Tolzien To Start For Packers Against Vikings

It appears that the Minnesota Vikings are catching a bit of a break in this Sunday's match-up against the Green Bay Packers.

According to the folks at Acme Packing Company, the Packers will start Scott Tolzien at quarterback at Lambeau this Sunday. Apparently, Aaron Rodgers has not yet fully recovered from the collarbone injury he suffered a couple of weeks ago against the Chicago Bears.

As we've documented, Rodgers is a Viking killer. . .perhaps more so than anyone in history. The 117.9 quarterback rating that Rodgers has compiled in 12 games against the Vikings is absolutely ridiculous, as is his 26-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

With Rodgers as the starter, the Packers were averaging 30.3 points/game. Since his injury, behind the tandem of Tolzien and Seneca Wallace, they have averaged right around half that, at 15.3 points/game. Not that those numbers really mean a lot, considering the state of Minnesota's defense so far this season, but the Green Bay offense is markedly less efficient without Rodgers in the lineup, as you'd expect.

Despite the news, the Packers are still a 4.5 or 5-point favorite over the Vikings, depending on where you look. They were a 7.5-point favorite going into the game at the Metrodome. I can only imagine what the spread would be with a healthy Rodgers behind center.

The Vikings could deal a pretty significant blow to Green Bay's playoff aspirations with a victory this weekend, but it's still going to be an uphill battle at a venue they haven't won at since 2009. Especially considering that we have no idea who our own team is starting at quarterback. Again.