After an offseason full of contemplation from Aaron Rodgers on whether or not to return to the Green Bay Packers, Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints was very much anticipated.
Everyone was paying some attention to how this first game would go for Rodgers. After all, he put out the “Last Dance” pictures on Instagram so you'd think he'd go out and perform like this truly was his last dance. Unfortunately that was nowhere near the case as Rodgers and the Packers' offense as a whole just played terribly in a 38-3 Week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The blame for this one falls on Aaron Rodgers.
The reigning MVP didn't look anything like himself, throwing lazy interceptions and overthrowing his receivers all day to the point where they took him out late for Jordan Love. It couldn't have been a worse Week 1 for Rodgers and the Packers after everything they went through this offseason. This loss is on Aaron Rodgers because of how he played and because of how he handled the offseason.
When it was all said and done, his stats were not good. Rodgers threw 28 passes and completed just 15 of them. Two of those attempts went for interceptions. Keep in mind he threw just five interceptions in 16 games last season and that was more than the previous two seasons. The 36.8 passer rating Rodgers had tied for his 4th worst of his career.
Rodgers and the Packers desperately need to flush this game out of their system soon but luckily they play the Detroit Lions in Week 2. That should help get things back on track. Detroit just made a valiant comeback effort against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 but it probably wasn't real and now they'll be without cornerback Jeff Okudah for the rest of the season. If the Packers lose to this team then it's time to panic.
The question that everyone is wondering is: how much did this awkward offseason from Rodgers affect the Week 1 performance?
Every game matters in the NFL with only 17 per season so giving away the first game like this isn't something that can be brushed over so easily. Did Aaron Rodgers always plan on returning to Green Bay despite him cutting all communications? It didn't seem like it.
It was an anti-climactic ending to an offseason all about Aaron Rodgers and now the offense is in shambles.
It's unfair to put all the blame of a 38-3 loss on one guy but Rodgers was the only player anyone cared about in the offseason. He'll have to really step up next week, and should have no problem doing that against Detroit. This whole Week 1 was just an absolute mess for the Packers and the sooner they can get back to looking like their 2020 selves the better.
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