Arguably, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers can still catch Tom Brady in the G.O.A.T. discussion, if he can win a few more Super Bowls and continue to play at an All-Pro level late into his career.
For now, though, Rodgers will have to settle for joining Brady in exclusive statistical company.
Rodgers completed 25-of-31 passes for 305 yards, four touchdowns and zero turnovers in a breezy masterpiece against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday — good for a 147.2 passer rating. The 34-17 victory moved Green Bay to 6-2 and places Rodgers back in the MVP conversation heading into the second half of the season.
As NFL research pointed out, Rodgers became the second player in NFL history to toss 24 touchdowns and two or fewer picks through eight games, joining Prime Tom Brady in the Patriots undefeated 2007 season, when he threw 50 TDs and won MVP.
In his 16th season, the 36-year old Rodgers is putting up career-best numbers. He's on pace to surpass his stats from 2011 — 4,643 yards and 45 touchdowns — when he won the league's MVP award.
Rodgers ranks first on the NFL's all-time passer rating list (103.1), while Brady is fifth (97.2).
The win over the Niners tied Green Bay with Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers for second place in the NFC. Tampa will host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football in Week 9.
Brady, of course, is not done padding his own unparalleled resume. The 43-year old is fifth in the NFL in passing yards with 20 TDs and four interceptions. Tampa ranks sixth in the NFL in offensive DVOA, trailing Aaron Rodgers' Packers, who rank second.
Most importantly, both veteran passes have their respective teams in Super Bowl contention.