An opportunity to create a new legacy moment is approaching for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
In fact, Sunday’s trip to Chicago could mean a lot to the ultimate sight of Rodgers’ legacy, especially in Green Bay.
All the games against the Bears have taken on extra significance, but Sunday’s season finale offers the Packers the chance to capture the NFC’s No. 1 seed and blast the path to the Super Bowl through Green Bay, as well as an opportunity for Rodgers for his third MVP, an important individual milestone.
With a win on Sunday, Rodgers could take a big step towards playing in his second Super Bowl and a big step to join an exclusive group of players with three or more MVPs.
Only 12 quarterbacks were the starter for two or more Super Bowl wins, and only five players have been MVPs three or more times. Only two players – Peyton Manning and Tom Brady – have won at least two Super Bowls and at least three MVPs.
Legacy matters to all major players, whether they admit it publicly or not. Rodgers has never been shy about discussing the importance of his own legacy within the Packers franchise and the history of the game.
The importance of a victory on Sunday cannot be underestimated. Since becoming the starting quarterback in 2008, Rodgers and the Packers have played in four NFC title games. All four games were played in venues other than Green Bay, a fact Rodgers has mentioned repeatedly. By securing the No. 1 seed, the Packers would set up a scenario where one win would guarantee an NFC title game at Lambeau Field.
A highly anticipated second Super Bowl appearance for Rodgers could ultimately depend on whether the Packers can get their hands on the No. 1 seed, including a first round bye and guaranteed home games during the postseason. As Rodgers well knows, nothing is certain and the challenge is compounded when playing for a trip to the Super Bowl away from home.
Rodgers is no stranger to legacy moments against the Bears or at Soldier Field. He won his first NFC title game in Chicago. He hit Randall Cobb for the game-winning and division-clinching touchdown in Chicago in 2013. He threw six touchdowns in one half against the Bears in 2014. He came back and beat the Bears on one leg in the 2018 season opener. Games against the Bears set the stage for many of Rodgers’ greatest professional achievements.
Sunday sets a similar stage.
Rodgers is probably a strong performance away from a third MVP. He is, at least by betting standards, the big favorite over Patrick Mahomes who entered week 17. Mahomes did not play well in week 16 and will sit on Sunday, keeping Rodgers in the spotlight in the final. The Packers quarterback has created 47 touchdowns and has the league’s best passer-by rank in 2020. Rodgers is first choice by most statistical measurements, but voters can and will be affected by what happens at Soldier Field on Sunday. Rodgers can almost capture the MVP, but he can also lose it. The individual stakes are high.
One more factor to consider: Rodgers and his teammates are currently mourning the unexpected loss of Pro Bowl left tackle David Bakhtiari, who injured his knee in practice on Thursday and will miss the rest of the season. The impact of his injury threatens to torpedo Green Bay’s Super Bowl chances. On Sunday, Rodgers and the Packers have a chance to get around the injury, win one for their injured teammate, and build some confidence in the playoffs without one of their best players.
Without much doubt, Rodgers understands the moment and what lies ahead, both as a team and as an individual. Who knows if he’ll ever have another chance like this as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback. His future is unclear, and teams change rapidly from year to year in the NFL. With a shrinking salary limit, this team will look very different next year. The Packers, with an elite attack and ascending defense, are one of the few legitimate Super Bowl contenders. The window is now open.
Aaron Rodgers’ legacy as future Hall of Fame quarterback is already incredible, but the 37-year-old could be writing some exciting chapters in the next month or so, starting Sunday in Chicago. A chance to bring in the # 1 seed and another MVP is the legacy moment that awaits him at Soldier Field in the Season Finals.