If the NFL ended today the highest quarterback rating of all-time would belong to Aaron Rodgers. What's not to love about Aaron Rodgers? He is cool, accurate, uber-talented,playing for a super bowl in his third year as a starter, and hasn't been accused of rape. Rodgers is the real deal.
I had to dedicate a column to Aaron Rodgers love after the continuous talk about the Steelers advantage from Roethlisberger's experience. His praise is well deserved, 10-2 as a playoff starter and two super bowl rings is Brady type language, but in his small playoff career Rodgers has been stellar as well. In his second season in the legendary 51-45 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Rodgers went 28 for 42 throwing for 423 yards and four touchdowns to one interception. This season he has made it clear he is going for the belt. Thus far Rodgers is 66-93 with 6 touchdowns and 2 picks and 790 yards. Those two picks came in a tough second half against a tough Bears defense. He was the first quarterback ever to throw for ten touchdowns in his first three playoff games.
Rodgers is like the young Samurai who learned from his master, His master being Brett Farve. In this case, dare I say it, Rodgers may be Zorro, and is on pace to become better than his teacher. After the 1997 super bowl win for Green Bay against San Francisco, Favre went 3-7 in his next 10 playoff games. Eli Manning won more post-season games in a 29 day span (gulp). In his last 12 post-season starts Farve only had a 77.8 passer rating. In his last five wild-card games he went 2-3 with interceptions and only seven touchdowns. Farve can't even be considered the greatest quarterback in Packers history, the most durable yes, but the greatest, not accurate. Bart Starr himself won five Superbowls and has a career post-season passer rating of 104.8. Rodgers certainly gained an advantage playing under Farve, but maybe he learned a few things not to do from Farve. There is no shadow on Aaron Rodgers, he has made his own name.
The Steelers on Sunday could be in real trouble. A true testament to Rodger's skill has been his consistency no matter the opponent. Against teams that finished in the lower half of the league in passer rating Green Bay quarterbacks posted a 109.3 quarterback rating. Against teams that finished in the upper half of the league they finished with a 100.6 rating, almost no difference. It doesn't matter who they are playing, Rodgers will finish his business.
I don't believe that you have to be a cow to know what milk is. Translation: just because Roethelisberger has won before doesn't mean he is the better quarterback. Rodgers is looking for his belt on Sunday and a place among the elite quarterbacks of all-time.
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