Aaron Rodgers is used to being criticized for a multitude of things, but this one might take the cake.
The Packers have fallen short for another year in the Rodgers era and longtime Packers writer Bob McGinn thinks it might be Rodgers playing it too safe.
“Rodgers … for years has played a careful, calculating game understanding that number of interceptions plays a disproportionate, nonsensical role in the passer-rating formula. Bad interceptions are, well, bad. Then there are interceptions that are the cost of doing business for unselfish, competitive, stats-immune quarterbacks battling to make plays and lead comebacks until the bitter end.
When a quarterback, especially one with a powerful, usually accurate arm like Rodgers, deliberately minimizes chances to deliver a big play for fear of an interception … that’s just hurting his team. In the playoff game, a modest talent like Jimmy Garoppolo was under every bit as much pass-rush pressure as Rodgers but drilled more tight-window completions down the field largely because he wasn’t afraid of a pick and the moment.”
If you need a reference point, Rodgers finished the playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers with 225 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.
He was not playing like the MVP player we had seen all season long as he appeared afriad to make a single mistake and it cost the team big time.
However, him playing it ‘safe’ has led to him winning back-to-back MVP awards, but he has yet to make it back to the Super Bowl since winning it against the Steelers in 2011.
In 16 games, Rodgers threw for 4,115 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 68.9 percent of his passes.
