They took a knee and the clock wound down to zero. The two quarterbacks gathered at the center, shook hands, and said the usual "great job" to the other. Before returning to the locker rooms the winning quarterback stopped the other to tell him one last thing. "I studied you man, You're the best. I love when Josh called you Gandalf. You really are a Wizard...you're the best."
Kirk Cousins had the utmost respect for the man he was shaking hands with. He not only had the pleasure of sitting across from this already legendary QB, but had beaten him handily. In many ways it seemed like Cousins wanted to remind him of how great he was - that this wasn't the beginning of a downfall for this great quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers stood in front of the press, silent and with a look of frustration on his face. The Packers had now lost four games in a row and sat at a 4-6 record, holding the third place spot behind the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions in the NFC North division. People were beginning to wonder why this was happening. Could this possibly be the beginning of the end for Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy?
"We've put ourselves in a tough spot," Rodgers said gloomily at the post game conference following the 42-24 loss to Cousins and the Washington Redskins. "We gotta find a way to get a win next week... approach it one game at a time. It's all we got right now. We're in a tough stretch." Rodgers looked down and pursed his lips. It was silent. The atmosphere was not a positive one. Reporters seemed almost afraid to ask Rodgers a question. Finally, a someone manned up. A few more followed and Rodgers answered them, the whole time wearing a solemn face.
Kirk Cousins (left) and Aaron Rodgers (right) commending each other after a 42-24 victory for the Redskins on Nov 20, 2016
Rodgers was having what some were calling a "down" year, continuing from the 2015 season with people wondering what was "wrong" with Rodgers. Where was the magic? From week 8 of the 2015 season through week 6 of 2016, Rodgers was: 1) 25th in quarterback rating out of 30 qualified quarterbacks (yes, you heard right) 2) dead last in completion percentage (yup), and 3) dead last in yards per attempt (yup, you got it.)
And if you looked at weeks 1-11 of the 2016 season, Rodgers was 12th in quarterback rating and 15th in completion percentage. For an unknown quarterback that's good. But for Rodgers' standards that's not good. Those numbers are above average but Rodgers is not known for being just "above average."
Rodgers is sacked by Ryan Kerrigan (#91) during the second quarter
of a week 11 game between Washington and Green Bay on Nov. 20th
Leading up to their Monday night matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, critics and analysts were saying Rodgers and the Packers were on their way down. Rodgers had something to say about their chances for the rest of the year though. This statement would follow the Packers for the rest of the season - for better or for worse.
“I feel like we can run the table, I really do,” said Rodgers, brimming with confidence after a team practice on Wednesday, Nov. 23. “The offense is starting to click a little bit more. We just have to put together a game where we’re consistent from the first snap to the last. We’ve been getting closer to that. We’ve really been clicking at times the last few games. It’s going to be important that we get going early.”
For those unfamiliar with the term "run the table,", it's a saying that originates from the game of pool, meaning "the feat of sinking all the balls on the table successively." In this case, Rodgers believed the Packers could win the rest of their games.
It wasn't as bold as other famous statements or "guarantees" in sports, but the statement did have a tone of optimism and belief - something his conference interview that past Sunday night was lacking. Many wondered if he was trying to keep the fans hopeful and prevent panic. Or maybe he was on to something. The past ten games had shown nothing to back the statement, but there are always those two or three teams that heat up toward the end of the season, turning into dangerous teams nobody wants to face. Could the Pack be one of those teams? Fans could only hope so.
"Run the table" would soon become the banner statement for the Packers and their fans for the rest of the 2016-17 season. The team had six games remaining. With the pressure never bigger, Rodgers and the rest of the Pack needed to be on their A-game to have a shot at running the table, and most importantly - make the playoffs.
Despite Rodgers play dipping for more than a year now, players still had loads of respect for this seasoned QB. Every week the Packers got ready to face another team. And every week some player or players would pour on the praise of how amazing he his, saying this and that about his abilities even though the team hadn't won a game for multiple weeks. When asked about what he "saw" from Rodgers, Washington Redskins' Cornerback Josh Norman gave a unique (albeit perfect) comparison of Rodgers skill set leading up to the game that Sunday night (one Washington would eventually win).
“What do I see?” said Norman. “Hey, man, let’s not get things mistaken over there, man. That’s No. 12. That is pretty much Gandalf the White over there. That’s a wizard. That’s who he is to me. Tom Brady is Gandalf the Grey, and [Rodgers] is just an upper class of that.”
The comparison made lots of sense as both Rodgers and Gandalf have pulled out some incredible feats in the past, making people look on in awe and wonder. (Gandalf the grey/white is a Wizard (surprise) from the Lord of the Rings franchise who is very well known in regards to books and film.)
Aaron Rodgers (right) was compared to Gandalf the White (left) by Josh Norman - a fitting description due to their abilities to create magical moments seemingly out of nowhere.
As if Norman was prophesying, Rodgers would begin a hot streak starting in week 12 after the loss to Washington, reminding every one that he's still the Rodgers we knew and loved, putting together magical, even wizard-like plays of brilliance week after week. Doing their best to "run the table", the team began to do just that. With six games left, a bad defense, and an inconsistent running game Rodgers took them one at a time, working his magic and winning five in a row. They were one win away from completing a run of the table and clinching the NFC North title for the fifth time in six years. Rodgers had done it again, throwing for 11 touchdowns to only 0 interceptions over the five game stretch, while also adding a streak of 202 pass attempts without an interception since week 11. It was the second highest of his career, giving him an interception rate of 1.2 over the course of the 2016 season (his career best at the time was 1.6 which happens to be an NFL record). Include the loss against Washington, and he had thrown 14 touchdowns to 0 interceptions, which is ridiculous.
Out of the five game win streak, Rodgers most impressive and wizard like play was on week 15 against the Chicago Bears. Riding a three game win streak, Green Bay was looking for win number four. It was blistering cold there at Chicago, with the refs doing their best to keep themselves energized and excited during the game. With the wind and cold being a factor, Rodgers handed the ball off to WR-turned-RB Ty Montgomery all day long, who had a tremendous performance running all over Chicago for 162 yards and two touchdowns. But despite being down 17 points with just over 13 minutes left in the game, Chicago made a comeback tying the game at 27 a piece. With 36 seconds to go, zero time outs, and starting at their own 26 yard line, Green Bay only needed a field goal to win it. Green Bay needed something special to get into field goal range. Well, that special something was Aaron Rodgers, who up to that point hadn't done much, due to the weather not in good throwing conditions. Rodgers seemingly pulled a trick out of nowhere throwing a beautiful and perfect 60 yard ball to star wideout Jordy Nelson. Running up as quickly as they could they spiked the ball with 3 seconds remaining. It was a beautiful thing to watch as Rodgers, about to get slammed, went off the back foot of his body and launched a perfect throw to Nelson. It's no wonder he's considered the best thrower of the football.
This clip of the play, although it's not great quality, shows you the play and why it was so great.
(If it does not play and says "this video contains content of the NFL.." just click the bottom right button that has the youtube emblem. It will work fine.)
Kicker Mason Crosby walked on the field and took a deep breath. He then proceeded to drill the game winning field goal and Green Bay's hot streak continued. Despite not throwing a single touchdown in the game, Rodgers undoubtedly had the play that ultimately won it for the Packers.
One week later Aaron Rodgers continued his dominant playing style, dissecting the once proud Vikings defense by throwing for over 300 yards and a whopping 5 total touchdowns, with 4 coming in the first half alone.
If it does not play and says "Playback on this website has been disabled..." just click the bottom right button that has the youtube emblem. It will work fine.
A four and a half minute video on Rodgers "MVP" performance against the Vikings
Whether you watched the video or not, one thing was clear leading up to the finale against Detroit: no one was playing better over the course of these five games than Rodgers. A win against Detroit along with the division title would most certainly give Rodgers a boost in regards to the MVP award.
It was January 1st. Green bay was headed to Detroit. The winner would take the division title and play the Giants, while the loser would go to Seattle and face the Seahawks in the wild card round. Detroit wanted it badly. But Rodgers wanted it more. With the Packers ahead 17-14, Rodgers marched them down the field to a 3rd and 9 on the 10 yard line. Hiking the ball with 10:13 seconds on the clock, Rodgers looked, bought time, looked some more, spun around, rolled to his left, and threw a dart to none other than Geronimo Allison (wait - who the heck is Geronimo Allison?) for the awe dropping TD. Rodgers celebrated by doing his now famous "Championship Belt" or the "Discount Double Check" to some. It was the "dagger" that pretty much won the division for the Packers. He held the ball for 8 seconds (that's an eternity in the football world), with the announcers stating, "You just can't stop him when he does that!"
Making quick decisive throws, running around, buying time, and pulling off moves Houdini would be proud of, Rodgers gave another magical performance which included 300 yards and another 4 touchdowns - giving him 18 TDs to 0 interceptions since week 11. The Packers had done it. They'd run the table and most importantly won the division, punching their ticket to the playoffs, with no teams' quarterback hotter than Rodgers.
Maybe it was time to give Rodgers a new nickname. Say Rodgers the White? He was certainly living up to the name...
Aaron Rodgers (left) and Geronimo Allison (right) celebrate after their touchdown connection in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions on Jan. 1st 2017.
Rodgers finished the season with 40 TD passes leading the league for the first time in his career and tied the NFL record of most seasons with over 35 touchdown passes (four) along with Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning. He also became the fourth quarterback to have multiple seasons throwing 40 or more touchdowns. Throwing only 7 interceptions with a 104.7 rating, Rodgers had made his case for MVP alongside the likes of Tom Brady, Matt Ryan and Derek Carr.
But the real challenge had just begun. The playoffs were one week away. It was time to see who was the best of the best. The alpha and the omega. The elite above all other teams. Could Rodgers and the Pack REALLY run the table and WIN Super Bowl LI?
All I can say is look out football world.
'Cause here comes Rodgers the White.
Rodgers prepares to launch his third career Hail Mary during a wild card game against the Giants on January 8th, 2017
This is the first in a series of posts on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Next we will look at what may arguably be his trademark play: The Hail Mary