If you're a basketball fan, you are undoubtedly aware two of the most definitive talents in league history — LeBron James and Kobe Bryant — never met in the NBA Finals. In fact, they never met in the playoffs, period. A similar situation has manifested itself in the NFL with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
Brady is regarded by many as the greatest player in the history of the sport. Meanwhile, Rodgers is considered arguably the most talented player to ever play the position. But the two have never met on football's biggest stage.
Like with James and Bryant, there were some opportunities. The best opportunity was 2014, when the Green Bay Packers squandered a late lead against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. Rodgers and the Pack might also have faced Brady's New England Patriots in 2016, but they were overwhelmed by the Atlanta Falcons.
With Brady likely finishing his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC, football fans are unlikely to see TB12 and A-Rod face off for a Lombardi Trophy. Fortunately, the two will be on opposing sidelines for this weekend's NFC Championship Game.
Brady and the Buccaneers won the regular-season matchup between the two teams in Week 6, with Tampa Bay generating consistent pressure on Rodgers and forcing his hand. But the Packers are a different team, and this time will host the Buccaneers at Lambeau Field.
It very well could turn into a quarterback duel, which would make for an exciting spectacle between two of the best football players in recent generations in Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
The late-blooming veteran
Remember all the midseason questions about Tom Brady and his chemistry with head coach Bruce Arians? Well, those questions have all but been silenced.
Tampa Bay lost three of four between Week 9 and Week 12, and the Buccaneers were seemingly losing their grip even in terms of just making the playoffs.
However, the losses seemed to awaken the best in Brady. The 43-year-old went crazy down the stretch, throwing 12 touchdowns against just one interception in the final four games of the regular season. He surpassed the 300-yard mark during the final three games, including a dominant Week 16 performance against the Detroit Lions in which Brady had a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
The trend has continued in the playoffs. The Washington Football Team had the best pass defense in football during the regular season. Brady faced heavy pressure and was sacked three times, but still threw for 381 yards and a pair of scores.
Sunday's win over the Saints proved every bit as tough. Brady was sacked just once, but faced heat up the middle and off the edges. He completed just 18 out of 33 pass attempts, but his completions were incredibly meaningful, as Brady capitalized on multiple Saints turnovers to help lead Tampa Bay to the NFC Championship Game.
It is hard to pick against Brady in a big game. But Rodgers and the Packers have been prolific all year, and the presumptive NFL MVP is still out to prove something.
Redemption Season
This past April's draft was a fairly notorious moment in Packers history, yet Aaron Rodgers has all but wiped it from memory.
Green Bay figured to add to Rodgers' offensive arsenal. Instead, the Packers opted to draft his potential replacement in Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round. The decision called Rodgers' relationship with Matt LaFleur into question. Was this a mirror image of Green Bay drafting Rodgers to be Brett Favre's eventual replacement?
We might never know the answer to that last question, because Rodgers just put together one of the best seasons of his career.
The two-time MVP led the NFL in completion percentage (70.7), touchdowns (48), adjusted net yards per pass attempt (8.89) and total QBR (84.4). He is all but guaranteed to win his third MVP, just months after the Love draft choice prompted questions about Rodgers' future in Green Bay.
If Saturday was any indication, Rodgers is still on a mission. He shredded the Los Angeles Rams for close to 300 yards passing and two touchdowns. Rodgers consistently signaled to receivers and got L.A. to bite on play-action fakes, including one leading to an Allen Lazard touchdown that all but iced the game.
Rodgers has not been to the Super Bowl since he and the Packers beat the Steelers to cap off the 2010 season. He is not likely to take this opportunity lightly.
Who comes out on top between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers?
Tampa Bay's secondary showed newfound vitality against the Saints, taking Michael Thomas out of the game and intercepting Drew Brees three times.
But Aaron Rodgers is a different animal. The Packers eviscerated the Rams with a balanced attack on Saturday, and a similar strategy should be in play against Tampa Bay. That should open up play-action fakes and shots over the top.
Of course, Tom Brady and Co. could have plenty magic in store. Tampa had a surprising amount of success running the ball against the Saints, which is imperative against a tough Packers defense that can rush the passer while having a lockdown corner in Jaire Alexander and a playmaker over the top in Darnell Savage Jr.
The Buccaneers have a chance if they can get to Rodgers like they did in the regular season. But Green Bay's offense has only shown more diversity in terms of schemes and play-calling down the stretch, and Rodgers is at the peak of his powers.
The guess here is the Packers outlast Tampa Bay. But regardless of the final outcome, fans should relish this matchup between two of the greatest talents in NFL history.
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