The Greatest Game of Aaron Rodgers’ Career
January 15th, 2011. The 6th seed Packers are in Atlanta playing the top-seeded Falcons in the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs.
The Packers have gotten hot at the right time. They were only 3-3 after 6 games and 8-6 going into the final 2 weeks of the season, but after winning their final 2 regular season games, they snuck into the playoffs as the final seed. They beat the Eagles in the Wild Card round to advance to this Divisional Round matchup with Atlanta.
The Falcons went 13-3 in the regular season, earning the top seed in the NFC. They were 7-1 at home during the regular season and get to play this game in the comfort of the Georgia Dome. They, like the Packers, are a pretty balanced team that has both a good defense and good offense.
These 2 teams already faced off once in Atlanta in week 12 of the regular season, where the Falcons won on a last-second field goal, 20-17. Although this is the top seed in the NFC against the last seed, it is expected to be a fairly close game, with the Falcons being just 1 point favorites.
Aaron Rodgers is in his 3rd year as QB for the Packers and has begun to emerge as the next elite QB in the league. However, he is obviously still very young and hasn’t experienced much playoff success yet (just the 1 win last week). This has the potential to be a statement game for him.
The Falcons get the ball to begin the game and advance to around midfield before punting. The Packers then take over deep in their own territory, and on 3rd and 13, Rodgers completes a pass to Greg Jennings for 30 yards and a big first down… except he fumbles.
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Atlanta gets the ball in Packers territory and takes advantage for the first score of the game. 7-0 Falcons.
The Packers answer with a score of their own on a (no look???) 6-yard TD pass from Rodgers to Jordy. Rodgers on the drive: 7/7 for 48 yards, 2 third down conversions, and the TD.
At this point in the game, he is 8/9 for 78 yards and a TD.
The Packers then kick it back to the Falcons aaaaaand…. the kickoff is returned for a TD. 14-7 Atlanta.
Green Bay gets the ball and goes right back down the field to tie the game on a John Kuuuuuuuuuhn TD run. Rodgers on this drive: 5/6 for 82 yards, with some ridiculous throws in there (particularly the one to Jones on the sideline).
The zip he was putting on the ball on this night (along with the accuracy) was ridiculous. More escapes and great throws to come.
Next is the sequence that really turns this game around. The Falcons move the ball down the field and are at the Packers’ 26 yard line with 2:30 left in the half and the score tied, 14-14. Tramon Williams then gets a big INT to give the Packers the ball back with a chance to score before the half.
Green Bay storms right back down the field for another touchdown. 21-14 Packers with 48 seconds remaining in the half. Rodgers goes 5/6 for 74 yards and the TD on this drive, including a ridiculous throw across his body on a 3rd down conversion to Driver.
The Falcons get a pass interference call that puts them in field goal range right before the half, and instead of going for the field goal right away, they try to get a few more yards. Bad idea. Tramon Williams with the famous pick-6 to end the half that puts Green Bay up 28-14 and completely changes the game. One of the biggest plays of the entire playoff run.
So the momentum has completely swung and the Packers lead by 14, plus they get the ball to begin the 2nd half. Rodgers is 18/21 for 234 yards and 2 TD in the first half. This is when things really get good.
On the very first play of the second half, Rodgers gets sacked by John Abraham, and guess what…
ABRAHAM DOES THE BELT… WHILE DOWN 14 IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF RODGERS’ BEST GAMES.
You can see Rodgers look at him and kind of smile, and at this point you pretty much know what’s going to happen next.
2 plays later, on 3rd & 13, Rodgers makes a ridiculous escape and throw (which has been a common theme in this game) to extend the drive, and later converts another third down.
Seriously, this is just unfair.
Later on this drive, Rodgers runs in for a TD and gives the belt right back. Absolutely iconic.
So after Abraham did the belt, Rodgers followed by going 5/6 for 56 yards on the rest of drive, plus this rushing TD. It is now 35-14 Packers.
The Packers then force a punt and get the ball back for Rodgers to blow this thing even more open. On 3rd and 5 from the Falcons 46 yard line, Rodgers does this:
That guy he evaded in the backfield? None other than John Abraham, the man who mocked the belt just 9 minutes ago.
You come at the king, you best not miss. A few plays later, Rodgers throws this absolute dot to Donald Driver on 3rd & 5:
Look at the accuracy on that throw.
Not only were Rodgers’ numbers great in this game, but the amount of absurd throws, escapes, and plays he made (particularly on 3rd down) took this performance to the next level. He throws a TD pass to John Kuhn later on this drive to essentially put this game out of reach late in the 3rd quarter.
And that was pretty much it. Packers go on to win 48-21.
Rodgers finishes the day completing 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards and 4 total touchdowns. He didn’t attempt a pass in the final 9 minutes. After the belt was mocked, he went 13/15 for 132 yards and 2 TD. On 3rd down, he was 10/10 passing for 151 yards, and converted 9 of 11 third down plays.
He’s had so many great and memorable performances, but this one will always be regarded as one of Rodgers’ best. It is a masterful performance that helped lead the Packers to an eventual Super Bowl victory which launched Rodgers into superstardom. When you combine the numbers, the stage it was on, the spectacular throws he made, the third down conversions, and the fact that this was a game where somebody mocked the belt, I think it is his best ever.
Never. Mock. The. Belt.
