Aaron Rodgers has surprisingly struggled to start this season and had not been able to regain his former-league MVP form. That is until tonight. Just like fans predicted.
Will Aaron Rodgers get his season back on track tonight vs #FeedDaBears or are his 2016 struggles here to stay? #GoPackGo #TNF
— Best NFL Polls (@Best_NFL_Polls) October 21, 2016
In tonight’s Thursday night showdown against the Chicago Bears, Aaron Rodgers finally looked like Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers’ offense got rolling. But it wasn’t without some struggles. The Packers offense had a slow start in the first half, accumulating only 160 total yards in the first two quarters. Rodgers went into halftime completing 19-of-30 passes for 150 yards. Not exactly encouraging stats, but Rodgers was two Randall Cobb drops away from adding 2 touchdowns and a good chunk of yardage to that total. With undrafted rookie Don Jackson, newly-acquired Knile Davis and fullback Aaron Ripkowski as the only healthy running backs they could count on, many saw an unbalanced and disappointing performance from the Packers offense.
Instead, the Packers leaned on a combination of receivers Ty Montgomery and Randall Cobb to get the running game rolling. The offensive line gave Rodgers all day in the pocket, and while the receivers struggled to create any kind of separation in the first half, things opened up after halftime. When the Bears defense got pressure, Rodgers did a good job of shuffling around just enough to evade pressure and get out of the pocket to create time.
Aaron Rodgers got in rhythm in the second half and ended the game 39-of-56 for 326 yards and 3 touchdowns. Fans knew that for the Packers offense to get back on track, Rodgers would need to return to form.
Who needs to step up the most on #GoPackGo offense with Eddie Lacy getting placed on IR earlier today? #TNF
— Best NFL Polls (@Best_NFL_Polls) October 21, 2016
He did just that. And we know that when Rodgers is playing at a high level, he elevates the play of others. After watching the Packers receivers getting zero separation in the first half, it was hard to believe it was the same group of receivers catching fire in the second. Three receivers (Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Randall Cobb) ended the game with 10 or more catches. Aaron Rodgers went to frequently to Davante Adams in particular, who really stepped up and ended the game with 13 catches for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Here are two of Rodgers’ touchdown passes:
.@AaronRodgers12 ➡️ @tae15adams for the 🙌#TNF #CHIvsGB #GoPackGo https://t.co/VRPXREzv3E
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 21, 2016
.@AaronRodgers12's record-setting 37th completion is a TD to @rcobb18! #TNF #CHIvsGB #GoPackGo https://t.co/nYJqVQAYHH
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 21, 2016
A-Rod broke out of his 2016 funk tonight, but is he over the hump and into the clear with this season’s struggles? Are we going to see another MVP-like season out of him in the second half of the year or is he just not the same quarterback he used to be? Vote below to let us know what you think! Be sure to share!
(Photo Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis)
(Photo Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis)