Rodgers' strong start
On Aug. 14, returning from Packers training camp after watching two practices and talking to quarterback Aaron Rodgers during lunch, I was on the same flight home with a friend from Dallas who happened to be a Green Bay fan. He told me he doubted that Rodgers could win more than five games. My reply: I thought they'd win 10.
So far, so good.
Rodgers is now 2-0 as the Packers' starting quarterback, following a 48-25 win in Detroit in which the former first-round pick passed for 328 yards and 3 TDs. Since everyone wants to compare Rodgers to his legendary Packers predecessor, here are some notes to consider:
Favre's second career win came in his fifth career start.
Favre's first career three-TD game came in his 10th start.
Favre's first career 300-yard passing game came in his 25th start.
Favre was sacked four times in his first two starts; Rodgers has been sacked just once.
Granted, these are just numbers and you can't compare the the 1992 Packers to this year's team. But I have been very impressed with Rodgers' performance. He started with a solid outing in the Monday night opener -- facing as much pressure as a quarterback could possibly face by replacing Favre. Then, yesterday, he started on the road for the first time in a place that is usually tough for opposing quarterbacks -- in his first five starts in Detroit, Favre threw 10 interceptions.
After throwing for more than 200 yards and three scores in the first half, Rodgers saw the Lions actually come from behind and take a 25-24 fourth quarter lead. How did he respond? On the next possession, following a short run and a false start, Rodgers faced a second-and-13 from his own 17. He saw a favorable matchup with receiver Greg Jennings lined up in the slot, and it looked like he called an audible on the play. The result was a 60-yard completion that set up the go-ahead field goal. It was a huge, huge play.