“R-E-L-A-X,” he told us. And he was right.
Everybody can calm down now. Aaron Rodgers is just fine.
He is not past his prime. He is not on the decline. He is not distracted by his celebrity girlfriend. He is still Aaron Rodgers, the best quarterback in the NFL, and he is not going anywhere anytime soon.
After a somewhat slow start to the season, many fans, fantasy owners, and media personnel were questioning Aaron Rodgers’ commitment and ability. In retrospect, it seems silly. Why did no one give Rodgers the benefit of the doubt that Seattle’s defense simply outplayed Green Bay’s offense in week one? That Rodgers’ receiving corps has taken a sizeable step back without Jermichael Finley and James Jones? That even the best quarterbacks might have a bad game every once in a while? It is absolutely absurd that before any of these explanations were give their due, people blamed Rodgers’ subpar performance on personal issues.
Luckily we can put this speculation to rest now. Rodgers played one of the best games of his career this past Sunday when he incinerated the Bears by tossing four touchdowns on 22 completions (out of 28 attempts) for 302 yards and zero interceptions.
With the big divisional win, Rodgers and the Packers are back on track. They sit a game behind the Lions in the NFC North with a fairly favorable schedule on the horizon.
Even more encouraging is the way Green Bay’s defense has responded since getting drummed by Seattle and New York in weeks one and two. Since then, Dom Capers’ defense has held opponents to fewer than 20 points in both games—and not just any offenses; the Packers defense has shut down Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Alshon Jeffery, and Brandon Marshall in consecutive weeks—no easy feat. With Aaron Rodgers a threat to score four or more touchdowns on any given Sunday, teams will probably have to eclipse 30 points to have a chance at downing the Packers.
Rodgers also seems to finally be clicking with the new names on the Packers’ offense. He has always had excellent chemistry with superstar Jordy Nelson (who until Sunday averaged more yards per game than the rest of the entire Packers offense). But with Rodgers and Randall Cobb both injured for most of last season, the two have not shown the same connection that Rodgers has had with Nelson, and Greg Jennings and Donald Driver in the past. Finally though, Cobb and Rodgers exploded for 113 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday.
Rodgers got some other names involved too. While No. 3 receiver Jarrett Boykin continues to struggle, rookie Davante Adams came a holding call short of his first NFL touchdown, and tight end Richard Rodgers caught his first two passes as a professional, too—one of them a big play on the first drive.
It will still take time for the Packers offense to really catch fire, but rest assured, it will. As long as Rodgers is around—and he will be for a long time—the Packers are contenders.
Thank you for reading. Ron Leyba is the lead editor of Fantasy Football Overdose, and a LastWordOnSports Analyst. For more of his NFL articles, follow his updates at NFL Fantasy Football Rankings Facebook or follow him on twitter @ronniedare. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
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