Packers news: Aaron Rodgers finally achieves long-delayed milestone with win over Rams

With a win over the Rams in the NFC Divisional Round, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers checked off a career milestone which had eluded him.

With a win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers checked off a career milestone which had eluded him.

Next weekend, the No. 1-seeded Packers will host the winner of Sunday's showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. The game will mark the first time in Rodgers' decorated 16-year career in Green Bay that he will play the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field.

The Packers earned the NFC's top seed in 2011 after posting a 15-1 record — a season for which Rodgers earned his first MVP award. However, Green Bay was upset by the New York Giants in the divisional round.

Prior to this year, Rodgers' four previous appearances in the conference title game with the Packers (2010, '14, '16, '19) came on the road.

More importantly, the Packers will be looking for their first NFC Championship Game victory since 2010, when they defeated the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

The Packers bested the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25, in Super Bowl XLV, earning Rodgers his lone ring and Super Bowl MVP.

In their first playoff test on Saturday against the vaunted Rams defense, Rodgers and the Packers picked up right where they left off after a 13-3 campaign and first-round bye. Rodgers completed 23 of 36 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay's 32-18 win.

Rodgers, 37, is the frontrunner to win his third regular season MVP award after leading the NFL in passer rating (121.5), completion percentage (70.7), and touchdown passes (48).

Whichever team heads to Lambeau next week to face the red-hot Packers, Rodgers will have to outduel another future Hall of Fame quarterback in order to reach his second career Super Bowl.

There are no guarantees in life, and the fact that Rodgers had never previously started an NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field is a perfect reminder of that reality. Now Rodgers will see if he can return to football's biggest game, possibly against Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs in what would be a dream NFL matchup.