Packers Back in NFC North Hunt Behind the Arm of Aaron Rodgers
The Pack is on its way back. After falling to 1-2 after Week 3 of the NFL season, the Green Bay Packers have won 5 of 6 and are now sitting at 6-3 just a game behind the first place Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
However, Green Bay is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture in the NFC. Green Bay has seven regular season games to play, which is plenty of time to catch Detroit or secure one of the two NFC Wildcard spots.
Aaron Rodgers, the talented quarterback for the Packers is currently the leader this season in Total QBR at 85.5 and has not played this well since 2011 when he won the MVP. That season through 9 games, Rodgers had 28 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions. This season, Rodgers has 25 TD passes and 3 interceptions through 9 games.
Rodgers is first this season in the NFL in yards per pass attempt, touchdown to interception ratio and Total QBR.
As a team, Green Bay leads the NFL with 2.7 points per drive. That includes the drives Matt Flynn led at quarterback when he stepped in for Rodgers.
Green Bay is averaging 3.1 points each drive when Rodgers has played and 0.8 when Flynn has been on the field. Green Bay has scored touchdowns on 38% of its drives, which leads the league. The second best at that stat is the Denver Broncos at 32%.
This season at home, Green Bay is 4-0 SU. On the road, the Pack is just 2-3. The three road losses were not that close as they lost by a combined 53 points.
Green Bay is averaging 41.5 points scored at home and only 22.2 on the road. The Packers are allowing only 16.3 points per game at home on defense and 28 per game on the road.
However, the Packers have faced a tough road schedule that should become easier. Green Bay’s last three road games are against Minnesota, Buffalo and Tampa Bay.
At home, the Packers will face Philadelphia, New England, Atlanta and Detroit.
Rodgers will need to remain at top form to lead the Packers to the postseason.
At home, Rodgers has not tossed an interception since the thirteenth week of 2012, which covers 286 passes over a 10-game span.
Much of the success Rodgers has had this season is attributed to Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson his two best wide receivers.
Both receivers are ranked in the top five in the NFL in touchdown catches this season.
More than 50% of the total passes Rodgers has thrown have been to Cobb and Nelson. Rodgers throws 16 passes per game in the direction of Cobb and Nelson and completes 70% of them.
The defense is continuing to play a big part in Green Bay’s success. The rushing defense is just No. 30 in the league, but the passing defense is No. 9.
