Aaron Rodgers Vies Third MVP
Coming off a 13-3 campaign where the Packers were knocked out of the NFC championship in the 2019-20 season, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers showed no signs of rust with a commensurate 13-3 outing this season and another trip to the NFC championship. Rodgers was a spectacle to watch in 2020, and despite missing out on the Super Bowl, showed that he is still one of the greatest quarterbacks in the league, if not all time.
For the first time in ten years, a quarterback led the NFL in both touchdown passes (48) and passer rating (121.5). The last 6 QBs to do that won either the MVP or Super Bowl, but not both. Rodgers will look to place seventh on that list on February 6th, when the NFL MVP is to be announced.
After the NFL Draft in April, there was speculation regarding Rodgers’ future in Green Bay. Fans might’ve expected an offensive linemen or defensive player to help muster a championship run, but with their No. 26 overall pick, the Packers selected Jordan Love, a QB out of Utah State. Football anlaysts weren’t convinced that this was a developmental move, and some doubted Green Bay’s faith in Rodgers.
His performance since has surely shed all doubt.
Amid a pandemic, 2020 was one of Rodgers’ best seasons in his entire career, challenged potentially by his MVP 15-1 2011 season where he threw for 45 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 4,643 yards, and a 68.3 completion percentage. This year, he threw for 48 touchdowns**, 5 interceptions, 4,229 yards, and a 70.7 completion percentage**, putting put his arsenal of skills again on full display. The video underneath showcases Rodgers’ best plays from the regular season.
** career and league high
Rodgers thrives in and out of the pocket, where he has an excellent feel for pressure and the players around him. His timing from the snap to completion is elite, and he seems to always be one step ahead of defensive linemen and secondaries. With his arm, Rodgers is a magician able to make any throw on the football field, whether it’s a one-yard dart at the goal-line or a hail-mary bomb with seconds left in the half.
Bleacher Report calls Aaron Rodgers “the betting favorite” for the NFL MVP for the reason that he threw more touchdowns and less interceptions than the second contender Patrick Mahomes, not by a long shot though, as Mahomes’ Chiefs also garnered more wins at 14-2. Still, Rodgers’ excellent efficiency is subject to none, and he was chosen as the NFL MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America.
In the Divisional Round of playoffs, Rodgers claimed a victory against fellow Cal alumnus Jared Goff. Rodgers looked very comfortable against the extremely talented LA Rams defense, throwing for two touchdowns, 296 yards, and added another one on the ground.
Unfortunately, Rodgers would face Tom Brady in the NFC Championship where his playoff run was cut short in a 26-31 loss to Tampa Bay. Rodgers had an opportunity to tie the game on a 4th and 8 at the goal-line, but with 2:12 and three timeouts left, HC Matt LaFleur elected to kick a field goal and try and stop the Bucs. It didn’t work.
Despite coming short of a championship run in 2020, Aaron Rodgers was statistically the best quarterback during the regular season. The Cal alumnus made the types of throws that have influenced his comparison to the likes of Montana, Young and Brady; among the greatest of all time.
Look out for the NFL Honors Ceremony on Feb. 6.
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