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Aaron Rodgers: MVP candidate

Date: November 7, 2020

By: Michael Daly

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Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

With the Green Bay Packers’ 34-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday evening, Aaron Rodgers is making a case for an MVP caliber season and a potential Super Bowl run. Through Week nine, the Packers hold a 6-2 record and their lead in the NFC North has been due to the collective effort in Green Bay.

 

This season has tested the Packers in several ways that would have forced other teams to crumble and wave the white flag on their season. The Green Bay Packers have been extremely resilient, and their success is due to the leadership of Aaron Rodgers. For starters, outsiders believed that Green Bay reached the beginning of the end in their 15-year relationship with Rodgers when they drafted quarterback Jordan Love in the first round.

He used this direct message from the Packers as a source of motivation to prove to the front office that he belongs on the field for the long-term future. His performance on Thursday was just another example of the battery that was placed in his back heading into the season.

 

Rodgers tossed four touchdowns, 305 yards, and completed 25/31 attempted passes against the 49ers. He can never be counted out because he is the ultimate winner and competitor who refuses to quit on his teammates and most importantly, himself. When others stopped believing in him, he found a way to turn up his motivational drive into a new gear.

 

On the season, Rodgers has 24 TDs, two INTs, 2,253 yards, and a 67.5 completion % through eight games. If he isn’t the outright MVP leader, he is certainly near the top of the list of candidates based on his recent performance and consistency throughout the entire first half of the season. He is second in the NFL in passing touchdowns and he is fourth in passing yards.

The most remarkable part of his outstanding season is that he is producing these numbers with a supporting cast that changes almost every week. For instance, he played three games with his team’s best receiver, Davante Adams. When Adams is in the lineup for Green Bay, he makes an incredible difference. In five games, Adams has eight touchdowns, including a receiving touchdown against San Francisco.

 

Rodgers turned players like Robert Tonyan, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Darrius Shepherd into solid options in the passing game. He has a unique ability to connect with his receivers, regardless of their talent level or experience in the NFL. Tight end Mercedes Lewis is the only first round draft pick that Rodgers has thrown a touchdown pass to in his career.

The Packers have dealt with a slew of injuries and inactive players throughout the season. In their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, offensive tackle David Bakhtiari suffered an injury, and he has been out since. This past week, rookie running back AJ Dillon and fellow running back Jamaal Williams were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. On top of this, first-string running back Aaron Jones has dealt with a nagging injury, which has prevented him from being active in recent weeks.

 

Based off the amount of injuries they have endured this season; it is an absolute miracle that the Green Bay Packers remain in as good of shape as they are in. What helps Green Bay is that Rodgers is more comfortable being in head coach Matt LaFleur’s offensive system in their second year together.

In 2019, Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers made it to the NFC Championship Game in which they lost to the San Francisco 49ers. Based on the way Rodgers and his team have been playing, there is a good chance that they could get back that game and possibly the Super Bowl.

 

Rodgers deserves a great deal of recognition for his stellar performance this season and he belongs in the MVP conversation. This year proves that Rodgers is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL history and he will continue to age well in the league.

Michael Daly is the station manager of 89.5 FM WSOU, and can be reached at wsoustationmanager@gmail.com.

Posted in: Sports, WSOU

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