Aaron Rodgers: How NFL Playoff Picture Depends on One Player

Aaron Rodgers—will he or won't he?

That's the $1 million question with playoff berths on the line these last three weeks of the NFL regular season.

Can Rodgers have a direct impact on the playoffs?

More importantly, will he?

The Packers close against three prominent players in the NFL playoff race. First things first: There's the upcoming Sunday night feature in New England.

Will he or won't he? Play, that is. Packers coach Mike McCarthy says he won't know Rodgers' status for Sunday until Thursday at the earliest. What Rodgers will or won't do can directly impact a number of playoff scenarios.

First things first: Sunday night at New England. Every Pittsburgh Steeler fan is suddenly a Green Bay fan. The Patriots are 11-2, the Steelers 10-3, and these two are duking it out for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Steeler fans WANT Rodgers in there; Steeler fans NEED Rodgers in there.

It's the only hope the Packers would have to hand the Patriots a home loss, something that hasn't happened this season. Could it happen with Matt Flynn at the Packers' helm? Oh come on now, please.

After its foray to New England, the Pack comes home for two games of major importance in the playoff picture.

The Giants come calling next week, and they are battling their blue off with the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East. Both are 9-4, and the team that doesn't win the division is in a tussle with Tampa Bay for the second wild card; the first already belongs to New Orleans.

If that's not enough impact, then there's the season finale at Lambeau that may be for the NFC North title. Classic cold-weather war—Packers vs. Bears—old school football.

The team that doesn't win the division will be thrust into that wild card chaos with New York or Philly and Tampa Bay.

And the swingman in all of this is none other than Mr. Rodgers.

Will he play, and how well will he play? The Pack sure needs him to play at a high level, and Steeler fans would hope for the same on Sunday night.

It's all up in the air for now.

At least until Thursday.