The Green Bay Packers are one of the most historic and successful professional sports teams in the entire United States. In the last 20 years, they have also been blessed by something else. The Packers have managed to have two potential Hall of Fame quarterbacks lead their squads. Not many teams can make the transition from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers. In fact, I would say most fans would kill to have their team have that type of fortune.
With Rodgers currently on a record setting pace and Favre somewhere in the far reaches of Mississippi, there is a debate beginning to bubble up. It’s small right now, but I can see it being big down the line. When the dust is settled on Rodgers’s career, the comparisons will surely be made. Who was the better Packer, Rodgers or Favre?
This is going to deal a lot with projections for Rodgers’s career so bear with me on that. I’m also not going to say that Rodgers will break Favre’s records because I don’t think anyone can expect that type of longevity. However, the name of the game is championships and Rodgers has an excellent chance to surpass Favre.
As a diehard Packers fan, I can say I have no love for Brett Favre right now. The ending to his time in Green Bay was ugly and neither side won the battle. Green Bay could’ve handled the process much better and Favre didn’t need to act like such a diva to the media. That being said, Favre, numbers-wise, is one of the best to ever play quarterback.
I’m too young to remember Favre’s true prime when he was rolling off three straight MVPs. In fact, I can barely remember the Super Bowl win. However, I do have the last 9 or so of his seasons in Green Bay in my memory and they provide an interesting outlook on his career.
See, Favre was a double edged sword. He could just as easily lose you a game as he could win you a game. Favre was noted for fourth quarter comebacks, but sometimes his play in the previous three quarters was the reason a comeback was needed. His struggles in domed stadiums was well-noted in the media. However, that struggle conveniently disappeared when he joined the Vikings, but whatever.
When you cheer for a team, you want championships. That’s the end all goal. With Favre, for as great as he was, only brought one Lombardi trophy to Green Bay. Some of the circumstances were beyond his control. During his MVP stretch, they ran up against the Dallas Cowboys numerous times, who were only the best team in the league at the time. I can’t argue with his Super Bowl loss because that Denver team played an absolutely fantastic football game. Nothing less than Green Bay’s A game was going to win that one. The Catch II in San Francisco also stopped a powerful Packers team. If video replay was around, Green Bay beats the 49ers and who knows what happens after that.
There were some Packers teams that just weren’t good enough to win a Super Bowl, but there have been some playoff moments that made me shudder. The 6 interception game against the Rams was an awful game to watch. That was an extremely good team and there’s no saying Green Bay wins with Favre playing great. However, it was the start of a trend.
First, there was the infamous Wild Card game in 2003. Green Bay had never lost a home playoff game. I remember the exact spot where I watched this game. I watched my favorite team get dissected by an Atlanta Falcons team led by a young Michael Vick. Green Bay had numerous injuries to deal with, but Favre’s stats were not impressive. Two interceptions and a fumble from the man who seemed so in tune with Lambeau mystique was hard to fathom. It didn’t stop there.
The following year is a game better known for a defensive gaffe. The 4th-and-26 game. That is the moment that sticks out and honestly it should. Green Bay should have won that game in regulation. However, the defense choked and that happens. Green Bay won the toss and started with the ball in OT. It was then that Favre threw one of the dumbest passes I’ve ever seen. A backfooted bomb to Robert Ferguson had no chance of being completed except to Philadelphia. The Eagles took advantage of the gift and advanced. That Packers team could have won the Super Bowl given a chance. However, they quite literally threw it away.
The last awful playoff moment from Favre as a Packer came in the 2007 NFC Championship Game. The Packers had received a few lucky breaks and started with the ball in overtime. The luck ran out as Favre threw a crucial interception and the Giants managed to win the game and the Super Bowl.
I get the fact that it was extremely cold at that game and Favre isn’t a young man at that time. However, the throw was indefensible. He had open receivers all over the field. A checkdown to Ryan Grant picks up a first down and keeps the drive alive. A forced throw to Donald Driver that had about a 1 percent chance of being complete was instead the choice.
Those last two games bring me to Aaron Rodgers. There is just a different feeling I get when watching him compared to Favre. Favre was a roller coaster. The highs were awesome but the lows were downright awful. I always watched nervously, waiting for the risky pass into coverage that could blow the game. Watching Rodgers is much more relaxing. He’s in total control of the situation. He may take a risk once or twice, but he doesn’t make awful mistakes at bad times.
The game against Minnesota last week was a perfect example. Rodgers was surgical in his throwing. Late in the game, the offense had stalled and Minnesota was on the comeback. There were a couple plays Rodgers took a sack instead of forcing a throw. If that’s Favre, he forces a throw. Maybe it goes for a touchdown and all is well. On the other side, it could easily be an interception that turns the momentum completely in the opponent favor.
Right now, Rodgers resembles 2007 Tom Brady. I’m not sure if he can keep his play up like Brady did all year, but the numbers are just breathtaking. Even without numbers, you can see the comparisons. Both players were in command of every situation. They made throws that made your jaw drop.
Right now, the Super Bowl totals for each player are tied at one. Favre rescued Green Bay from the black hole known as the 1970s and 1980s. Rodgers helped the Packers transition from a great quarterback without missing a beat. I can’t comment on Favre’s play during the MVP run, but I can’t imagine that it was as effective as Rodgers. Favre had phenomenal numbers, maybe even better than Rodgers does now, during that time. I just feel safer with Rodgers as my quarterback.
Rodgers play could fall off the rest of the season and it would make this post look downright laughable. I just don’t see that happening. Rodgers has a good six or seven year window where he can play at this level, barring injury. I fully expect Green Bay to add at least one more Super Bowl to its collection in this time.
The older generation may disagree with me, but I’m taking Rodgers right now over Favre in his prime. Favre may have the ability to win you more games, but Rodgers will lose you less games if that makes sense. When it comes down to crunch time, I want the Belt in my corner, not the Gunslinger.
Winner: AARON RODGERS in a landslide!
With Rodgers currently on a record setting pace and Favre somewhere in the far reaches of Mississippi, there is a debate beginning to bubble up. It’s small right now, but I can see it being big down the line. When the dust is settled on Rodgers’s career, the comparisons will surely be made. Who was the better Packer, Rodgers or Favre?
This is going to deal a lot with projections for Rodgers’s career so bear with me on that. I’m also not going to say that Rodgers will break Favre’s records because I don’t think anyone can expect that type of longevity. However, the name of the game is championships and Rodgers has an excellent chance to surpass Favre.
As a diehard Packers fan, I can say I have no love for Brett Favre right now. The ending to his time in Green Bay was ugly and neither side won the battle. Green Bay could’ve handled the process much better and Favre didn’t need to act like such a diva to the media. That being said, Favre, numbers-wise, is one of the best to ever play quarterback.
I’m too young to remember Favre’s true prime when he was rolling off three straight MVPs. In fact, I can barely remember the Super Bowl win. However, I do have the last 9 or so of his seasons in Green Bay in my memory and they provide an interesting outlook on his career.
See, Favre was a double edged sword. He could just as easily lose you a game as he could win you a game. Favre was noted for fourth quarter comebacks, but sometimes his play in the previous three quarters was the reason a comeback was needed. His struggles in domed stadiums was well-noted in the media. However, that struggle conveniently disappeared when he joined the Vikings, but whatever.
When you cheer for a team, you want championships. That’s the end all goal. With Favre, for as great as he was, only brought one Lombardi trophy to Green Bay. Some of the circumstances were beyond his control. During his MVP stretch, they ran up against the Dallas Cowboys numerous times, who were only the best team in the league at the time. I can’t argue with his Super Bowl loss because that Denver team played an absolutely fantastic football game. Nothing less than Green Bay’s A game was going to win that one. The Catch II in San Francisco also stopped a powerful Packers team. If video replay was around, Green Bay beats the 49ers and who knows what happens after that.
There were some Packers teams that just weren’t good enough to win a Super Bowl, but there have been some playoff moments that made me shudder. The 6 interception game against the Rams was an awful game to watch. That was an extremely good team and there’s no saying Green Bay wins with Favre playing great. However, it was the start of a trend.
First, there was the infamous Wild Card game in 2003. Green Bay had never lost a home playoff game. I remember the exact spot where I watched this game. I watched my favorite team get dissected by an Atlanta Falcons team led by a young Michael Vick. Green Bay had numerous injuries to deal with, but Favre’s stats were not impressive. Two interceptions and a fumble from the man who seemed so in tune with Lambeau mystique was hard to fathom. It didn’t stop there.
The following year is a game better known for a defensive gaffe. The 4th-and-26 game. That is the moment that sticks out and honestly it should. Green Bay should have won that game in regulation. However, the defense choked and that happens. Green Bay won the toss and started with the ball in OT. It was then that Favre threw one of the dumbest passes I’ve ever seen. A backfooted bomb to Robert Ferguson had no chance of being completed except to Philadelphia. The Eagles took advantage of the gift and advanced. That Packers team could have won the Super Bowl given a chance. However, they quite literally threw it away.
The last awful playoff moment from Favre as a Packer came in the 2007 NFC Championship Game. The Packers had received a few lucky breaks and started with the ball in overtime. The luck ran out as Favre threw a crucial interception and the Giants managed to win the game and the Super Bowl.
I get the fact that it was extremely cold at that game and Favre isn’t a young man at that time. However, the throw was indefensible. He had open receivers all over the field. A checkdown to Ryan Grant picks up a first down and keeps the drive alive. A forced throw to Donald Driver that had about a 1 percent chance of being complete was instead the choice.
Those last two games bring me to Aaron Rodgers. There is just a different feeling I get when watching him compared to Favre. Favre was a roller coaster. The highs were awesome but the lows were downright awful. I always watched nervously, waiting for the risky pass into coverage that could blow the game. Watching Rodgers is much more relaxing. He’s in total control of the situation. He may take a risk once or twice, but he doesn’t make awful mistakes at bad times.
The game against Minnesota last week was a perfect example. Rodgers was surgical in his throwing. Late in the game, the offense had stalled and Minnesota was on the comeback. There were a couple plays Rodgers took a sack instead of forcing a throw. If that’s Favre, he forces a throw. Maybe it goes for a touchdown and all is well. On the other side, it could easily be an interception that turns the momentum completely in the opponent favor.
Right now, Rodgers resembles 2007 Tom Brady. I’m not sure if he can keep his play up like Brady did all year, but the numbers are just breathtaking. Even without numbers, you can see the comparisons. Both players were in command of every situation. They made throws that made your jaw drop.
Right now, the Super Bowl totals for each player are tied at one. Favre rescued Green Bay from the black hole known as the 1970s and 1980s. Rodgers helped the Packers transition from a great quarterback without missing a beat. I can’t comment on Favre’s play during the MVP run, but I can’t imagine that it was as effective as Rodgers. Favre had phenomenal numbers, maybe even better than Rodgers does now, during that time. I just feel safer with Rodgers as my quarterback.
Rodgers play could fall off the rest of the season and it would make this post look downright laughable. I just don’t see that happening. Rodgers has a good six or seven year window where he can play at this level, barring injury. I fully expect Green Bay to add at least one more Super Bowl to its collection in this time.
The older generation may disagree with me, but I’m taking Rodgers right now over Favre in his prime. Favre may have the ability to win you more games, but Rodgers will lose you less games if that makes sense. When it comes down to crunch time, I want the Belt in my corner, not the Gunslinger.
Winner: AARON RODGERS in a landslide!
