NFL
Aaron Rodgers: “We’re not gonna make it bigger than it is”
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains calm and collected heading into the Divisional Round playoff game vs the 49ers on Saturday.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are heading into this weekend fresh off their bye week, which they earned by being the top seed in the NFC. They will play the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field.
Aaron Rodgers remains level-headed going into the game vs 49ers
“This is a special opportunity,” said Rodgers. “We’re not gonna make it bigger than it is.” How big is it? Just the NFC Championship game on the line…no big deal.
The 38-year-old veteran quarterback is used to this kind of game though. It’s not his first rodeo. He’s currently in the lead in the run for MVP again this year, ranking first in the NFL in passer rating, touchdown percentage and interception percentage for the second year in a row. He’s currently on a seven-game streak with two or more touchdown passes and not a single interception, which is the second-best in league history.
The Packers just barely beat the 49ers 30-28 in the regular season on a field goal in the final moments, and the Niners pass defense has improved since then. The Packers, however, have been struggling to defend against the run, which is where the 49ers shine under Kyle Shanahan, averaging 195.3 rushing yards per game.
In the post season, the Niners and Packers have played each other eight times, both teams with four wins each. The 49ers have the most recent wins though, in 2012, 2013, and 2019, which puts Rodgers’ record against the 49ers in the post season at 0-3.
This time, though, could be different. The 49ers are dealing with a pretty banged-up team coming off their win over the Cowboys in the Divisional Round last week, whereas the Packers are fresh off the bye. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to play, but is dealing with a shoulder and thumb injury. Nick Bosa suffered a concussion last week and Jordan Willis and Fred Warner, ankle injuries. If all or even some of those defensive players are out vs the Packers, Rodgers could really take advantage of the Niners with the aerial attack.
Back in 2005, the 49ers could have drafted Rodgers, but instead went with Alex Smith. Rodgers, a long-time Niners fan, was asked if he was disappointed. His response: “Not as disappointed as the 49ers will be that they didn’t draft me.”
Let’s see if that’s true this weekend.