Perhaps rather than debating over a winner, we should celebrate this game as the continued dominance of the old class of quarterbacks, more specifically those playing with #12
It’s that time of the year again, where foot-loads of snowfall are piling up in Green Bay, fish are hiding under the ice, and the NFL playoffs are upon us. Analysts predicted the new quarterback generation’s rise–from the skilled runner Lamar Jackson to the dynamic passer Patrick Mahomes.
But what we have this Sunday are our two old favorites, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, arguably playing their best football ever.
Yes, it’s that Tom Brady, who at age 43, is in his tenth conference championship. It’s the very same Brady who Max Kellerman of “ESPN First Take” talked about in his “falling off a cliff” theory over two years ago. And it’s the very same Aaron Rodgers, who, despite early success as one of the most prolific game-changing passers in the NFL, hasn’t lead his team to a Super Bowl in a decade.
Yet, with all of the talk about the new breed of quarterbacks, the old generation sits atop the proverbial football mountain.
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Two years ago, I wrote an article for TSC entitled, Tom Brady: A Different Kind of GOAT (Feb 5, 2019). In it, I wrote about Brady’s consistency in winning big games. Back then, it was with the Patriots. This year it’s as a Buccaneer. And Brady is still performing at a high level in the postseason.
In Tampa, head coach Bruce Arians has handed over the reins to Brady. Arians’ philosophy–“just let him coach”–is a veiled shot at New England’s Bill Belichick for his unwillingness to do.
With or without Belichick, Brady knows the postseason better than any active or former player, and he’s a master at his craft, too. Consider this: Brady is the first NFL quarterback to start a championship game in three different decades. Now with Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and the familiar friend in Rob Gronkowski, Brady has an arsenal of weapons for a potential Super Bowl appearance.
Simultaneously, the other #12, Aaron Rodgers, has played nearly to perfection this year–throwing for 4,299 yards, 48 TDs, only 5 interceptions, and a 121.5 quarterback rating (all ranked #1 in the NFL). He led the Packers to a 13-3 regular season, assisted by the red-hot receiving of Davonte Adams.
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Rodgers has been able to get the Pack back to their tenth conference championship game. Despite being 37 years of age, he still outclasses the new generation.
Both quarterbacks know the postseason well and have enough experience not to get frazzled. But it’s still surprising to say this: here we are in 2020 talking about both players … when so many thought they’d be long gone.
Surprisingly, both have never met in the postseason until now– although head to head, Brady has gotten the better of Rodgers, winning two of three meetings.
I expect an exciting game with several big plays, multiple lead changes, and (I assume) classic frigid Green Bay weather. While I’m a huge fan of both quarterbacks and would be happy to see either man win the NFC crown and face Kansas City or Buffalo, I’m going with Rodgers because he’s playing at the top of his game.
Perhaps rather than debating over a winner, though, we should celebrate this game as the continued dominance of the old class of quarterbacks, specifically those playing with number 12.
As the game’s date indicates, 1-24-21, let’s assume that these two QBs aren’t close to disappearing. “12” 4 (for) ’21.
