism, took care of the ball, and he was a winner, as he took UCLA to a bowl game all three seasons he was there. Hundley should have been a high prospect taken in no later than the third round, but he just kept falling. Going after gems such as, Bryce Petty, Sean Mannion, and Garrett Grayson. Hundley generated trade buzz in the offseason from QB needy teams, such as the Broncos among others. The Packers were asking for at least a first round pick in return, which they ultimately didn’t get. Now, people in the media and fans are calling for trades and that the sky is falling without Rodgers behind center, but the Packers drafted him, traded up for him no less, for a reason even with Rodgers under contract for years to come. They have confidence him, as McCarthy confirmed on Monday saying that Brett Hundley would be the quarterback going forward. So, if guys who get payed millions of dollars to make these decisions are confident, why shouldn’t we the fans stand behind them. Hundley isn’t going to take the job from Rodgers, as Dak Prescott did to Tony Romo, but he could very easily take this team to the playoffs with the supporting cast that he has around them.

McCarthy and the rest of the Packers coaching staff are going to have to make some adjustments with Rodgers out of the lineup, because Hundley isn’t the same player that Rodgers is, but Hundley has spent over two years learning this playbook and how the offense works. He’s also not taking his new position lightly, working even harder to make the offense less-limited. The sky isn’t falling just yet, as the Packers are still tied for first in the NFC North in a season that’s still got a long way to go. Hundley will have some growing pains, as all quarterbacks do, but let’s take a deep breath, RELAX, and see what this kid can do.

If you’re still reading, hopefully I convinced you to at least pump the breaks on the Brett Hundley is the quarterback we’re doomed train. If I didn’t, feel free to contact me on twitter @Gbridgford_13 and let’s have a conversation about it.