The 2009 preseason just ended and Aaron Rodgers had a 147.9 QB Rating. He threw for 465 yards with 6 TDs and 0 interceptions. Incredible numbers, but how much stock should we put in it? It’s just preseason, right? Should Packer fans be excited?
The answer is, yes, they should be really excited. It’s not because of his preseason, but Rodgers had a very good year last season as well. In his first year starting, Rodgers ended the season in the top 6 in Attempts, Yards, TDs & QB Rating. All of this for someone who didn’t turn 25 until the end of last season.
Let’s compare his Age 25 Season to a few other Quarterbacks.
3764 Yards / 28 TD / 14 INT / 85.7 QB Rating
3882 Yards / 33 TD / 14 INT / 90.7 QB Rating
4131 Yards / 26 TD / 23 INT / 84.1 QB Rating
4038 Yards / 28 TD / 13 INT / 93.8 QB Rating
That’s the Age 25 Seasons of Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning & Rodgers. Pretty good company.
The common knock against Rodgers last year was all of the close games the Packers lost last year. Let’s examine a few of those games.
Lost 19-16 against Tennessee Titans.
With 5:30 to go, Packers kick a Field Goal to tie it at 16. It goes into Overtime and Tennessee wins the Toss and drives down the field for the win.
Lost 28-27 against Minnesota Vikings.
With 6:00 to go, Packers kick a Field Goal to take a 6 point lead. Next drive, the Vikings score on a 29 Yard TD run by Adrian Peterson.
Lost 35-31 against Carolina Panthers.
With 2:00 to go, Packers kick a field goal to take a 31-28 lead. The Panthers take the ball and after a pass-interference call, DeAngelo Williams scores a TD to take a 35-31 lead.
Lost 24-21 against Houston Texans.
With 6:00 to go, Rodgers throws a 9 yard TD pass to Jordy Nelson, tied at 21. As time expires, the Texans hit a Field Goal to win 24-21.
Lost 20-16 against Jacksonville Jaguars.
With 5:40 to go, Packers kick a field goal to take a 16-14 lead. Maurice Jones-Drew then scores a TD for the Jaguars and win 20-16.
Lost 17-20 against Chicago Bears.
With 0:25 left in the game, Mason Crosby’s FG is blocked and score remains tied at 17. The Bears win the toss and kick a FG for a 20-17 win.
So, perhaps Rodgers should have turned those FG drives into TD drives, but the defense still gave up game winning scores 6 times last season within the last 6 minutes of the game. With a stronger defense, Rodgers has at least 4 more Fourth Quarter Game winning drives.
As a Broncos fan, the answer is you should be far more excited than any of us are. And I will be rooting for Rodgers and the Pack at least twice a year, when they play the Bears and Big Baby Jay.
You should add that against the Vikings Rodgers drove the team to a makeable game winning FG that Crosby just flat out missed.
I wish I was excited for his offensive line…..