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In some other yr, Aaron Rodgers’ landing and interception totals would finish the NFL MVP dialogue earlier than it might begin.
The Packers quarterback now has 44 TDs and 5 interceptions — passing totals which might be shut to these he put up in his MVP seasons of 2011 and 2014. In 2020, that is sufficient to start out the dialog with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, who’s making an attempt to win the award for the second time in three seasons.
PACKERS-TITANS: Rodgers, Adams lead Green Bay rout
These two quarterbacks have distanced themselves from different contenders such because the Payments’ Josh Allen and the Titans’ Derrick Henry, who additionally will be within the combine when the voting comes.
It is actually a alternative between Rodgers and Mahomes.
Rodgers made that debate extra fascinating in a 40-14 Packers victory over Henry and the Titans on “Sunday Night time Soccer” in Week 16. Rodgers handed for 231 yards and 4 touchdowns — a fourth-quarter interception was the one blemish on one other spectacular prime-time efficiency. Inexperienced Bay is one victory away from home-field benefit and back-to-back 13-3 seasons within the NFC.
Rodgers has extra TDs and fewer interceptions than Mahomes, who’s at 38 and 6, respectively. The distinction, after all, is Mahomes has a considerable benefit in yardage (4,740 to 4,059). The Chiefs are 14-1 and on the lookout for back-to-back Tremendous Bowl championships, as properly.
Mahomes is one of the best participant on one of the best group proper now. Rodgers has closed the hole with 5 straight victories. The quarterbacks might settle that debate in Tremendous Bowl 55, however the MVP race will likely be settled earlier than then.
Rodgers has made a legit case for the regular-season award.
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Look at his earlier MVP seasons. In 2011, Rodgers led the Packers to a 15-1 document the yr after they gained Tremendous Bowl 45. He had 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Inexperienced Bay fizzled with a divisional-round playoff loss to the Giants.
In 2014, Rodgers led Inexperienced Bay to a 12-4 document with 4,381 passing yards, 38 TDs and 5 interceptions. The Packers fell in need of the Tremendous Bowl due to a 28-22 loss to the Seahawks within the NFC championship sport.
Rodgers was one of the best participant within the NFL these seasons, and the MVP voting (over runners-up Drew Brees in 2011 and J.J. Watt in 2014) wasn’t shut both time.
Mahomes is the front-runner in 2020, and he brings all the identical parts as Rodgers — together with star energy and “wow” issue. There is a motive these two are co-stars within the State Farm commercials. Mahomes has mastered Andy Reid’s system in his third yr as a starter.
Rodgers has taken a pronounced leap in his second season in Matt LaFleur’s system. Final yr he produced 4,002 yards, 26 TDs and 4 interceptions. The most important distinction could be completion proportion — Rodgers is at 70.3 % this yr. He has by no means accomplished greater than 70 % in a single season since taking up for Brett Favre because the starter in 2008.
Favre, after all, gained three straight MVP awards from 1995-97. The one different gamers with three or extra are Peyton Manning, who has 5, and Tom Brady, Jim Brown and Johnny Unitas with three apiece. Rodgers has been making an attempt to hitch that class since profitable No. 2 in 2014, and that is his greatest likelihood to do it.
Favre additionally shared the award with the Lions’ Barry Sanders in 1997 — the final time there have been co-MVPs. Would that be another with Rodgers and Mahomes this yr?
It could be the best-case state of affairs for Rodgers.
Rodgers’ success is taken without any consideration at this level, however the actuality is he is having arguably his greatest season at 37. If it is a query of who’s extra useful to their franchise, then it is one other statistical toss-up with Mahomes.
The Chiefs lead the NFL with 425.8 yards per sport; the Packers are at 393.9 yards per sport. Inexperienced Bay now averages 31.5 factors per sport, a contact greater than Kansas Metropolis at 30.2. The hole is nearer than it seems, and there’s yet one more week for these two dynamic quarterbacks to supply a closing argument.
In some other yr, the case could be closed. However that is 2020.
Something can occur in Week 17.
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