GREEN BAY – As Packers QB Aaron Rodgers appears headed for a third NFL Most Valuable Player award, to be announced Saturday night, here's a recap of his top five games from the 2020 regular season.
How hard was it to narrow down this list to five games? Rodgers threw four TD passes seven different times and had a passer rating of 124 or better on 10 occasions. The point is, any next five would be almost as good as these five, which are presented in chronological order.
1. Week 1 at Minnesota, W 43-34
Rodgers threw himself into the MVP conversation right from the get-go, blistering the Vikings' defense in the opener. From the middle of the second quarter on, Rodgers directed five touchdown drives in a span of six possessions to turn the Week 1 NFC North showdown into a runaway.
Rodgers completed 32-of-44 passes for 364 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 127.5 passer rating, his highest yardage total and best rating since the first half of the 2019 season. The four TD passes went to three different receivers – Davante Adams (two, amidst 14 catches for 156 yards), Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard– and he hooked up with each one for a big play of at least 38 yards.
2. Week 4 vs. Atlanta, W 30-16
On a Monday night in front of a national TV audience and without his best receiver, Rodgers put together an ultra-efficient performance, completing 27-of-33 for 327 yards with four TDs, no INTs and a 147.5 rating. Without the injured Adams, six different pass-catchers had a reception of 17 yards or more.
None of his four TD passes went to wide receivers, as tight end Robert Tonyan caught a career-high three and running back Aaron Jones had the other. Tonyan also led in receiving yardage with 98, while running back Jamaal Williamsled in receptions with eight (for 95 yards).
3. Week 9 at San Francisco, W 34-17
No David Bakhtiari, no problem, as the Packers' offensive line more than held its own without the All-Pro left tackle against one of the league's top defenses coming in.
Statistically, Rodgers nearly repeated his performance against Atlanta, with four TD passes and just six incompletions, going 25-of-31 for 305 yards and a 147.2 rating. Adams led the way with 10 catches for 173 yards and a spectacular TD catch, while Valdes Scantling had TDs on both of his catches (including a 52-yard bomb) and tight end Marcedes Lewis found paydirt as well.
4. Week 16 vs. Tennessee, W 40-14
Against the playoff-bound and 2019 AFC runner-up Titans on a chilly, snowy night at Lambeau Field, Rodgers made his strongest late-season statement for the MVP in a blowout victory. This time his TD passes (four) matched his incompletions in a 21-of-25 outing for 231 yards.
Even with one interception, Rodgers still posted a passer rating of 128.1 (had that one pick simply been incomplete, his rating for the game would have been 144.8). Adams caught three of the TD passes in posting 11 receptions for 142 yards.
5. Week 17 at Chicago, W 35-16
Needing a win to secure the No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs, all Rodgers did was post his third passer rating of 147-plus on the season, going 19-of-24 for 240 yards with four TDs and a 147.9 rating.
Rodgers burned a blitz with a picture-perfect 72-yard TD to Valdes-Scantling, and he even got recently acquired tight end Dominique Dafney into the touchdown column with a 13-yard scoring toss.
