Rodgers' Hamstring Injury Impacts Packers vs. Saints, but How Much?

Coming into his match against the New Orleans Saints, Aaron Rodgers was putting up impressive numbers for his 2014 campaign. Another trend worth noting was his recent play in October. According to Bill Huber of Packer Report, Scout.com's Green Bay Packers site, the Packers were on a 10-game win streak which featured Rodgers throwing 27 touchdowns and only a single interception in October.

Isolating his 2014 statistics also lead to impressive numbers, as ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan noted that he was the first player to ever generate 18 touchdowns and one or fewer interceptions seven weeks into a season.

Overall, Rodgers was having a strong enough start to a season to consider him on the short list for MVP candidacy.

After last week's performance against the Carolina Panthers, head coach Mike McCarthy even added that he believed the quarterback was having a better season than his 2011 campaign, when the Packers entered the playoffs with a 15-1 record and Rodgers netted the MVP award:

"

I'll say this about Aaron: Aaron is a much better today than he was in 2011. His responsibility level has increased a lot since then.

So, what he does during the course of the week, during the course of the game, at the line of scrimmage, the communication between Alex Van Pelt and myself, he is, in my opinion, watching him grow throughout his career, he's clearly a better player.

"

Unfortunately for the Packers, Rodgers sustained an injury in the third quarter in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. On a six-yard scamper in the red zone, Rodgers was able to gain a first down, but he walked back onto the playing surface holding his leg.

As time passed, the Packers announced that the non-contact injury was hamstring-related:

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McCarthy on Aaron Rodgers' hamstring injury: So far so good.

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 27, 2014"

While the Packers kept Rodgers in the game post-injury for several drives before allowing backup quarterback Matt Flynn to enter and finish off the match, Rodgers' game was visibly not 100 percent indicative of the body of the rest of his year's performance.

Three plays in particular stood out over the rest.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

On this play, the Packers came out in "12" personnel with tight end Andrew Quarless split as a "Z" receiver and rookie tight end Richard Rodgers on the line of scrimmage next to the offensive linemen. With two tight ends on the right of the quarterback, Rodgers had receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb as his "X" and "Y" options and running back Eddie Lacy in the backfield.

The Saints were in a nickel look with two high safeties on this 1st-and-10 snap.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The two receivers ran some sort of a switch verticals concept with Nelson coming inside and Cobb going outside from the slot. Rodgers seemed to have a man open, as one defensive back was chasing Nelson, while the other had his feet firmly planted, unable to make a play on the ball.

Rodgers, though, wasn't able to throw with proper footwork. Instead of generating power with his lower body, he was on his toes during the throw. This led to the pass relying solely on the arm of the quarterback.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The result of the play was a poor pass, clearly behind Cobb, his intended target. A rare misfire by Rodgers, the ball landed nearly five yards behind his man.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

On this play, the Packers were in "11" personnel. The Packers again elected to split their tight out, this time as an X receiver at the bottom of the screen. This time, though, the Packers had trips receivers to the right. Nelson and Cobb worked the slot while second-round rookie receiver Davante Adams played the boundary. In the backfield was rotational running back James Starks.

This time, the Saints were in a dime defense, but they still had two defenders high, giving a Cover 2 look pre-snap.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Rodgers showed some athleticism on the play, rolling slightly to the right, but he was clearly not at full force. The ball also left the quarterback awkwardly positioned, as he again threw it off his toes.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The ball was inside of his intended target and bounced off his hands, sending the pigskin into the area occupied by the defensive backs.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The play resulted in an interception. He had his man, Adams, open. While it was more of an interception of luck, due to the pass deflection, there were still clear issues on Rodgers' side of the pass. Adams wasn't able to get into a position to make a play on the ball.

The final play was his 14-yard touchdown scamper. The New Orleans Saints left the quarterback unassigned, leaving the former California Golden Bear to limp his way into the end zone. Even ESPN Wisconsin's Jason Wilde questioned the running ability of the passer after the score:

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Rodgers runs in for a touchdown that will cut the lead to 14. You guys tell me: Was he limping as he jogged off?

— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) October 27, 2014"

Despite a three-score loss compounded with the apparent injury, Rodgers was still able to crack the 400-yard mark, per Packer Report:

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That was just the fourth 400-yard game of Rodgers' career.

— Packer Report (@PackerReport) October 27, 2014"

According to Cheesehead TV's Brian Carriveau, Rodgers also had the highest Pro Football Focus grade on the offensive side of the ball with a mark of +3.0. Bleacher Report's Zach Kruse, though, notes a significant split between his performance before and after Rodgers' hamstring began to act up:

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Aaron Rodgers before injury: 14/19, 298 yards, TD, 133.1 passer rating. After: 14/20, 120 yards, 2 INTs, 45.8 passer rating.

— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) October 27, 2014"

So, while Rodgers' statistics look good in the final box score, other than his season-high two interceptions, his play before the injury may have skewed the perception of someone assuming there was no significant difference between his play before and after the injury.

All the injured Rodgers talk may be a moot point, as NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal states that Rodgers himself says he will not miss a game due to the injury, signifying that it may not be serious:

"

Rodgers was still able to operate the offense, but he did not attempt to extend plays out of the pocket after the injury. NBC cameras caught Rodgers clearly frustrated after the run, but the QB said he won't miss any time.

"I think it was obvious just the way we played from that point on," Mike McCarthy said during his postgame news conference. "We kept him in the gun, and really our whole play-action, QB movement package was gone. ... I thought he played smart, didn't really open it up and put himself in jeopardy for future injury, further injury."

"

One thing is certain: The Packers couldn't ask for a better time to have a bye week. Green Bay will return to the field two Sundays from now against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Hopefully, for the team's sake, Rodgers' hamstring will no longer be bothering him. A tip-toeing quarterback against a divisional rival is a less-than-ideal situation.

In the heat of the division race, the Packers must have a healthy passer to come out with a much-needed victory to potentially move back up to the top spot in the NFC North.