For just the second time in Aaron Rodgers’ career, the road to the Super Bowl goes through Lambeau Field.
The Green Bay Packers clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs after defeating the Chicago Bears on Sunday, bringing the team’s regular season record to 13-3. It’s the second consecutive year the Packers posted 13 regular season wins.
But even after finishing with the same record as last year, Rodgers admitted there’s something different about this year’s team. And he didn’t hold anything back.
“I’m really happy with the way that I played and the way the team has played this year,” Rodgers said after Sunday’s win. “It might not have been the most fun, because I miss the fans, but it was the most special regular season of my career.”
After a disappointing 2019 season by his standards, Rodgers improved in every statistical category this season. Now in Year 2 of coach Matt LaFleur’s system, Rodgers appears much more comfortable running the offense.
The Packers’ signal caller broke franchise records for most touchdown passes (48) and highest completion percentage (70.7) in a single season. His 121.5 passer rating is the second-highest in NFL history for a season.
“You don’t expect to ever do that,” Rodgers said regarding his impressive stat line. “There’s a level of efficiency that I wanted to get to this season, and I felt I’ve been playing at the level I expected to play at this year.”
Rodgers is likely to win his third NFL MVP award after his record-breaking season. He joined Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to throw for 45 touchdowns in multiple seasons.
Still, Rodgers offered plenty of praise for those around him.
“I’ll tell you what I told Davante (Adams) in the locker room, I said, ’13 and a half games, and you just had the greatest season for a Packer receiver in history.’ And I meant it. It gets me emotional. I just have a ton of respect and appreciation for him (Adams) and what he’s accomplished. It’s been an unbelievable year. He’s just such a special, special player.”
Adams broke Packers franchise records for most touchdown catches (18) and receptions (115) in a single season, passing Sterling Sharpe in both categories. As Rodgers alluded to, Adams did so in 13.5 games after exiting at halftime against the Detroit Lions in Week 2 due to a hamstring injury. He missed the team’s next two games.
Together, Rodgers and Adams lead the NFC’s most dangerous offense, which holds the conference’s only bye in the playoffs due to clinching the No. 1 seed.
For the first time since 2011, the Packers have home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Green Bay has previously appeared in four NFC Championship Games with Rodgers at quarterback, but none have been at Lambeau Field.
Even in the midst of a wacky season with no fans allowed, Rodgers and the rest of Green Bay’s players know they have an incredible opportunity in front of them. And, Rodgers knows his time in the NFL is winding down. At 37 years old, the clock is ticking for the future Hall of Famer.
So far, so good for the Packers’ franchise quarterback, though. In a potential legacy-defining season, Rodgers has already delivered with an MVP-caliber campaign while leading the team to the NFC’s best record.
There’s no doubt he’s looking forward to the next month and what’s to come for Green Bay in the playoffs. But for now, at this very moment, Rodgers is perfectly content reflecting on what’s already been done.
“This is a special season. This will always be a special season for me.”
