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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had an MVP-caliber season, as the 37-year-old threw for an NFL-high 48 touchdowns and a grand total of 4,299 yards this regular season.
After beating the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the playoffs, the NFL has seen how eager Rodgers is to get his second ring and bring a championship back to Green Bay.
The Packers now play six-time champion Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday. In order for the Packers to go to the Super Bowl, Rodgers must have the game of his life.
The following predictions are based on what Rodgers has shown he is capable of doing in the past and what Rodgers needs to do to help propel the Packers over the star-studded Buccaneers.
1. Rodgers will throw 3 TDs
As mentioned before, Rodgers threw for an incredible 48 touchdowns this year, as his star wide receiver Davante Adams caught a league-high 18 of those touchdowns along with 115 receptions and amassing 1,374 yards. However, Adams can not be the only one who steps up.
What makes the Rodgers so dangerous and allowed the Packers to get the No. 1 seed is that their offense has so many weapons. Wide receivers such as Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have nine touchdowns between the two of them, as they are both threats for the long-ball. Though the Packers have an incredible running back in Aaron Jones, Rodgers can not be afraid of throwing the ball into the end zone and picking up quick touchdowns to catch the Buccaneers' defense off guard.
2. Rodgers will throw a long-ball for a TD
Aaron Rodgers has always been known for his ability to throw the long ball, whether it be a Hail Mary or catching one of his wide receivers in stride 30-40 yards down the field. In the game against the Los Angeles Rams, his play-action to Allen Lazard who was wide open down the field added to the growing list of throwing the deep ball when necessary. In the regular season, Rodgers ran a similar play against the Chicago Bears where he found Valdes-Scantling wide open down the field. These plays are dangerous, as these touchdowns coming from their own 30- or 40-yard line.
If Rodgers is able to complete one of these passes, the momentum of the game would shift entirely to the Packers should they be down or trying to maintain their lead. Rodgers, who threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns against the Bears in Week 17 and 296 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams, has proven to teams that he is not afraid to let it fly no matter how good the defense is that he is up against. No one can make this throw as effectively as Rodgers, and he, undoubtedly, will try to target his wide receivers way down the field to get a quick touchdown against the Buccaneers defense.
3. Rodgers will not throw an interception
Rodgers only threw five interceptions in the 2020-21 season, as he was tied for the least amount of picks thrown this season. He had a pair of four-game stretches where he threw zero interceptions, not to mention avoiding throwing picks against some of the best defenses the league has to offer, as the Bears and Rams were unable to force a turnover on Rodgers.
Not turning the ball over against the Buccaneers will be a priority for Rodgers, as Tom Brady will capitalize on any offensive possessions he will get. Though prone to more picks, Brady will squeeze every last bit of juice of each possession when it comes to getting points for his team, and he will make sure that the Packers will pay for any turnovers they produce.
Without any interceptions, Aaron Rodgers will be able to move the chains for the Packers' offense, allowing for them to steadily march up the field while taking control of the game clock. Rodgers gains momentum by attacking defenses with the short gains, opening up the long ball and running game when necessary. Constantly getting the first down will frustrate any defense, and if Rodgers is able to lead the offensive attack in a poised manner, the Packers will see points on the board almost every offensive possession. Interceptions would only disrupt the offensive flow of the Packers, but Rodgers has done a terrific job of making the most out of each offensive possession.
Rodgers has proved to the NFL that he is one of the best quarterbacks to play this game. His consistency, accuracy, and calm demeanor in crunch times are all attributes of a future Hall of Famer. The Packers have a great chance to make it to the Super Bowl once again this season, and Rodgers will ensure that his team will fight until the very end to make that happen.
