On a day made famous by John Madden’s Turducken, a Green Bay defeat to cap the game during which Madden’s favorite player was honored may have been fueled in part by an addiction to Madden’s billion-dollar video game franchise.
“They had a little players-only meeting this past couple weeks ago before that Minnesota game,” NBC’s Cris Collinsworth said midway through the third quarter of Green Bay’s 17-13 loss to the Bears on Thanksgiving night. “I don’t think Aaron Rodgers was too happy with the preparation schedule of some of the young players on this team. A few too many video games being played and not enough homework.”
The Madden intervention apparently worked against the Vikings. But with a short week and a quick turnaround and a premium placed on preparation before playing again on Thursday, it could be that the Lure of the PS4 kept the Packers from being as ready to go as they should have been.
They now have a full six days to prepare for their next game, which will be another visit to prime time via a Thursday night trip to Detroit, one of two NFC North rivals who have come to Lambeau Field this month and beaten the home team.
The Packers have every incentive to win this next one. And they have the talent to do it, too. As long as the young players on the team can resist messing with consoles that are being purchased by the truckload on Black Friday.